IWAI submission before HC

KOCHI: The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) on Thursday submitted  before the High Court that the National Waterway 3 in the state is the first national waterway in the country to have 24-hour navigation facilities.The IWAI submitted that 312 navigational aids comprising navigational bouys, solar-powered navigational lights and 18 beacon lights have been installed along the 205-km stretch of the national waterway to facilitate round-the-clock navigation.  It also said that the dredging work in the waterway will be completed by January 2013. In view of the development of the International Container Transshipment Terminal at Vallarpadam, there is tremendous potential for transport of containerised cargo through the waterway.To realise this, terminals at Willingdon and Bolghatty Islands have been constructed, IWAI secretary V Santharam said. The submission was made based on the court’s direction to file an affidavit regarding the nature and details of the operation of the Inland Waterways Authority in the state.  The IWAI submitted that the permanent terminals at 11 locations along the national waterway in Kottapuram, Aluva, Marad, Kayamkulam, Vaikkom, Thannermukkam, Thrikkunnapuzha, Alappuzha, Kollam, Chavara and Kakkanad SEZ are proposed. Of these, construction of eight terminals have already been completed, the affidavit said.