08 Jan 2024: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Inland Waterways Development Council
2. International Purple Fest 2024

1. Inland Waterways Development Council

Syllabus: GS-3, Infrastructure

Prelims: Inland Waterways Development Council

Context:

India’s First Inland Waterways Development Council commits Rs 45,000 crore for the development of River Cruise Tourism.

Inland Waterways Development Council:

• The Inland Waterways Development Council was established in 1986 to develop and regulate inland waterways for shipping and navigation. 
• The Authority primarily undertakes projects for the development and maintenance of IWT infrastructure on national waterways through grants received from the Ministry of Shipping. 
• Headquartered in Noida, the IWDC has regional offices in several other cities.

Inland Waterways in India:

• India has about 14,500 km of navigable waterways which comprise rivers, canals, backwaters, creeks, etc. 
• About 55 million tonnes of cargo are being moved annually by Inland Water Transport (IWT), a fuel-efficient and environment-friendly mode. 
• Its operations are currently restricted to a few stretches in the Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly rivers, the Brahmaputra, the Barak river, the rivers in Goa, the backwaters in Kerala, inland waters in Mumbai and the deltaic regions of the Godavari – Krishna rivers.
• A recent decision was made to enable capacity in an additional 26 waterways, fit for River Cruise tourism, up from the current 8 waterways.
• The number of cruise circuits with night stays to be increased from 17 to 80 during the same time. 
• To boost infrastructure in the inland waterways, the number of river cruise terminals is to be increased to 185, registering a growth of 1233% from the present strength of 15 terminals. 
• Inland Water Transportation (IWT) provides a unique opportunity to promote the use of electric, hybrid, hydrogen, and derivative (such as ammonia or methanol) propulsion fuels for ships. 

2. International Purple Fest 2024

Syllabus: GS-2, Social Justice

Prelims: International Purple Fest 2024

Context:

International Purple Fest 2024 kicked off in Goa.

Details:

• The fest aims to showcase the tales] of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) through engaging performances in music, dance, and entertainment during the Opening Ceremony.
• The festival stands as a celebration of diversity, inclusiveness and empowerment on a global scale.
• It is expected to be visited by around 8000 visitors.