HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, July 7: Taking immediate action to address the escalating issue of erosion along the Brahmaputra River, the minister of water resources in Assam, Pijush Hazarika, accompanied by MLA Bhuban Pegu, conducted a comprehensive inspection during their journey from Dibrugarh to Dhemaji.
Minister Hazarika and MLA Bhuban Pegu, along with their team of officials, personally witnessed the severity of the erosion along the riverbanks, starting from the Bogibeel bridge. Recognising the urgent need for preventive measures, they wasted no time in initiating appropriate actions.
Speaking to media persons, Pijush Hazarika said, “It is a very very serious issue. We are very much concerned. The chief minister is also very much concerned. We have given IIT Guwahati to analyse, to give a report to the water resource department as soon as possible.”
“They will give us the report before August 15, 2023 whether we should go for spur or guard wall for a permanent solution of the issue. After getting the report we will do something very concretely so that Dibrugarh can be saved,” Hazarika added.
During the inspection, specific focus was given to evaluating the embankment and sluice gate at Sisi Kalghar in the Jonai constituency of Dhemaji district. Minister Hazarika and MLA Bhuban Pegu engaged in discussions regarding the deployment of a porcupine bund in the vicinity of Bogibeel, which would effectively alleviate water pressure on the embankment and provide vital protection against erosion.
In addition, ongoing projects undertaken by the Water Resources Department to strengthen the embankment were thoroughly assessed. Minister Hazarika and MLA Bhuban Pegu emphasized the significance of reinforcing the existing infrastructure and directed the department to expedite the construction process of the under-construction sluice gate, ensuring its timely completion.
The minister also inspected the Gai River in Dhemaji district on Friday and acknowledged the developments made by the department of water resources in the region.
“Today, I conducted an inspection of the Gai River in Dhemaji district. The Water Resources Department has successfully built a protective dyke and embankment along the riverbanks. During the visit, I engaged in discussions with the department regarding measures to redirect the river back to its original channel from its current deviated course,” Pijush said on Twitter.
As erosion along the Brahmaputra River poses an increasingly severe threat to the region, the joint inspection conducted by Assam’s water resources minister Pijush Hazarika and MLA Bhuban Pegu highlights the government’s proactive approach in addressing this pressing issue. Their immediate actions and instructions to the Water Resources Department underscore the urgency of implementing essential preventive measures to effectively safeguard the affected areas.
