DIMAPUR: Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal has announced major initiatives aimed at enabling the waterways potential of Nagaland.
The union minister announced during the interactive session of the Stakeholder’s Conference, organized by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), in Dimapur on Monday.
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio along with Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal announced development of Tizu Zunki (National Waterways 101). Both the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and the Nagaland Transport Department will be working together to conduct a detailed feasibility study for the development of the Tizu Zunki river.
Initiatives will also be taken to develop the immense tourism potential of Doyang River Lake with community jetties and Ro Pax ferries. This will boost the tourism potential of the state, Sonowal said.
The conference was also attended by Deputy Chief Minister Yanthungo Patton, Nagaland Tourism Minister Temjen Imna Along, among others.
Speaking on the occasion, Sarbananda Sonowal, said, “Waterways is the most economical, sustainable and efficient mode of transportation. PM Modi has always given top priority to the inland waterways in the country as the viable alternative for developing an efficient and effective mode of transportation in the country.”
The central government is committed to providing impetus for the development of waterways of the region, he said.
CM Neiphiu Rio called upon the youth of the region to train in maritime skills at the Maritime Skill Development Centre to avail of employment opportunities in the marine sector.
In Nagaland, the National Waterways 101 flows from Longmatra (Nagaland) towards Avangkhu where the feasibility study of inland water transport will be conducted by the IWAI.
“This will be examined from the perspective of fairway development, navigational aids, terminal with minimum infrastructure, skill development, and vessel procurement,” Sonowal said.
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) through the Inland Waterways Authority of India has been working towards empowering and enabling the complex and dynamic waterways of the northeastern region.
