Devastating erosion by Subansiri poses massive threat to embankment

A CORRESPONDENT

LAKHIMPUR: Devastating erosion caused by River Subansiri has created massive threat to the right bank embankment at Ghancharai and Na-Ali area in Lakhimpur district at present.

After eroding away an extensive area at Na-Ali under Panigaon Gaon Panchayat of Telahi Development Block recently, the largest tributary of the mighty Brahmaputra continues its devastation at 35KM stretch of the embankment at Ghancharai under Madhya Telahi Gaon Panchayat of the same development block. Assuming demonic proportion, the perennial erosion of the river has eroded away the porcupines one after another, which were installed last year and this year in order to check erosion.

The river has already engulfed a large stretch of the area and caused alarming threat to the embankment and almost 30 families residing at the adversely affected village. In the meantime, the families headed by Dhireswar Borah, Dilip Borah, Prafulla Kalita, Lavanya Kalita, Pona Borah, Bubul Bhorali, Lakhi Borah, Joy Kalita, Umai Borah, Hemanta Kalita, Manik Kalita, Nila Borah Dandiram Bhorali were compelled to shift their residences to safe places leaving the place due to the advancing erosion of the river. At the time, when this correspondent visited the area on Sunday to witness the devastation, it was seen that the family headed by Nareswar Borah initiated moves to leave the place in order to save his property and family members. The local people said that the river had engulfed more than hundred meter wide area from its basin towards the embankment within last fifteen days.

"Now the difference between the river and the embankment is around only 20 metres. The river will erode away that stretch very soon. As a result of it, if the embankment breeches during the upcoming rainy season, the river will inundate more than 40 villages ravaging Na-Ali, Telia Pothar, Halodhiati and other neigbouring villages," the local people said in front of this correspondent.

Notably, two erosion prevention measures were implemented at this affected area in last two year. A scheme to install porcupines with the investment of Rs. 1.50 crores was implemented in 2020-21. On the other hand, another scheme under SDRF with the investment of Rs. 2 crores for the installation of RCC porcupines from the 34,500 meter pont of the embankment to 37,100 point was implemented in 2018-2019. At present, the implementation of the two schemes has ended in smoke due to their non-effectiveness.

Erosion by the river wholly destroyed three villages of that area, named Ghancharai, Jugalpur and Chandrapur in 1991 and 1992. Then the calamity made almost 300 families living at those villages homeless and compelled them to take shelter at the Bhimpora embankment. Most of those homeless families are still living on the embankment while some of them shifted to various place of the district including Dhemaji. Despite consecutive prayers and petitions, as well as demonstration of various protest programmes, neither the district administration nor the successive State Governments have initiated any steps to rehabilitate the homeless families as a result of which they have been spending their days in pitiable, miserable conditions by building huts on the said embankment. Since 1991, the river has continued its erosion in the area collapsing the crop lands and residential areas. Thus, the river is proceeding towards the embankment as a result of non-implementation of any permanent erosion prevention measures since 1991.

Under such circumstances, the homeless people of Ghancharai, Jugalpur Chandrapur and those who live in the neighbouring villages have demanded the State Government to implement a permanent erosion prevention measures to protect the embankment and their properties. Though the North Lakhimpur Division of Water Resources Department submitted a project worth Rs. 9,99,83000, titled as 'Anti-Erosion measures to protect Ghancharai and adjoining area from 35th to 36th KM of the R/B of River Subansiri' under the head SDRF-FDR this year, the State Government has not approved it till date.

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