The committee has recommended the criteria of minimum width of about 45 metre and minimum depth of 1.5 metre for channels to be declared as national waterways.

The NCIWRDP has stated that the present standard adopted for declaration of national waterways should be reviewed as per water channel needs for navigation which depends upon the capacity and dimensions of vessels using the waterway. The requirement of flow of water for navigation like design depth and width of navigation channel is dependent on various complex hydromorphological parametres and will vary for different waterways and even in different sections of the waterways and, therefore, cannot be specified.The requirements of flow in water channel needs are mostly expected to be metby seasonal flows in various river systems or canals. However, in the event of reservoirs, some water would be required to be released from upstream reservoirs for keeping the waterway navigable. It is also likely, in certain cases, that the minimum flows from essential environmental considerations may exceed the flow need for inland navigation. By channelising the flows through different structural methods, the flow requirement in waterways can be reduced substantially.

NCIWRDP, set up by the Union ministry of water resources in September 13, 1996, is entrusted with the duty of preparing an integrated water resources development plan. It is headed by the former member-secretary of the Planning Commission, SR Hashim.The other terms of reference before the commission is to suggest modalities for transfer of surplus water to water-deficit basins by inter-linking rivers; to identify important on-going projects as well as new projects which should be completed on priority basis together with phasing; toidentify a technological and inter-disciplinary research plan for the water sector with a view to maximise the benefits; and to suggest physical and financial resource generation strategies for the water sector.

The NCIWRDP has estimated that the water requirement for the existing inland navigation system in the country by the year 2050 will be restricted to one per cent of utilisable water resources of 7 billion cubic metre.

It has also noted that the existing navigable waterways in the country comprising rivers, canals, backwaters, creeks and tidal inlets presently extends to only 14,500 km.