National
Gadkari flags off cargo transport through Brahmaputra
Majuli (Assam), Dec 29 (IANS) Aiming to give a boost to the inland water transport sector in the North-East, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday flagged off regular cargo transportation through waterways from Pandu Port near Guwahati to Dhubri along the Indo-Bangladesh border.
Speaking on the occasion, the Union Shipping and Water Resources Minister said: “The central government is keen to develop Brahmaputra as a major waterway for boosting trade and commerce as it would enable the cargos to ply through Bangladesh till Chittagong Port and open sea route for Assam to connect with other important ports of the country.”
“An MoU has already been signed between the governments of India and Bangladesh to dredge the river Brahmaputra including the portion of the river that falls in Bangladesh for rapid development of water navigation and cargo transportation,” said Gadkari, who was accompanied by Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.
Cargo transportation through inland waterways was the cheapest mode of transportation and once the dredging work in both Brahmaputra and Barak was complete, it would bring huge economic benefit to the state and the region, he added.
The minister also called upon the state government to explore ways to develop river tourism in the state and suggested to it to initiate action for production of bio-ethanol from bamboo taking advantage of the huge bamboo plantations in the state.
Appreciating CM Sonowal for making sincere efforts to develop Majuli and the state, the Union Minister said that the central government was fully supporting the state government’s endeavours to uplift the state’s economy.
Gadkari also laid the foundation stone for a project for protection of river island Majuli from the floods and erosion of the Brahmaputra river and assured that the island would not shrink any further.
The central government has sanctioned an amount of Rs 233.54 crore for the project.
Addressing a public meeting, the union minister said the scheme envisaged four components including construction of geo-bag bank revetment work for a total length of 27 km, construction of RCC porcupine screens at 41 locations, construction of a Pilot Channel and construction of a sluice gate at Birinabari.
“The works implemented by Brahmaputra Board has reversed the trend from erosion to siltation. The area of land mass of Majuli island, which was 502.21 sq.km in 2004 stood at 524.29 sq.km in November last year, as per satellite imagery,” he said.
The present scheme to be executed by the Brahmaputra Board was as per the recommendation of a team of experts called the Technical Advisory Committee constituted by the Union Water Resources Ministry, Gadkari said.
“My ministry has cleared the project and it is my pleasure to mention here that the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) has also agreed to allocate an amount of Rs.207 crore and the balance amount is to be funded by the Brahmaputra Board.
Gadkari also laid the foundation stone for the Brahmaputra Board office complex at Majuli, to be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 40 crore.
Majuli island is surrounded by the mighty Brahmaputra river in the south, and Kherkatia Suti, Luit Suti and Subansiri rivers in the north and is susceptible to both floods and erosion.
–IANS
ah/nir/bg
Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.
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