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THE NATIONAL WATERWAYS ACT, 2016

_______

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

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SECTIONS

Short title and commencement.

Existing national waterways and declaration of certain inland waterways as national waterways.

Declaration as to expediency of control and development by Union of waterways specified in Schedule for certain purposes.

Amendment of section 2 of Act 82 of 1985.

Repeal of certain enactments and saving.

THE SCHEDULE.

THE NATIONAL WATERWAYS ACT, 2016

ACT NO. 17 OF 2016

[25th March, 2016.]

An Act to make provisions for existing national waterways and to provide for the declaration of certain inland waterways to be national waterways and also to provide for the regulation and development of the said waterways for the purposes of shipping and navigation and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

BE it enacted by Parliament in the Sixty-seventh Year of the Republic of India as follows:—

Short title and commencement.—(1) This Act may be called the National Waterways Act, 2016.

(2) It shall come into force on such date¹ as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.

Existing national waterways and declaration of certain inland waterways as national waterways.—(1) The existing national waterways specified at serial numbers 1 to 5 in the Schedule along with their limits given in column (3) thereof, which have been declared as such under the Acts referred to in sub-section (1) of section 5, shall, subject to the modifications made under this Act, continue to be national waterways for the purposes of shipping and navigation under this Act.

(2) The regulation and development of the waterways referred to in sub-section (1) which have been under the control of the Central Government shall continue, as if the said waterways are declared as national waterways under the provisions of this Act.

(3) The inland waterways specified at serial numbers 6 to 111 in the Schedule along with their limits given in column (3) thereof are hereby declared to be national waterways for the purposes of shipping and navigation.

Declaration as to expediency of control and development by Union of waterways specified in Schedule for certain purposes.—Save as provided in sub-sections (1) and (2) of section 2, it is hereby declared that it is expedient in the public interest that the Union should take under its control the regulation and development of the waterways specified in the Schedule for the purposes of shipping and navigation to the extent provided in the Inland Waterways Authority of India Act, 1985 (82 of 1985).

Amendment of section 2 of Act 82 of 1985.—In the Inland Waterways Authority of India Act, 1985, in section 2, for clause (h), the following clause shall be substituted, namely:—

„(h) “national waterway” means the inland waterway declared by section 2 of the National Waterways Act, 2016, to be a national waterway.

Explanation.—If Parliament declares by law any other waterway to be a national waterway, then, from the date on which such declaration takes effect, such other waterway—

(i) shall also be deemed to be a national waterway within the meaning of this clause; and

(ii) the provisions of this Act shall, with necessary modifications (including modification for construing any reference to the commencement of this Act as a reference to the date aforesaid), apply to such national waterway;?.

Repeal of certain enactments and saving.—(1) The following Acts, namely:—

(a) the National Waterway (Allahabad-Haldia Stretch of the Ganga Bhagirathi-Hooghly River) Act, 1982 (49 of 1982);

(b) the National Waterway (Sadiya-Dhubri Stretch of Brahmaputra River) Act, 1988 (40 of 1988);

12th April, 2016, vide notification No. S.O. 1384 (E), dated 11th April, 2016, see Gazette of India, Part II, sec. 3(ii).

(c) the National Waterway (Kollam-Kottapuram Stretch of West Coast Canal and Champakara and Udyogmandal Canals) Act, 1992 (25 of 1992);

(d) the National Waterway (Talcher-Dhamra Stretch of Rivers, Geonkhali-Charbatia Stretch of East Coast Canal, Charbatia-Dhamra Stretch of Matai River and Mahanadi Delta Rivers) Act, 2008 (23 of 2008); and

(e) the National Waterway (Kakinada-Puducherry Stretch of Canals and the Kaluvelly Tank, Bhadrachalam-Rajahmundry Stretch of River Godavari and Wazirabad-Vijayawada Stretch of River Krishna) Act, 2008 (24 of 2008),

are hereby repealed.

(2) Notwithstanding such repeal, anything done or any action taken under the Acts referred to in sub-section (1), in so far as they are in conformity with the provisions of this Act, shall be deemed to have been done or omitted to be done or taken or not taken under the provisions of this Act.

