Continued siltation of the major rivers is reducing the length of navigable waterways maintained by the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA). affecting river communication in the country, official sources said

The length of classified navigable waterways under the BIWTA declined from 8433 kilometres In 1984 to 5984 km in 1992. the sources said, adding, the mileage shrink down to only 3800 km during the dry season

According to BIWTA sources. the total length of navi gable waterways including channels for low draft country boats is about 13.000 km and more I han half of the country's land area is located and three quarters of all commercial activities take place within a distance of 10 km from a navi-

gable waterway In all the seasons.

Although maintenance of the 'basic waterways system is becoming more arduous due to continuous siltation of the rivers, it is generally much less capital intensive than the construction and maintenance of land transport modes', an official noted.

The annual maintenance cost of bituminous roads stand around Taka lakh 50 thousand per km without the periodical upgrading and rehabilitation costs whereas the estimated cost of development and maintenance dredging of the classified inland waterways Is about Tk 42 thousand per km. the official pointed out.

Meanwhile, the World Bank, in a recent report on the water transport sector, recom-

mended that the government should be more concerned with maintaining the existing length of the classified waterways and improving the naviga-lional facilities, particularly night navigation in the routes with high traffic density, to enhance competitiveness and productivity in the IWT sector.

Investments in this sector should be undertaken in coordination with other modes of transport for developing a well-integrated transport network. it said.