DRPDDC not in favour of Panchu Ghat as river terminal

New Delhi, Aug 26 (UNI) The Dhubri River Port Development Demand Committee (DRPDDC) has urged the Centre to give up its plan of developing Panchu Ghat at Dhubri as a river terminal.

The DPRDDC says that developing a river port on such a small plot of land at Panchughat (Dhubri), instead of helping the economy of that region, would create problems for various other sectors of the economy.

A 13-member delegation of the DPRDDC was here recently to apprise Minister of Road, Transport, Highways and Shipping T R Baalu of the issue and enable the Ministry to take early corrective steps.

The delegation got support of MPs from Asom and West Bengal.

The MPs, who ensured their support, include Mr Basudeb Acharia (CPI-M), Mr Abani Roy (RSP), Dr Arun Sarma and Mr S Sonwal of AGP.

Later, talking to UNI, joint convenor of the delegation Chandi Paul said they were demanding a mechanised and modernised river port with cargo facilities at Dhubri for inland water transport system on the Brahmaputra National Waterway II.

The members of the delegation pointed out that Dhubri was the biggest inland river port during the Pre-Independence period. But this port gradually lost relevance after Independence.

They said if the ministry develops Panchu Ghat as the new river port, it would create problems for thousands of small boats plying between the North and South Bank.

They said once the Dhubri port becomes fully operational, it would not only cater to the needs of North Bengal and Asom but also serve the economic interests of western part of Meghalaya, Bhutan, and Sikkim.

Panchughat is very a small place to meet such future requirments, they said.

The Government should think of developing space between Vasanir Char and Motir Char in the down stream where a large area of land is available or it could acquire the unutilised land of WIMCO for developing the port, the delegation said.

UNI BKS SK HS1623