NORTH LAKHIMPUR, Sept 11 - Unabated river bank erosion by the Brahmaputra in Dhalpur-Jamuguri area of Lakhimpur district has forced many villagers to leave their homes in fear.
Villagers in Aarimora, Lotabari and Bonpuroi have been passing sleepless nights as massive erosion by the Brahmaputra has been threatening their houses and farmland. People are seen shifting their stored grains from barns, cattle sheds and clearing their backyards in a desperate bid to save their assets amidst the fast moving river towards their villages under Narayanpur Revenue Circle. Many old and infirm persons and ailing members of families have also been shifted to safer locations by the villagers of this riverine area.
It may be recalled that Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal visited the erosion-hit area of Bonpuroi in Jamuguri in Lakhimpur district on July 28 and inspected on-going bank protection works by State Water Resources department at check bund no. 3.
Work of concrete porcupine has been on between the check bund of no. 2 and no. 3 in Bonpuroi. The erosion has devoured a stretch of 150 metres from the river to the embankment near check bund no. 4 with trees and groves of bamboo. The erosion close to this part of the embankment with geo-bags is now the reason of apprehension for the villagers.
The increased pace of bank erosion in Jamuguri-Bonpuroi area this year has been attributed to the change of course of the Brahmaputra from the south to that of Subansiri river by crushing the Jamuguri sand bar. This collision course of these two mighty rivers has created a circular current hitting the banks in Bonpuroi. However, work has been on with concrete and bamboo porcupines to check the new course of the Brahmaputra at the confluence of Subansiri, Luit and Brahmaputra at Tinisutimukh.
Erosion by Luit river has also displaced hundreds of villagers in Chelek, Bor Aati, Bokaduwar, Purani Bothakhona and Atura Chapori in Lakhimpur district.
