GUWAHATI, March 3 � Around 950 villages in 15 districts across Assam have been partially or fully eroded since Independence, the Assembly was informed today.
In a written reply to a question by MLA Sherman Ali Ahmed, Minister for Revenue and Disaster Management Dr Bhumidhar Barman said that 947 villages have been affected by erosion since 1947.
In Jorhat 118 villages have been eroded, while two revenue villages have been partially eroded in Hailakandi.
Another 29 villages have been affected by erosion in Dhemaji and 117 in Morigaon, while 26 villages have been eroded in Cachar. In Goalpara, 74 villages have been eroded totally or partially since Independence, while in Barpeta 84 villages have been eroded fully and 57 eroded partially.
Another eight villages have been partially eroded in Darrang. A total of 219 villages in Dhubri and 48 in Lakhimpur have been eroded.
Among other districts, six villages in Golaghat, 55 in Sonitpur, seven in Sivasagar, 72 in Kamrup and 25 in Nagaon have also been eroded.
�As per information received from 15 districts, some of the landless people affected by erosion are now living in land owned by them elsewhere. Some are living on embankments and roadsides, while some are living on leased land,� Barman said.
He said that some affected persons have been given assistance under the Chief Minister�s Special Package for Erosion Affected Families. The total number of beneficiaries under the package stands at 1.25 lakh.
�Government has taken up a scheme to rehabilitate the erosion-affected families under CM�s Special Package for Rehabilitation of Erosion Affected Families of Assam. A fund of Rs 5 crore has been earmarked in the current year�s Budget for the purpose. Guidelines under the Rehabilitation Policy are under active consideration of government,� Barman said.
He added, �In addition, there is provision under Land Policy, 1989, to give preference in case of allotment of land to eligible erosion-affected families.�
