Bhubaneswar: Six waterways in the state have been declared as National Waterways (NW) by the Central government under the National Waterways Policy-2017, informed Commerce and Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena in the Odisha Assembly on Thursday.
Replying to a question by BJP MLA Tankadhar Tripathi, Minister Jena detailed the list of rivers where waterway development is proposed and the financial outlay allocated for the projects.
The Minister identified the six National Waterways as NW-5, NW-14, NW-22, NW-23, NW-74, and NW-17. These cover stretches on major rivers including the Mahanadi, Brahmani, Baitarani, Birupa, and Subarnarekha, along with their branches and canals, spanning a total distance of over 1,500 km within the state.
Providing a detailed breakdown, the Minister specified that NW-5 covers 588 km on the Brahmani, Kharsua, Kani, Mahanadi rivers and the East Coast Canal from Talcher in Odisha to Geokhali in West Bengal. NW-14 encompasses a 48 km stretch of the Baitarani river, while NW-22 covers 157 km on the Birupa river. NW-23 covers 57 km on the Budhabalanga river, NW-74 covers 425 km on the Mahanadi river from Sambalpur to Paradip, and NW-17 covers a 314 km stretch of the Subarnarekha river.
In a significant development, Jena revealed that a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Odisha government, the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), and the Paradip Port Trust for the development of National Waterway-5.
He stated that an outlay of approximately ₹12,200 crore has been made for this specific project. The development is expected to facilitate the transport of coal from the Talcher coalfields to Paradip and Dhamra ports, along with other commercial goods.
“The project will decongest the existing road and rail networks, reduce transportation costs and time, and ensure seamless connectivity with various transport projects in the state. It is also expected to boost industrial activity, economic growth, and generate substantial employment opportunities,” the Minister said.
To ensure the necessary depth and water flow for navigation, Jena informed the House that the government proposes to construct barrages, check dams, and navigational locks to remove obstructions and silt. This, he added, would secure a safe and obstruction-free waterway for cargo movement.
