Biplab raises waterways issues with Sonwal

Agartala, Aug 02, 2024, By Our Correspondent

Lok Sabha member Biplab Kumar Deb in a meeting with the Minister of Inland Ports, Shipping and Inland Waterways, Sarbananda Sonwal, raised several demands regarding Tripura. He also stressed on speedy completion of waterway work through Daudkandi to Srimantpur in Sonamura, Sonamura Dauki to extend this protocol route to Udaipur. At the same time, he demanded to complete the work of the Bangladesh part quickly in discussion with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. If goods can be transported by water than by road, the cost can be reduced a lot, which will reduce the price of goods.

In today's discussion with the Union Minister, Debi also laid emphasis on increasing the navigability of Gomati river, construction of stairs at identified places, conservation of the river banks and speedy completion of the construction process of the allotted floating jetties. An allocation of Rs 24.52 crore was alloted on February 22, 2022 during the tenure of Biplab Kumar Deb as Chief Minister. Construction of nine new jetties along with excavation of Howrah river bed and acceleration of works up to twenty kilometers of Sonamura Daudkandi protocol route also figured prominently in the discussion. Since a large part of this is in Bangladesh the issue has already been discussed with the Bangladesh High Commission.

However, due to the objection of local people in some places against  dumping  of sand and soil that came up as a result of the excavation , construction the work slowed down. Slow pace of work is also one of the reasons for the delay in the implementation of this project. It is known that the central government is giving special importance to its quick resolution

Deb as the Chief Minister of Tripura laid emphasis on launching the water transport route through Bangladesh to reduce the cost of transporting heavy and medium goods. On September 5, 2020, his efforts led to the first trial run from Daudkandi in Bangladesh to Sonamura. Union Minister is said to have assured Deb of expeditious completion of the works.