TEZPUR, May 31 - After floods caused by the Jiabharali river following incessant rain till May 27 hit the people, now the riverine area people living in the greater Panchmile area are facing serious threat posed due to the continuous erosion of the river.
The continuous erosion caused in the Garsinga Bihia gaon in Panchmile area some 15 km away from here during one week eroded vast tracts of agricultural land, many dwellings and public properties rendering about 17 families homeless. These families who are now taking shelter on the embankment alleged that flood and erosion caused in the area though identified as perennial issues, the government or the local administration has not been able to check it.
�Besides Bihiagaon area, the massive erosion cause by Jiabaharali river every summer has affected Panchmile market, Barghat police outpost and many other public properties. For the protection of the area though crores of rupees have been sanctioned to the area, but due to massive misappropriation, people of the area have not seen a permanent solution to the problem.�
The affected people of the area alleged that despite sanctioning of crores of rupees for protective measures during the last eight years, large areas in Rajgarh, Rajbharal, Alishinga, Tengabasti and Garshinga Bihiagaon have been eroded creating an unwanted situation among the villagers. They have also alleged that due to the lackasidical attitude of dishonest contractors, departmental engineers, and even the public representatives engaged in these protective works and siphoning of a lion�s share of the allotted funds, flood and erosion have remained an unending problem in the area for which they have to pass sleepless nights during the summer seasons.
Demanding a proper inquiry into the entire issue, people of the area urged the government to deal with the issue sincerely in the greater interest of the area as this area adjoins major places like Tezpur University, KVK, Sonitpur, SSB Training Centre for Northern Frontier at Devendra Nagara and even some parts of the Tezpur town.
