Minister of Ports Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal has told that central government will invest 45 thousand crore rupees for the development of tourism in waterways. He chaired the first Inland Waterways Development Council meeting in Kolkata today. He told that at present the river cruises in the country can carry 2 lakh persons per year and this capacity will be increased to 15 lakhs of tourists. Besides, 15 thousand crore rupees will be invested for making 1 thousand green vessels.
The minister has told that 20 thousand kilometres of inland waterways will also be used for the commercial purposes. Mr Sonowal told that before 2014 the Kolkata port was running in loss and now this port is getting 500 crore turnover every year. The infrastructure of Kolkata port has been developed, he added. He further said that today Inland Waterways Development Council has been formed including all the river based states. Representatives from West Bengal and other states were present in today’s meeting.
Minister of state to the Ministry Shantunu Thakur told that around 250 kilometres waterways bordering Bangladesh, will be developed. He told that central government is serious about Tajpur Port in the state and willing to develop it but state government is not taking any positive action regarding this.
