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Implementation of anti-erosion projects sought

By Correspondent

MIRZA, Oct 13 - A social organisation, South Kamrup Erosion Pratirodh Sangram Samittee (SKEPSS), asked the Assam Water Resources Department to expedite works of the ongoing anti-erosion projects currently being implemented at Makdhuj-Simina villages under Palasbari LAC in Kamrup district.

Addressing a meeting of SKEPSS held at Simina recently, Jayanta Goswamee, president of the organisation, said that a team of SKEPSS had recently visited the erosion-affected areas of Futuri, Makadhuj and Simina villages under Palasbari LAC.

According to him, the Samittee had observed that the Rs 14-crore Land Spur Project (Protection of the Makadhuj Area from the erosion of river Brahmaputra), which is being implemented at Makadhuj area by Palasbari-Gumi Project Water Resources (PGPWR) Division, had been partially damaged by the erosion of the river Brahmaputra this year before its completion. It was due to the failure of the Water Resource Department officials to initiate timely action to protect the land spur from erosion.

Goswamee also alleged that implementation work of the Rs 14-crore project was going on very slowly and only 30 per cent progress had reportedly been achieved till date. He added that quantity of boulder collection was also going on at a very low pace and only 25 per cent work of collecting boulders has reportedly been done.

�It is very surprising that a part of the Land Spur Project has been eroded away during its construction time and the protection of the people of Makadhuj-Simina villages from erosion has become impossible,� said a resident of Makadhuj village on condition of anonymity.

Biswa Sarma, a member of the SKEPSS, said, �All the RCC porcupines screens constructed in the upstream (east side) of the newly-launched Land Spur Project at Makadhuj village have already been washed away by the Brahmaputra.�

Sources said that in 2004 too, Palasbari-Gumi project (Water Resources) Division had implemented anti-erosion projects using RCC porcupines at Simina village investing several crore of rupees, but all the RCC porcupines had been washed away by the Brahmaputra within two months after implementation.

Addressing the meeting of SKEPSS at Simina as an invited guest, Biren Thakuria, Executive Officer of Flood and River Erosion Management Agency of Assam (FREMAA) said that it had sanctioned a project to launch anti-erosion work using geobags at Makadhuj-Simina villages.

Rojoni Saloi, vice-president of the SKEPSS, said that Makadhuj-Guimara villages in Palasbari LAC of Kamrup district were one of the worst flood and erosion affected villages. He alleged that FREMAA did not implement the multi-crore anti-erosion project using geobags in the affected area despite the fact that the geobag project at Makadhuj-Simina area was sanctioned about two year ago.

�FREMAA must implement the project using geobags at the critical erosion sites of Makadhuj-Simina villages by the first week of November this year for protection of the people and the Palasbari-Gumi embankment. The embankment was located only 60 metres away from the erosion site at Makadhuj village,� he said.

Eminent educationist of south Kamrup, Sailendra Narayan Thakuria, also urged the Assam Water Resources Department and FREMAA to implement anti-erosion projects soon to ensure the safety and security of the local people.

SKEPSS members said that they would soon meet the Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi, and request him to do the needful for protection of people living in Makadhuj-Guimara area.

Sources said that Water Resources Minister, Basanta Das, had visited the affected area of Makadhuj-Futuri villages about two months ago, assuring the people to launch anti-erosion measures in Makadhuj-Simina areas, but all in vain.

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