Chapter I PRELIMINARY

1. (1) This Act may be called the Andhra Pradesh Inland Waterways Authority Act, 2023.
2. (2) It shall come into force on such date as the Andhra Pradesh Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.
3. (3) This Act upon commencement, will supersede the provisions of Andhra Pradesh Maritime Board Act, 2018 to the extent it is applicable for Inland Waterways, Water Transport, Water Tourism related provisions and activities.
4. (4) It extends to the whole of the State of Andhra Pradesh.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires-

1. (a) “appurtenant land” means all lands appurtenant to a waterway, coastal area of Andhra Pradesh whether demarcated or not;
2. (b) “authority” means the Andhra Pradesh Inland Waterways Authority constituted under Section 3;
3. (c) “channel” means any waterway, whether natural or artificial;
4. (d) “conservancy” include straining, closure, diversion or abandoning channels;
5. (e) “conservancy measures” means measures for purposes of conservancy including dredging, river/ canal training measures, navigational aids but does not include measures for protection of banks against floods or for restricting banks which have become eroded mainly on account of reasons not connected with shipping and navigation;
6. (f) “infrastructure” includes structures such as docks, wharves, jetties, marinas, landing stages, locks, buoys, inland ports, cargo handling equipment, road and rail access and cargo storage spaces, and the expression “infrastructure facilities” shall be construed accordingly;
7. (g) “waterway” means the inland waterways other than national waterways including ponds, lakes, canals, streams, rivers and other water bodies;
8. (h) “inland waterways” or “coastal waterways” means the waterways within the territorial jurisdiction of the Government of Andhra Pradesh;
   • (i) “water tourism” means water related tourism activities;
9. (j) “cruise services” cruise services within the State of Andhra Pradesh;
10. (k) “navigable channel” means a channel navigable during the whole or a part of the year;
11. (l) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act shall be published in the official Gazette;
12. (m) “regulations” means regulations made by the Authority under this Act; and
13. (n) “rules” means rules made by the Government of Andhra Pradesh under this Act.