Siang flows normal in Arunachal after breach in artificial barrier

OUR CORRESPONDENT

ITANAGAR: The Siang River in Arunachal Pradesh is flowing normally after the reported breach of the artificial barrier at Tsangpo River in China, Mebo legislator Lombo Tayeng informed on Monday after inspecting the affected villages.

Tayeng, who was the first to tell media on August 30 last about the river’s unusually high but muddy waves that had affected over 1,000 families living along the river bank, informed that about 50 meter land was eroded on Sunday.

He informed that most of the inhabitants on left bank have been evacuated to safe places and assured each family to provide required CGI sheets and Rs one lakh each for their rehabilitation.

Jarku, Paglek, SS Mission, Jarkong, Banskota, Berung, Sigar, Borguli, Seram, Kongkul, Namsing and Mer villages located in low lying areas were the most affected ones and under constant monitoring of water resources department engineers led by chief engineer (Western Zone) Likar Angu.

“Siang River has always been flowing since time immemorial with plain water but the present muddy water clearly indicated the artificial blockade in Tsangfo River as confirmed by China,” Tayeng said, adding round-the-clock monitoring of the situation continues including by the centrally deployed National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team. Originating in Tibet to be known as Tsangpo in China, the river takes the name of Siang after entering India at Tuting in Upper Siang district. It swells with joining of Lohit and Dibang Rivers downstream and known as Brahmaputra in Assam.

Upper Siang Deputy Commissioner Duli Kamduk, who had monitored the situation throughout the night on October 19 with senior officers after the flow rises high around 11 pm, informed that the river flow is normal now. This was confirmed by Yingkiong MLA-cum-Health & Family Welfare Minister Alo Libang.