AGARTALA, July 14 (TIWN): The State government issued work order in favour of M/s RITES (Rail India Technical and Economic Service) Ltd for preparation of two DPR to develop navigability of Howrah river and Gomati River for hassle free and cost effective transportation of passengers and goods to boost economic activities in the state in consultation and with funding received from Union Ministry of Shipping , civil secretariat sources said.Two draft DPR –one for development of Howrah river as waterways at an estimated cost of Rs 11,19,15,000 and another for development of Gomati river at an estimated project cost of Rs 12,58,78,300 have been prepared and submitted to the state government. Draft DPRs prepared by RITES were sent to Ministry of Shipping, but the ministry has asked for some clarifications. Subsequently, it was requested to the RITES to revise both the DPRs in the light of clarification of the miistyr of shipping. RITES has modified those clarifications and submitted against revised DPRs to the ministry for sanction and release of funds under Central Sector Scheme.

Meanwhile it has been informed by the assistant director IWAI ( Inland Waterways Authority of India)  that Howrah river  being very small as compared to Gomati the minimum discharge of Howrah is very less compared to Gomati. Further, it has been proposed in the revised DPR that the dredger procured for Gomati river will be utilized Howarh river. So the dredging in Howrah can be taken up only after completion of dredging as during dredging there is possibility of collapsing of sides of the rivers.

 So IWAI has recommended to initially consider the project   for development IWT (Inland Waterways Transport ) in Gomati river only over under new CSS. The project for development of IWT in Howrah river may be considered after successful implementation of the project for development of IWT in Gomati river.

The union shipping ministry has requested state government   on May last  for    submission of proposal for development of IWT on Gomati river in view to setting up linkage with Meghna river system in Bangladesh along with first instalment fund   requirement may be  furnished to the ministry at the earliest.

In response to that the department has requested the ministry of shipping to place Rs two crore being first instalment out of sanctioned amount of Rs 12,38,78,300 to take up the project quickly as soon as th e plan for work program indicating year wise fund requitement for implementation of the project  development  of IWT of Gomati river in Triprua  is approved technically.

The chief engineer PWD ( water resource)  has been requested for examination and preparation of the work program indicating year wise fund requirement  for completion of the project technically so as to enable thedepartment to submit the implementation plan along with fund requisition to the ministry. The DPRs prepared by RITES Ltd development of Inland Water Transport  on Gomati river in Tripura  comprising of two volumes have been sent to chief engineer of PWD ( water resource for necessary action.