Ichamati River

09.10.2023

Ichamati River

Why in the news?

Recently, the Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways inaugurated the dredging work at National Waterways 44, Ichamati River in West Bengal.

Dredging

• It is the removal of sediments and debris from the bottom of lakes, rivers, harbors, and other water bodies.
• It is a routine necessity in waterways around the world because sedimentation, the natural process of sand and silt washing downstream, gradually fills channels and harbors.
• Dredging is also performed to reduce the exposure of fish, wildlife, and people to contaminants and to prevent the spread of contaminants to other areas of the water body.
• Dredging work is being carried out from Tentulia to Kalanchi, covering a distance of 23.38 kilometres. The goal is to achieve a navigational depth of 1.5 meters, which is essential for ensuring smooth navigation in the river.
• The primary objective of this dredging project is to increase the navigational depth, which is crucial for enhancing tidal influence in the Ichamati River.
• This project is part of the broader efforts by the Indian government to promote and enhance inland water transport.

About Ichamati River:

• It is actually a trans-boundary river that flows through India and Bangladesh.
• It acts as a boundary between the two nations.
• The River is divided into three parts.
• The longer part of the river originates from the Mathabhanga River, which is a distributary of the Padma River (a major river in Bangladesh). This section of the Ichamati River flows for approximately 208 kilometres.
• The main channel of the Ichamati River eventually joins the Kalindi River.
• This confluence takes place near Hasnabad in the North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, India, and Debhata in the Satkhira District of Bangladesh.
• The Ichamati River, along with its tributaries, has formed a significant oxbow lake complex in the North 24 Parganas district near Bangaon.
• Oxbow lakes are often formed when a river's course changes over time, leaving behind curved or horseshoe-shaped water bodies.

Key facts about National waterways in India

• India has a vast network of inland waterways that include river bodies, canals, backwaters and creeks.
• There are 111 inland waterways (including 5 existing and 106 new) declared as National Waterways in India under the National Waterways Act, 2016.
• The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) primarily undertakes projects for development and maintenance of IWT infrastructure on national waterways through grants received from the Ministry of Shipping.
• The head office of the authority is at Noida.

Source:PIB