New Delhi, March 6: The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) to boost river cruise tourism on three National Waterways in J&K.
The MoU was signed on the sidelines of Chintan Shivir being held in Srinagar in the presence of Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal and Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shantanu Thakur. Minister of Transport, Government of Jammu and Kashmir, Satish Sharma; Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, T.K. Ramachandran; Chairman, IWAI, Vijay Kumar along with other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.
The Inland Waterways Authority of India has been actively promoting cruise tourism in India and the agreement with the Government of Jammu and Kashmir aims to further boost tourism, generate employment, boost economic growth and provide a new mode of leisure/budget tourism on rivers in Jammu and Kashmir.
Of the 111 national waterways in the country, Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has three declared national waterways-River Chenab (NW-26), River Jhelum (NW-49) and River Ravi (NW-84). With the vision to promote river cruise tourism, various cruise circuits were announced for development - spanning from Kashmir to Kerala and Assam to Gujarat - in the recently concluded Second Meeting of Inland Waterways Development Council (IWDC). Within a period of two months, IWAI took a significant step to develop river cruise tourism in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir for an approximate cost of Rs 100 crore.
Under the framework of MoU; the IWAI will provide waterside infrastructure-ten floating jetties and landside infrastructure comprising of waiting hall and other amenities for cruise passengers. Out of ten, two floating jetties will be installed at Akhnoor and Reasi (near Jammu) the declared portion of River Chenab (NW-26); seven floating jetties at Pantha Chowk, Zero Bridge, Amira Kadal, Shah-e-Hamdan, Safa Kadal/Chattabal Shrine, Sumbal Bridge and Gund Prang (in Srinagar and Bandipora) River Jhelum (NW-49) and one jetty at Sohar on River Ravi (NW-84). Additionally, IWAI will develop navigational fairway by executing dredging wherever required, provide navigational aids and conduct regular hydrographic surveys for safe plying of vessels in these waterways.
The J&K government will provide land for construction of landside facilities, facilitate all statutory clearances and appoint cruise operators in identified sectors of the three National Waterways. The IWAI will also provide any technical assistance required by Government of J&K.
