Massive threat of erosion by Subansiri looms large over Lakhimpur

LAKHIMPUR: Massive threat of devastating erosion caused by River Subansiri continues in Lakhimpur district. Like the previous years, the largest tributary of the mighty Brahmaputra has engulfed an extensive area under Kadam, North Lakhimpur, Bihpuriya and Narayanpur Revenue Circles (RC) this year too.

On Monday, more than 300 people residing at Mudoibil village under Lohit Khabolu Goan Panchayat of Telahi Development Block were compelled to offer prayers with naam-kirtan seeking divine intervention to get rid of the burning problem. Notably, River Subansiri, after eroding away an extensive area at Na-Ali under Panigaon Gaon Panchayat of Telahi Development Block recently, has also continued its devastation at Amguri under Madhya Telahi Gaon Panchayat of the same development block. On August 22, the villagers of Amguri were also compelled to initiate similar programme with the hope of saving their village from the perennial erosion caused by the river.

At Mudoibil, which falls under North Lakhimpur Revenue Circle, massive erosion of the river has gobbled down a large stretch of the area day-by-day. "The erosion of the river with enormous proportion has been going on here since 1988. Despite consecutive prayers and petitions, as well as various protest programmes, neither the district administration nor the successive State Governments have initiated any effective steps to control the burning problem. This year, the river has made at least 50 families homeless by eroding away their residential and crop areas along with their other properties. Now they have to shift to other places. The river took away our naamghar, school buildings, our houses and crop areas. Now we have to live coexisting with the recurring problem as we have no other way," said Lakhikanta Pegu, a resident of the village, with tears in his eyes.

Notably, the people of the area have lost all faith on the district administration and the State Government with regard to mitigating the burning problem. In this regard, they severely criticized the existing BJP-led State Government, which came to power with the much-hyped slogan of paribartan, for not bringing any change to the 'neglected' area. However, the villagers demanded the district administration, Lakhimpur MLA Utpal Dutta, MP Pradan Baruah, Water Resources Division and the State Government to take steps to implement permanent erosion-protection measures to save the area.

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