♦ The Inland Waterways Authority of India hosted the first-ever meeting of the 'Inland Waterways Development Council' (IWDC) in Kolkata on 8 January 2024. Inland Waterways Authority of India is operating under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW).  This meet was chaired by the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal.

♦ The objective of this meet was to enable inland waterways as conduits of economic growth and commerce in the country, committed an investment Rs.45,000 crore for development of river cruise tourism in the country.

♦ Sonowal also launched ‘Harit Nauka’ guidelines and ‘River Cruise Tourism Roadmap, 2047’ at the inaugural session of IWDC in Kollkata.