Inland Vessels Bill, 2021

Published: 16th Aug, 2021

Context

Recently, The Union Cabinet has unveiled the Inland Vessels Bill, 2021, which will replace the Inland Vessels Act, 1917.

Key features of the bill

This will be the unifying law of the whole world and will replace the different laws made by the Nations
The registration certificate issued under the proposed law will be deemed to be valid for all countries in the United States and the Union Territories, and there will be no need to seek special permits in the States
A total of 4000 kilometers of waterways used
According to the bill, a central database will be maintained that will record the details of each vessel such as its registration and personnel, all on an electronic site
Vessel vessels will be required to register legally, and non-mechanized vessels will also be required to register by region, taluk or pan or valley
Extends the definition of ‘inland water’, by including seawater and national waterways declared by Central Government

Objectives of Inland Vessels Bill, 2021

This Bill will promote economic and safe transportation and trade of inland waterways and bring uniformity in the application of the law
It will also help in reducing the water pollution caused by these inland vessels as this bill directs the Central Government to designate a list of chemicals, substances, etc. as pollutants

Criticism of the bill

Bill takes away a lot of rights of the states and vests them in the hands of the Centre.

Inland Waterway in India

India has around 15,000 km of inland waterways network that comprise rivers, channels, backwaters, creeks, etc.
In 2016, 111 inland waterways were notified as National Waterways of India under the National Waterways Act, 2016.
Of these, 13 National Waterways are operational for shipping and navigation and cargo/passenger vessels are moving on them, according to the government.
The Inland Waterways Authority of India which comes under the Ministry of Shipping is developing the National Waterways for commercial navigation, with assistance from World Bank.

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