New Delhi [India], November 19 (ANI): Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal, reviewed various projects under implementation around the North-east region by Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) at a review meeting held in Silchar, Assam today.

He reviewed the progress made on the renovation of existing shore facilities at Badarpur Terminal and the renovation of existing shore facilities at Karimganj Terminal during his visit.

Sonowal directed the officials to take all necessary measures including dredging in order to ensure smooth passage of cargo vessels on NW 2 (Brahmaputra) and NW 16 (Barak). The Minister was accompanied by the senior officials of IWAI, MoPSW and the Government of Assam.

Speaking on the occasion, Sonowal said, "Northeast India is rich and its richness must reach the world in order to make people aware about our rich heritage and resources. Inland Waterways comes as a wonderful avenue for us - the people of Northeast - to take our produce out into the global trade map in an efficient and economic way.

"Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we are working towards unlocking this huge potential of the Northeast through enabling our river systems to act as a conduit of growth and development. As the engine of New India's growth story, the Northeast has a huge role to play in enabling this vision. Waterways plays a crucial role to reach out the interiors of our region and open the doors of opportunity in trade, service in the global market. We are working steadfastly towards this," Union Minister Sonowal added.

IWAI is carrying out the work for the renovation of IWAI terminals at Badarpur along NW- 16 (river Barak) and Karimganj along the IBP route (river Kushiyara) in Karimganj District of Assam through CPWD on a deposit work basis. To maintain the Fairway on river Barak, dredging work is to be undertaken by Dredging Corporation of India (DCI) between Bhanga to Badarpur (10.50 kms) of NW16 for an estimated cost of Rs45 crores for a 3 year period.

"The hydrographic survey in No man's land of river Kushiyara between India and Bangladesh has been conducted by a joint team of IWAI and BIWTA, Government of Bangladesh in the last week of October 2022. The Barak River is the lifeline of this region. Keeping in mind the huge potential of economic growth in this region, Union Minister Sarbanand Sonowal took stock of the progress of various developmental projects going on in this region, especially in the Barak valley. This is in line with the 'Act East' Policy," read an official statement.

"The river from Bhanga to Lakhipur (121 km) has been declared a National Waterway16 (NW16). It connects Barak Valley with NW1 and rest of India through IBP route 34 and with NW2 (river Brahmaputra) through IBP route 78. IWAI terminals play a major role for trade in the Barak Valley and adjoining areas. Karimganj terminal is a notified Port of Call and Badarpur is an Extended Port of Call in NW16. The export through IWT has grown manifolds in the recent years and export in FY 2022-23 is already more than 3 times (total 53 vessels carrying 9987 MT) of that in FY 2021-22 (total 18 vessels carrying 2490 MT). With the renovation of the terminals will further easy and increase the export activities and commodities," the statement added. (ANI)