RANGIYA, Aug 11 � The Rangiya administration is concerned about the merging of Bonodi river (Puthimari) with Borolia at Nagrijuli following continuous erosion and has urged common efforts from all to take long term measures to tackle the problem. The Rangiya SDO (Civil), Mahmood Hassan with Nagrijuli tea garden authorities, and media persons had a spot visit recently to know the scenario and subsequently witnessed a grim picture of erosion due to which the merger problem has arisen. Erosion at Nagrijuli tea garden in Pipleni village (No 2) under Tamulpur revenue circle washed away a large portion of the tea garden despite temporary protective measures opted by the Water Resources Department and tea garden authorities. Erosion is more conspicuous in those areas where there is no stone spur.
The Latibari-Nagrijuli PWD road which acted as an embankment and border for the tea garden has already been eroded by the river. According to WRD sources here the Bornodi river is 2 kilometres in width, and one stream of the river has taken a sharp bend at the right bank of the garden. Meanwhile, due to continuous erosion, the Bornodi is entering into the mainland nearby where the Borolia river is flowing as a small stream inside the garden parallel to the bigger Bornodi at an approximate distance of 500 metres from the culvert meant for the drain flowing from the garden to the river. Through here, the once existing PWD road is now facing a threat of erosion where there lies the danger of seepage of water from Bornodi to Borolia through this particular drain paving its way through the garden. On the other hand, garden authorities are putting their best efforts to prevent possible seepage. It is felt seriously that either through this drain or further erosion into the garden up to Borolia river might create possible devastation at Rangiya town located adjacent if the main stream of the Bornodi continues flowing into the small Borolia stream.
SDO Hassan stated it is very necessary to adopt immediate measures to stop the ongoing erosion threat particularly by the WRD and Brahmaputra Board. Protection measures already taken upstream had prevented erosion in the upper reaches under the collaborative effort of both the departments, the same needs to be done here. However, local people stated during the visit there is no coordination between the two departments to execute the work in a more scientific manner. Also, due to non availability of funds, from Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) last year, no work could be done officially to check the problem. The present EM of WRD, BTC, Mano Kumar Brahma has been urged to adopt long term measures to save the villages among which villages like Surpara, Hastinapur, Pipeleni 1 No reportedly were already eroded due to erosion unabated here. Mentionably, during 2004 to 2007, Tamulpur administration reportedly opted several measures in this regard, and progress could be attained to some extent but the river unfortunately continues creating havoc in these areas now where now a common effort from the departments concerned as well from others are an utmost need to prevent the erosion threat and protect the Rangiya town from possible dangers.