		THE SCHEDULE
		(See section 2)
Sl. No.	National Waterways	Limits of the National Waterways

(1)	(2)	(3)

National Waterway 1 Allahabad-Haldia Stretch of the Ganga—Bhagirathi-Hooghly Rivers with the following limits, namely:—

From road bridge at Allahabad across the river Ganga, about 2 kilometres upstream of the confluence of the rivers Ganga and Yamuna at Triveni to the inland waterway limit on the tidal waters of the river Hooghly from a line drawn between No. 1 Refuge house at the entrance to Baratola river commonly called channel creek, to a position 2.5 kilometres due south of Saugor lighthouse, and then connected to the right or south bank at the entrance to the Hijili or Russulpore river, through river Ganga, lock canal and feeder canal at Farakka, river Bhagirathi and river Hooghly.

National Waterway 2 Sadiya-Dhubri Stretch of Brahmaputra River with the following limits, namely:—

From a line drawn across the Brahmaputra river from the point on the north bank of the Kundil river at its confluence with the Brahmaputra river near Sadiya to the beginning of the river island Majuli and therefrom through all the channels of the Brahmaputra river on either side of the river island Majuli up to the end of the river island Majuli and then up to the international border down stream of Dhubri.

National Waterway 3 Kollam-Kozhikode Stretch of West Coast Canal and Champakara and Udyogmandal Canals with the following limits, namely:—

The northern limit of the West Coast Canal shall be Kozhikode at Lat 11°13?39”N, Lon 75°46?44”E and the southern limit shall be a line drawn across the Ashtamudi KayaI at a distance of 100 metres south of Kollam jetty.

The Champakara Canal starting from the confluence with the West Coast Canal and ending at the railway bridge (railway siding for Cochin Oil Refinery) near Fertilisers and Chemicals Travancore Limited, boat basin.

The Udyogmandal Canal starting from the confluence with West Coast Canal and ending at the Padalarn road bridge (Eloor-Edayar).

(1) (2) (3)

National Waterway 4Kakinada-Puducherry Stretch of Canals and the Kaluvelly Tank, Nashik-Bhadrachalam-Rajahmundry Stretch of River Godavari and Bridge near village Galagali-Wazirabad-Vijayawada Stretch of River Krishna with the following limits, namely:—

Kakinada-Puducherry canal

(Canal system consisting of Kakinada canal, Eluru canal, Commamur canal and North Buckingham canal, portion of the Coovum river linking North and South Buckingham canals, South Buckingham canal and Kaluvelly tank)

Northern limit: A line drawn across the Kakinada canal parallel to the Jagannadhapuram road bridge, Kakinada at a distance of 500 metres down stream at Lat 16° 56? 24” N, Lon 82° 14?20”E;

Southern limit: Junction of East Coast Highway and Chinnakalawari-Kanakachettikulam road at Kanakachettikulam which is the end point of the artificial canal link to Kaluvelly tank at Lat 20° 0? 07” N, Lon 79° 52? 12” E.

River Godavari

Western limit: Road bridge on Mumbai-Agra Highway at Nashik across river Godavari at Lat 20° 0? 07” N, Lon 73° 48? 12” E;

Eastern limit: Sir Arthur Cotton barrage across river Godavari at Dowlaiswaram, Rajahmundry at Lat 16° 56? 05” N, Lon 81° 45? 32” E.

River Krishna

Western limit: Bridge near village Galagali Lat 16°25? 28” N,

Lon 75°26?19” E.

Eastern limit: Prakasam barrage across river Krishna at

Vijayawada at Lat 16° 30? 18” N, Lon 80° 36? 23” E.

National Waterway 5Talcher-Dhamra Stretch of Brahmani-Kharsua-Tantighai-Pandua Nala-Dudhei Nala-Kani Dhamra-river system, Geonkhali-Charbatia Stretch of East Coast Canal, Charbatia-Dhamra Stretch of Matai River and Mahanadi Delta Rivers with the following limits, namely:—

East Coast Canal and Matai river (Consisting of old Hijli tidal canal, Orissa coast canal and Matai river)

Northern limit: Confluence point of Hooghly river and Hijli tidal canal at Geonkhali at Lat 22°12? 20” N, Lon 88° 03? 07” E;

Southern limit: Confluence of Matai river and Dhamra river near Dhamra Fishing harbour at Lat 20° 47? 42” N, Lon 86° 53? 03” E.

