Visionary Agricultural Scientist Dr. Veena Vidyadharan Urges Revitalization of Assam’s Inland Waterways – Essential for Sustainable Success
GUWAHATI: The Assam government needs to prioritize the improvement of the Inland Water Transport (IWT) sector and augment IWT-centric trade and livelihoods, according to renowned agricultural scientist Dr. Veena Vidyadharan. Dr. Vidyadharan emphasized the critical role of riverine transport and waterways while speaking at the Arun Roy Memorial Lecture on ‘Inland Water Transport: Challenges and Opportunities in the context of the Brahmaputra.’
Highlighting the collaborative efforts between India and Bangladesh in utilizing coastal protocol routes for riverine transit and trade in the Brahmaputra and Meghna River basins, Dr. Vidyadharan underscored the benefits of bilateral cooperation in the region.
The lecture event, which took place in Guwahati, was organized by Aaranyak, the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at IIT Guwahati, and the Northeast India Water Forum (NIWaF). Dr. Vidyadharan, a fellow at the CUTS Centre for International Trade, Economics & Environment (CUTS CITEE) in Jaipur, boasts two decades of experience in agriculture, climate change, connectivity, transboundary water governance, regional integration, livelihoods, and food security.
Dr. Vidyadharan’s extensive work on inland navigation and transboundary riverine trade complements the expertise of the late Arun Roy, a leading figure in river engineering and IWT operations in India. Prof. Anamika Barua of IIT Guwahati mentioned that the gathering aimed to honor Roy’s significant contributions to the IWT sector, trade, and commerce in Northeast India.
During the memorial lecture, Dr. Vidyadharan also delved into various dimensions of the IWT sector, including the navigability of rivers, flood erosion, the transboundary nature of rivers, climate change, river geomorphology, and government policies. These discussions underscore the multifaceted challenges and opportunities that exist within the inland water transport framework in Assam and beyond.
The event provided a platform for critical discourse on enhancing the IWT sector, aligning it with sustainable development goals, and fostering regional cooperation for holistic growth.
Original Story https://nenews.in/assam/agricultural-scientist-dr-veena-vidyadharan-calls-for-focus-on-inland-waterways-in-assam/11864/
Category : Assam,Brahmaputra River Basin
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