It is hereby declared that it is expedient in the public interest that the Union should take under its control the regulation and development of Talcher-Dhamra stretch of Brahmani-Kharsua-Dhamra rivers, Geonkhali-Charbatia stretch of East Coast Canal, Charbatia-Dhamra stretch of Matai river and Mahanadi Delta rivers between Mangalgadi and Paradip for the purposes of shipping and navigation on the national waterway to the extent provided in the Inland Waterways Authority of India Act, 1985 (82 of 1985).
(See Section 2)
Limits of the National Waterway (Talcher-Dhamra Stretch Brahmani-Kharsua-Dhamra Rivers, Geonkhali-Charbatia Stretch of East Coast Canal, Charbatia-Dhamra Stretch of Matai River and Mahanadi Delta Rivers)
East Coast Canal and Matai River
(Consisting of old Hijli Tidal Canal, Orissa Coast Canal and Matai river)
| Northern limit |
Confluence point of Hooghly river and Hijli tidal canal at Geonkhali at Lat 22 12 20 N, Lon 88 03 07 E. |
| Southern limit |
Confluence point of Matai river and Dhamra river near Dhamra Fishing harbour at Lat 20 47 42 N, Lon 86 53 03 E. |
Brahmani-Kharsua-Dhamra river system
(Consisting of Brahmani-Kharsua-Dhamra rivers)
| North-Western limit |
Samal barrage across river Bhramani, Talcher at Lat 21 04 26 N, Lon 85 08 05 E. |
| South-Eastern limit |
An imaginary line drawn across Dhamra river at East Point of Kalibhanj Dian Reserved Forest near Chandnipal at Lat 20 46 26 N, Lon 86 57 15 E. |
Mahanadi delta rivers
(Consisting of Hansua river, Nuna nala, Gobri nala, Kharnasi river and Mahanadi river) (Alternate route-Hansua river enters into Bay of Bengal through northern point of False point bay, then enters river Kharnasi at southern end of False point bay, river Atharabanko, a northernly distributory of river Mahanadi)
| Northern limit |
Confluence of Kharsua river with Brahmani river at Ramchandrapur at Lat 20 36 55 N, Lon 86 45 05 E. |
| Southern limit |
An imaginary line in continuation to the Northern break water structure across the entrance channel at Paradip Port at Lat 20 15 38 N, Lon 86 40 55 E. |