Cost-effective waterways remain a far cry

Mohammad Mufazzal | Published: July 06, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2024 06:01:00

Loss of navigability of the country's rivers still remained a serious concern despite spending Tk 18.91 billion over the last one decade on dredging.
The Bangladesh Inland Waterway Transport Authority (BIWTA) estimated the cost of dredging at Tk 18.91 billion spent during the period from the fiscal year (FY) 2003-04 to 2013-14.
The government has no updated information on navigability of the rivers and the survey conducted by Dhv, an international consultancy firm, in 1989, is still being used for the navigation purpose.
According to the Dhv survey, 6,000 kilometres of waterways are navigable, of which 3,800 kilometres are navigable during the low-water period.
"Presently, waterways have shrunk to about 4,500 kilometres, of which not more than 2,500 kilometres can be used for navigation in the lean period," says another study conducted by the Ministry of Environment and Forests with the financial support of DFID and DANIDA.
The BIWTA officials said any survey on the rivers' navigability was highly expensive.
"That's why the Dhv survey is being used," said a BIWTA official.
Officials concerned, experts and inland-vessel owners also identified inadequate government funding, manmade dams, shortage of skilled manpower in relevant departments and absence of survey to determine navigable areas as other key reasons behind the poor navigability.
Prof Dr. Ainun Nishat, Vice-chancellor of BRAC University, said the amount of dredging so far done was very insufficient.
"At the same time, the benefit of the dredging in areas where it has been done is not visible. Similarly, dredging is not the only solution, unless any master plan is implemented," said Professor Nishat.
Terming the IWT 'highly neglected' he said it was not true that there was a lacking in survey on rivers' navigability in Bangladesh.
"There are a lot of studies and master plans. But our policymakers give references to roads and highways without understanding the importance of IWT," he added.
According to a study conducted by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, the transport sector accounts for about 8.27 per cent of GDP (gross domestic product). And the waterway transport sector specifically contributes about 0.64 per cent to the total GDP.
As per the findings of the study on 'Revival of Inland Water Transport: Options and Strategies', the carrying cost of one-tonne goods for one kilometre is Tk 4.50, Tk 2.50 and Tk 0.90 by road, train and waterways respectively.Â Â Â
The experts said the contribution of waterway sector to the GDP was supposed to be higher as the carrying cost by waterways is very nominal compared to the cost that has to be borne for transportation by road and train.
As per the data of BIWTA, the dredging of 59.54 million cubic metres was completed between the fiscal year (FY) 2003-04 and 2013-14.
"The inland waterways have been neglected for many years and subsequently failed to get necessary budgetary supports for dredging purpose," a BIWTA official said.
The shipping ministry, however, has said that the inland waterways presently have come out of the negligence faced before 2009. And the results of the initiatives taken by the present government will be visible soon.
Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan said the inland rivers achieved much navigability due to initiatives taken by the running government in its immediate-past tenure.
"Seven dredgers were employed during the period of 1972 to 1975. Government allocation for the shipping ministry was very nominal before our government took responsibility in 2009," Mr. Khan said.
He said presently the government allocation for the shipping ministry stood at Tk 11.00 billion and a total of 800 kilometres of rivers got back their navigability. Â
"BIWTA once ran seven dredgers and presently the number is going to be 21. But it was not possible to create sufficient trained manpower which is needed for time-befitting solutions," the shipping minister said.
He said it would take some time for the waterway sector to be visible in the perspective of navigability and providing due service.
The minister mentioned that the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved a fund worth Tk 18.73 billion in September 2012 to make 24 river routes further navigable.
As per BIWTA's Preliminary Development Project Proposal (PDPP), the authorities have fixed a target to complete the dredging of inland waterways by June 2018.
The major rivers which will come under the dredging coverage are Buriganga, Dhaleswari, Meghna, Padma, Jamuna, Karnaphuli, Arial Kha, Titas, Surma, Kutubdia and Maheshkhali Channel, Mongla-Ghasiakhali Canal, Dakatia, Madhumati, Atrai and Kangsa.
Mahbub Uddin Ahmad Bir Bikram, president of Bangladesh Cargo Vessel Owners Association (BCVOA), said dredging must be a continuous process to make the rivers navigable as character of the rivers in Bangladesh is to bear silts.