AIZAWL, April 24 NNN : Mizoram will soon have improved inland waterway transport.
In the follow up action in connection with the project proposal already submitted for inland water transport development along Tuichawng and Khawthlang rivers in Mizoram which are estimated to cost Rs. 26.97 crores, Mizoram Transport minister P.C. Zoram Sangliana met Union Shipping Minister G.K. Vasan at the latter’s office chamber, Transport Bhawan, New Delhi, and discussed the matter with him on Tuesday.
It was agreed that the follow-up discussion shall be held immediately at IWT centre in Noida, and then another discussion over technical matters shall be held by Project Engineers on May 15 in New Delhi, after which, when all necessary matters are cleared, the required fund for the project shall be sanctioned.
The Mizoram Transport minister also met Union Culture minister Chandresh Kumari Katoch at her office chamber, Shastri Bhawan, with whom he discussed about the project proposal for setting up of Heritage Village, Aizawl district at the cost estimation of Rs. 25 crores and construction of major Inns at Kawtchhuahropui and Vangchhia villages in Champhai district.
In can be noted here that in December last year while attending the 57th National Development Council Meeting at Vighyan Bhawan, New Delhi, Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla had mentioned about the availability of 34% of the country’s surface water in North East region.
It is worthwhile to recall that in July last year, a resolution for quicker development of Inland Water Way for strengthening transportation system in Mizoram was unanimously passed in the 8th Mizoram Legislative Assembly session.
Inland water transport history in Mizoram began with the arrival of Rev.Williams Williams in Aizawl on March 15, 1891. He had made the journey by boat through Tlawng River and landed in Mizoram to preach the Gospel. Despite creation of landmark navigation history through the river in 1891 there is no meaningful development of the river water way within the last 120 years.
There is a good scope for the development of inland water ways in Mizoram. Before partition of India in 1947 there was an excellent waterway between Chittagong in Bangladesh and Demagiri in Mizoram through the Karnafuli river. With coming up of Kaptai dam on the Karnafuli in Bangladesh, a huge area around Demagiri has been submerged. This has created a good potential of inland water transport in the area. Another water way in the south was the Kolodyne.
In the north of Mizoram, the most frequently used water way was the Tlawng by which the British used to move men and material from Silchar to Sairang, gateway to Aizawl. It was a journey of about seven days inward and three days outward.
Mizoram is one among the 5 best performing states in the country in terms of water transportation.
Mizoram Transport minister PC Zoram Sangliana had said last month, “The team from Inland Water Transport Ministry of the Central government, who came on inspection visit to the state, had expressed their satisfaction over the functioning of water transportation system in Mizoram, so much so that, they had placed Mizoram among the 5 best performing states in India.”
Further, having found suitable to develop a water route between Bairabi and Sairang along Tlawng River, the Central government also plans to prepare a water-way between Tuichawng and Khawthlang rivers by clearing off all the hindrances so as to enable transportation by boat, the Transport minister had added.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/inland-water-transport-in-mizoram-soon/
