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Rs 344-cr anti-erosion work awaits govt nod

By Ajit Patowary - 15 Sep 2010 12:00 AM GMT

GUWAHATI, Aug 2 � Porcupine interventions done under the Nagaghuli Protection Project in Dibrugarh have been able to raise the bed of the deep channel hugging the bank in the area, to about four metres. This has been able to control erosion and reduced the threat to the area to a great extent, said highly placed sources in the Water Resources Department (WRD).

Sources also told The Assam Tribune that an anti-erosion project with an estimated cost of Rs 344 crore, prepared for protecting the Rohmoria area in Dibrugarh and submitted in the early part of 2009, is awaiting approval of the Central Government.

However, another anti-erosion project worth Rs 59 crore for geo-bag dumping and pitching for the Rohmoria area is in the last leg of securing official clearance. On July 12 last, the empowered committee sanctioned the project that proposes to cover an area of 2.6 km in length.

This project has the proviso of porcupine intervention and channel cutting to divert the deep channel to the mid-stream. With the administrative approval of the State Government coming soon, work on the project is expected to start during the next lean season, said the sources.

On the Nagaghuli Protection Project, sources said that an amount of Rs 5 crore was sanctioned for the project. Works worth around Rs 3 crore have been completed. These include laying of boulder apron and porcupine screen. These works could prevent erosion in the area.

But due to the non-release of the funds against the works completed, the rest of the works could not be undertaken. For the purpose of releasing the funds, the completion certificate of the Deputy Commissioner, against the works, is awaited, sources said.

On the two dredgers, which were hired from the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and sent to the Nagaghuli area to divert the deep channel to the mid-stream of the river, sources said that the dredgers could be pressed into service for some days. But after doing some works there, they were taken back by the IWAI for repairs.

Sources also informed that the State Revenue Department is yet to sanction an anti-erosion scheme for protection of Mohanaghat area of Dibrugarh. About 20 per cent of this Rs 2.60 crore project has so far been completed. The scheme has the proviso of boulder apron and porcupine intervention, sources said.