India kicking off Ichamati River dredging campaign

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (India) continues its efforts to develop and modernize National Waterways and promote inland water transport as a more cost-effective and environmentally friendly mode of transportation.

Yesterday, the Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Shantanu Thakur inaugurated the dredging work at National Waterways 44 (Ichamati River) in West Bengal.

On the occasion, Shantanu Thakur said, “The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi once said ‘Inland Waterways are powering the growth of India’s economy’. Now, under his leadership The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is working towards development of National Waterways like never before.”

The dredging of 23.38 km of the Ichamati River, from Tentulia to Kalanchi, is being done to achieve navigational depth of 1.5 meter.

According to the minister, the new campaign will be included in the 2024 budget and higher capacity dredger is to be deployed after outcome of this initial dredging.