AGARTALA, August 13 (TIWN): Finally after several persuasions by the state Left front government to revive the river lines of Tripura, the central body Inland Water Authority of India (IWAI) had agreed to connect the state’s one of the most important river, River Gomati with the Meghna river of the neighboring Bangladesh to pave the way for river transport to the neighbouring country through the northeastern state. According to the official source the state government had earlier send a Detailed Project Report (DPR) to the Ministry to get a nod to the water link which is expected to offer an immense potential for water transport among the two countries.The official said that the Inland Waterways Authority of India and the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority would be in charge of river transport after the project was implemented. “The state government which was made the nodal agency for the project would carry out the initiative to make the water level of the River Gomati at par with the River Meghna in Bangladesh,” official said.Tripura government had submitted a detailed project proposal for the development of navigable waterways on the Gomati and Howrah.The project costs were fixed at Rs 12.59 crore for the Gomati and Rs 11.19 crore for the Howrah.

The Meghna river flows 30km from western border of Tripura.

Tripura had a water transport arrangement with erstwhile East Bengal (now Bangladesh) before 1947. But steady deposition of silt in many rivers of the state has made it difficult to make them navigable.

However, after a long persuasion, IWAI had agreed to sanction funds for the Gomati, but had not mentioned any step for improvement of water flow and navigation in the Howrah, official said.

As many as 54 rivers from India flow into Bangladesh and hence, river linkages could benefit both the countries.

Tripura govt has mulled an ambitious plan to establish cross border inland water transport link with Bangladesh river port through the major river of Howarh and Gomati for transportation of goods in view of reviving the history once flourished the water transport between Tripura and Bangladesh.

At present India and Bangladesh waterways connect West Bengal and Assam and the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) are operating vessels on these routes.

“Prior to partition, Tripura was seamlessly connected to India through Bangladesh by road, rail and waterways which need to be restored. There is an urgent need for transit and transshipment facility through Bangladesh," Sarkar urged Prime Minister nardenra Modi previous year through a written memorandum for improvement of relation with Bangladesh.