Guwahati: Sarbananda Sonowal announces Skill Institute on Marine Studies

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal announced the setting up of a Skill Institute on Marine Studies at Guwahati in Assam under Indian Maritime University, Chennai.

Sonowal unveiled his strategies to boost inland waterways in Assam for a rejuvenated economy and trade resurgence for the Northeast India.

The union minister also announced the setting up of a Skill Institute on Marine Studies at Guwahati in Assam under Indian Maritime University, Chennai. This Government declared 20 waterways as National Waterways in 2016. The ministry has initiated work on NW 2 (Brahmaputra) and NW 16 (Barak) as more waterways are considered for development. Such steps add towards the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to utilize the true and untapped potential of inland waterways for trade and transportation.

Sonowal, “Our waterways are a gift from God. It is up to us on how we can use this gift to help our people to prosper, usher growth in the northeast without minimal or no environmental cost. Our government is committed to the development of the waterways and I appeal our entrepreneurs and trade leaders to work together us for reaping benefit from it. This is a wonderful way to showcase our beautiful produce from Northeast India to the rest of the world.”

The trade in Northeast is also likely to benefit from the Chattogram and Mongla ports in Bangladesh for cargo movement from India. This was critical for the landlocked Northeast to secure a short and swift route to the sea. The first trial movement from this new route was carried recently. The Dhubri terminal on NW 2 has also been developed to facilitate cargo between Bhutan and Bangladesh. A multi modal logistics park including a IWT Terminal at Jogighopa in Assam will also help Bhutan to benefit.

To promote river tourism and water sports along Brahmaputra, Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways has identified 7 tentative locations (Oriumghat, Bhupen Hazarika Setu, Koliabhomora Bridge at Tezpur, Bogibeel Bridge, Dikhow Mukh, Kalongmukh and Uzanbazar) for development of tourist jetties. Construction of tourists’ jetties will facilitate river cruise tourism, generate local employment and also growth for local business. These jetties would be in addition to the four tourist jetties at Jogighopa, Pandu, Neamati and Bishwanath Ghat, which have already been approved. Moreover, plans are afoot to explore floating jetties at Guwahati river front and Umarnagso in dima hasao district in Assam for sea plane operations.