11th December, 2002
Ministry of Shipping  


REVAMPING OF INLAND WATER TRANSPORT CORPORATION


RAJYA SABHA

The Government of India has already approved a Re-organization plan for Central Inland Water Transport Corporation (CIWTC) Limited, Kolkatta in June, 2001 with a total outlay of Rs. 139.55 crores.

The Government has approved an Inland Water Transport Policy with the aim of accelerated development of inland waterways and to involve private sector in this field. It includes some policy decisions and also fiscal concession to attract private sector in IWT. In the present economic scenario it is necessary that both the public and private sector are involved in the development of various infrastructural facilities for the over all benefit of the country and this policy has been made with this rationale in view.

With a view to encouraging private operators to own and operate inland vessels on National Waterways, an Inland Vessel Building Subsidy Scheme has been approved by the Government under which 30% of the cost of a vessel would be provided as subsidy to the owner of the vessel which should be done in an Indian shipyard. Other incentives related to encouraging the ownership of the IWT vessels include higher depreciation rate for Inland vessels and levying reduced custom duty for import of some equipment and machinery related to IWT sector.

This was stated by Shri Su. Thirunavukkarasar in a written reply to a question by Shri Bachani Lekhraj in Rajya Sabha today.