Question

Characteristics of National Waterway as per NTPC 1980?

• A. Navigability by mechanically propelled vessels
• B. 45 m wide channel and minimum 1.5 m depth
• C. Serve the interest of more than one State
• D. All of the above

Hint:

National Waterways are critical for the efficient movement of goods and are designed to meet specific navigational and physical criteria.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the question.
The question is referring to the key characteristics that define National Waterways in India, as outlined in the National Transport Policy Committee (NTPC) of 1980. National waterways must meet specific criteria to be classified as such.

Step 2: Analyzing the options.
(A) Navigability by mechanically propelled vessels: This is a required characteristic, as National Waterways must be navigable by mechanically powered vessels.
(B) 45 m wide channel and minimum 1.5 m depth: Correct — These are physical requirements for National Waterways, ensuring they are wide and deep enough for safe passage of vessels.
(C) Serve the interest of more than one State: This is true because National Waterways typically span multiple states and have a broader national importance.
(D) All of the above: Correct — All the listed options are characteristics of National Waterways as per NTPC 1980.

Step 3: Conclusion.
The correct answer is (D) All of the above, as all the listed criteria are essential characteristics of National Waterways.

Answer 2

The National Transport Policy Committee's 1980 criteria for a National Waterway lay out several conditions together, so this becomes a matter of checking whether each individual statement is actually one of those recognised criteria:

1. Navigability by mechanically propelled vessels: This is indeed one of the defining criteria, a waterway must be usable by mechanically powered vessels, not just small manual boats.
2. 45 m wide channel and minimum 1.5 m depth: This is also one of the defining physical criteria, ensuring the channel is wide and deep enough for safe navigation by such vessels.
3. Serve the interest of more than one State: This is the third defining criterion, reflecting the inter-state, national importance a waterway must carry to be so designated.
4. All of the above: Since each of the first three statements is independently a genuine criterion from the 1980 committee's definition, none of them can be excluded, meaning the complete, correct answer must include all three together.

Because each of the three specific statements independently checks out as true, no single one of them alone is the complete answer.

Therefore, the correct answer is All of the above.