With the water level of the Brahmaputra having receded to unprecedented depths, resulting in suspension of ferry services between Jorhat and Majuli, along the Nimati ghat-Kamalabari Ghat route, state transport, technology & climate change minister Keshab Mahanta on Wednesday announced that dredging will be carried out to restore the route.
The Inland Water Transport (IWT) division had suspended ferry services from last Sunday, after several vessels were stranded along the Nimati Ghat-Kamalabari Ghat route, where the water level had plummeted to merely 1-2 feet in some areas – far below the requisite depth of 4-6 feet.
“We are bringing a dredger from Dibrugarh to remove the accumulated silt from the river bed. We understand the hardships faced by the commuters and are working to restore the services quickly. However, we have to ensure that the services are resumed under safe conditions,” Mahanta said during his visit to Nimati ghat in Jorhat. The announcement came following his meeting with key officials, including Jorhat district commissioner Jay Shivani and IWT department director Susmita Kakoty.
“Silt accumulation has been a persistent issue over the years, gradually making the river bed shallow,” a veteran ferry operator said. The sudden drop in water level has been described as “unprecedented” by the authorities. “This is an unprecedented situation for this time of year. It has completely caught us off guard,” an IWT official said.