India now has 111 national waterways, up from 5 under UPA: Union Minister Sonowal
Patna (Bihar) [India], June 16 (ANI): Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, said on Monday that the number of national waterways in India has increased to 111 under the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government, compared to just five during the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime.
'Out of the 111 national waterways, 29 are currently operational,' Sonowal said while addressing an event organised under the Jal Marg Vikas Project in Bihar's Patna.
He noted that the emergence of national waterways has benefited several states and helped boost the local economy, benefiting farmers, youth and small traders.
'Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi over the past 11 years, we have witnessed a remarkable transformation in the waterways sector. During the UPA regime, the national waterways were limited to just five, and thanks to the right decision-making of the Prime Minister, we expanded this to 111 national waterways, and 29 of them are operational. This development has benefitted every state, especially farmers, youth and small traders, by strengthening local economies,' Sonowal said.
Speaking about the ministry's efforts to develop Patna as a major waterways hub, the Union Minister said they were taking immediate action on the Bihar government's appeal.
'We are taking immediate action based on the Bihar government's appeal, particularly for Patna to be developed as a waterways hub, which requires vessel repair and green water transport, including electric ferries and water metro,' he said.
He stated that a task force comprising representatives from the Bihar government and the Shipping Ministry would plan the necessary interventions to develop Patna as a waterways hub, which would benefit farmers and students.
Sonowal said it will also help promote river cruises along the 500 km of the Ganga river, which would highlight the culture of Bihar.
'We will form a Task Force comprising representatives from the Ministry of Shipping and the Bihar government to study and plan the necessary interventions, including setting up a vessel repair facility in Patna. This will focus on supporting farmers, students and small traders, promoting river cruises to highlight Bihar's rich history and culture, developing state-of-the-art terminals and infrastructure along the 500 km Ganga river that flows through Bihar,' he added. (ANI)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Uttarakhand Govt working to promote green energy: Chief Minister Dhami
Dehradun: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in the All India Oil Sector Meet program organised at ONGC Community Centre, Dehradun on Saturday. He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the state government is working to promote green energy with coordination in the economy, ecology and technology. "Clean and green energy is being promoted in the state through the Chief Minister Solar Self-Employment Scheme. Hydroelectric projects like Tehri, Koteshwar, Pipalkoti, Lakhwar, and Vishnugad in the state are playing an important role in establishing Uttarakhand as an energy hub. There are many possibilities in the field of geothermal in the state, on which the state government is continuously working," the Chief Minister said, according to a press release. The Chief Minister said that natural resources play an important role in taking any nation forward. Fuel, along with the development of the nation, also fulfills our daily needs. ONGC is playing an important role in India's energy security by contributing 70 per cent of the total production of crude oil and 84 per cent of the natural gas production in the country. The Chief Minister said that PM Modi has put the resolution of a self-reliant and developed India in front of people. The country is moving forward with the resolution of becoming a developed India by 2047. He said that under the leadership of the Prime Minister, petroleum reserves have been established for the energy security of the country. "Solar energy is also being promoted along with green hydrogen. Work is being done on many alternative sources of energy. All these efforts have made India capable in the field of energy," he said. The Chief Minister said that many works have been done in the field of oil and natural gas. Gas pipelines are being expanded under One Nation, One Grid. The gas distribution system has been expanded and made more convenient than before. Bio CNG plants are being set up. Schemes like the Ujjwala have brought a revolution in society. Many policies have also been implemented for oil production. India has also increased investments in the oil and natural gas sector abroad, the Chief Minister said. He said ONGC has done many such works in Uttarakhand, which are benefiting the state. (ANI)
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Guidelines revised: Centre eases rules under Biomass Programme to boost clean energy; MSMEs, stubble zones to gain
