Lok Sabha Question No. 728 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-11-29
Subject: Inland Waterways Projects in North Eastern States
Ministry: PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
Asked by: Shri Pradyut Bordoloi

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.728

ANSWERED ON 29.11.2024

## INLAND WATERWAYS PROJECTS IN NORTH EASTERN STATES

728. SHRI PRADYUT BORDOLOI:

Will the Minister of PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYSbe pleased to state: पȅन , पोत पįरवहन और जलमागŊ मंũी

- (a)  the  funds  sanctioned  and  utilised  under  the  Central  Sector  Scheme  (CSS)  for Development of Inland Waterways in North Eastern States including Sikkim since it was established; (b) the details regarding the physical progress made under all projects sanctioned under the above mentioned CSS and the deadlines that have been set for the same; (c) the status of various floating and permanent jetties on the Brahmaputra and Barak rivers  in  Assam  and  dredging  of  the  Brahmaputra  at  88  locations  by  the  Inland Waterways Authority of India; and (d)  the  projected  increase  in  trade  volume  and  economic activities  as  a  result  of  the
- newly developed inland waterways projects in the North-Eastern Region?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS (SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)

- (a)      Funds  sanctioned  and  utilised  under  the  Central  Sector  Scheme  (CSS)  for Development of Inland Waterways in North Eastern States including Sikkim are detailed at Annexure - 1
- (b) Physical progress made under all projects sanctioned under the above mentioned schemes under CSS in NER and the deadlines are detailed at Annexure-2.
- (c)  Status of various floating and permanent jetties of the Brahmaputra and Barak rivers in Assam and dredging of the Brahmputra is at Annexure-3 .

(d)  The  newly  developed  inland  waterways  projects  in  NER  helped  in  increasing  the trade  and  economic  activities  at  grass  root  level.  Details  of  cargo  movement  is  at Annexure-4

## Funds  sanctioned  and  utilised  under  the  Central  Sector  Scheme  (CSS)  for Development of Inland Waterways in North Eastern States

|   Sl. No. | Name of State   | Name of Project                                                                                                                                                         | Funds Sanctioned   | Funds released   |
|-----------|-----------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------|------------------|
|         1 | Assam           | Construction of 15 Nos. of 17.0 M long floating terminals at 15 Ferry Ghat Bank on River Brahmaputra in Assam under CSS.                                                | Rs. 6.0749 Cr.     | Rs. 4.9147 Cr.   |
|         1 | Assam           | Construction of 25 Nos. of 17.0 M long floating terminals at 25 Ferry Ghat Bank on River Brahmaputra in Assam under CSS.                                                | Rs. 10.9787 Cr.    | Rs. 6.5914 Cr.   |
|         1 | Assam           | Construction of 15 Nos. of 17.0 M long floating terminals at 15 Ferry Ghat Bank on River Barak in Assam under CSS.                                                      | Rs. 6.3691 Cr.     | Rs. 1.2338 Cr.   |
|         1 | Assam           | Construction of 16 Nos. of 25.0 M long floating terminals at Ferry Ghat on River Brahmaputra in Assam under CSS                                                         | Rs. 13.7016 Cr.    | Rs. 2.7403 Cr.   |
|         1 | Assam           | Construction of Passenger Vessels of different size and capacities, construction of terminal facilities and capacity building of crews of IWT, Assam                    | Rs. 25 Cr.         | Rs.3.2879 Cr.    |
|         2 | Manipur         | Loktak Inland Waterways Improvement Project for Assistance under Central Sector Scheme.                                                                                 | Rs. 25.58 Cr.      | Rs. 5.117 Cr.    |
|         2 | Manipur         | Loktak Inland Water Transport Project-II for Loktak lake in Manipur                                                                                                     | Rs. 7.8842 Cr.     | Rs. 7.8842 Cr.   |
|         3 | Tripura         | Revised Project Proposal for Development of Inland Water Transport in River Gomati in Tripura with a view to setting up linkage with Meghna River System in Bangladesh. | Rs. 24.5257 Cr.    | Rs. 4.905 Cr.    |
|         4 | Mizoram         | Conducting Hydrographic Survey and Economic Feasibility Study at River Chhimtuipui, Mizoram                                                                             | Rs. 0.82305 Cr.    | Rs. 0.7818 Cr.   |

