Baithaputa Xatra on the verge of extinction in Barpeta district

A CORRESPONDENT

BARPETA: The historical Baithaputa Satra established by Mahapurush Sri Sri Madhabdeva on the foothill of scenic Baghbar Hill on the bank of Brahmaputra in Barpeta district is on the verge of extinction due to the massive erosion by the Brahmaputra River for the last few months.

The Brahmaputra has gripped one after another plot of the south of Baghbar Hill and fast approaching towards the North for the last few days. It has already eroded the Kali Temple on the foothills. The guest house of Baithaputa Xatra has also faced a similar fate. The river is flowing just fifty meters away from the Xatra. Palarpur LP School, the lone primary school of this village will also be eroded along with the historic Xatra if measures are not taken.

Though the people of the area irrespective of caste, creed have been demanding to protect the Xatra from the Brahmaputra, the concerned authorities have not undertaken any measure to protect it. Irked over the inaction of the government departments, the local people organised a one-hour protest in front of the Xatra this morning. Sherman Ali Ahmed, MLA of Baghbar constituency also attended the one hour demonstration.

Addressing the gathering there, Sherman Ali Ahmed informed that he has been repeatedly demanding the government to protect the Xatra from erosion at any cost. He also added that an Asian Development Bank assisted master plan of checking erosion from Bahari to Baghbar worth 500 crore aiming at protection of Bahari Xatra, Dakreswar Devalay and Baithaputa Xatra by the Water Resources Department . But as it will take time he proposed before the District Disaster Development Authority for a provisional measure and the DDMA approved a plan worth Rupees 2.39 crore on October 8, 2021.

It was forwarded to the government for necessary sanctions. But to the reason best known to the authorities it did not receive necessary sanction until February last. The MLA met the Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma on February 25 this year in the Assembly chamber and requested to take the necessary steps to make the process of sanction of the scheme.

The Chief Minister could realise the gravity of the situation and directed the Chief Executive Officer of Assam State Disaster Management Authorities to accord necessary sanction of the scheme.

Baghbar is the habitat of indigenous Bodo, Assamese and Muslim community. Baithaputa Xatra, Siva temple, Kali temple and Bagheswari temple are situated on the foothills of Baghbar Hill. The demonstration today was participated by a large number of people irrespective of caste, creed.

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