Odisha seeks allocation for NW-5 in 2015-16 Budget

The Odisha government has urged the Government of India to allocate adequate funds for the National Waterway-5 (NW-5) in the Union Budget for 2015-16.

"The 623 km stretch of NW-5 connects Paradeep port and Dhamra port with the steel & coal hinterland of Kalinga Nagar and Talcher respectively. The project is to be executed through Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI). It will facilitate transport of iron ore, food grains, fertilizer etc. and help reduce vehicular traffic by road and its negative impact on the environment, save fuel and energy consumption ", the state government said in its pre-Budget memorandum.

Both Paradeep Port Trust (PPT) and Dhamra Port Company Ltd (DPCL) had recently inked a pact with IWAI for developing the NW-5.

The NW-5, targeted for completion by June 2017, is estimated to cost Rs 2,000 crore.

In the first phase, 201 km stretch of the waterway would be developed, connecting Jokadia (Kalinganagar) with Dhamra and Paradeep ports. In the second phase, another 131-km stretch will be developed, covering the distance from Talcher to Jokadia.

IWAI will provide the desired fairway from the budgetary support of Government of India by way of dredging, repairing/reconstructing weirs, navigational locks and installing navigational aids.

The state government, apart from giving land to IWAI free of cost, would develop cargo terminal facilities at Pankapal/Jokadia through a joint venture (JV)/special purpose vehicle (SPV) with PPT, DPCL and other stakeholders.

Land requirement for the terminal has been projected at around 60 acres. IWAI will survey the navigational channel and the proposed terminal at Pankapal.

The state water resources department is likely to finalise a barrage at Talcher which may come up during the second phase of NW-5 between Talcher and Jokadia. The department would furnish the details to IWAI which in turn would examine and suggest any further structural requirement from inland waterway navigation point of view. An officer from the water resources department will be nominated to liaison with the IWAI to finalise construction of Jokadia barrage.

IWAI has assessed the development of this river stretch of NW-5 to be the most economically viable in the country. The NW-5 is proposed along the east coast canal and Brahmani-Kharsua river system. The waterway includes the Talcher-Dhamra belt of Brahmani river, Geonkhali-Charbatia stretch of East Coast Canal, Charbatia-Dhamara stretch of Matai river and Mangalgadi-Paradeep stretch of Mahanadi delta rivers.

Coal from Talcher to Dhamra and Paradeep ports is the most important cargo for this waterway. It is estimated in the detailed project report (DPR) that about 11 million tonne of cargo can be transported per year through this waterway.