Tizu-Zungki River has been declared as National Waterway No.101 by Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI). (Photo Courtesy: Twitter)
Our Correspondent
Kohima | September 20
Nagaland Transport, Civil Aviation & Railways Minister, P Paiwang Konyak today highlighted the status of waterways in Nagaland as raised by MLA Yitachu during starred question on the floor of the House.
The minister stated that Tizu-Zungki River has been declared as National Waterway No.101 by Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI).
Paiwang informed that the state government has been pursuing with the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Government of India for the development of the river as an Inland Water Corridor.
The length of the proposed waterway is 42 km which starts from Longmatra under Kiphire district and terminates at Avangkhu, an International Trade Centre under Phek district.
The minister stated that the DIR for the proposed project was prepared by M/S WAPCOS and had been finalized by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. As per the advice of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Government of India, Nagaland Inland Waterways Board (NIWB) has been constituted.
The current NIWA is being headed by Transport Minister as the chairperson and chief secretary as the co-opted chairperson. The project shall be implemented by the NIWB.
Recently, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Government of India had advice the state government to submit the project proposal in respect of National Waterways-101. During the last meeting of NIWB held on 31st March 2022, the Board decided to depute a team of officials from transports department to IWA office, Guwahati to seek financial assistance for the preparation of the project proposal.
Basing on the inputs given by IWAI office, Guwahati, the transport department has prepared the project proposal and submitted the same to the ministry on July 12, 2022,
“The proposal is under consideration by the Ministry and positive outcome from the ministry is anticipated,” Paiwang told the assembly session.
Four rivers indentified for land waterways in Nagaland
There are four rivers indentified by IWAI as national water highways.
It includes; National Waterway-30: Dhansiri/Chate River, National Waterway-31: Dikhu River, National Waterway-32: Doyang river and National Waterway-101: Tizu Zungki River.
Initially, Paiwang stated that NIWB had taken up Tizu-Zungki river due to the uniqueness of the river i.e. it is the only east flowing river in the state which drains into Myanmar and ultimately joins Chindwin River.
Tamanti Post which is the only 117 km away from Avangkhu, an international trade centre under Phek district.
The proposed waterway is in line with the Look East and Act East Policy of the Government of India.
The minister stated that the board shall examine the feasibility of the other rivers for Inland Waterway Transport and shall take up on a phase manner.
