Agartala: The state government has demanded to declare Ashuganj port of Bangladesh as port of call for transporting food grains and essential commodities for Tripura and Mizoram.
In regional meeting of north eastern states at Guwahati yesterday, the state government officials urged union food and civil supplies minister K V Thomas to facilitate both the northeastern state for getting access to Ashuganj port considering their proximity with Bangladesh.
” Thomas assured us to taken up the issue with Inland Water Transport Authority of India and Ministry of External Affairs while Food Corporation of India has agreed with the proposal, as it will reduce transport cost, transportation delay and other logistic difficulties, ” said Food and Civil Supplies Secretary B K Ray. He, however, pointed out that FCI officials were asked to finalize the matter soon after discussing with IWTAI and all other concerned and added that most of the time Tripura and Mizoram faced inordinate delay in transportation of essential commodities because of high terrine in surface transport.
Earlier, Bangladesh had allowed ONGC Tripura Power Company to transport over dimension consignments for 360 MW thermal power project in Palatana of South Tripura through Ashuganj sea port.
Subsequently, 305 MT of steel consignment of a private enterprise had reached Ashuganj river port on Meghna River from Kolkata’s Haldia port through the riverine route earlier this week, which widen and brighten the scope of carrying essential commodities via Bangladesh port. Meanwhile, Tripura has also demanded an additional 10,000 MT rice every month following enhancement of ration cards against current allocation of 12,595 MT rice every months for Public Distribution System. (UNI)