Question

What is the significance of waterways in the growth of civilization and economy?

Answer 1

Hint: Waterways are the cheapest and eco-friendly mode of transportation. The inland and oceanic waterways have been helpful in exchanging trade and commerce throughout different countries. Waterways have the largest carrying capacity of any type of transport. It is most suitable for carrying heavy goods over long distances.

Complete Answer: Transportation is a factor that determines the growth in terms of economy as well as in the history of civilizations. Maritime trade routes followed during Harappan and Mesopotamian civilisations marks an example of it. Waterways are fuel-efficient and thus contribute to low operating costs. This has helped to reduce the environmental impact due to carbon. With a contribution of about 1% to the country’s transportation, India has 14,500 kilometres of navigable inland waterways including rivers, canals, backwaters and creeks. India has a coastline of nearly 7,517 kilometres. The country also has the largest merchant shipping fleet among developing countries.
Twelve major and 185 minor ports provide infrastructural support to the oceanic routes in India. It is through these oceanic routes, the movement of nearly 95 percent of India’s foreign trade by volume and 70 percent by value takes place. These waterways are also used for the purpose of transportation between the islands and the rest of the country, apart from international trade. This is how the waterways play a significant role in the growth of Indian economy.

Note: The Inland Waterways Authority was set up in 1986 for the development, maintenance and regulation of national waterways in India. The National Waterways Act, 2016 was passed which proposed 106 additional national waterways in order to increase the share of waterways in inland transport.