Why in News?

=> Recently Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee has signed an MoU with Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) for stabilization of shipping channels at 17 locations along a stretch of river Ganga from Varanasi to Sahibganj.

• It follows an earlier morphological study of the Ganges by the Department of Civil Engineering, an institute sponsored by the Ministry of Jal Shakti.

Key Points:

=> Under this project, IIT Roorkee will undertake channel stabilization (river training) work at 17 locations along the Ganges river for development of navigation channels with eco-friendly technologies to enhance navigation capability on National Waterway-1 (NW-1).

=> The work is a part of IAWI's ongoing Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP), sponsored by the World Bank.

=> JMVP envisages creation and improvement of integration opportunities with other surface transport modes such as roads and railways, to improve the overall efficiency of the logistics chain by connecting waterways through various well equipped terminals and ferries.

=> Speaking on the occasion, Professor Ajit K Chaturvedi, Director, IIT Roorkee said that this collaboration will ensure the progress of the nation's waterways and will especially benefit the farmers and people living in the entire Ganga belt.

=> It will promote the development of small scale industries, generate employment opportunities and facilitate transportation of cargo.

=> Thus there will be improvement in logistics through smaller jetties, which will lead to overall development of the area.

By: ASRAF UDDIN AHMED