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Sajeev Kumar V

Liquefied ammonia being moved from Kochi port to the public sector FACT through waterways. — K.K. Mustafah

Kochi , Oct 20

THE Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) is taking all steps to complete the major developmental activities of the entire waterways in Kerala so as to make it navigable by 2005.

Senior officials at the IWAI pointed out that the extension of National Waterways No: 3 towards south from Kollam to Kovalam and from Kottapuram to Kasargod in the North with a total length of 643 km is under consideration. The techno economic feasibility study for the extension of waterways to Kasargod and Kovalam had already been completed and at present environment impact assessment study is in progress.

Moreover, a number of viable waterways had been identified for declaration as national waterways for the development in view of the decision of the Union Government to give more thrust on the development of inland water transport, the officials said.

Although NW-3 between Kottapuram and Kollam in West Coast Canal along with Champakara and Udyogamandal canals has been declared in February 1992, the commercial activities in the entire stretch could not be taken up due to the non-completion of the ongoing developmental activities to provide a safe and an economical navigable channel.

According to the officials, IWAI had taken up a number of developmental activities since its declaration during the year 1992. The capital dredging and widening of narrow canals is being undertaken to provide standard navigable channel having a width of 40 metre and depth of 2.2 metres.

The terminal facilities with mechanical handling and storage etc are being provided at 11 locations. Of this, two terminals at Aluva and Kottapuram are already in completion stage and other four at Vaikkom, Thannermukkom, Trikkunnapuzha and Kayamkulam are in different stages of construction. The terminal works for the remaining sites will be taken up shortly and are expected to be completed by 2004-05, except for Alappuzha terminal, for which the State Government had not yet handed over the required land, the officials said.

Since Alappuzha is one of the major industrial areas having a potential for IWT, the early construction of a terminal is considered necessary.

The IWAI officials also sought the necessary co-operation and assistance from the State Government in handing over the land. A scheme has already been approved to provide the night navigation facilities. The work order for the construction of buoys have been given with the effort to complete the installation work in the entire stretch once the capital dredging and widening of the narrow canals are completed.

However, while developing the waterways, IWAI is also facing certain difficulties to ensure the completion of the work on schedule. Some of these problems are related with the interference of local inhabitants and fishermen opposing the dredging work. Non-removal of the fishing nets/stakes from the navigable channel has been a major concern not only to ensure safe navigation of the vessels but also to carry out the ensuing capital dredging work.

Though the State Government has been requested on a number of occasions to extent the necessary assistance for the removal of the nets from the navigable channel and re-location, no headway has been made in this regard. Similarly, even after constitution of Co-ordination Committee by the State Government in district level to ensure smooth dredging work, there has been stoppage of the dredging work quite some time at Kayamkulam - Edapallikotta strech, the officials said.

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