IWAI launches outreach programme in UP to promote Ganga waterway

Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has set out a massive public outreach initiative along river Ganga on National Waterway-1 to help push rural economy connect with waterways, the government said today.

As part of month-long dialogue series extending from Varanasi to Haldia, a team of IWAI held two-day long outreach on July 17-18 with villagers- farmers and traders, from Zamania, Kataria, Puraina, Sarai Mohammadpur, Chochakpur, Jallapur, Dungerpur in Ghazipur district, the Shipping Ministry said in a statement.

The officials provided information on the Rs 5,369-crore Jal Marg Vikas Project on river Ganga.

IWAI is the implementing agency for Centres Jal Marg Vikas Project.

This Eastern Uttar Pradesh pocket along the Ganga has rich agricultural produce that include green chillies, tomato, brinjal, onions, cauliflowers, banana and papaya in huge quantity.

But due to the non-existence of a good supply chain, and owing to lack of connectivity and storage infrastructure, the produce reaches local mandis and other cities' markets with difficulty and goods often perish.

IWAI is making a Rs 155 crore Inter Modal Terminal at Ghazipur under the Jal Marg Vikas project, which will provide direct and seamless access to this area's markets to Bay of Bengal through National Waterway-1.