HT Correspondent
DIBRUGARH, Jan 19: The All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) on Monday launched a 12-hour hunger strike at Poolbagan in Dibrugarh, protesting the alleged lackadaisical attitude of the Water Resources Department in carrying out anti-erosion measures.
The hunger strike began at 6 AM and is scheduled to conclude at 6 PM. Several members of the Dibrugarh district unit of AASU participated in the protest, demanding the immediate resumption and acceleration of anti-erosion work in the area.
Related Posts:
AASU members alleged that anti-erosion work along the Maijan–Bogibeel stretch has remained stalled for the past week without any clear reason. They said that every year people lose valuable land due to erosion and claimed that the ongoing works were progressing at a sluggish pace.
“Erosion is a serious threat for the people of Dibrugarh as the river Brahmaputra has been advancing every year. This has been a long-pending demand of our organisation and we have been raising this burning issue on every platform,” an AASU member said.
The protesters also criticised the local MLA, alleging that no concrete steps have been taken to address the erosion problem. “The MLA visits the area during the rainy season and claims that Dibrugarh is safe from erosion, but the ground reality is different. Every year, erosion continues to take away land,” another member alleged.
Dibrugarh continues to face severe threats from erosion, especially during the monsoon with floods and riverbank erosion remaining major concerns for residents.
AASU leader Tanuj Haloi said that the Dibrugarh Town Protection (DTP) dyke needs urgent strengthening to safeguard people from floods. “Geo-bags alone cannot control erosion caused by the Brahmaputra. Scientific and long-term measures are required to stop erosion in Dibrugarh,” he said.
