The Inaugural meeting of the first ever Inland Waterways Development Council meeting was held at Cruise Vessel Ganges Queen on January 8 under the Chairmanship of Sarbananda  Sonawal, Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways, and Ayush, where official from  different states, and UT attended the meeting.

A team from Nagaland headed by KG Kenye, Minister for Power and Parliamentary Affairs  Nagaland with the officials from Transport department attended the meeting

K. G Kenye in his address, highlighted the necessitiy and potentiality of the Inland water transport in the state of Nagaland, taking consideration of the landlocked state and its proximity to Myanmar. Keeping in mind the Central Government ‘Look East Policy’ , Kenye requested the Ministry to expedite the execution of  the National Waterways 101 Tizu-Zungki  project, which has been in the pipeline for many years. The Minister also highlighted the need to take up Techno Economic feasibility studies for NW 31 Dhansari  for Cargo and traffic movement and Doyang reseviour Dam to promote water tourism.

Besides the Minister, Dr. Zasekuolie Chusi IAS Secretary to GoN, Sentiwapang Aier NCS Addl. Secy to GoN, Myingthungo Ababe Ezung OST Transport and Thomas Y Kiutsangmong DGM NST officials from the Transport Department represented the meeting.

Download Nagaland Tribune app on Google Play

The meet, with an objective to enable inland waterways as conduits of economic growth and commerce in the country, committed an investment ₹45,000 crore for development of river cruise tourism in the country. Of this ambitious sum, an estimated ₹35,000 crore has been earmarked for cruise vessels and another ₹10,000 crore for development of cruise terminal infrastructure at the end of Amrit Kaal, i.e. by 2047.

To amp up inland waterways for cargo trade, an investment of ₹15,200 crore has been arrived at the Global Maritime India Summit (GMIS) held in Mumbai in October, 2023. This is likely to register a growth rate of more than 400 percent, increasing the volume upto 500 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA) by 2047.