|    |          | Development of IWT on River Khawthlangtuipui - Tuichawng in Lunglei District in Mizoram.                                     | Rs. 6.178 Cr.   | Rs. 1.2357 Cr.   |
|----|----------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------|------------------|
|    |          | Proposal for preparation of Detailed Project Report (DPR) for development of IWT on River Chhimtuipui, Mizoram-reg.          | Rs. 1.41 Cr.    | -                |
|    |          | Preparation of DPR for Development of IWT in River Tlwang (NW-102), Mizoram                                                  | Rs. 0.89 Cr.    | -                |
| 5. | Nagaland | Preparation of DPR for promotion of Water Sports & Tourism at Noune and Shilloi Lake in Nagaland under Central Sector Scheme | Rs. 0.90 Cr.    | -                |
| 5. | Nagaland | Preparation of DPR for development of IWT at Doyang Reservoir, Wokha Nagaland                                                | Rs. 0.85 Cr.    | -                |

## Physical progress made under projects sanctioned under the CSS in NER and the deadlines:

|   Sl. No. | Name of State   | Name of Project                                                                                                          | Status                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
|-----------|-----------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|         1 | Assam           | Construction of 15 Nos. of 17.0 M long floating terminals at 15 Ferry Ghat Bank on River Brahmaputra in Assam under CSS. | Project was sanctioned on 23.06.2014. Project Completed.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
|         1 | Assam           | Construction of 25 Nos. of 17.0 M long floating terminals at 25 Ferry Ghat Bank on River Brahmaputra in Assam under CSS. | Project was sanctioned on 19.01.2018 12 out of 25 floating terminals are partially completed. Govt. of Assam has informed that due to cost escalation, the contractor has denied for taking up the work of the remaining 13 floating terminal. Therefore, the project has been foreclosed by Govt. of Assam. Ministry has requested Govt. of Assam to return the unspent amount together with the interest accrued thus far to Consolidated Fund of India (CFI) and to reassess the need for remaining floating terminals and formulate a new proposal/project (if |
|         1 | Assam           | Construction of 15 Nos. of 17.0 M long floating terminals at 15 Ferry Ghat Bank on River Barak in Assam under CSS.       | required) for consideration of this Ministry. Project was sanctioned on 24.01.2018 The earlier work order has been cancelled due to non-execution of work. After fresh NIT work order has been issued on 05.10.2023. Till date no Physical and Financial progress has been achieved.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|         1 | Assam           | Construction of 16 Nos. of 25.0 M long floating terminals at Ferry Ghat on River Brahmaputra in Assam                    | Project sanctioned on 25.01.2018 03 terminal completed out of 16 terminals Due to non execution of the work by the contractor, Govt. of Assam has foreclosed the project.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |

|    |         | under CSS.                                                                                                                                                              |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|----|---------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|    |         | Construction of Passenger Vessels of different size and capacities, construction of terminal facilities and capacity building of crews of IWT, Assam.                   | Project sanctioned on 18.03.2024, Tender issued.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| 2. | Manipur | Loktak Inland Water Transport Project-II for Loktak lake in Manipur                                                                                                     | Project sanctioned on 29.03.2016 Project completed.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| 2. | Manipur | Loktak Inland Waterways Improvement Project for Assistance under Central Sector Scheme.                                                                                 | Project sanctioned on 31.10.2019 The project could not be started as a PIL was filed in Hon'ble High Court of Manipur and Stay was imposed on 17.07.2019 for not to commence any developmental work in Loktak lake. Thereafter, Govt. of Manipur cancelled the project. Till date a sum of Rs.4,84,26,484/-returned by Govt. of Manipur has been deposited by IWAI in the CFI and the balance along with interest thereon is yet to be received from Govt. of Manipur. |
| 3. | Tripura | Revised Project Proposal for Development of Inland Water Transport in River Gomati in Tripura with a view to setting up linkage with Meghna River System in Bangladesh. | Project sanctioned on 10.02.2022 The overall physical progress is 55%.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| 4. | Mizoram | Conducting Hydrographic Survey and Economic Feasibility Study at River Chhimtuipui, Mizoram                                                                             | Project sanctioned on 14.09.2022 Project Completed.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |

