Delhi to Allahabad by ferry in new government plan

NEWDELHI: The Centre is working on a proposal to launch ferry services on the Yamuna between Delhi and Allahabad on a stretch of the river designated as National Waterway 110 two years ago.

The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) awarded a contract to a government consultancy earlier this month to check the feasibility and prepare a report on the project.

IWAI, which reports to the ministry of shipping, plans to introduce cargo services and also ferry passengers between north Delhi’s Jagatpur village and the Sangam in Allahabad. WAPCOS, a state-owned consulting firm under the ministry of water resources, has been asked to submit report within a year.

The Yamuna, which is polluted in most part of Delhi, gets cleaner and deeper upstream between Wazirabad in Delhi and Palla on the Delhi-haryana border but becomes shallow before reaching Agra — a feature that could prove a challenge to the project.

“A Detailed Project Report (DPR) is being prepared to check the feasibility and what could be the impact on environment. The ferry services can be used in future to carry not just cargo but even passengers,” said Pravir Pandey, vice chairman of the Inland Waterways Authority of India.

There are 111 National Waterways in India identified for the purposes of inland water transport. Yamuna waterway will be integrated with National Waterway 1 to make the proposed route feasible.

“The DPR will check the portion of the river which connects Palla to Sangam near Allahabad. If we can use this channel then we can also avail the National Waterway 1, which comprises River Ganga, Bhagirathi and Hooghly and connects Allahabad to Haldia in West Bengal,” he added.

NHRC NOTICES TO CENTRE, PB

NEW DELHI: The NHRC has sent notices to the health ministry and Punjab government over reports that excessive use of pesticides and insecticides have allegedly left residue of heavy metals in soil and ground water, causing various diseases to the people in the Malwa region. The National Human Rights Commission has issued notices to the chief secretary of the state and secretary of the Union ministry of health and family welfare, seeking detailed report within six weeks.