Lok Sabha Question No. 3331 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-17
Subject: Dredging in Brahmputra River for Waterways
Ministry: PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
Asked by: Naba (Hira) Kumar Sarania

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING  AND WATERWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3331

ANSWERED ON 1711212021

## DREDGTNG IN BRAHMPUTRA RIVER FOR WATERWAYS

## 3331. SHRI NABA KUMAR SARANIA:

Will the Minister of PORTS,  SHIPPING  AND WATERWAYS be pleased to state: ffi, fi-a  qftq-i{  utt werqrl q*

- (a) whether the Government has any proposal for dredging/mining of Brahmaputra  river for development of watenruays on the river;
- (b) if so, the time by which this work on Brahmaputra river is likely to be started;
- (c) the details of other schemes/projects proposed  on Brahmaputra river for the purpose;
- (d) the details of fund allocated  for the purpose during the last three years; and
- (e) the details of works undertaken  therefrom?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF PORTS, SHIPPING  AND WATERWAYS (sHRt SARBANANDA SONOWAL)

- (a) & (b) lnland Waterways Authority of lndia (lWAl) takes up maintenance dredging to remove shoals to maintain  1.5 to 2.5 m deep and 45 m wide navigation channel for movement  of vessels on NW-2 as per requirement.
- (c) & (e) Details of schemes/ projects and works undertaken  for development  of shipping  & navigation on river Brahmaputra  are at Annex-1.
- (d) The details of the fund allocation for the development of infrastructure  in NE States under lwAl in the last three years and current year is as under:

(Year-wise

|   st" No. | IWT Projects                                                                                                        | 2018-19   |   2019-20 |   2020-21 | 2021-22   |
|-----------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
|         1 | National Waterway (NW) No. 2 (River Brahmaputra) & NW-16 (river Barak) and studies for 1B new NWs w.e.f. 12.04.2016 | '120.00   |        80 |        40 | 89.'10    |

## B.E. res in Rs. in Crore

## Details of projects and works on Brahmaputra  River (NW-2):

1. Development  of NW-2 at a cost of Rs. 461 crore during 2020-21 lo 2024-25 has been undertaken by lWAl. The waterway is being maintained with fairway of 1.5 m to 2.5 m Least Available Depth (LAD) and 45 m width, with day and night navigation  aids and terminals.

The development of NW-2 enables  waterway connectivity of North East region with Kolkata/  Haldia ports via lndo-Bangladesh  Protocol Route. The approved activities  on NW-2 are as under.

- ; Construction  of Jogighopa  terminal.
- ; Alternative Road to Pandu  Po(.
- -Ship repair facility at Pandu.
- ,-  Fairway development  and maintenance  works.
- .,- Operation  and Maintenance  of navigational  aids.
- ; Operation  and Maintenance  of fixed & floating  terminals.
- r Operation  and Maintenance  of vessels.
- ; Procurement  of 4 Ro-PAX  vessels.
- > Consultancytraining.
- , 4 Nos. Tourist Jetties  at Jogighopa,  Pandu, Biswanathghat & Neamati
- ) Maintenance  of e-portal  etc.

ln addition to above, 3 projects  have been sanctioned  under central sector scheme (css) for construction of 56 nos. floating terminals  at various Ghats on River Brahmaputra.