PANAJI
In a big boost for inland waterways in the State, the Inland Waterways Development Council (IWDC) has announced setting up of 10 community jetties. It also said three more jetties would be added on river Sal and river Chapora.
IWDC, the apex meet for policy deliberation on the promotion and propagation of inland waterways in India, also announced investments of more than Rs 50,000 crore in next five years to boost infrastructure along national waterways.
Speaking on the occasion Union Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, announced the construction of 10 community jetties along the Mandovi, Cumbharjua, and Zuari rivers. Additionally, he revealed plans for three more jetties on the Sal and Chapora rivers.
He also said proposals for fairway maintenance in three national waterways have been approved while Vessel Traffic Management Systems are also to be set up on all national waterways of Goa.
The meet at Kaziranga also witnessed ministerial participation from various States including Goa, wherein the Ports Minister Aleixo Sequeira attended.
A series of new initiatives across 21 Inland Waterway States were announced worth more than Rs 1400 crore in the meeting.
A major policy initiative in the form of Riverine Community Development Scheme was mooted at the IWDC to improve the socio-economic well-being of coastal communities by developing infrastructure, promotion of trade and tourism along with riverine ecosystem, providing skill enrichment trainings and upgrading traditional knowledge of river of the communities in an attempt to upgrade the quality of lives of the people living by the banks of the National Waterways.
Sonowal also said, “IWDC has anchored a new vista for cooperative federalism as both the governments at Union and the States discussed, deliberated, debated and dwelled on multiple aspects for strengthening of inland waterways.
Historically, the role of inland waterways has been paramount for civilisations. However, this basic tenet of development remained ignored until 2014, he said.
“We are attempting at rejuvenating the support system of inland waterways so that we decongest railways and roadways and at the same time, provide a viable, economic, sustainable and efficient mode of transportation for both passengers and cargo operators”, he said.
