GUWAHATI: The Assam Government has announced a special scheme of Rs 10 crore for the development of inland water service and road communication in Dhubri district which recently witnessed one of the worst ferry mishaps in the State.

State Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain, while addressing a press conference here on Sunday, said that Rs 10 crore scheme was part of the Chief Minister’s special programme. “Under the special scheme, ferry services, road communication, ghats and a dispensary in Dhubri district will be developed,” he said.

MUMBAI: While work to invite bids for the creation of infrastructure for the Nariman Point-Borivli water transport project has been initiated, it is yet to procure a vital permission from the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF).

A permission to extend the deadline for completion of the project work till 2017 is still pending with the ministry, according to a written reply submitted by ports minister Narayan Rane in response to a query included in the starred questions list in the legislative council.

New Delhi: For the first time since the Teesta water treaty between India and Bangladesh fell through, both countries are moving ahead again. Last September, the accord had come unstuck during PM Manmohan Singh’s visit to Dhaka after West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee objected to the quantum of water sharing.

Silchar Dec. 18: The Union ministry of shipping and road transport is finalising modalities and financial aspects to upgrade the Barak as part of the national waterways to link south Assam’s traffic with the mainland through Bangladesh. A senior official of the Central Inland Water Transport Corporation in Karimganj town last week said the Barak would soon be included into the national waterways once the modalities were completed.

SILIGURI, 5 AUG: The minister for irrigation and waterways, Dr Manas Bhuniya, today said the state would demand at least Rs 307 crore from the Centre to carry on the construction work of the Teesta Barrage Project (TBP). Dr Bhuniya (see sns photo) said: "The Centre had allotted Rs 83 crore in 2010-11 but the department received only Rs 63 crore from the state finance department. We will demand Rs 307 crore from the Centre for 2011-12. We hope that the Centre will allot at least Rs 227 crore from its budget. The state would contribute 10 per cent.”

Guwahati, Nov.

If trade is an instant reminder of the importance of the seas, the global imperative to curb greenhouse gas emissions adds a dimension to the usefulness of waterways.