Bhubaneswar, 19 March (H.S.): Six river stretches in Odisha have been declared National Waterways (NWs) by the Central Government under the National Waterways Policy, 2017, Commerce and Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena informed the Assembly on Thursday.

Replying to a query by BJP MLA Tankadhar Tripathi, the Minister outlined the proposed waterway projects and the financial allocations associated with them.

The identified National Waterways include NW-5, NW-14, NW-22, NW-23, NW-74, and NW-17. These waterways span major rivers such as the Mahanadi, Brahmani, Baitarani, Birupa, Budhabalanga, and Subarnarekha, along with their tributaries and canal systems, covering a total length of over 1,500 km within the state.

Providing details, Jena said NW-5 covers 588 km across the Brahmani, Kharsua, Kani, and Mahanadi rivers, along with the East Coast Canal, stretching from Talcher in Odisha to Geokhali in West Bengal. NW-14 covers 48 km of the Baitarani river, NW-22 spans 157 km on the Birupa river, and NW-23 covers 57 km on the Budhabalanga river. Similarly, NW-74 extends over 425 km along the Mahanadi from Sambalpur to Paradip, while NW-17 covers 314 km on the Subarnarekha river.

In a key development, the Minister informed that a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Odisha government, the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), and Paradip Port Trust for the development of National Waterway-5.

An estimated outlay of around ₹12,200 crore has been earmarked for the project. The initiative is expected to facilitate the transportation of coal from the Talcher coalfields to Paradip and Dhamra ports, along with other goods.

Jena stated that the project would help decongest road and rail networks, reduce transportation costs and time, and improve connectivity with other infrastructure projects. It is also expected to boost industrial growth, enhance economic activity, and generate employment opportunities.

To ensure navigability, the government plans to construct barrages, check dams, and navigation locks to maintain adequate water depth and remove obstructions, enabling smooth and safe movement of cargo vessels.

Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda