Assam: Dibrugarh facing threat from erosion by Brahmaputra River

DIBRUGARH: For last few days, erosion has been going on at Mohanaghat area in Dibrugarh. The massive erosion has washed away several houses in the area. The erosion by Brahmaputra river has been causing extensive damaged in the area. The Dibrugarh Town Protection Dyke (DTP) is just few metres away from the Brahmaputra River.

“We are having a sleepless night for the last several days due to the ongoing erosion in our area. We request the Water Resources Department to take immediate step to control the erosion,” said a local resident.

He said, “Every year due to erosion, we lose huge chunk of land. Already many bighas of land were washed away in the river due to the erosion. We are facing erosion problem since many years but no permanent solution has been taken.”

“Geo-bags were placed in the erosion-affected area but it would not solve the problem permanently. We want scientific and permanent solution,” said another resident.

“In 2020, due to massive erosion, a total of six houses were washed away in the Mohanaghat area. Now, we are facing similar kind of situation,” he said. The great earthquake of August 15, 1950 measuring 8.7 on the Richter scale had altered the course of the Brahmaputra and lifted the bed level of the river in Dibrugarh by several metres. As a result, the Brahmaputra bed now lies several feet higher than the ground level of Dibrugarh town. Most of the time, the Brahmaputra flows much higher than the ground level. “The DTP dyke is the only barrier. If the erosion will continue then it can affect the dyke and the people of Dibrugarh town will face huge problem,” the resident said.

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