The Centre has identified 22 river stretches in the northeastern States which could be developed for cargo transportation. “The identified river stretches have been shared with the concerned State governments and they have been requested to send proposals for assistance. So far only three proposals have been received, one of which have been sanctioned,” said a top official in the Shipping Ministry. The river stretches have been identified following a survey conducted by M/s RITES (a PSU). Identification of the 22 river stretches for cargo transportation assumes significance amid the fact that the Centre is having problems to make the National Waterway–2 functional. The 900–km ambitious project will connect Dhubri to Sadia. The Inland Waterways Authority of India has been trying to develop and maintain the National Waterway–2 over the years. The fixed terminal at Pandu is also nearing completion. The work is being taken up on the Dhubri side but on the other side of the river, there is problem of soil erosion. The matter has been taken up with the Brahmaputra Board and the Irrigation Department of the Assam government to stop soil erosion so that work could be started on the Hatsinghimari side of the Ro–Ro terminal. The northeastern region is endowed with rivers and the Centre has mooted the idea to transport as much cargo as possible through inland waterways. The official informed that declaration of the Barak River as national waterway would improve transport services in between Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura. A bill to this effect is pending in the Rajya Sabha.