Several National Waterways, such as Ganga, Sutlej, and Indus, are being used for water sports by state governments. Safety standards developed by the National Institute of Water Sports (NIWS) – Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management (IITTM) are being implemented. The Minister for Tourism and Culture informed the Lok Sabha about these initiatives.
The National Waterways currently hosting water sports activities include Ganga in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, Sutlej in Himachal Pradesh, and Indus in Ladakh, among others. The National Institute of Water Sports (NIWS) – Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management (IITTM) has set safety standards and SOPs for various water sports activities. These standards have been adopted by several states and union territories.
The Ministry of Tourism has not received any formal proposal to explore 111 declared National Waterways for water sports. The enforcement of safety regulations is the responsibility of state and union territory governments. Various states and union territories have incorporated safety standards into their water sports and adventure tourism policies. The National Institute of Water Sports (NIWS) – Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management (IITTM) provides technical support to states like Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Goa, Gujarat, Odisha, and Puducherry.
