(a) whether the Government proposes to dredge Brahmaputra River, so that there is no abnormal rising of river bed which after results in increasing unabated flood and erosion annually;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) if not, the details of steps taken to maintain Brahmaputra river in regard to National Waterway-II?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SHIPPING (SHRI KRISHANPAL GURJAR)
(a)&(b): No, Sir. As per information provided by the Ministry of Water Resources, there is no proposal of dredging in the Brahmaputra River for controlling flood and erosion.
(c) The River Brahmaputra from Sadia to Bangladesh Border (891 kms) was declared as National Waterway No.2 in 1988. Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) is developing this waterway for shipping and navigation by providing a navigational channel with targeted depth and width for most part of the year, aids for day and night navigation, fixed/ floating terminals at selected locations for berthing and loading/ unloading of vessels. 2.5 m depth from Bangladesh Border to Neamati (629 kms.), 2.0 m depth from Neamati to Dibrugarh (139 kms) and 1.5 m from Dibrugarh to Sadia (123 kms) are maintained throughout the year. IWAI undertakes various river conservancy works like dredging for removal of shoals and bandalling, wherever required, depending on the surveys conducted periodically for maintaining the targeted depth.