Concern over Marabharali floodplain encroachment

FROM A CORRESPONDENT

Tezpur, Dec 30: At a time when the people of the state has started enjoying picnic at different picnic spots, people here specially concerned with the historic Tezpur town and it’s all-round development including road communication, hassle-free traffic system, good administration, proper maintence of the historically important places in and outside the town, the domestic and the foreign tourists are aptly pointed out that the dead course of the Bharali river can be converted to a best place of tourist attraction.

It is to be mentioned here that an abandoned channel (ara suti) of the river which popularly known as Marabharali, flows from Mansiri to river Brahmaputra through the heart of Tezpur.

Once it was a major tributary, but following tural causes like flood and erosion it’s course was changed during 1980 leaving the course as a dead river. However, 32 km stretches of dead river falling under the Sonitpur (West) Division of Forest department has been allegedly encroached upon by people taking the advantage administration’s indifferent attitude.

Expressing grave concern over the ongoing encroachment, social worker, ex-secretary of Gahan Uddyan Magement Committee, Aswini Bora said that the Marabharali playing a major role in integrating and organizing the landscape and moulding the ecological setting of the basin in Tezpur is selected from Mansiri to Maithan flowing through the heart of the Tezpur town is presently under big threat of encroachment.

“Recently the land in the river near the Gahan Uddyan was encroached upon, within few nights many huts were seen built in the area with an intension to occupy the river land, scrapping the beauty of the area, however, following quick intervention of a section of socially aware people it could be thwarted,” Bora said.

Another resident of Tezpur town, Arup Kalita describing history of the dead river said that it is a matter of great concern that this place besides other locations of the river are being encroached upon posing a serious threat to the very existence of the historically important river.

Moreover, many environmentalists and ture loving people here also alleged that some illegal traders in collusion with a section of unscrupulous forest officials have been continuing sand mining on the river bed for the last many years harming ecology of the area.

 “The government agencies should come forward with sincerity to protect the river from unwanted activities,” they maintained.