Pasighat: Continuous flooding in the Siang River has caused severe erosion in Wet Rice Cultivation (WRC) fields and other agricultural land in Arunachal Pradesh’s Borguli village under Mebo Sub-Division in East Siang district, putting the livelihoods of several farming families at risk.
Tatling Pertin, ADC (HQ) in-charge of the Deputy Commissioner, East Siang district, along with ADC Mebo Nancy Yirang, CO Namsing Toimi Tagi, AE WRD Bani Langkam, Monggu Banggo-I ZPM Bapiyang Tayeng and Borguli village Gaon Burahs, inspected the affected areas on Wednesday to assess the damage.
The inspecting team found that parts of Otil Tayeng’s WRC fields, where paddy crops were standing, had been eroded. Agricultural land belonging to other farmers in the area is also at risk.
The affected farmers said recurring floods and the changing course of the Siang River have washed away large areas of cash-crop plantations, bamboo groves and fertile agricultural land since 2021.
They said erosion has now reached WRC fields with standing paddy crops, which provide food and income to families in Borguli and nearby villages. The area is also known as one of the rice bowls of Arunachal Pradesh.
The visiting officials assessed the damage for submission of a detailed report to the concerned authorities.
The affected villagers appealed to the state and central governments for immediate intervention, adequate compensation and durable flood-control and erosion-protection structures.
They also sought a long-term solution to prevent further loss of farmland, crops and property to the Siang River.