The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal announced major initiatives aimed at enabling the waterways potential of Nagaland during a a Stakeholder’s Conference held in Chümoukedima on 15 July.

Sonowal Nagaland waterways
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal (Center), Nagaland Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio, and Nagaland Minister for Tourism and Higher Education, Temjen Imna Along at the waterways ‘Stakeholders Conference’ in Chümoukedima, on July 15. (Photo: PIB)

The Chief Minister of Nagaland, Neiphiu Rio joined Sarbananda Sonowal to announce development of Tizu Zungki (National Waterways 101). It was also informed that both the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and the Transport Department of the Government of Nagaland will work together to study the feasibility of navigation.

Speaking at the event, Sarbananda Sonowal said waterways is the most economical, sustainable and efficient mode of transportation.

Speaking on the occasion, Sonowal said PM Modi has always given top priority to the inland waterways in the country as the viable alternative to develop an efficient and effective mode of transportation in the country. He also said that the Modi government has been working towards enabling the rich resource pool of the country to escalate the growth trajectory of India to become one of the five largest economies in the world in less than a decade.

Sonowal said the Northeast has a major role to play as the growth engine of India, as envisioned by Modi, adding that the complex and dynamic mix of waterways of the Northeast provides an excellent opportunity to build on the nation building momentum.

“We remain firmly committed and on track to provide impetus for the development of waterways of the region. I call upon all the stakeholders present here today like transporters, EXIM traders, business interests and vessel owners to utilize the opportunity provided by the revamped waterways of the region,” Sonowal added.

Sonowal also urged the youth of the region to train in maritime skills at the Maritime Skill Development Centre, Guwahati to access employment opportunities in the marine sector.

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW), through IWAI, has been actively empowering and enabling the complex and dynamic waterways of the region. The agency is involved in multiple projects, including the prestigious Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project, linking multiple NWs like NW 2 and NW 16 with the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route (IBPR), developing fairways on IBPR, and designating Ports of Call, among others.

The Union Minister later said that waterways are the new highways of India and these affordable, eco-friendly routes can be the key to further unlocking immense economic growth for the North East via inter-regional connectivity. “We are also taking several new initiatives in the sector, which will open doors of prosperity for Nagaland,” he added.

Sonowal also announced initiatives to develop the tourism potential of Doyang River Lake with community jetties and to study the feasibility of Ro-Pax ferries, aiming to boost the state’s tourism.

waterways

The conference was attended by Deputy CM Yanthungo Patton; Tourism Minister of Nagaland Temjen Imna Along; Lok Sabha MP S Supongmeren Jamir; Rajya Sabha MP Phangnon Konyak; MLA & Advisor Nagaland M Yanthan; MLA & Advisor Transport & Technical Education, Temjenmenba; MLA & Advisor SK Yimchunger; MLA ZN Nyuthe; MLA CK Santam; IWAI Vice Chairman Sunil Singh; Commissioner & Secretary of Transport Department of Nagaland, and other senior officials from the Government of India and Nagaland Government.

National Waterways 101

In Nagaland, NW 101 flows from Longmatra (Kiphire) towards Avangkhu (Phek), where IWAI will conduct a feasibility study for inland water transport (IWT). This study will examine fairway development, navigational aids, terminals with minimal infrastructure, skill development, and vessel procurement.

The Tizu River in Nagaland flows into the Chindwin River (the third-largest tributary of the Irrawaddy River), also known as the Ningthi River in Myanmar, at Htamanthi. The Chindwin River then joins the Irrawaddy River, Myanmar’s largest river, which drains into the Andaman Sea via the Irrawaddy Delta, passing through river ports like Mandalay, Chauk, Prome, and Hinthada. This presents an alternative opportunity to use waterways for cargo movement from Northeast India to international trade routes.

MT

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