DIBRUGARH, Sept 13 � As the city here expands to become a business hub of the region due to growing trade and commerce, leading organisations and intellectuals here have felt that the second national waterway of India � River Brahmaputra � be given a facelift to make it useful for business and trade.
Inland waterways have no doubt provided crucial arteries for communication and trade for rural people since time immemorial but given the conditions of the ghats, ferrying boats and allied infrastructure, transportation of goods is limited to only vegetables, groceries, milk and fish, etc.
It needs mention here that the waterway in Brahmaputra is in miserable state. The motorboats and other ferries operating are in deplorable state. The waterway mainly ferries passengers and goods to different destinations in Dibrugarh, Dhemaji, Lakhimpur and also neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh.
A meeting held at DRDA conference hall here today discussed the potential of the waterway in business growth and resolved to demand for its development.
The meeting has called upon the government to make the waterway, which is the second national waterway of the country, business friendly by revamping the ghats, providing improved services and setting up the infrastructure as a whole.
The meeting was presided over by Shyamal Baruah, president of Samaj Bikash Mancha. Lakhinath Gogoi, president of Dibrugarh Sahitya Sabha, social activist Niren Gogoi, teachers Kaliram Saikia, Dr Rajiv Handique and Bhaskar Rajkonwar, youth leader Subhash Dutta and representatives of Dibrugarh District Students� Union, Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad, Sonowal Kachari Students� Union, Koch Rajbongshi Students� Union and several others took part in the discussion. The meeting was of the view that prices of several commodities would come down since the transportation fee through waterways is about 75 % less than on road transportation.
Moreover, the meeting also felt that a harbour should be set up along with the revamp of waterway services.
Today�s meeting also formed a committee to press for the upgradation of the waterway and setting up of a river port to help business activities in the region and also to solve the flood and erosion problem.
Shyamal Baruah was appointed the president of the committee, while Dr Subhajyoti Deka and Subhash Dutta were appointed as its joint secretaries among others.
At present four ghats operate from various parts of the city and its suburbs. The ghats are Dibru-Kachari Uriamghat ghat, Mazabari ghat, Dibru-Sisi Machkhowa ghat and Dibru-Sonari Gurisuti ghat.
Lack of concern from the Inland Water Transport Department can be gauged from the fact that some of the ghats along the city are solely managed and operated reportedly by private parties. Supervising government personnel at these ghat sites can hardly be found.
