Inland Vessels Bill 2021, Introduction, Objectives, Key Features

Introduction to the Inland Vessels Bill 2021

In July 2021, the Lok Sabha passed the Inland Vessels Bill 2021, which had previously received approval from the Union Cabinet in June 2021. This bill focuses on regulating the safety, security, and registration of inland vessels in India. Once passed in Parliament, it will replace the Inland Vessels Act of 1917. This article explores the Inland Vessels Bill 2021 in detail, highlighting its significance and its potential impact on India’s inland waterways. Aspirants preparing for the upcoming IAS Exam and other competitive government examinations should pay attention to this crucial topic. Alongside the Inland Vessels Bill, there are several other principal acts that have been enacted to contribute to India’s positive transformation.

Objectives of the Inland Vessels Bill 2021

Here are the objectives of the Inland Vessels Bill 2021:

• To promote economical and safe transportation and trade through inland waters: The Bill aims to promote the use of inland waterways for transportation and trade. This will help to reduce the cost of transportation and make India’s economy more competitive.
• Promotes economic and safe transportation and trade through inland waterways.
• Brings uniformity in the application of the law concerning inland vessels.
• Addresses water pollution caused by these vessels by allowing the Central Government to designate pollutants.
• To bring uniformity in the application of the law relating to inland waterways and navigation within the country: The Bill aims to bring uniformity in the law relating to inland waterways and navigation across India. This will help to create a more efficient and effective regulatory framework for inland water transportation.
• To provide for the safety of navigation, protection of life and cargo, and prevention of pollution that may be caused by the use or navigation of inland vessels: The Bill aims to provide for the safety of navigation, protection of life and cargo, and prevention of pollution that may be caused by the use or navigation of inland vessels. This will help to ensure the safety of people and the environment.
• To ensure transparency and accountability of administration of inland water transportation: The Bill aims to ensure transparency and accountability of the administration of inland water transportation. This will help to prevent corruption and ensure that the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) is managed efficiently.
• To strengthen procedures governing the inland vessels, their construction, survey, registration, manning, navigation, and such other matters connected therewith or incidental thereto: The Bill aims to strengthen procedures governing the inland vessels, their construction, survey, registration, manning, navigation and such other matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. This will help to ensure that inland vessels are safe and properly maintained.

Key Features of the Inland Vessels Bill 2021

• The proposed law will establish a unified regulation for the entire country, superseding separate rules set by individual States.
• The certificate of registration issued under this law will be universally recognized across all States and Union Territories, eliminating the need for separate permissions from different regions.
• Approximately 4000 km of inland waterways have been made operational.
• The bill mandates the maintenance of a central database, accessible through an electronic portal, containing detailed records of each vessel, including its registration and crew information.
• Mechanically propelled vessels are required to register under this bill, and non-mechanically propelled vessels must also undergo compulsory registration at the district, taluk, panchayat, or village level.
• The definition of ‘inland waters’ is expanded to include tidal water limits and national waterways declared by the Central Government.

Inland Waterways in India

India has an extensive network of inland waterways in the form of rivers, canals, backwaters, and creeks. The total navigable length is 14,500 kilometers, out of which about 5,200 kilometers of river and 4,000 kilometers of canals can be used by mechanized crafts. Inland waterways are a cost-effective and environmentally friendly mode of transportation. They can play a major role in the transportation of goods and passengers in India. However, the use of inland waterways in India is limited due to a number of factors, such as:

1. Poor infrastructure: The infrastructure for inland waterways in India is in a poor state. Many of the rivers and canals are not navigable due to siltation and other problems.
2. Lack of awareness: There is a lack of awareness about the benefits of using inland waterways. Many people still prefer to use roads and railways for transportation.
3. Government apathy: The government has not given adequate attention to the development of inland waterways. There is a lack of investment in the development of infrastructure and promotion of inland water transportation.

The government of India has taken some steps to promote the use of inland waterways. The National Waterways Act 2016, has declared 111 waterways as national waterways. The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has been established to develop and manage the national waterways. The government has also announced plans to invest in the development of inland waterways infrastructure. The development of inland waterways can have a number of benefits for India. It can help to:

• Reduce the cost of transportation: Inland waterways are a cheaper mode of transportation than roads and railways. This can help to reduce the cost of goods and make them more affordable for consumers.
• Promote trade and commerce: Inland waterways can help to promote trade and commerce by providing a more efficient and cost-effective way to transport goods.
• Create jobs: The development of inland waterways can create jobs in the construction, operation, and maintenance of inland waterways infrastructure.
• Reduce pollution: Inland waterways are a more environmentally friendly mode of transportation than roads and railways. They can help to reduce air pollution and carbon emissions.

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