DIBRUGARH, May 19 � The Dibrugarh Bar Association (DBA) today took out procession in protest against the failure of the government to arrest erosion by Brahmaputra at Rohmoria, Mohanaghat and Nagaghuli areas in the district.
The members of the association, including women lawyers, walked from the Court field to the office of the Deputy Commisioner and submitted a representation to the President through the Deputy Commissioner. The procession was led by Biman Baruah and Satyabrata Sarma, the association�s president and secretary, respectively.
Lawyers have demanded permanent measures for protection of the town as early as possible. In the memorandum addressed to the President, the association wrote: �The original Dibrugarh no longer exists now, as a sizeable portion, including the Court Field, Dibrugarh Government Boy�s High School, DC Bungalow, Post Office, old AT Road, Dibrugarh Park beside the Brahmaputra river and a large number of other offices, residential house etc., were erased by the river in the year 1953-54�.
The association reminded President that the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru visited the affected areas of Dibrugarh and witnessed the disaster caused by Brahmaputra. �Thereafter, Dibrugarh was saved for the time being by the construction of wooden and boulder spurs, beside the river embankment was also raised on Southern bank of the river for protection from flood. That was one time construction without any maintenance and repairments though crores of rupees have been shown spent on maintenance and repairements. Now, due to negligence on the part of the Department concerned, all the wooden spurs were missing and the embankment is presently alarmingly damaged,� lawyers wrote in the memorandum.
The lawyers body said the very areas of Rohmoria and Nagaghuli are on the verge of extinction. Existence of Dibrugarh city has also come under threat due to constant erosion by the river. �If Dibrugarh has to be saved then appropriate measures as per expert opinion has to be taken up by the Centre as well as the State. In case there is dearth of such experts to advice the controlling of the river in our country then the opinion of reputed experts of other countries may be taken immediately and steps should be taken accordingly,� the Bar Association suggested.