(1) (2) (3)

Brahmani-Kharsua-Dhamra river system (Consisting of

Brahmani-Kharsua-Tantighai-Pandua Nala-Dudhei Nala-Kani-

Dhamra rivers)

North-Western limit: Samal barrage across river Brahmani, Talcher at Lat 21^o 04? 26” N, Lon 86^o 08? 05” E;

South-Eastern limit: An imaginary line drawn across Dhamra river at East Point of Kalibhanj Dian Reserved Forest near Chandnipal at Lat 20^o46? 26” N, Lon 86^o 57? 15” E.

Mahanadi delta rivers (Consisting of Hansua river, Atharabanki

Creek, Nuna nala, Gobri nala, Kharnasi river and Mahanadi river)

(Alternate route-Hansua river enters into Bay of Bengal through northern point of False point bay, then enters river Kharnasi at southern end of False point bay, river Atharabanki, a northernly distributory of river Mahanadi)

Northern limit: Confluence of Kharsua river with Brahmani river at Ramchandrapur at Lat 20^o 36? 55”N, Lon 86^o 45? 05” E;

Southern limit: An imaginary line in continuation to the Northern break water structure across the entrance channel at Paradip Port at Lat 20^o15? 38”N, Long 86^o? 40? 55” E.

National Waterway 6 Aai River:

Upstream of Bridge at Adalguri No. 3 at Lat 26^o33?32”N, Lon 90^o34?01”E to confluence with Brahmaputra river at Lat 26^o12?50”N, Lon 90^o36?24”E (4.7km upstream of Naranarayan Setu at Jogighopa).

National Waterway 7 Ajoy (Ajay) River:

Bridge on Morgram-Panagarh State Highway No. 14 at Illambazar Lat 23^o36?56”N, Lon 87^o31?58”E to confluence of river Ajoy with river Bhagirathi at Lat 23^o39?23”N, Lon 88^o07?57”E at Katwa.

National Waterway 8Alappuzha-Changanassery Canal:

Boat Jetty, Alappuzha at Lat 9^o30?03”N, Lon 76^o20?37”E to Changanassery Jetty at Lat 9^o26?42”N, Lon 76^o31?42”E.

National Waterway 9Alappuzha-Kottayam Athirampuzha Canal:

Boat Jetty, Alappuzha at Lat 9^o30?03”N, Lon 76^o20?37”E to Athirampuzha market Lat 9^o40?04”N, Lon 76^o31?54”E.

(1)	(2)	(3)

10.	National Waterway 10	Amba River:
		Arabian Sea, Dharamtaar creed near village Revas at Lat

18^o50?15”N, Lon 72^o56?31”E to a Bridge near Nagothane ST Stand at Lat 18^o32?20”N, Lon 73^o08?0”E.

National Waterway 11Arunawati Aran River System:

		Bridge on State Highway No. 211 at Lat 20^o13?33”N, Lon
		77^o33?23”E to confluence of Arunawati and Aran rivers near
		Ratanapur village at Lat	19^o59?31”N,	Lon 78^o09?38”E
		to confluence of Aran and Penganga rivers near Chimata village
		at Lat 19^o54?08”N, Lon 78^o12?36”E.
12.	National Waterway 12	Asi River:
		Ganga river confluence at	Assi Ghat,	Varanasi at	Lat
		25^o17?19”N, Lon 83^o 0?25”E to near Newada, Varanasi at Lat
		25^o16?37”N, Lon 82^o 58?18”E.
13.	National Waterway 13	AVM Canal:
		Poovar Beach at Lat 8^o18?30”N, Lon 77^o04?45”E to
		Erayumanthurai Bus Stop at Lat 8^o14?54”N, Lon 77^o09?34”E.
14.	National Waterway 14	Baitarni River:
		Dattapur village at Lat 20^o51?45”N, Lon 86^o 33?30”E to
		confluence with Dhamra river near Laxmiprasad Dia at			Lat
		20^o45?13” N, Lon 86^o 49?15”E.

