The first-ever “Inland Waterways Development Council” meeting will take place in Kolkata on Monday, hosted by the Inland Waterways Authority of India, which is a division of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW). A statement from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways states that important individuals from the central government and the states that border the waterways, such as Shripad Naik and Shantanu Thakur, Ministers of State for Ports, Shipping & Waterways, will be present at the all-day meeting, which will take place on board the MV Ganga Queen, hosted by Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and AYUSH.
“The event will also see the participation of Ministers from various State Governments, accompanied by their principal secretaries, Secretaries, alongside numerous senior officers of the Central Government and domain experts in the field” the ministry said in its statement.
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal will also unveil groundbreaking initiatives, including “Harit Nauka – Guidelines for Green Transition of Inland Vessels” and the “River Cruise Tourism Roadmap 2047,” during the meeting. Additionally, the event anticipates the signing of several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), marking collaborative efforts towards advancing the inland waterways and associated sectors, it added.
“The inaugural IWDC meeting boasts a packed agenda with consecutive sessions addressing vital issues in the development of inland waterways in India. The sessions encompass topics such as fairway development, private sector engagement and best practices, optimizing cargo transport efficiency in Inland Water Transport (IWT), fostering the promotion and development of eco-friendly vessels for passenger transportation, exploring the economic advantages of river cruise tourism, and emphasizing sustainable practices, among others,” the ministry said.