Context:

Recently, the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) unveiled the ‘Jalvahak scheme’ to promote cargo movement through National Waterways.

About the Jalvahak scheme:

This scheme will incentivize the movement of long-haul cargo facilities in the following: -

• National Waterways 1 (river Ganga);
• National Waterways 2 (river Brahmaputra) 
• National Waterways 16 (river Barak).

It is a joint effort by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), and the Inland & Coastal Shipping Limited (ICSL).

• IWAI (HQ-Noida) was established in 1986 for the development and regulation of inland waterways for shipping and navigation.
• ICSL (HQ- Kolkata) was incorporated in 2016 to provide transport services through Inland waterways, coastal shipping, and end-to-end logistics.

This scheme encourages to reduce logistics costs, decongesting roads and railways, and adapting to a sustainable mode of transportation.

• Under the scheme, the commencement of Fixed Day Scheduled Sailing Service is aimed at demonstrating the readiness of waterways as a viable, economical, and ecologically responsible alternative for cargo transportation.
• Cargo ships motor vehicle (MV) Homi Bhaba, MV Trishul, and other vessels were flagged off to mark the beginning of fixed Scheduled Service of Cargo Vessels for NW 1 and NW 2. 

Initially, this scheme will be valid for a period of 3 years.

The scheme offers reimbursement of up to 35% of total operating expenditure incurred while transporting cargo via waterways on NW 1, NW 2 & NW 16 through the Indo Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) route.

• The IBP route connects NW 1 to NW 2 via Bangladesh.

The National Waterways Act, 2016

It has identified 111 navigable water courses and declared them “national inland waterways”.

These 111 Waterways include 5 existing and 106 new waterways spread over 24 states. 

• Among these 25 NWs are inter-state NWs.  

The regulation and development of inland waterways for shipping and navigation are under the IWAI in the National Waterways Act, 2016.

• Shipping and navigation on inland waterways are under entry 24 of the Union list.