Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Guwahati: Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi is firing back at the Centre over its handling of the erosion crisis in Assam. He claims the Ministry of Jal Shakti ignored major concerns regarding the collapse of riverbank protection projects in Majuli. Gogoi first flagged the issue in a June 24 letter to Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil. He demanded immediate intervention for Majuli and other vulnerable spots across Upper Assam.
Seven weeks later, the response arrived. It fell short. The ministry admitted that floods destroyed 3.3 km of a 7.2-km GeoBag embankment at Bhakat Chapori. It also noted damage to the Kordoiguri project, where a river channel shift ruined 1 km of work. Gogoi slammed the results on August 19. "Both projects failed to serve the very purpose they were built for," he stated.
The ministry offered no clear long-term strategy or corrective plan. This infuriated the MP. In his original request, Gogoi asked for a high-level technical team to audit two decades of Brahmaputra Board work. He wanted accountability for failed infrastructure. He specifically sought permanent protections for Mohorichuk, Charigharia, Missamora, Bhakat Chapori, and Kordoiguri. He also invited the minister to meet with families facing ruin.
Gogoi blames the government for a lackadaisical attitude toward the destruction. He insists the current effort inspires no confidence. "The people of Assam have suffered enough from recurring floods and erosion," he added. Residents continue to endure hardship as the river swallows more land.
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