Erosion by Brahmaputra poses serious threat to Bahari

A CORRESPONDENT

BARPETA: The mighty Brahmaputra has been eroding a massive part of Bahari area. It has become a great threat to Bahari Xatra also. Every year, the Brahmaputra wreaks havoc on the people of Bahari area.

Many houses, properties and cropland have been washed away due to erosion by the river at Bahari, the eastern part of Barpeta. The Deputy Commissioner of Barpeta on Monday visited the Bahari area and ordered the Water Resource department and Chenga Development block to take initiative for preventive measures against erosion. The Deputy Commissioner told journalists that a short-term project had been sent to the State Government in order to deal with the erosion problem. Again, another long-term project worth Rs. 4.80 crore under the Assam Disaster Management Authority has also been sent to the government for approval. If these projects are implemented properly, the erosion problem in the area will be solved.

Pulak Choudhury, Engineer,Water Resource department, said that the erosion of the Brahmaputra River at Bahari was a long-pending problem. He said that the 33-km area from Chenimari, Nalbari district to Baghbar, Barpeta district could be protected by setting up porcupines and geo-bags. For this, a Rs 398-crore project proposal under the Asian Development Bank has also been submitted.