GOLAGHAT, May 29 � The Mising people of Bonkowal area under Mohura mouza within Golaghat district have been facing immense hardship due to erosion by the Brahmaputra and recurring floods since 1999.
During floods, 1000 families were settled in the Nikori Bortol and Balichapari platforms since the tenure of AGP and Congress government. But still the people of the flood-affected areas were not provided plots of hand for rehabilitation, the people alleged.
Newsmen recently visited the flood-hit Mising dominated areas of Bonkowal and met the locals to know about the plight of the people. The people informed that during the chief ministership of Mahendra Mohan Choudhury in 1972, the latter assured the Mising people of Bonkowal to protect Barbari and Bhulukguri areas from erosion caused by the mighty Brahmaputra but the people failed to get any benefit from him.
Tarun Gogoi, the then MP and presently Chief Minister came to Bonkowal in 1990. Promode Gogoi, the then Minister of Irrigation in the AGP government also came to Bonkowal. Similarly Deep Gogoi, MP, Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, the then Chief Minister, Bhadreswar Tanti, ex-MP and Bhupen Bhuyan, ex-MLA visited the area and assured the people of protection against erosion and flood of the area, but they failed to implement their assurance into practical work, the people lamented.
On July 19, 2003, the then Health Minister Bhumidhar Barman along with Upper Assam Commissioner, Jiten Gogoi MLA of Bokakhat, DR Nath, visited Bonkowal and prepared a project of Rs 80.83 lakh which was placed before the Government of Assam. But the project was not been implemented till date.
To erosion prevention committee of north Mohura had submitted memorandum for flood control and prevention of erosion to the Government of Assam, but it had not been taken note of the committee alleged.
The entire people of Bonkowal within Golaghat district have demanded the State Government to take as priority measure for prevention of flood and erosion within a short period of time. If the Government fails to take up the matter expeditiously, the people of Bonkowal have resolved to launch an agitational programme, the locals said.
