MAINTENANCE OF NAVIGABLE DEPTH IN WATERWAYS

The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has signed MoUs/operational frameworks with Dredging Corporation of India Limited (DCI) to maintain navigable depths on National Waterways 1 (Ganga‑Bhagirathi‑Hooghly), 2 (Brahmaputra) and 16 (Barak). On NW‑1, 17 contract dredgers and 7 departmental dredgers are deployed; on NW‑2 and NW‑16, 5 and 2 dredgers respectively are engaged. Dredging on NW‑1 is phased from Tribeni to Varanasi, with a Least Available Depth of 3.0 m (Tribeni‑Barh) and 2.5 m (Barh‑Varanasi). Over 42.68 lakh m³ of sediment has been removed under quantity‑based contracts, of which 22.81 lakh m³ pertains to Bihar. The strategy relies on hydrographic surveys, performance‑based contracts and river‑conservancy measures, and contracts are for three years with a possible two‑year extension.