National Waterway 15Bakreswar Mayurakshi River System:

Bakreswar river from Nil Nirjan Dam at Lat 23^o49?31”N, Lon 87^o24?59”E to confluence of Bakreswar and Mayurakshi rivers near Talgram village at Lat 23^o 51?58”N, Lon 88^o02?21”E.

Mayurakshi river from Talgram village to confluence with Dwarka river near Dakshin Hijal village at Lat 23^o 58?22”N, Lon 88^o09?21”E.

National Waterway 16 Barak River:

Lakhipur Ferry Ghat Lat 24^o47?18”N, Lon 93^o01?16”E to Tuker Gram Lat 24^o52?34”N, Lon 92^o29?21”E.

National Waterway 17 Beas River:

Talwara Barrage at Lat 31^o57?22”N, Lon 75^o53?37”E to confluence of Beas and Sutlej rivers near Harike at Lat 31^o09?09”N, Lon 74^o58?08”E.

National Waterway 18 Beki River:

Elenagamari Lat 26^o38?37”N, Lon 90^o59?02”E to Brahmaputra confluence at Lat 26^o14?24”N, Lon 90^o47? 21”E.

(1)	(2)	(3)

19.	National Waterway 19	Betwa River:
		Rirwa Buzurg Dariya at Lat 25^o54?17”N, Lon 79^o45?06”E to
		confluence of Betwa and Yamuna rivers near Merapur Daria
		village at Lat 25^o55?11”N, Lon 80^o13?08”E.
20.	National Waterway 20	Bhavani River:
		Bhavani Sagar Dam, Sathyamangalam at Lat 11^o28?16”N, Lon
		77^o06?49”E to confluence of Bhavani and Kaveri rivers at Kaveri
		river bridge on Salem-Coimbatore Highway: “National
		Highway-47 Lat 11^o25?54”N, Lon 77^o41?02”E.
21.	National Waterway 21	Bheema River:
		Barrage (approx 1 km. from Hippargi village) at Lat 17^o09?05”N,
		Lon 76^o46?34”E to confluence of Bheema and Krishna rivers at
		Gundloor Lat 16^o24?28”N, Lon 77^o17?13”E.

National Waterway 22Birupa Badi Genguti Brahmani River System:

Birupa Barrage at Choudwar at Lat 20^o30?49”N, Lon 85^o55?20”E to Confluence of Birupa and Brahmani rivers near Upperkai Pada village at Lat 20^o37?36”N, Lon 86^o24?19”E including alternative route from, Samaspur village Lat 20^o35?41”N, Lon 86^o06?32”E to near Kharagpur village Lat 20^o38? 28”N, Lon 86^o17?32”E.

Bramani river from confluence of Birupa and Brhmani rivers near

Upperkai Pada village at Lat 20^o37?36”N, Lon 86^o24?19”E to

Bramani river at Katana Lat 20^o39?26”N, Lon 86^o44?53”E.

23.	National Waterway 23	Budha Balanga River:
		Barrage (approx	300m from	Patalipura	village)	at	Lat
		21^o38?13”N, Lon 86^o50?53”E to confluence of Budha Balanga
		river with Bay	of Bengal at	Chandipur	Fishing	Port	Lat
		21^o28?12”N, Lon 87^o04?12”E.
24.	National Waterway 24	Chambal River:
		Chambal road bridge on National Highway-92 Lat 26^o41?56”N,
		Lon 78^o56?09”E to confluence of Chambal and Yamuna rivers at
		Charakpura village Lat 26^o29?30”N, Lon 79^o15?01”E.
25.	National Waterway 25	Chapora River:
		Bride at State Highway No. 124 (1 Km. from Maneri village) Lat
		15^o?42?47”N. Lon 73^o57?23”E to Confluence of Chapora river
		with Arabian Sea at Morjim Lat 15^o36?33”N, Lon 73^o44?01”E.
26.	National Waterway 26	Chenab River:
		Chenab road bridge at Lat 33^o05?07”N, Lon 74^o48?06”E to
		Bridge near Bhardakalan at Lat 32^o48?12”N, Lon 74^o34?53”E.
		8

(1)	(2)	(3)

27.	National Waterway 27	Cumberjua River:
		Confluence of Cumberjua and Zuvari rivers near Cortalim ferry
		terminal Lat 15^o24?40”N, Lon 73^o54?48”E to confluence of

Cumberjua and Mandovi rivers near Sao Martias Vidhan Parishad Lat 15^o31?26”N, Lon 73^o55?34”E.

