Higher capacity dredger to be deployed in 2023-24
The Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shantanu Thakur has inaugurated the dredging work at National Waterways 44 (Ichamati River) in West Bengal on 4 Oct 2023, continuing work on inland water transport as a more cost-effective and environmentally-friendly mode of transportation.
Thakur said, “The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is working towards development of National Waterways like never before. The work for dredging from Tentulia to Kalanchi for 23.38 km is being commenced for achieving navigational depth of 1.5 m (1.2 m +0.3 m tolerance) as per mandate and increasing tidal influence in the river.”
He said Rs.3.77 crore has been sanctioned for meeting dredging and other allied expenses up to March’23 and new scheme shall be sanctioned for 2023-24 as per further requirement and higher capacity dredger shall be deployed after outcome of this initial dredging.
To bring improvement of navigability water hyacinth, weeds, wastes including plastic and non-plastic materials, natural and artificial (dumped materials) were cleared from Tentulia (Ch 40km) to Kalanchi (Ch 63.38 km) and dredging quantity was assessed.
In 1st phase Taranipur (Ch 61.9km) bridge is under active consideration for construction on deposit work basis through Government of West Bengal. It has Rs.136.20 crore funding under the Ministry’s Sagarmala project.
IWAI has also taken step to replace existing temporary bamboo bridge for which Jadavpur University, Kolkata has been assigned the work for study-design, drawing & cost estimate for replacing temporary bamboo bridge at Swarupnagar.
For decongestion of traffic from Ghojadanga–Bhomra and Petrapole–Benapole Integrated Check Post (ICP), Joint Technical Committee comprising of members from India and Bangladesh has been formed to assess the feasibility study of Ichamati river for its navigability and inclusion in Protocol on Inland Water Transit & Trade (PIWT&T) as new Indo Bangladesh Protocol route from Hemnagar-Kalanchi-Khedapara (170.38-km). fiinews.com
