The Kaladan River is a river

River

A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...

 in eastern Mizoram State

Mizoram

Mizoram is one of the Seven Sister States in North Eastern India, sharing borders with the states of Tripura, Assam, Manipur and with the neighbouring countries of Bangladesh and Burma. Mizoram became the 23rd state of India on 20 February 1987. Its capital is Aizawl. Mizoram is located in the...

 of India

India

India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

, and in Chin State

Chin State

Chin State is a state located in western Burma . The Chin State is bordered by Rakhine State in the south, Bangladesh in south-west, Sagaing Division and Magway Division in the east, Indian state of Manipur in the north and Indian state of Mizoram in the west. The Chin ethnic group make up the...

 and Rakhine State

Rakhine State

Rakhine State is a Burmese state. Situated on the western coast, it is bordered by Chin State in the north, Magway Region, Bago Region and Ayeyarwady Region in the east, the Bay of Bengal to the west, and the Chittagong Division of Bangladesh to the northwest. It is located approximately between...

 of western Myanmar

Myanmar

Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....

. It forms the international border between India and Burma between 22° 47′ 10" N (where its tributary, the Tyao River, joins it) and 22° 11′ 06" N.

Geography

The river arises in central Chin State as the Timit, 22° 49′ 28″ N 93° 31′ 57" E, and flows south and is soon joined by the Chal, after which it is known as the Boinu River. It continues south until just before it is joined by the Twe River at 22° 08′ 40″ N 93° 34′ 30″ E, when it swings west. It continues west until 22° 05′ 20″ N 93° 14′ 12″ E, when it heads northwest. At 22° 11′ 06″ N 93° 09′ 29″ E, below Mount Phabipa, it turns north and becomes the international border between India and Myanmar. It flows north to 22° 47′ 09″ N 93° 05′ 47″ E, where the international border continues north along the Tyao River, and the Boinu heads northwest into Mizoram State, at which point it is known as the Kaladan.

At 22° 56′ 21″ N 92° 58′ 55″ E it reaches its northern-most point, and turns south west, is joined by the Tuichong River from the right and then heads south. The Kaladan is joined from the right by the Mat River at 22° 43′ 39″ N, 92° 54′ 46″ E. It continues south and is joined by the Kawrthingdeng River from the right. It again enters Chin State, at Raithaw Ferry, 22° 03′ 40″ N 92° 51′ 05″ E, just northwest of Khenkhar. The Mi River joins from the left at 21° 06′ 56″ N 92° 57′ 42″ E. At Ngame

Ngame, Burma

Ngame is a town in Kyauktaw Township, Sittwe District, in the Rakhine State of western Burma, located on the right bank of the Kaladan River, just south of the border with Chin State.-External links:*, Maplandia.com...

 the river enters the Rakhine State of Myanmar and continues south to Sittwe

Sittwe

-Economy:In February 2007, India announced a plan to develop the port, which would enable ocean access from Indian Northeastern states, so called "Seven sisters", like Mizoram, via the Kaladan River....

 where it enters the Bay of Bengal

Bay of Bengal

The Bay of Bengal , the largest bay in the world, forms the northeastern part of the Indian Ocean. It resembles a triangle in shape, and is bordered mostly by the Eastern Coast of India, southern coast of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to the west and Burma and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to the...

.

Development

The governments of India and Myanmar are working on a US$500 million, Kaladan Multi-modal Transit Transport Project that will facilitate trade between the two nations. The project includes the construction of the US$120 million deepwater Sittwe Port

Sittwe Port

Sittwe Port is a deepwater port under construction by India since 2010 in Sittwe, the capital of Rakhine State in Myanmar, on the Bay of Bengal. Situated at the mouth of the Kaladan River, the USD 120 Million port is being financed by India as a part of the Kaladan Multi-modal Transit Transport...

 at the mouth of the river, dredging of the Kaladan river to enable cargo vessels to navigate the river

Navigability

A body of water, such as a river, canal or lake, is navigable if it is deep, wide and slow enough for a vessel to pass. Preferably there are few obstructions such as rocks or trees to avoid. Bridges must have sufficient clearance. High water speed may make a channel unnavigable. Waters may be...

 from Sittwe to Mizoram, the construction of a river port at Paletwa

Paletwa

Paletwa is one of the westernmost towns of Burma , in Chin State 18 kilometres from the border with Bangladesh. It is the administrative seat for Paletwa Township.-External links:*...

, as well as the widening and upgrade of highways between Paletwa and Myeikwa on the Indo-Myanmar border. The project will open up not only Mizoram but all of India's northeastern states as hinterland for the Sittwe Port. Construction for the port started in 2010 and is expected to be completed by mid-2013.

Development of the river is also being negotiated with the Shwe Gas Project for economic enhancement

External links

• "Boinu Hydroelectric Project (640 MW)", Ministry of Power, Government of India
• Kaladan.com - news covering Indo-Myanmar Kaladan project