Mohaijan-Ghagar Ghat Residents Move Against Erosion, Take up the Plantation Drive

A CORRESPONDENT

LAKHIMPUR: Without waiting for government initiative and without relying upon the effect of government implemented erosion-prevention schemes, the people of larger Mohaijan and Ghagar Ghat area in Lakhimpur district on Saturday came out to prevent the devastating erosion caused by the Subansiri River, the largest tributary of the mighty Brahmaputra.

The people of the area, led by the Ghagar-Mohaijan Regional committees of Takam Mising Porin Kebang (TMPK), Mising Mimag Kebang (MMK), Takam Mising Mime Kebang (TMMK) and Ghagar-Subansiri Gora-Khahania Surakshya Sangram Samiti, initiated an extensive plantation drive in order to control massive erosion of the river with a pledge of securing the future of the upcoming generation of North Lakhimpur. With this objective, the activists of the organizations and the local people of the area planted ‘Sthala Padma’ at a 5-km stretch of a severely erosion-hit area by the river from Lothiakola to Dhalmukh under North Lakhimpur revenue circle.

Notably, the ongoing erosion of the Subansiri River, that started from 1989, has already devastated the Ghagar Reserve Forest and eroded away eight villages along with 60 percent of croplands under Mohaijan area. As a result of such enormous devastation, the Subansiri River, meanwhile, merged in the basin of its tributary Ghagar River. At present, the river, causing a grave threat, has reached near its Bhimpora embankment of the right bank.

As the consequence of dharnas, hunger strikes and sits-in by TMPK, MMK, TMMK and Ghagar-Subansiri Gora-Khahania Surakshya Sangram Samiti since August 26, 2017, drawing the attention of the district administration, State Government and the Lakhimpur MP, some erosion prevention schemes worth Rs. 3 crore have already been implemented in the area.

The massive plantation drive taken under the auspices of the local people was inaugurated by Lakhimpur DC Dr. Jeevan B amidst a sacred environment enriched with the blended notes of Sankskrit verses chanted by Xatradhikar Pradip Goswami of Mahara Xatra.

On this occasion, a public meeting was also organized. Participating in the programme, the chief scientist of the Regional Agricultural Research Station, AAU, North Lakhimpur, Dr. Prabal Kumar Saikia suggested that flood and erosion could be checked by initiating natural measures. “We must fight against natural disasters by adapting natural processes. Erosion can be prevented by planting Gan Birina plant too, like Sthala Padma,” he further added.

TMPK leader Sailen Panging, Lakhimpur DRDA Project Director Narendra Pawe and Xatradhikar Bishnudev Goswami also took part in the public meeting.

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