National Waterway 28Dabhol Creek Vashishti River:

Arabian Sea at Dabhol Lat 17^o34?51”N, Lon 73^o09?18”E to bridge at Pedhe Lat 17^o32?39”N, Lon 73^o30?36”E.

29.	National Waterway 29	Damodar River:
		Krishak Setu, Bardhman on State					Highway No. 8 at	Lat
		23^o12?40”N, Lon 87^o50?54”E to confluence with Hooghly river
		near Purbha Basudebpur at Lat 22^o21?01”N, Lon 88^o05?19”E.
30.	National Waterway 30	Dehing River:
		Rail Bridge		at Merbil	Majuli No.		1 Lat 27^o19?25”N,	Lon
		95^o18?45”E to confluence of Dehing and Brahmaputra rivers near
		village Lachan at Lat 27^o15?10”N, Lon 94^o40?01”E.
31.	National Waterway 31	Dhansiri/Chathe River:
		Bridge	near	Morongi	T.E.	village	Lat 26^o24?41”N,	Lon
		93^o53?47”E to Numaligarh Lat 26^o42?01”N, Lon 93^o35?15”E.
32.	National Waterway 32	Dikhu River:
		Bridge at Nazira on State Highway No 1 Lat 26^o55?18”N, Lon
		94^o44?27”E to confluence of Dikhu and Brahmaputra rivers at
		Lat 26^o59?58”N, Lon 94^o27?42”E.
33.	National Waterway 33	Doyans River:
		Bridge near Sialmari Lat 26^o10?47”N, Lon 93^o59?10”E to
		confluence of Doyans and Subansiri rivers at Lat 26^o26?53”N,
		Lon 93^o57?12”E.
34.	National Waterway 34	DVC Canal:
		Durgapur Barrage Lat 23^o28?47”N, Lon 87^o18?19”E to
		Confluence point of DVC canal with Hoogly river near Tribeni
		Lat 23^o0?31”N, Lon 88^o24?55”E.
35.	National Waterway 35	Dwarakeswar River:
		Bridge near Abantika Lat 23^o06?55”N, Lon 87^o18?47”E to
		confluence of Dwarakeswar and Silai rivers at Pratappur Lat
		22^o40?17”N, Lon 87^o46?43”E.
36.	National Waterway 36	Dwarka River:
		Bridge	at Tarapith at		Lat	24^o06?58”N, Lon 87^o47?51”E to

confluence with Bhagirathi river near Maugram village at Lat 23^o43?53”N, Lon 88^o10?51”E.

(1)	(2)					(3)

