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National Waterway III thrown open to navigation

KOCHI: Steps are being taken to make the Kovalam-Neeleswaram waterway operational in two years, Kerala Chief Minister V.S Achuthanandan has said.

He was speaking after inaugurating the 205-km Kollam-Kottappuram National Waterway III at the Maradu terminal of the Inland Waterways Authority of India in Kochi on Tuesday.

“Three canals have to be made to extend the waterway up to Neeleswaram. A project report will be submitted to the Centre. Similarly, a State waterway will be readied between Kollam and Kovalam, for which work commenced on November 1.”

Mr. Achuthanandan said the State government had accorded top priority to development of waterways, since they transported goods and people at economical rates and reduced traffic congestion and accidents on roads. Efforts are being made to link navigable regional canals (feeder canals) with NW III so that they too could be used to transport goods and people. The Chief Minister said steps would be taken to rehabilitate people who would be relocated because of the widening of NW III.

The work on developing NW III got an impetus following a speech made a few years ago by the then President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in the State Assembly that Kerala needs smart waterways. The 12th Finance Commission has set apart Rs.225 crore for developing waterways in the State.

Barges weighing up to 500 tonnes can now use NW III, which has been widened to 32 metres, with a depth of 2.2 metres. A sum of Rs.85 crore has been spent on dredging and allied matters. Seven terminals have been built along the waterway. Aimed at ensuring navigation at night, steps are being taken to install solar lamps along the waterway.

Speaking on the occasion, B.R. Menon, adviser to the State government for development of inland waterways and ports and chairman of the Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation, said that though Kerala had 12 per cent of India’s inland waterways, only 0.15 per cent of the goods was being transported through them.

“This is 40 to 50 per cent in the case of developed countries. Waterways are the most environment-friendly mode of transport. District Collectors have been asked to relocate fishing nets that pose obstacles on NW III. Some families have to be rehabilitated,” he said.

Quoting a report of the National Transportation Planning and Research Centre, he said that waterways provided 2.5 indirect jobs for every new job created.

Water Resources Minister N.K. Premachandran, Revenue Minister K.P. Rajendran and Fisheries Minister S. Sarma spoke at the function.

The waterway is expected to facilitate significant growth in the areas of cargo movement and tourism in the State. For one, the movement of cargo through the waterway will be complementary to other development projects in Kochi such as the container terminal at Vallarpadam, according to an official statement.

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