Hi-tech navigation for Assam
ROOPAK GOSWAMI
Guwahati, June 29: Navigating the Brahmaputra will soon be safer, as the Inland Waterways Authority of India is installing the Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) at three points in the river in Assam.
“The DGPS provides accurate navigation and is very crucial in a river like Brahmaputra where the channels are always changing,” an inland waterways official said.
The three locations are in Jogighopa, Tezpur and Dibrugarh for which tenders are being issued.
“At present, we have the Global Positioning System (GPS) but the DGPS is more accurate,” the official said.
But how will the system help?
“In most of the reaches, there are many channels separated by islands and bars. When the water level rises, a large number of bars and islands are submerged and in case of major floods they may disappear entirely. The pattern of channels changes frequently, especially during floods, accompanied by extensive erosion along the banks,” the official explianed.
At many places along the river, there are submerged rocks, strong currents, sharp bends and steep gradients, especially in the Upper Assam stretches.
The official said any wrong movement by a vessel on the river could lead to accidents.
There are 32 locations on the river, which is also the national waterway number 2 where it is more or less stable.
Tenders had been called and the systems would soon be installed, the official said.
The official added that towers will have to be fitted and there will be a separate office for staff also.
“With Numaligarh Refinery Ltd moving huge amounts of cargo through the river to Bangladesh, it is time that the waterways authorities improved navigation on the river, so that other companies also use the route,” the official said.
The waterways authority also approved an action plan to make National Waterway 2 fully operational by 2009, subject to the availability of funds.
The waterways authorities will also install shore beacons and lighted buoys to maintain seamless navigation on the river.
The Dhubri-Sadiya stretch (891km) of the Brahmaputra was declared as National Waterway 2 in 1988. There are floating terminals at Dhubri, Jogighopa, Pandu, Tezpur, Silghat, Jamguri, and Neamatighat. source: telegraph india
ROOPAK GOSWAMI
Guwahati, June 29: Navigating the Brahmaputra will soon be safer, as the Inland Waterways Authority of India is installing the Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) at three points in the river in Assam.
“The DGPS provides accurate navigation and is very crucial in a river like Brahmaputra where the channels are always changing,” an inland waterways official said.
The three locations are in Jogighopa, Tezpur and Dibrugarh for which tenders are being issued.
“At present, we have the Global Positioning System (GPS) but the DGPS is more accurate,” the official said.
But how will the system help?
“In most of the reaches, there are many channels separated by islands and bars. When the water level rises, a large number of bars and islands are submerged and in case of major floods they may disappear entirely. The pattern of channels changes frequently, especially during floods, accompanied by extensive erosion along the banks,” the official explianed.
At many places along the river, there are submerged rocks, strong currents, sharp bends and steep gradients, especially in the Upper Assam stretches.
The official said any wrong movement by a vessel on the river could lead to accidents.
There are 32 locations on the river, which is also the national waterway number 2 where it is more or less stable.
Tenders had been called and the systems would soon be installed, the official said.
The official added that towers will have to be fitted and there will be a separate office for staff also.
“With Numaligarh Refinery Ltd moving huge amounts of cargo through the river to Bangladesh, it is time that the waterways authorities improved navigation on the river, so that other companies also use the route,” the official said.
The waterways authority also approved an action plan to make National Waterway 2 fully operational by 2009, subject to the availability of funds.
The waterways authorities will also install shore beacons and lighted buoys to maintain seamless navigation on the river.
The Dhubri-Sadiya stretch (891km) of the Brahmaputra was declared as National Waterway 2 in 1988. There are floating terminals at Dhubri, Jogighopa, Pandu, Tezpur, Silghat, Jamguri, and Neamatighat. source: telegraph india
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