37.	National Waterway 37	Gandak River:
		Bhaisaslotal Barrage near Triveni Ghat at Lat 27^o26?22”N, Lon
		83^o54?24”E to Gandak and Ganga rivers confluence at Hajipur
		Lat 25 39^o18?N, Lon 85^o10?28”E.
38.	National Waterway 38	Gangadhar River:
		Pakriguri Bridge on National Highway-31C at Lat 26^o27?30”N,
		Lon 89^o51?25”E to Bangladesh Border at Binnachara Point III
		Lat 26^o0?32”N, Lon 89^o49?57”E.
39.	National Waterway 39	Ganol River:
		Bangladesh	Border		at Mankachar		Lat	25^o31?47”N,	Lon
		89^o51?24”E	to	bridge	near	Dolbari	at Lat	25^o34?20”N,	Lon
		90^o03?46”E.
40.	National Waterway 40	Ghaghra River:
		Faizabad at Lat 26^o47?51”N, Lon 82^o06?46”E to Ghaghra and
		Ganga river confluence at Manjhi Ghat Lat 25^o44?13”N, Lon
		84^o42?03”E.
41.	National Waterway 41	Ghataprabha River:
		Barrage near Malali Lat 16^o20?01”N, Lon 75^o11?23”E to
		confluence with river Krishna at Chicksangam Lat 16^o20?13”N,
		Lon 75^o47?54”E.
42.	National Waterway 42	Gomti River:
		Bara Imambara, Lucknow Lat 26^o52?21”N, Lon 80^o54?58”E to
		confluence of Gomti with river Ganga Lat 25^o30?31”N, Lon
		83^o10?17”E.
43.	National Waterway 43	Gurupur River:
		Confluence	of	Netravathi		river at	Lat	12^o50?44”N,	Lon
		74^o49?45”E	to	confluence		of Mangalore Port Bridge at			Lat
		12^o55?35”N, Lon 74^o49?37”E.
44.	National Waterway 44	Ichamati River:
		Bridge on Border Main Road at Gobra near Bangladesh Border at
		Lat 22^o53?50”N, Lon 88^o53?49”E to near Bangladesh Border at
		Bansjhari Mallikpur Lat 22^o39?07”N, Lon 88^o55?35”E.
45.	National Waterway 45	Indira Gandhi Canal:
		Harike Barrage at Lat 31^o08?33”N, Lon 74^o56?57”E to near
		Mohangarh Lat 27^o18?37”N, Lon 71^o09?10”E.
46.	National Waterway 46	Indus River:
		Bridge on	highway at Upshi village Lat					33^o49?43”N,	Lon
		77^o48?56”E to Bridge on Shey-Chuchol road near Shey village
		Lat 34^o03?35”N, Lon 77^o38?33”E.
			10

(1)	(2)			(3)

47.	National Waterway 47	Jalangi River:
		Bridge on	State	Highway No.	14 near Plashipara at Lat
		23^o47?47”N,	Lon	88^o27?09”E to	confluence of Jalangi with

Hooghly/Bhagirathi rivers at Nabadwip Lat 23^o24?39”N, Lon 88^o22?48”E.

National Waterway 48Jawai-Luni Rivers and Rann of Kutch:

		Jawai river from Jalore at Lat 25^o20?37”N, Lon 72^o41?09”E to
		Luni river	near Gandhav	village to Rann	of	Kutch at	Lat
		23^o32?54”N, Lon 68^o22?27”E.
49.	National Waterway 49	Jhelum River:
		Bridge on highway at Lat 33^o49?26”N, Lon 75^o03?50”E to Wuler
		lake, Srinagar at Lat 34^o21?37”N, Lon 74^o36?36”E.
50.	National Waterway 50	Jinjiram River:
		Confluence with Brahmaputra river at Tumni Lat 25^o51?51”N,
		Lon 89^o58?57”E to Fulerchar Point. III at Brahmaputra river Lat
		25^o44?15”N, Lon 89^o52?53”E.
51.	National Waterway 51	Kabini River:
		Kabini Dam Lat 11^o58?25”N, Lon 76^o21?10”E to Beeramballi at
		Lat 11^o56?10”N, Lon 76^o14?18”E.				86540 Lawyers Network 103860 Users 630 Cities Serving 114 Law Schools Network 59824 Law Students Network About us Company Profile Indian Major Laws Indian Constitution IPC CrPC CPC Companies Act Indian Evidence Act CGST Act Limitation Act Policies Terms of Use Privacy Policy Refund & Cancellation Ads & Media Resource Sharing Advertiser(Sign Up/Login) Media Careers Internships Jobs Student Journalists HELP & SUPPORT Contact Us Grievances Test News Legal News Post Article Post Interview Legal Library Central Acts Deeds Drafts [1128 ] Legal Maxims Connect Lawsisto Direct DISCLAIMER Copyright © Lawsisto Private Limited. All rights reserved. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials on these pages are copyrighted by Lawsisto Private Limited. All rights reserved. No part of these pages, either text or image may be used for any purpose. By continuing past this page, you agree to our Terms of Service, Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy and Content Policies.

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