29 years on, Haldia-Allahabad waterway to be ready by 2017

VARANASI: After 29 years of the announcement of 1620-km Haldia-Allahabad waterway-I by the Centre, the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has finally fixed 2017 as deadline to complete this project. The IWAI has also made it clear that there is no plan for construction of dams between Varanasi and Patna and also there is no threat for Ramnagar fort due to this project.
This information was given by IWAI president Amitabh Verma, who was in the city on Thursday to review progress of the project at a meeting in which the officials from World Bank and consultancy companies also participated. Three companies from the UK, the US and Germany are providing technical consultancy for environmental and social impact assessment, traffic and business potential and also passenger demand especially during vacations.
Verma informed that apart from fixing deadline for the completion of Varanasi terminal of waterway-I the IWAI is also ensuring that maximum infrastructural works of this project is getting completed by 2017 end.
Other two major terminals at Sahabganj and Haldia will also be completed by February 2018, he said adding, other major works of this project is to modernize existing navigation lock at Farakka barrage and create a new navigation lock there for two way traffic. The work for removing hard strata between Varanasi and Patna has also been started, he said.
“People who fanned rumours that two dams would be constructed between Varanasi and Patna should know that IWAI has no plan in this regard, as ways for maintaining depth of water have been found. The companies showing interest in operating their cargo vessels and cruise have agreed to float low draft ships with high load capacity,” he added.
Verma said the World Bank has committed Rs 4,200 crores as assistance for this project and the feasibility report is expected by November. He said that IWAI is investing Rs 750 crores only in Varanasi in two phases. After completion of terminal and connecting waterway with road in initial phase, this waterway will also be connected with dedicated freight corridor of railway in the second phase in which storage facility will also be improved.
He said that IWAI has already moved Allahabad High Court to seek its permission for construction work along the Ganga in view of its order restricting construction in 200 meter area from the river bank. Apart from expecting favourable order from the HC, a no-objection from chief wildlife warden of UP for operating cargo vessels and cruise in tortoise sanctuary is also expected very soon.
In view of doubts of people regarding possibility of threat to Ramnagar forte in Varanasi by this project, he said a study had been conducted after which it became clear that no threat will be caused to it.
Verma said that studies conducted to estimate transportation potential in this waterway for next 20 years have hinted for the transportation of 17 million tons per annum. The number of thermal power projects along Ganga will go up to 21 in coming years. Moreover, major industries too are also coming up, he said adding, all these industrial and power generation units will be benefited by this waterway.
Varanasi: IWAI president Amitabh Verma said that a bill for developing waterways in 101 more rivers of country has been tabled in Parliament. Verma said that presently there are only five waterways in five rivers. If this bill is passed by Parliament in the next session, the number of waterways in the country will rise to 106, he informed, He said it was unfortunate that the importance of waterways was not realized timely in the country.