NORTH LAKHIMPUR, Oct 26 - Erosion by major tributaries of the Brahmaputra in Lakhimpur district continues to affect thousands of people at different places even today.
Massive erosion by the Subansiri, the biggest tributary of the Brahmaputra has displaced hundreds of families at Ghagar-Kalakhowa under North Lakhimpur Revenue Circle. The fast advancing river has eroded a wide populated area in Ghagarghat, just seven kms away from the district headquarter North Lakhimpur, thus forcing the already displaced families to move further away from the river bank with their meagre belongings.
Similarly, seven families who had already been displaced by flood and erosion by the Subansiri in Alimur village in Ghagar, have once again been displaced as the river is fast approaching the road where they had been sheltered in makeshift huts. The Subansiri has been eroding a wide area of agricultural land and human settlements since April this year, thereby affecting 45 families of the village in that area. Most of these families were forced to leave their homes by the erosion and had been staying on a road near the river bank. Now, losing their homes for the second time to erosion has left 10 of the aforementioned 43 families in utter distress. The ASEB too has been dismantling power cables from the electric poles in that area in order to avoid any untoward incident in the face of fast-approaching erosion.
In Dhakuakhana subdivision, erosion by the Brahmaputra at Jugisuti has been destroying hundreds of acres of agricultural land since September last. In the same subdivision, massive erosion by the Subansiri continues to affect scores of people at Bhimpora and Bogeenadi. Erosion, which displaced 40 families in July last at Hekerajaan, is now wreaking havoc further downstream and has displaced 20 families, which are mostly from the ST community.
Massive erosion by the Dikrong too has taken a big toll in Lakhimpur district�s Bihpuria Revenue Circle by destroying a wide area of agricultural land and damaging the historical Debesu Thaan, a sacred place of worship of the Mising community. The river destroyed more than 70 bighas of cropland at Bholukaguri-Gongorabari area under Dhunaguri Gaon Panchayat, about 45 kms from the district headquarter.
The area, which has already been ravaged by this year�s flood is now facing unabated land erosion, obviously striking fear among the riverside residents. The village of Bholukaguri-Gongorabari is inhabited by the ST Mising community and there were more than 150 households in that eroded area till 2004. But since then, the fast-approaching Dikrong started eroding the area, thus forcing the villagers to shift to different places for the sake of safety. The historic Debesu Thaan too was swept away by the river in 2004, following which the villagers relocated their revered place of worship.
However, this time the Dikrong once again destroyed the Thaan, sweeping away the Naamghar and other portions of the historic sacred site. Seeing no other alternative, the distressed villagers were witnessed performing fervent prayers to save their lives from the ravages of unabated erosion.
The Dikrong has also caused massive erosion at Madhupur, south of Bihpuria town and destroyed hundreds of valuable trees and agricultural land. It has also threatened the existence of the Nehru HS School and Kamal Bora LP School in that area. The local villagers were seen making desperate attempts to save their land from the fast-eroding river by placing bamboo poles, wooden logs and twigs to minimise the impact of the current.
Further, the Pabha in Bihpuria Revenue Circle has also eroded a wide area in Yuva Nagar Gaon Panchayat under Karunabari Development Block. The river eroded a 500-ft portion of the embankment at No. 2 Kehuntoli village in this area. If the breached embankment is not repaired soon, then the fast-approaching river could engulf a wide agricultural area of No. 2 Kehuntoli and No. 1 Dharmapur village.
The Subansiri is also responsible for massive erosion at Ranganoi-Chenimora-Kolbari areas of Bahgora-Dhunaguri Gaon Panchayat under Bihpuria Revenue Circle. Villagers of this area, who were displaced in 2000 by flood and erosion, are now finding it difficult to face the losses once again after starting their crops for the third time this year.
The unprecedented erosion has compelled 11 families to lose their homes and agricultural lands since the first week of October. Further, the river has devoured four to five bighas of agricultural land with standing paddy and pulses of the affected villagers. Subansiri�s erosion has also threatened the existence of the Kolbari Chuburi LP.