|    |          | Development of IWT on River Khawthlangtuipui - Tuichawng in Lunglei District in Mizoram.                                     | Project sanctioned on 30.12.2021. A total of Rs. 50,67,873 has been utilized by the Government of Mizoram, while the remaining balance of Rs. 77,89,171 has been returned to IWAI and surrendered to the CFI. Due to delay in executionof project by Govt. of Mizoram. The Ministry has appointed IWAI as an implementing agency for taking over the project.   |
|----|----------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|    |          | Proposal for preparation of Detailed Project Report (DPR) for development of IWT on River Chhimtuipui, Mizoram-reg.          | Administrative sanction conveyed to IWAI (Project Implementing Agency) on 21.10.2024.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
|    |          | Preparation of DPR for Development of IWT in River Tlwang (NW- 102), Mizoram                                                 | Administrative sanction conveyed to IWAI (Project Implementing Agency) on 14.11.2024.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
| 5. | Nagaland | Preparation of DPR for promotion of Water Sports & Tourism at Noune and Shilloi Lake in Nagaland under Central Sector Scheme | Administrative sanction conveyed to IWAI (Project Implementing Agency) on 22.10.2024.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
| 5. | Nagaland | Preparation of DPR for development of IWT at Doyang Reservoir, Wokha Nagaland                                                | Administrative sanction conveyed to IWAI (Project Implementing Agency) on 24.09.2024.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |

Status of various floating and permanent jetties on the Brahmaputra and Barak rivers in Assam and dredging of the Brahmaputra:

## River Brahmaputra:

-  Permanent terminal at Pandu port and Dhubri are operational.
-  Construction of Jogighopa Multi-Modal Terminal (MMT) completed.
-  Floating terminals along the river Brahmaputra are provided for embarkation/disembarkation of passenger and loading/unloading of cargo at 12 (twelve)   locationsviz:  i)  Dhubri,  ii)  Jogighopa,   iii)  Pandu,  iv)   Uzanbazar,  v) Tezpur vi) Silghat, vii) BishwanathGhat,  viii) Neamati, ix) Afalamukh, x) Bogibeel, xi) Bindyakata& xii) Guijan,
-  Construction of Cargo-cum-Tourist jetty at Bogibeel is (Phase - I) completed.

## River Barak:

-  Permanent IWT terminal at Karimganj&Badarpur  operational.
-  Floating terminal along the river Barak is provided for embarkation/disembarkation  of  passenger  and  loading/unloading  of  cargo  at Badarpur.

Dredging in Brahmaputra: For safe movement of vessels, fairway of required depth of 2 to 2.5 m & width of 35 to 45 m of navigation channel is maintained. For maintenance of  fairway,  besides  the  other  means  (bandalling,  channel  stabilization  works  etc), maintenance  dredging  is carried out as per site conditions wherever  recorded depth during fortnightly hydrographic surveys is less than the targeted LAD.

The cargo movement on NWs of NER from 2019-20 till 2024-25 October in Million Metric Tonne (MMT) is as given below:

| National Waterway                        | 2019-20   | 2020-21   | 2021-22   | 2022- 23   |   2023- 24 |   2024- 25 till Oct |
|------------------------------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|------------|------------|---------------------|
| NW-2 (Brahmaputra River (Dhubri-Sadiya)) | 0.39      | 0.31      | 0.43      | 0.63       |      0.59  |               0.51  |
| NW-16 (Barak River)                      | 0.004     | 0.001     | 0.01      | 0.01       |      0.003 |               0.1   |
| NW-31 (Dhansiri/Chathe)                  | -         | -         | -         | -          |      0.01  |               0.002 |
| Total                                    | 0.40      | 0.31      | 0.43      | 0.64       |      0.6   |               0.61  |

The Traffic  movement for 2024-25 till  October,  2024  has  already  surpassed  the  total cargo moved in 2023-24.

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