Waterway

New Delhi, May 4 (UNI) Shipping, Road Transport&Highways Minister T R Baalu has asked the Kerala government to expedite reclamation work for developing the National Waterway, connecting northern and southern parts of the state.

This was conveyed by Mr Baalu to Members of Parliament from Kerela, who call on him here last evening to discuss the initiatives of the Central Government on the shipping and road sector projects in the southern coastal state.

Senior officials from the ministry and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and team leaders of various projects briefed the participants on the progress of the works.

The chairpersons of the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), the Cochin Port Trust and the Cochin Shipyard Ltd were also present.

Making a presentation on the Inland Waterways in Kerala, the officials pointed out that the progress on developing the National Waterway-3 was slow as issues pertaining to reclamation of the waterway remained unresolved.

It was pointed out that removal of fishing nets/stakes from fairway, relocation of cables and pipelines for widening of canal on the Alappuzha-Kollam stretch and handing over the requisite land for Mullackal (Alappuzha) terminal had to be expedited to make the waterway fully operational.

Mr Baalu asked the Kerala MPs to impress upon the state government to expedite the work on these issues.

The status and pace of implementation of various projects under the North-South Corridor (NHDP Phase II) and NHDP III were discussed at length. The development of other National Highways in the state under the Central Road Fund (CRF) scheme was also discussed.

The minister assured the MPs that all the projects would be taken up in right earnest to ensure their completion as per schedule. He, however, sought their cooperation in taking up the pending issues, particularly land acquisition, with the state government to ensure early completion of the projects.

Mr Baalu said forest clearance and other necessary permissions should be expedited. Moreover, Kerala was yet to sign the State Support Agreement for all BOT projects, he pointed out.

He also informed that the NHAI had 851 km of highway development projects under the NHDP Phase II and III in the State. These include Valayar-Edappalli (NH 47), Cherthalai-Trivandrum to Tamil Nadu Border (NH 47) and KNT Border-Edapalli (NH 17).

''The work on these projects is at different stages and is going on smoothly,'' the officials said.

Among the road development works, currently in progress in Kerala, are Calicut bypass (NH-17), Alappuzha bypass Phase II (NH 47), construction of new road from Kuttipuram to Puduponnani (Phase I&II) on NH-17, strengthening stretches on NH-213 and rehabilitation of several bridges.

Besides Mr Baalu, the meeting was attended by Minister of State for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways K H Muniyappa and Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vyalar Ravi.

UNI