Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1229, answered on 06.02.2026, addresses waterways in Tamil Nadu. The Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways stated that the government has identified rivers and canals including the Buckingham Canal, River Bhavani, River Kaveri-Kollidam, River Pazhyar and River Ponniyar for development as National Waterways under the National Waterways Act, 2016. The Buckingham Canal is a constituent of NW-4, River Bhavani is NW-20, River Kaveri-Kollidam is NW-55, River Pazhyar is NW-77 and River Ponniyar is NW-80. Feasibility Study Reports (FSR) have been completed by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI). IWAI has sanctioned Rs.5.23 Crore for updation of Detailed Project Report (DPR) for NW-4, which includes the Buckingham Canal. IWAI has prepared an action plan and shared it with the Government of Tamil Nadu for comments and recommendations.
Key Entities Referenced
National Waterways Act, 2016: The act under which rivers and canals are declared as National Waterways.
Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI): The autonomous body responsible for developing inland waterways.
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways: The ministry responsible for ports, shipping and waterways.
Tamil Nadu: The state where the waterways development is focused.
National Waterways (NWs): Rivers and canals identified for development as part of the national waterways network.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1229
ANSWERED ON 06.02.2026
WATERWAYS IN TAMIL NADU
1229. SHRI SASIKANTH SENTHIL;
Will the Minister of PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS be pleased to state:
प(cid:517)न, पोत प(cid:303)रवहन और जलमाग(cid:330) मं(cid:361)ी
(a) whether the Government has identified rivers and canals in
Tamil Nadu, including the Buckingham Canal and rivers Bhavani, Kaveri-
Kollidam, Pazhyar and Ponniyar, for development as National Waterways, if
so, the details thereof;
(b) whether any funds have been sanctioned for surveys and Detailed Project
Reports (DPRs) for the said waterways, if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether there is any proposal to establish jetties or cargo and passenger
facilities along the said waterways, if so, the details thereof; and
(d) whether the Government proposes to accord final approval and operationalise
the said waterways within a stipulated timeframe, if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
(SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)
(a) The declared rivers and canals as National Waterways (NWs) under the
National Waterways Act, 2016identified for development in Tamil Naduare as
under:
i. Buckingham Canal (constituent of NW-4);
ii. River Bhavani (NW-20);
iii. River Kaveri- Kollidam (NW-55);
iv. River Pazhyar (NW-77); and
v. River Ponniyar (NW-80):
(b) Feasibility Study Reports (FSR) for the above mentioned rivers/canals have
already been completed by Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), an
autonomous body under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways.
Besides, IWAI has sanctioned Rs.5.23 Crore for updation of Detailed Project
Report (DPR) for NW-4, which also includes Buckingham Canal.
(c)&(d) Yes. IWAI has prepared an action plan and shared with Government of Tamil
Nadu for their comments/recommendations.
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