MIRZA, July 12 - Erosion induced by the Brahmaputra throughout the State and the consequent displacement of the affected families is a stark reality, which despite the launching of several anti-erosion projects, has continued to played havoc with the lives of the poor.
The constant massive erosion by the Brahmaputra for the past several years has made the people living in the char villages (all revenue villages) of Palasbari LAC in Kamrup district lead a miserable life and incur irreparable losses.
Despite knowing that the beautiful and fertile char areas of Kamrup district have been shrinking rapidly due to formidable erosion, the government has failed to effectively implement anti-erosion schemes to protect the alluvial char areas of Palasbari and consequently completely ignored the concerned families, who are largely ignorant, illiterate and poverty-afflicted. But by ignoring the char areas, the government has lost vast tracts of alluvial land, which were providing beautiful organic paddy, cereals, vegetables, mustard, maize, jute and vital crops, some of which are exported every year to other states and countries.
Several revenue villages, like Pagladia, Kalardia, Sengratari, Kalapani No. 1, Kalapani No. 2, Bhurakata etc., located in the char areas on the north bank of the Brahmaputra under Palasbari LAC in Kamrup district have already been lost to erosion a few years back. Several schools located in the char areas under Palasbari LAC have also been eroded in the past few days.
Only 20-30 % of three char revenue villages �Bhatkhowadia, Bardia Chapori and Dakshin Bardia which now exist are also getting eroded by the Brahmaputra. If this continues, it will not be long before these villages disappear from the earth altogether. In the past around 20 days, 40-50 houses have been eroded in Dakshin Bardia village.
Sources said that government has not launched measures to rescue and rehabilitate the erosion-affected landless families and that the affected families have been shifting their houses at their own (cost) to safer places. Erosion has also been causing havoc at Bardia Chapori village and houses of over 20-25 families have already been eroded during the past 10-15 days. Many other houses in the village may collapse due to erosion soon.
People of the char areas have demanded of the government to take steps to rescue and rehabilitate the erosion-ravaged people and compensate them for losses incurred due to erosion.
