A CORRESPONDENT
LAKHIMPUR: Charikoriya River, the life line of Dhakuakhana subdivision of Lakhimpur district, which always flows in a peaceful and tranquil manner, did assume devastating status suddenly on Wednesday. On the day, the river caused massive erosion on the southern side of the Dhakuakhana College and eroded away the residences of two employees of the college within a short span of time. Moreover, the erosion of the river uprooted a number of valuable trees and affected more than one bigha of land owned by the college.
According to the members of two affected families, the devastation caused by the river took place within half an hour. More than 10 persons of the both affected families had a narrow escape from the jaws of death but the river gobbled down the valuable properties of the families along with the textbooks and other testimonials of the children.
Panchayat and Rural Development Minister-cum-Dhakuakhana MLA Naba Kumar Doley, who was in the native constituency on that day, being informed of the unprecedented phenomenon, arrived at the spot. He was accompanied by the Superintending Engineer, Executive Engineer, Assistant Executive Engineer of Dhakuakhana Water Resources Division and Arindam Baruah, the SDO (Civil) of Dhakuakhana. After inspecting the site, Naba Kumar Doley instructed the Dhakuakhana Water Resources Division to implement erosion prevention measures in the affected areas immediately. The minister extended a cash amount of Rs. 10,000 to each of the both affected families along with two bundles of GIC sheets for their temporary rehabilitation.
Notably, Charikoriya River has hit the backside area of the Dhakuakhana College for two years. Under such circumstances, the Dhakuakhana Water Resources Division has not implemented any fruitful measures to check the devastating erosion caused by the river. Though the engineers and contractors of the Water Resources Division concerned executed an erosion prevention scheme of porcupine installation with the investment of lakhs of rupees, it ended up in smoke. As per report, the Principal of the college informed the Dhakuakhana Water Resources Division about the ongoing effect of the erosion in the college campus but the office concerned only installed some bamboo spars only to check the erosion. If effective erosion prevention scheme is not implemented on time, the erosion of the river will ravage the main building of the college along with the girls' hostel very soon.