Photo Courtesy: nenow
Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited erosion-stricken sites across Dibrugarh district on Sunday, August 2, to inspect damage caused by the Brahmaputra River. He toured Chabua, Balijan, Pukhurijan, Dinjan, and Rohmoria. The river’s relentless advance destroys precious land every year. Officials briefed the Chief Minister on the specific factors driving this geographical crisis.
Sarma is now turning to science for a way out. He plans to consult experts from IIT Guwahati to build a long-term defense strategy. The government aims to move past stopgap fixes and use modern technology to fortify riverbanks. “Our teams are responding to the situation, but I will soon meet IIT-G experts to find a lasting solution,” Sarma said.
The Water Resources Department has already drafted a project worth Rs 90 crore to tackle the damage. Officials presented this Detailed Project Report to the Chief Minister during his visit. He intends to review the plan with the engineering experts upon his return to Guwahati.
Immediate relief efforts are currently underway. Workers are installing geo-bags along a 3-km stretch of the bank at Pukhurijan. This emergency work costs Rs 9 crore and is funded by an Oil India Limited corporate social responsibility initiative.
The Chief Minister was joined by a delegation including MLA Binod Hazarika, MP Rameswar Teli, MLA Taranga Gogoi, MLA Prasanta Phukan, former MLA Ponakan Baruah, and Deputy Commissioner Bikram Kairi. Following his inspection, Sarma visited the home of Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to pay respects to the late Prasad Sonowal, a retired State Bank of India general manager.
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