Arunachal Lok Sabha MP Ninong suggests dredging of river Siang

Our Correspondent

Itanagar: Lok Sabha MP from Arunachal Pradesh Ninong Ering has suggested to the Centre for dredging of the Siang river (which is called Tsangpo in China and Brahmaputra in Assam), construction of embankments, besides taking up the issue with China to solve the recurrent flood and erosion problems in the downstream areas in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.

The Congress MP from Arunachal East constituency on Saturday in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi apprised him of the large-scale soil erosion taking place along the banks of Siang river in East Siang district which has posed a serious threat to the lives of people in reverine areas. With Siang river in spate and flowing above danger level, the MP expressed deep concern over large-scale siltation in the riverbed and soil erosions in downstream areas of Borguli and Serum villages under Mebo sub-division and Pertung, Sika-Bamin and Sika-Tode in Pasighat area.

To bring a permanent solution to over flooding and erosion of downstream areas, Ering pleaded the PM to initiate preventive measures such as dredging of Siang river from Rengging to Oiramghat in Assam covering approximately 40 km, construction of embankments along both banks of the river till Oiramghat, and initiating international dialogue with China on the release of water from the dams in Yarlung Zangpo in Tibet to solve the crisis.

The Congress MP has exuded hope that the Prime Minister would show sympathy towards the people of Arunachal and Assam and intervene at the earliest.