Erosion caused by river Subansiri continues in Lakhimpur

A CORRESPONDENT

LAKHIMPUR: Though River Subansiri, the largest tributary of the mighty Brahmaputra, is considered to be the lifeline of Lakhimpur district, the river has compelled the riverine people to suffer a lot year after year due to perennial flood and erosion.

Like the previous years, the massive erosion of the river continues this year too due to the non-implementation of scientific erosion-prevention measures by the Water Resources Department (WRD). As a result, the river on Wednesday morning eroded away a Shiva Mandir along with a big old tree, locally known as 'Jori Gos' at No. 1 Mudoibil under Telahi Development Block of North Lakhimpur Revenue Circle. The area, where massive erosion of the river is going on, became well-known as Joritol after the name of the tree. Notably, the people have traditionally believed that such species of tree was the abode of divine elements and paid their obeisance to it with deep devotion. The Shiva Mandir came into being at the place centering round the tree and the local people used to offer their prayers to the deity every day. The emotions and the sentiments of the local people had become connected with the tree and the Shiva Mandir which was around two-and-half kilometers away from the main course of the river before. In the course of the time, the erosion caused by the river engulfed the No. 1 Mudoibil and No. 2 Mudoibil villages and it proceeded nearer to the tree and the temple in the last rainy season. Finally, the river eroded away the tree and the temple on Wednesday morning.

After the river had engulfed the tree and the temple, the people of the village turned emotional and could not but shed tears. They observed fasting following the religious tradition. In the afternoon, they held a religious event offering prashada near the tree. According to the local people, the big tree was the shelter of many species of birds, especially of the rare species of vultures, which are on the verge of extinction.

Notably, the people of the area consecutively demanded the State Government and the district administration to construct a guide bundh at the place to save No. 1 Mudoibil, No. 2 Mudoibil, Egharomile, Rantijan and other adjacent villages from the demonic erosion of the river. But the successive governments have turned a deaf ear to these demands, as a result of which the river is proceeding towards the North Lakhimpur-Kamalabari connecting road.

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