Assam: Brahmaputra Erosion Sparks Desperation In Dibrugarh Villages

DIBRUGARH: Women from 18 riverside villages gathered along the banks of the Brahmaputra in Assam's Dibrugarh to hold traditional prayers, seeking divine intervention to protect their homes and fields from the annual devastation caused by flooding and erosion.

The Brahmaputra has engulfed large tracts of agriculture in the last ten years, forcing many families to relocate. Residents are anxious as the monsoon season draws closer and they prepare for yet another round of destruction.

"Prayers are now our only hope. The relentless erosion from Mohanaghat to Aaithan has left us terrified. We’ve lost faith in human solutions," said Rupali Chetia, a villager from Aaithan.

Frustration is building up over the ineffective flood control measures promised by authorities. Recently, Water Resources Minister Pijush Hazarika announced a plan for Rs. 329 crore to be spent on flood and erosion control in the Bindhakota-Bogibeel region.

However, progress has come to a standstill following reported shortages of geo-bags and mega bags, leaving several villages perilously close to the riverbank.

"The Brahmaputra is now just 15 feet away from some villages. Since the minister's visit on June 13, another three kilometers of riverbank have been lost. Basanta Saikia, a Bindhakota resident, stated, "We again will have unprecedented flooding and erosion if the anti-erosion work is not completed before the onset of the monsoon."

The villagers are demanding swift implementation of the measures that have been promised, so that their land and means of livelihood can be saved. Their plea reflects the urgent need for sustainable solutions for the recurrent erosion crisis afflicting their community.

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