Kaladan.com

Kolkata, Feb. 16, 2008 - Whatever has been agreed upon between Myanmar and India on the first phase of the Rs 545-crore Kaladan Mult-Multi-modal Transit Transport (KMTT) project should be implemented. But, it is also necessary to keep the big picture involving phase-11 of the project in sharp focus, if prosperity to the North East as a whole, and Mizoram (a food-deficit State) in particular has to happen in the next four years or so.

On return from a boat ride and aerial survey of the Kaladan River in Mizoram, Mr Mani Shankar Aiyar, Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region, also holding charge of Panchayati Raj Affairs and Sports, told Business Line that considering the surveyed potential to move 75,000 tonnes of cargo (in barges) between Haldia and Sittwe port (on the Myanmar side) annually through monthly sailings, Mizoram could well emerge as the “economic gateway” of India.

The country, however, need to have a clear fix on whether this (75,000 tonnes) figure is small or too large, he added. Unveiling his vision plan to make the remotest part of India really accessible, he suggested that “we need to be optimistic on the Kaladan project”.

Mr Aiyar said the proposed road from Kalewa to Saiha on the Mizoram border (project being implemented by RITES and expected to be commissioned by 2009), has to be connected with NH 54 in Mizoram for greater economic benefits to flow into both India and Myanmar.

Rice supply

“Once the Sittwe sea port becomes fully operational, food starved southern Mizoram will get sufficient quantities of rice from Myanmar.”

Quoting representatives of major tribes in southern Mizoram, like the Lais, Maras and Chakmas, he said acute difficulties were being faced with regard to availability of rice.

Calling for bold steps, he said paddy cultivation (double cropping) can be introduced on the Mizoram plains (Chambur and Phura) bordering Myanmar to overcome the food deficit.

‘Not impossible’

Admitting that making portions of the Kaladan, which rises in Myanmar and flows through steep gorges, navigable for trade purposes was difficult though not impossible, he said there was a need to look at the environmental dimension.

He said one should also examine the possibility of constructing a railway line along the Kaladan river. “Given the limitations of road transport, a railway line option should be seriously examined.”

Sittwe Port

The project activities of upgradation of Sittwe port and waterway and construction of the 62-km stretch of road from Kaletwa to the Indo-Myanmar border, are expected to be completed by 2011-12. The Kolkata-Sittwe sea route is 539 km, and Sittwe to Setpyitpyin (Kaletwa in Mizoram) Inland Water transport on Kaladan river is 225 km.

Framework agreement on the KMTT project, along with the two draft protocols have already been signed by both the countries.

The proposed cargo handling points along the India-Myanmar border are Hmawngbu (Mobu) in Mizoram (in India) and Myeikwa (in Myanmar).

Source: The Hindu

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