Massive erosion poses a serious threat to Dibrugarh town

 A CORRESPONDENT

DIBRUGARH: The people of Dibrugarh town are alarmed following heavy erosion by the River Brahmaputra in the Kolia ghat area since Saturday evening. Within a few hours, huge areas of land mass were washed away in the river.

The DTP dyke is just less than 10 meters away from the erosion area. Massive erosion has affected huge land mass behind Dibrugarh Gurudwara area from Saturday. Meanwhile, the Dibrugarh district administration has been taking all precautionary measures to control the massive erosion.

“The erosion started heavily since Saturday. Within a few hours, huge swaths of land were washed away into the river. The erosion has been posing a serious threat to the DTP dyke, which is just few metres away from the river Brahmaputra,” said a resident of Dibrugarh. He said, “After the 1950 earthquake, the river course of Brahmaputra changed and the river came closer to Dibrugarh town. Earlier, the river was far away from Dibrugarh town.”

Talking to The Sentinel, Dibrugarh Deputy Commissioner Biswajit Pegu said, “We have used geo bags, mega bags, type-C bags and porcupine technology to control the erosion. Due to the change in river course, erosion has started in the area. In the middle of the river, a sar area has been created and as a result the river current is hitting a particular area.”

Dibrugarh town has been facing the threat of soil erosion for the last several decades but still no permanent solution has been found. According to experts, the river course of the Brahmaputra changed suddenly which is one of the reasons for the massive erosion.

“The Water Resource Department which was carrying out the anti-erosion measures has failed to control the erosion by the Brahmaputra River. The department has failed to understand the character of the River Brahmaputra. They should take the help of some experts who know the river well. Every year, due to erosion huge hectares of land mass are washed away and people becomes homeless,” said Abhijit Roy, a resident of Dibrugarh.

He said, “We want permanent solution from erosion. If the erosion has been continues then one day Dibrugarh town will be wiped out. Scientific permanent solution is need to combat the marauding erosion from River Brahmaputra.”

Dibrugarh MLA Prasanta Phukan said, “Geo bags and mega bags technology were used to control the erosion. From Saturday, massive erosion has started in this area. We will take all precautionary measures to control the erosion.” Due to massive erosion, the existence of the Dibrugarh town is at stake.

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