Plan conceptualised to develop 5,000-km of Eastern Waterways Connectivity Transport Grid
The Government has approved the implementation of Rs.44,605 crore Ken-Betwa Link Project, the first link under National Perspective Plan (NPP) for implementation of inter-state war transfer, Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha on 29 Mar 2022.
The estimated cost of Rs.44,605 crore was worked out at year 2020-21 price level and will include the Central Government support of Rs.39,317 crore through a Special Purpose Vehicle – Ken Betwa Link Project Authority.
A Gazette notification for this project has been issued by Ministry of Jal Shakti on 11 Feb 2022.
A tripartite agreement has been signed by Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and the Central Government for the implementation of Ken-Betwa Link project in March 2021, he said.
The implementation of the link has been initiated. The Central Government funding approval pattern is only for the Ken-Betwa Link project.
The funding pattern and sanction of funds for any Inter-linking of River project is decided on case to case basis at the time and stage of their implementation.
Thirty links have been identified 30 links (16 under Peninsular Component and 14 under Himalayan Component) for preparation of Feasibility Reports (FRs) under Inter-linking of Rivers Project. Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) of 8 link projects, FRs of 24 links and Pre Feasibility Reports (PFRs) of all the 30 links have been completed.
Further, the Government has sanctioned projects for development of the Inland Water Transport (IWT) infrastructure on National Waterways in the North-Eastern Region (NER) for a period of 5 years from 2020-21 to 2024-25, said Sonowal.
These projects are Rs.461 crore NW-2 (Dhubri-Sadiya stretch of river Brahmaputra) and Rs.145 crore NW-16 (river Barak) and Indo-Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) route.
Besides, there are a number of projects sanctioned under Central Sector Scheme (CSS) of IWT which are at various stages of implementation through respective State Governments in NE Regions.
The investment made under Inland Water Transport (IWT) component of Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP) for connectivity with Myanmar is around Rs.550 Crore.
To improve connectivity to North Eastern Region (NER) through Indo-Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) route under a Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade (PIWT&T), a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between India and Bangladesh for dredging Sirajganj to Daikhowa (175 km) of Jamuna river and Ashuganj – Zakiganj (295 km) of Kushiyara river in Bangladesh at the cost of Rs.305 crore to be shared in the ratio of 80:20 between India and Bangladesh respectively.
Sonowal said the Ministry has also conceptualized a plan to develop the Eastern Waterways Connectivity Transport Grid (comprising 4 key waterways and certain international routes) of about 5,000 km navigable waterways to boost regional integration and trade with South Asia – Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal (BBIN) as well as Eastern South Asia, including Myanmar and to countries like Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.
Seamless connection of NW-1 (Ganges), NW-2 (Brahmaputra) and NW-16 (Barak) would also create opportunity for developing an economic corridor of 3,500 km connecting North Eastern India with rest of India through Bangladesh and also linking Bhutan and Nepal to Bangladesh and India through multimodal connection.
The details of the projects funded by Ministry of External Affairs, undertaken for connectivity of NE States with neighboring countries like Myanmar & Bangladesh:
- Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project:The objective of the project is to provide an alternative connectivity to the North East Region from the Kolkata and Haldia port through Sittwe Port – Kaladan river up to Paletwa in Myanmar by waterway and Paletwa to Zorinpui by Road in Mizoram and provide an alternate route between the landlocked North-East and the rest of India. Ministry of External Affair is the nodal Ministry for implementation. Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) is the Project Development Consultant (PDC) for this project.
- Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade (PIWT&T): North Eastern States are connected with eastern part of India through river Brahmaputra (NW-2) and river Barak (NW-16), Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghli river system (NW-1) via Sundarbans (NW-97) and Indo-Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) route under a Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade (PIWT&T) between India and Bangladesh since 1972. Under this Protocol, Inland vessels and cruises of one country can ply on the designated waterway routes of another country.
- In addition to above, for the use of Chattogram and Mongla Ports of Bangladesh for movement of goods to and from India, Memorandum of Understanding, dated 6 June 2015, Agreement, dated 25 Oct 2018 and Standard Operating Procedure, dated 5 Oct 2019 have been finalized. It provides connectivity to Agartala (Tripura) via Akhura; Dawki (Meghalaya) via Tamabil; Sutarkandi (Assam) via Sheola and Srimantpur (Tripura) via Bibirbazar to Chattogram / Mongla Ports in Bangladesh.
Details of infrastructure projects on National Waterways in North Eastern Region (NER):
Project: Comprehensive Project for development of National Waterway (NW)-2:
The Government is carrying out development of Inland Water Transport (IWT) projects on National Waterway-2 (River Brahmaputra) from Dhubri to Sadiya (891 kms) at the cost of Rs.461 crore for a period of 5 years (2020-25).
The salient features of the projects being taken up are development of navigable fairway with day and night navigation aids and terminals. The development of NW-2 enables waterway connectivity of North East region with Kolkata/Haldia ports via Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route.
The major interventions under this project are (i) Construction of Jogighopa Terminal; (ii) Alternative road to Pandu Port; (iii) Ship repair facility at Pandu; and (iv) Construction of Tourist Jetties at Biswanathghat, Jogighopa, Pandu&Neamati.
Project: Comprehensive Project for development of NW-16 & IBP route:
The development of IWT projects on National Waterway-16&IBP route at the cost of Rs.145 crore for a period of 5 years (2020-25) is being carried out with fairway maintenance and Least Available Depth (LAD) along with navigation aids. Action for upgradation of Badarpur and Karimganj terminals including customs and immigration facility at Karimganj terminal has been initiated.
The major interventions under this project are (i) Construction of Terminal at Sonamura on Gumti river; (ii) Construction of terminal at Maia on Ganga river; and (iii) Upgradation of Badarpur and Karimganj terminals.
The objective of ‘Act East Policy’ is to promote economic cooperation, cultural ties and develop strategic relationship with countries in the Asia-Pacific region by providing enhanced connectivity to the States of North Eastern Region including Arunachal Pradesh with other countries in our neighbourhood.
Act East Policy (AEP) provides an interface between North Eastern India including the state of Arunachal Pradesh and the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) region, he said. fiinews.com
