Erosion by Subansiri River continues in North Lakhimpur and Bihpuriya

A CORRESPONDENT

LAKHIMPUR: Erosion continues unabated at several places under North Lakhimpur and Bihpuriya Revenue Circles (RC) in Lakhimpur district. Massive erosion by the Subansiri River, the largest tributary of the mighty Brahamaputra, has been devastating its bank in the northern part of the Lohit Khabalu Gaon Panchayat under Telahi Development Block of North Lakhimpur RC. The massive erosion of the river has created havoc in the lives of people of as many as 20 villages, including No. 1 Mudoibil, No 2 Mudoibil, Teliapathar, Rantijan, Kahidowar Mising Gaon, Egharomile, Natun Salmora, Bordubi, Moluwal, Sanog Gaon and Kuhiarbari under the said RC.

Continuing the devastation in enormous proportion, the river has eroded away the croplands and residential areas. Activists of the Uttar Lohit Khabalu Regional Committee of Takam Mising Porin Kebang (TMPK) expressed fear that if the erosion of the river continued in such proportion, the river would engulf the riverine villages very soon. It was alleged that no permanent erosion-prevention measures had been executed by the Water Resource Department in order to check the erosion in the affected areas, apart from implementing some temporary schemes undertaken under the Mahatma Gandhi National Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) by the local administration. The activists demanded the State Government to take adequate and scientific measures to mitigate the burning problem before it went beyond control. In this regard, the local people criticized the alleged lackadaisical attitude of local MLA Utpal Dutta.

In addition to Lohit Khabalu, the river created havoc at Botomchuk under Bihpuriya RC too. Meanwhile, as many as 10 erosion-affected families under this village had to shift their residences to safer places. Four families out of them, headed by Malaya Pegu, Kholok Pegu, Deepjyoti Pegu and Indreswar Pegu, are living on the roadside by making huts after shifting their residences. On witnessing the devastation of the river, several families of the village are planning to shift their residences very soon.

Notably, State Water Resources Minister Keshab Mahanta visited the erosion-affected area some days ago while visiting Lakhimpur district to take stock of the flood situation during the last wave of flash flood. It has been alleged that the MLA of Bihpuriya LAC had also not taken up any effective steps to deal with this problem.

Also read: Takam Mising Porin Kebang (TMPK) protests unsafe condition of Ghagar Parghat of Subansiri River