Enhancing the inland waterways connectivity, the second Inland Waterways Development Council (IWDC) meeting was held in Kaziranga last month where initiatives of over ₹1400 cr were announced. The event was organized by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), the key agency responsible for the development of waterways under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW).
Presiding over the meeting, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal said, “IWDC has anchored a new vista for cooperative federalism. Historically, the role of inland waterways has been paramount for civilisations. However, this basic tenet of development remained ignored until 2014. Under the dynamic leadership of our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, attempt has been taken to rejuvenate the support system of inland waterways so that railways & roadways can be decongested & at the same time a viable, economic, sustainable and efficient mode of transportation can be provided to both passengers and cargo operators.”
Mentioning about developments in Assam, the Union Minister announced the setting up of Regional Centre of Excellence (RCoE) in Dibrugarh. The state-of-the-art institution will incubate an ecosystem to train and develop manpower for the IWT sector in the North East region encouraging innovations, “The historic building of IWAI in Dibrugarh has been identified for refurbishment and to preserve its glory as a Historic Building. Further, four new Tourist Jetties each at Biswanath Ghat, Nimati Ghat, Silghat and Guijan will be developed. A new 500-meter link road will be built between the Ship Repair Facility and Pandu Port in Guwahati.”
The Minister also announced the design, construction, supply, testing and commissioning of 12 vessels while one survey vessel for river Barak (NW16)& “procurement of two Steel Pontoon with gangway for providing terminal facility under Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) are also on the cards.”
In the past few years Assam has received over ₹1,000 crore for the advancement of the waterways. Projects such as Comprehensive Development of NW-2, Ship repair facility at Pandu, Bogibeel terminal development, last mile connectivity to Pandu are some of the projects that have already taken off.
“Huge investments are envisaged for development of North Eastern waterways which stand as a resounding testament to their critical role in propelling economic growth and prosperity,” he added.
Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma while attending the inauguration ceremony said, “The issue of climate change will substantially decrease if 30% of the transport in the country is done through inland waterways.”
Dr. Sarma appealed the other Chief Ministers to take steps to see how much of road and rail transport can be converted to inland waterways.
“Civilisations began on the banks of rivers. This is our ‘natural road.’ People have constructed roads, railways, and aviation, but the inland waterways system is about 4,000-5,000 years old. Inland waterways are closely linked to human civilisation; hence, it is not a new development,” Sarma stated.
The Chief Minister asserted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the inland waterways are being reinvented to suit the changing times, “We only have to reinvent it to suit the changing times and give it a new fillip. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi and Union Minister Sonowal, this sector is receiving renewed focus after years. The Prime Minister has started a huge plan to develop the maritime sector, and this will take us close to our 2047 dream of Viksit Bharat.”
Post-inauguration, the Chief Minister, while speaking to the media, shared his optimism about the Inland Waterways Development Council (IWDC) meeting. “I think, an event like this and many more will draw the attraction towards Kaziranga because if 200 people are coming today, they will see Kaziranga, they will make more publicity and next 2000 people will come. This will have an effect,” he said.
Established in 2023, Inland Waterways Development Council is an exercise to derive the maximum economic potential out of the Inland Water bodies.
