QUE : Name the major inland waterways of India and explain their importance in national development.

The inland waterway system in India, which is more than 14000 km long, is mainly spread over the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam etc. of North-East India.

•  Major inland waterways of India :
  

• National Waterway – 1 : From Haltia to Prayagraj
  
• National Waterway -II : From Dhubri to Nadia
  
• National Waterway – III : Kottapuram Canal of West Coast Canal along with Udyogyamandal Canal and Champakar Canal in Kerala
  
• National Waterway IV : On Godavari and Krishna rivers which are built on Kakinada and Puducherry Canal and Kaluveli Reservoir.
  
• National Waterway – V: Talchar Dhamara Canal of Brahmani River, Gaupankhali Chharbatia of East Coast Canal, Chharbatia – Dhamara Canal spread on Chatai River along the river system of Mahanadi Mukhtarikon region.

• Importance of inland waterways in national development:

•  Floods occur every year in North-East India, due to which road transport is often stopped for several months.
  
•  Water transport can be beneficial at such times.
  
•  For long journeys and heavy goods, water transport is cheaper than both railways and roads. Tea, flax, rice, machines, heavy goods are brought between Kolkata and Assam by waterways only.
  
•  The current transport of railways and roads cannot be increased in line with the population growth, because sufficient capital, geographical location and technology are not available for it.
•  During times of war or other national crises, water transport is not as dangerous as road transport.
  
• Thus, the development of inland waterways is desirable from the point of view of national security.
  
•  For the rapid overall development of waterways, heavy goods (grains, mineral oil, raw materials – ore – fertilizers etc.) imported at Kolkata and Haldia are sent through the waterways of Ganga and Brahmaputra.
  
• It is desirable that industrial units dependent on exported and imported goods be established near the routes of all the major and navigable rivers of the country, which will enable rapid development of water transport services.
  
•  India’s inland waterways will prove to be helpful in strengthening the country’s logistics sector and playing an important role in the global supply chain.