Aizawl, Oct 18 : A Centre-sponsored scheme for development of inland water transport in the Northeast has flopped miserably.
Sources said barring one project from Mizoram for the Tlawng river, the shipping ministry did not receive any project from the states. The ministry has made a request to the states to come forward for availing help.
The scheme, with funding from the Centre, was launched in 2008 to take up various projects for development of inland water transport in the Northeast.
It is estimated that the region has about 1,800km of river routes that can be used by steamers and large country boats.
The inland water transport departments of both the state and central governments have been trying to improve the water transport system in the region.
The Brahmaputra has several small river ports — Sadiya, Dibrugarh, Neemati, Tezpur, Guwahati, Jogighopa and Dhubri. Besides, there are more than 30 pairs of ferry ghats on the Brahmaputra.
The Barak river also has small ports at Karimganj, Badarpur and Silchar and ferry services at several places across it.
The major tributaries of Brahmaputra — Lohit, Dhansiri and Subansiri, rivers of Tripura — Gumti and Haora, Tizu river in Nagaland, Kolodyne river in Mizoram have immense navigation potential and can be developed for better movement of both passengers and cargo.
Not only that, the development of river routes like Subansiri, Dhansiri and Lohit will accelerate the growth of the hinterland as well as open business opportunities along these rivers.
The scheme will provide assistance to conduct hydrographic surveys (method of measuring and describing the depth, nature and configuration of areas below bodies of water), techno-economic feasibility studies, preparation of detailed project report, environmental impact assessment, environment management plan for the development of inland water transport in the states.
It also provide help in waterway development, including excavation, dredging and river training for navigation.
The projects under the scheme can include provision of navigation aids, terminal facilities and supervision and consultancy to monitor the above mentioned activities, if the Centre approves. All the projects will be formulated and executed by the respective state governments through their departments responsible for inland water transport development.
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