Erosion takes serious turn at Buroi in Gohpur

A Correspondent

Biswanath Chariali, July 4: The large-scale erosion caused by the Buroi river under Gohpur subdivision in Biswanath district has taken a serious turn these days resulting in loss of property of nearby people amounting to lakhs of rupees. The households and agricultural lands of several families have been destroyed by the river. These people are at a loss nowadays after losing their earning sources. Though a good number of organizations supported by affected people have been demanding safety of their life and property, the departments concerned of the government have allegedly failed to take action in a positive direction. The alleged rampant digging of sand and stone towards the source of the Buroi river has led to large-scale erosion at the downstream of the river.

Villages like Buroighat, Pachim Takoubari, Nanke Bihmari and Baligaon are the worst affected. The local people, All Gorkha Students’ Union, Buroighat Unnayan Samiti and Buroighat Mahila Unnayan Samiti alleged that the sand-gravel mahals at Ramghat under the Department of Forest were the main reason behind this erosion. Though the mahals were closed later, no preventive measure was taken. A team of AGSU members visited the affected areas on Wednesday and took stock of the situation there. The erosion has also posed threat to the railway bridge near NH-15 at Buroighat. It is feared that the railway bridge may be washed away at any moment by the surging water of the Buroi river. The people have now constructed bamboo porcupines to get rid of the erosion.