The Union Ministry of Shipping has approved the development of the Loktak Inland Waterways Project in Manipur. The state government had been demanding the development of the project for a long time. The demand for development of this project was initiated by Loktak Development Authority Chairman L. Susindro Meitei.
Loktak Inland Waterways Project Benefit
The approval of this project by the Government of India will give a boost to tourism in the state. The total cost of this project is 25.58 crores. This will give a boost to inland water transport connectivity in the North-Eastern states and also give a big boost to the tourism sector. It will be the cheapest means of transport in the area. There is less chance of accident so it is safer than road and rail. The scheme has been approved on the basis that, it will not harm the environment and its flow will not affect the natural resources.
Loktak Lake
Loktak Lake in Manipur is also famous as the biggest freshwater lake in the northeast. Loktak Lake is located in Moirang, Manipur. This lake is famous for floating islands. Kibul Lamjao National Park is also located in this lake. Loktak Lake has floating Islands that attract hundreds of tourists every year. The lake is spread over an area of 980 sq km.
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Inland Waterways in India
• There is an extensive waterway network exist in India in the form of rivers, canals, backwaters and creeks. The total navigable length is about 14,500 km.
• Inland waterways in India include - the backwaters of Kerala, the Brahmaputra River, Gangetic-Bhagirathi-Hooghly Rivers, and Barak River, rivers located in Goa, the inland waters in Mumbai and the Godavari-Krishna Rivers.
• Inland waterways are recognized as fuel-efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly transportation, it is another matter that it has the least investment compared to roads and railways.
• The inland waterways system is quite backward compared to other means of transportation, so the central government has planned to develop a policy for integrated development of inland waterways.
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