Green Waterway Initiatives

Subject: Schemes

Section: Economy

Context:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates various Green Waterway Initiatives in Varanasi, Marks Milestone in Clean Energy and Tourism.

More on news:

PM Modi dedicates two hybrid electric catamaran vessels to nation built by CSL through IWAI under Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
Vessels have seating capacity of 50 passengers each, are powered by fast-charging batteries and are designed to reduce carbon emissions by 400 MT annually
The PM inaugurated four community jetties in Varanasi and laid the foundation stone for 13 community jetties along NW 1 in Varanasi and NW 110 in Mathura and Prayagraj.
The Quick Pontoon Opening Mechanism System inaugurated today will reduce time from six hours to 30 minutes.
MoPSW aims to boost the share of Inland Water Transport (IWT) to 5% by 2030 as part of the Maritime India Vision (MIV),signaling a comprehensive effort towards fostering maritime sector growth and connectivity enhancement.

About Hybrid electric catamaran vessels:

The two hybrid electric catamaran vessels ie MV Guh and MV Nishadraj are built by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) through Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW).
MV Guh will sail on the River Saryu in Ayodhya, and MV Nishadraj on the River Ganga in Varanasi.
These state-of-the-art vessels, with a seating capacity of 50 passengers each, are powered by fast-charging batteries and are designed to reduce carbon emissions by 400 MT annually.

About Harit Nauka Guidelines:

The Government of India also aims to foster the confidence of the stakeholders in the maritime sector and usher them towards transitioning to greener and cleaner fuels as emphasized under the Harit Nauka- Inland Vessels Green Transition Guidelines, published on 8th January 2024.
The Harit Nauka Guidelines shows MoPSW’s commitment to transform the maritime landscape by adopting green vessels & establishing operationalization of the green ecosystem.
It also aims to embrace low/zero emission sources of fuel & attain 100% green vessels in the Indian waters by 2047.

About Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP):

The Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) being implemented by the Inland Waterways Authority of India aims to improve the navigability of the 1390 km stretch of NW1 from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh to Haldia in West Bengal

About Quick Pontoon Opening Mechanism System (QPOMS):

The QPOMS will help in reducing the time for the manual dismantling and reassembly of the kulfi pontoon bridges across NW-1 in a quick and efficient manner.
It will thus reduce the overall inconvenience and delays to vessels as well as vehicular traffic.