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• The government on Saturday kicked off the process to fast-track development and use of inland waterways transport involving private and state-run companies.The move is expected to harness the huge potential of inland waterways in transporting bulk cargo such as coal, food grains, fertilizers, project cargo, fly ash, over dimensional cargo and containers at competitive cost for both public and private sector companies, while it is also expected to ease the burden on rail and road infrastructure.A tripartite agreement has been signed between the Nataional Thermal Power Corporation, the Inland Waterways Authority of India and a private developer for the Farakka power project. This has led to competitive transportation rates for NTPC and a private sector investment of Rs 650 crore has been committed. The inter-ministerial coordination committee was informed of the development by the principal secretary to the PM.

• The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has taken a series of initiatives in recent weeks to dispel the perception of a policy paralysis. Principal secretary to the PM, Pulok Chatterjee, has led the efforts to push policies and get projects off the ground.A PMO statement said that NTPC will provide a long-term cargo commitment for 3 million metric tons of coal for the Barh power project once all its five units are operational by 2016-17. It was also agreed that the execution of coal handling facility at Jogighopa and rail connectivity would be taken up under the non-lapsable central pool of resources (NLCPR) scheme.

• The Food Corporation of India will provide a long-term cargo commitment for three years for transportation of food grains to Tripura and Assam from Kolkata and within Assam. The external affairs ministry will try to extend the period of trade and transit protocol beyond March, when it comes for renewal.It was also decided that the ministry of shipping will consider providing additional money, if needed, to ensure night navigation facilities on the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol route. ONGC and Oil India will convey a firm commitment of cargo through the inland waterways transport in two weeks to the Inland Waterway Authority of India. CONCOR will also provide firm commitment for transportation of part of their container cargo from Pandu through inland waterways transport. Chatterjee will review the progress on these decisions in two months, the statement said.

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