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DIMAPUR, JULY 16: Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Government of India, organized a stakeholder conference on July 15, 2024, at Niathu resort, Chumoukedima near Dimapur, an official source said today.
The initiative of this stakeholder conference is aimed at harnessing the potential of the North Eastern Region of India by evolving a robust Inland Waterways ecosystem by developing waterways, creating fairways, terminals, tourist and community jetties to promote trade and tourism, it also said.
Nagaland has a National Waterway – Tizu Zungki (NW-101). IWAI will be undertaking studies to ascertain feasibility of this National Waterway for transportation of cargo and passengers. Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) – designed to address issues of national importance and ensure uniform development across the NER is also under implementation. Under this scheme, 100% funds are provided by the government of India for development of IWT infrastructure including development of waterways, the official source added.
IWT has the potential to greatly enhance economic growth, improve connectivity, and offer an environment friendly alternative to conventional transportation methods. Government of Nagaland under CSS has proposed few interventions to develop IWT in the state like the development of Longmatra to Avakhung stretch of Tizu-Zunki River (NW-101) and development of Inland Waterways Projects at Dhansiri River and Doyang Lake in Nagaland, it also said.
Nagaland Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio, speaking as the chief guest stated that the Union minister coming to Nagaland is a wakeup call for the state and stated that “Naga people are privileged people where we don’t pay income tax, wealth tax property tax and are free from all burden”. He also said, “Ports, shipping and waterways are new things to us and we have to come out of our comfort zone and go beyond and fully participate and take the benefit. Unless the participation comes from the people themselves the department alone cannot do anything”, Rio stated.
He mentioned that civilization of the world, cities, towns and habitations that have progressed today building a big city are on the seashore or on the river banks. The cheapest way of transport is the waterway where people row the boat and sail through the direction of wind. “Today, things have changed but water use has not changed. It is more relevant today than before. Nagaland is rich but the unresolved Naga political issue, we remain poor because we did not explore or exploit our resources”, he added.
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