Meghalaya eyes river routes’ revival

SHILLONG, APRIL 11: Landlocked Meghalaya is keen to revive its traditional river routes to neighbouring Bangladesh in order to boost trade.

Chief minister Mukul Sangma told the Assembly on Thursday that the matter has already been taken up with the the Union government, which, in turn, raised the issue during discussions with its Bangladeshi counterpart. “In recent times there has been engagement with Bangladesh through the Government of India,” he said,

Replying to a query raised by former chief minister Donkupar Roy, Sangma said the government was aware that the Duba Channel in Nongjri Elaka and Dear Valley in Umniuh Elaka were the “authorized trade routes” under the Bholaganj Land Custom Station. The trade, he said, had to be discontinued through these river routes due to dwindling levels of water.

The chief minister, however, said that the channels have been inspected and efforts are on to raise the level of water in them. “A token amount has been earmarked this year for raising (the level of water in) these rivers in view of the huge agricultural and horticultural produces (which can be ferried through the river routes),” he said.

Earlier, Roy pointed out that trading activity through these water channels was stopped since Bangladesh came into being in 1971 and ever since the people living along these river routes have been pressing for their revival.

Experts said that it’s a historical fact that the outlets to the sea for the north-east were through the Chittagong Port and via rivers in Bangladesh to the Kolkata Port.

The chief minster also said that his government will soon come out with a Water Policy, which, among other issues, would also take into account revival of river routes. He said the draft Water Policy has been circulated to the stakeholders for consultation and their views were being collected. Sangma emphasized on the “convergence of line departments” for chalking out an effective water policy.

Deputy chief minister Rowell Lyngdoh, responding to a question raised by Opposition MLA Ardent Basaiawmoit, said that an inter-departmental committee has been constituted to finalize the policy document.

Basaiawmoit had expressed concern over rampant sand and stone quarrying on riversides, and unregulated pumping of ground water, resulting in depletion of water level in the aquifers. (By Our Reporter)