GUWAHATI, Oct 22 - The people of Kajalichaki village, a historical place located about 20 km from the Dispur capital complex, are passing sleepless nights as the area is now facing severe erosion caused by the Brahmaputra. The erosion is mainly taking place near the place where the Kolong riven meets the Brahmaputra. According to the villagers, the erosion has been continuing for over a week and till date more than 100 bighas of land have been washed away by the Brahmaputra.
�It is after more than 30 years that the river is causing erosion in our village. We have already lost a number of valuable trees and farm land. If the erosion continues at the current rate then very soon a number of families of our village will become homeless,� Jitul Saikia, a resident of the village told The Assam Tribune. Saikia further informed that till date around 20 families of the village have lost their farm lands to erosion. During a visit to the erosion site, this correspondent noticed that the natural calamity is taking place at a stretch of about one kilometre of the Brahmaputra riverbank. Even though it is a very serious matter, no effective remedial step has been taken by the Water Resources Department so far.
Saikia, who is secretary of the Kajalichaki Gaon Unnayan Samiti, said that every year flood also causes heavy losses to the villagers of Kajalichaki and this year amid the pandemic, around 80 families of the village bore the brunt of the deluge losing huge quantities of Bodo paddy.
Notably, Kajalichaki is known for its connection with the historic Battle of Saraighat. Saikia said that during that battle the Ahom army used the village as a strategic location to store ammunition. He expressed apprehension that if the erosion continues, then Assam will lose a historical place within a few days.
In connection with the issue, the Kajalichaki Gaon Unnayan Samiti moved the Chandrapur Revenue Circle Officer and demanded proper rehabilitation and compensation to the erosion-hit people. The Samiti also called for immediate anti-erosion measures to save the village.
The Chandrapur Anchalik Students� Union also moved the Deputy Commissioner of Kamrup (Metro) demanding immediate anti-erosion measure. The Union said that to save the historical village, the Water Resources Department needs to take an effective scheme to prevent erosion in coming days.
Meanwhile, the Water Resources Department today started erecting porcupine on the erosion-hit stretch as a step to stop the disaster. But the villagers have demanded more effective and permanent measures to tackle the menace.
