ITANAGAR, Nov 8: Deputy Chief Minister, Chowna Mein has called for proper survey to identify potential projects for inland waterways in the state.
Addressing officers of Transport and Inland Waterways in a meeting here on Wednesday, he asked them to make proper survey of the feasibilities of inland waterways and setting up of river ports or terminal facilities in the five major rivers –Lohit, Dibang, Siang, Kameng and Subansiri of the state.
Recalling that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured to improve connectivity of the region with all the five ways of communication, the road ways, railways, air ways, water ways and internet during the inauguration of the Dr Bhupen Hazarika Bridge at Dholla, Mein said to take advantage of the central projects under inland waterways for the benefits of the state.
Parliamentary Secretary for Water Resource, Gum Tayeng, said that the rivers in Arunachal have a lot of potential for developing inland waterways and its development, which will include excavation, dredging, river taming works for navigation and setting up of terminal facilities with embankments in the river banks will serve a dual purpose for transportation of agricultural and horticultural produces as well as in protecting further erosion of the river banks.
Secretary of Transport, Dani Salu and Special Secretary of Inland Waterways, Nitu Glow highlighted the provisions and guidelines under the Central Sector Scheme for Inland Waterways.
They informed that under exclusive Central Sector Scheme available to North Eastern states, 100 percent financial assistance will be given by the centre under this scheme. They further informed that three proposals were received so far for the three river basins, namely Siang, Dibang and Lohit and requested the state government to send it to the central government for necessary funding in the first phase.
Charu Tayom, Director of Inland Waterways and other officials of Transport were also present in the meeting.
