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Tripura mulls to revive water link with Bangladesh using River Howrah
TIWN
Tripura mulls to revive water link with Bangladesh using River Howrah
PHOTO : Check dam at Barmura, Haora River. TIWN Pic July 6

AGARTALA, July 6 (TIWN): When the entire North Eastern region of the country is eyeing forward to boost the bi-lateral trade with the neighbouring country Bangladesh, the Tripura Left front Government is planning to revive the water link with Bangladesh by using river Howrah which remained as a history till today. Chief Minister Manik Sarkar taking up the plan has recently stressed to revive the history. Tripura Govt. has mulled an ambitious plan to establish cross border inland water transport link with Bangladesh river port through the major river Howarh for transportation of goods, said the press communiqué. Sarkar called to constitute a team, comprising of Forest department, Drinking Water and Sanitation (DWS) department, and river experts and takes up the synopsis of the plan to connect river Howarh with Bangladesh with an aim to transport goods. The move has come up after Sarkar along with the State Forest Department visited the Check dam site of the river Howarh at Baramura hill. Visiting the catchment site Sarkar had restricted any kind of human habitation. River Howrah is the lifeline of the capital city of Tripura, due to which people get access to drinking water which is purified by the ‘Water Treatment Plants’. The Hawra, which bifurcates Agartala town, originates from Barmura hill and flows 42km before flowing into Bangladesh.

 If the river can be linked up with the Meghna in Bangladesh, there is immense potential for water transport, assumed Sarkar. 

Sarkar also said, if required then drazing can be carried out up to Bangladesh border from Agartala Khoeyrpur in order to increase the navigability of the river Howrah.

Sarkar also suggested to inspect and make a synopsis if a river port can be built near Howrah Bridge at Battala to facilitate the water way from Bangladesh though the river by goods’ carrier boats. However keeping this in view Sarkar urged the state transport department and the DWS department to take up the issue with the central government.

Tripura had a water transport arrangement with erstwhile East Bengal (now Bangladesh) before 1947. But steady deposition of silt in many rivers of the state has made it difficult to make them navigable. Once upon a time boat carrying goods used to reach here at Battala from Bangladesh via Titas through the River Howarh, but it all remained as a history now.

However, the Tripura government now eyes forward to offer the water link for reviving its history. Prior to this the government has called to take certain initiatives for renovation of river Howrah. A huge sum of money has been spent for the construction of a check-dam along the source of the river. However, the financial package is yet to be approved by the concerned department.

At the meantime the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) had agreed to fund the state's river management project.

At present India and Bangladesh waterways connect West Bengal and Assam and the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) are operating vessels on these routes.

As many as 54 rivers from India flow into Bangladesh and hence, river linkages could benefit both the countries.

“Prior to partition, Tripura was seamlessly connected to India through Bangladesh by road, rail and waterways which need to be restored. There is an urgent need for transit and transshipment facility through Bangladesh," Sarkar urged Prime Minister Nardenra Modi in the previous year, through a written memorandum for the improvement of its relation with Bangladesh.

However, at present, the Hawra has been affected by destruction of forest cover, resultant decrease in volume of water and encroachment on both of its banks. Even small boats cannot navigate the river except during monsoon.

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