Mizoram Inland Water Transport

AIZAWL, March: There is a good scope for the development of inland water ways in Mizoram, as the Inland Water Transport Ministry of the Central government has expressed its satisfaction over the functioning of the water transportation system in the state.

Mizoram is one among the 5 best performing states in the country in terms of water transportation.

Mizoram Transport minister PC Zoram Sangliana said this at the programme of 5th Awithangpa Group Young Mizo Association (YMA) Conference, held at Kawnpui Town Hall.

Minister Zoransangliana said, “The team from Inland Water Transport Ministry of the Central government, who came on inspection visit to the state, had expressed their satisfaction over the functioning of water transportation system in Mizoram, so much so that, they had placed Mizoram among the 5 best performing states in India.”

Further, having found suitable to develop a water route between Bairabi and Sairang along Tlawng River, the Central government also plans to prepare a water-way between Tuichawng and Khawthlang rivers by clearing off all the hindrances so as to enable transportation by boat, the Transport minister added.

In can be noted here that in December last year while attending the 57th National Development Council Meeting at Vighyan Bhawan, New Delhi, Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla had mentioned about the availability of 34% of the country’s surface water in North East region.

 It is worthwhile to recall that in July last year, a resolution for quicker development of Inland Water Way for strengthening transportation system in Mizoram was unanimously passed in the 8th Mizoram Legislative Assembly session.

 Inland water transport history in Mizoram began with the arrival of Rev.Williams  Williams  in Aizawl on March 15, 1891.  He had made the journey by boat through Tlawng River and landed in Mizoram to preach the Gospel.  Despite creation of landmark navigation history through the river in 1891 there is no meaningful development of the river water way within the last 120 years.

There is a good scope for the development of inland water ways in Mizoram. Before partition of India in 1947 there was an excellent waterway between Chittagong in Bangladesh and Demagiri in Mizoram through the Karnafuli river.  With coming up of Kaptai dam on the Karnafuli in Bangladesh, a huge area around Demagiri has been submerged. This has created a good potential of inland water transport in the area. Another water way in the south was the Kolodyne.

In the north of Mizoram, the most frequently used water way was the Tlawng by which the British used to move men and material from Silchar to Sairang, gateway to Aizawl. It was a journey of about seven days inward and three days outward.