The Union Government has decided to go ahead with the National Waterway (NW) Project in Odisha in a time bound manner. To start with, in the first phase, NW-5 will be developed from Dhamra to Pankapal.
There will be a permanent terminal at Pankapal, which will be erected by the Inland Waterway Company of Odisha limited (IWCOl), a Special Purpose Vehicle formed for this purpose, with the support of the Government of Odisha and other port authorities.
Chairperson, Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) Nutan Guha Biswas informed that Phase I of NW-5 will be taken up from Paradip-Dhamra-Pankapal in a strict time frame so that it will serve the purpose for which it has been aimed. Already there have been inordinate delays, admit officials.
NW-5 link from Dhamra to Pankapal will provide the least Available Depth (lAD) of three meters and navigational channel width of 45 meters for smooth navigation, officials say. Dredging of the existing channels will be considered along with the construction of cross structures, said sources.
The IWAI has been asked to prepare Detailed Project Report (DPR) followed by construction of weirs/barrages with navigational locks and check dams. Inception and interim report has already been received by the IWAI and designing of structures will be followed, said sources.
The IWCOl is needed to expedite construction of permanent terminal at Pankapal, said Biswas in her missive to the State Government, while requesting for the solution of some critical issues. She pointed out that the State Government will have to resolve the issue of payment of compensation to the private land owners, who are having their land in the riverine channel. Sites are needed for disposal of dredged materials and accordingly planned operations will be taken up by the authorities, said Biswas.
The IWAI will also acquire land for widening of the river channel at several locations and for bank protection. Soon the IWAI will present the requirement of land to the Department of Revenue and Disaster management, said sources. Acquiring land in coastal zones of the State will be a difficult proposition and the State administration will have to take a call in this regard, said sources in the IWAI. Navigational Clearance below High Tension (HT) and low Tension Power line crossings on NW-5 is required and such work is going on. The Cesu, Nesco and OPTCl have taken up the work, which will be completed by June, 2018. Coordination is needed between the Department of Water Resources,Energy, Revenue and Disaster Management and Commerce and Transport, said sources.