The Centre has issued revised guidelines for the Biomass Programme under Phase-I of the National Bioenergy Programme, aiming to simplify processes, promote clean energy, and improve ease of doing business, especially for MSMEs, according to a statement by the ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE). Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "The ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE) has issued revised guidelines for the Biomass Programme under Phase-I of the National Bioenergy Programme, applicable for the period FY 2021-22 to 2025-26", the statement said. The ministry stated that the amendments are geared toward accelerating the adoption of biomass technologies across India, aligning with the country's commitment to reach net-zero emissions by 2070 and tackle air pollution caused by . As reported by ANI, a key feature of the revised guidelines is the integration of affordable technology for project monitoring. Instead of requiring high-cost SCADA systems, developers can now use IoT-based monitoring solutions or submit quarterly data, offering a cost-effective route, especially beneficial for small players. Developers of briquette and pellet manufacturing plants will also benefit from eased documentation norms. "Earlier, clearance-related documents were mandatory, but those have now been relaxed, saving significant time for businesses," the MNRE said. In another major move to enhance flexibility, the requirement for a two-year sales contract has been replaced with a general sales agreement. This change allows developers to respond more dynamically to market shifts without being locked into long-term contracts. The subsidy model under the Central Financial Assistance (CFA) component has also been revamped. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Projects running at or above 80% of their rated capacity will receive full support, while those below the threshold will get assistance on a pro-rata basis. However, plants operating below 50% capacity will not be eligible for any CFA. The performance inspection window, previously limited to 18 months from the date of commissioning, can now begin from either the commissioning date or the date of In-principle Approval—whichever is later. To address on-ground challenges, the secretary of MNRE can also extend this window if necessary. Inspection criteria have been further relaxed. Earlier, plants had to prove consistent operation over three days at an average of 16 hours per day. Now, the requirement has been reduced to a single 10-hour continuous operation to verify capacity claims. Recognising regional challenges, especially air pollution from crop residue burning, the revised guidelines permit biomass pellet producers in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, and NCR districts of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh to choose between support schemes offered by MNRE and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), depending on what suits them best. According to ANI, these changes aim to strengthen the sector's capacity to implement projects quickly, attract more participation, and ensure timely delivery of financial support. Overall, the revised norms aim to streamline the biomass energy ecosystem with a mix of regulatory relief, technical flexibility, and financial incentives, thereby promoting practical clean energy solutions while addressing key environmental concerns.
India Gazette
an hour ago
- India Gazette
India's forex reserves dip by USD 1.02 billion to USD 697.93 billion
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 29 (ANI): India's foreign exchange reserves (forex) declined by USD 1.02 billion this week after extending gains in the previous week stabilising at USD 697.93 billion, official data released by the Reserve Bank of India showed. The Forex extended their gains, jumping USD 2.294 billion to USD 698.950 billion in the week ending June 13. As on June 20, the data shows that the foreign currency assets declined USD 0.36 billion to USD 589.07 billion. Gold reserves were down by USD 5.73 million to stand at USD 85.74 billion during the week, the apex bank's data shows while the The special drawing rights were down USD 85 million to USD 18.67 billion. Central banks worldwide increasingly accumulating safe-haven gold in their foreign exchange reserves kitty, and India is no exception. The share of gold maintained by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in its foreign exchange reserves has almost doubled since 2021, till recently. In 2023, India added around USD 58 billion to its foreign exchange reserves, contrasting with a cumulative decline of USD 71 billion in 2022. In 2024, the reserves rose by a little over USD 20 billion. India's foreign exchange reserves (Forex) are sufficient to meet 11 months of the country's imports and about 96 per cent of external debt, said Governor Sanjay Malhotra while announcing the outcome of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) decisions. The RBI governor expressed confidence, stating that India's external sector is resilient and key external sector vulnerability indicators are improving. Foreign exchange reserves, or FX reserves, are assets held by a nation's central bank or monetary authority, primarily in reserve currencies such as the US Dollar, with smaller portions in the Euro, Japanese Yen, and Pound Sterling. The RBI often intervenes by managing liquidity, including selling dollars, to prevent steep Rupee depreciation. The RBI strategically buys dollars when the Rupee is strong and sells when it weakens. (ANI)
