TEZPUR, Aug 1 - Damage caused to roads and bridges by floods at greater Koilajuli-Urahi Loga area under Sootea Assembly constituency of Sonitpur district has compounded the woes of the flood-affected people.
The recent wave of floods had not only inundated the area but also breached the Chardwar-Koilajuli road at many places and washed away the Koilajuli bridge, disrupting the communication network in the area.
More than 50 villages right up to the inter-state border with Arunachal Pradesh like Tharabari, Bogijuli, Urahiloga, Koilajuli, Lakheswar, Thaigirbari, Gwjwnphwr, Tarajuli, Mainawsree, Rangjali Centre, Thurigami, Sengelimari, Chardwar, etc., have been affected. Lives of the inhabitants of these villages have been thrown out of gear.
Due to the damage caused to the Chardwar-Koilajuli road, people of the area remained cut off from other parts of the district even after the floodwaters receded.
Social worker and journalist Jai Kishor Jha said after the summer vacation, the students studying at schools and colleges in Rangapara, Balipara and Tezpur town will face major problems in reaching their educational institutions.
�The people of the area had to travel to Rangapara town and Balipara for work, which has been hampered after the flood. Moreover, the farmers of the area were also in despair due to extensive damage caused to their fields before planting paddy seedlings,� Jha said.
Floods victims of the area have alleged that none of the local representatives, including MLA Padma Hazarika, visited the area to take stock of their misery. The locals appealed to the authorities, including the local MLA, to restore the communication links by repairing the roads and bridges.
On the other hand, a similar picture was also witnessed by this correspondent during his recent visit to the flood-affected areas of Dhekiajuli and Barchala. Heavy erosion caused by the Chopai river near Batachipur is posing a serious threat to the Batachipur-Dhekiajuli road.
Likewise, erosion caused by the Dhopjuli river is threatening to breach the Hograjuli-Khawla PWD road at Chopai Rowmari area. Moreover, the rampant erosion by the Brahmaputra river has eroded two LP schools under Barchala LAC, namely Pub Marisuti LP School and Khagorijan LP School, leaving the students in lurch.
When contacted, Sonitpur Deputy Commissioner Narshing Pawar said they have taken this issue seriously and as per the guidelines of the education department, the two schools would be re-established at another place.
Moreover, another bridge at Bocha Simalu in Barchala area was washed away in the recent flood, causing communication problems for the people of that area. People distressed by the post-flood problems have urged the authority to deal with the issue sincerely and find a permanent solution.
It needs to be mentioned here that most of the dykes were breached due to lack of maintenance causing untold miseries. The affected people have sought maintenance of the dykes and raising their height to give them permanent respite from the floods.
