Owing to heavy downpours from last one week in parts of Arunachal Pradesh, the Siang river along with its other tributaries originating from within the State are in full swell.
This has raised the volume of the Siang river at this time of September like a full scale monsoon flood.
The rise in water level has again caused more erosions panicking the residents of several villages living under Lower Mebo villages in Mebo sub-division.
Due to heavy rain which escalated the rise of river volume in Siang and other tributary rivers, the massive soil erosion is looming large on the future fate of the local residents along left bank side of Siang River under Monggu Banggo/Lower Mebo villages like Borguli, Seram, Kongkul, Namsing, Gadum and Mer.
The river is now threatening the lone communication and lifeline of the region, the Mebo-Dhola Road which connects Lower Mebo with Upper Mebo and District HQ Pasighat.
The Mebo Dhola Road is merely few meters away from the Siang River now after the massive continuous erosion from last several years.
The people of this region are panicking and trying to restrict the soil erosion by their own traditional voluntary methods by using Bamboos, tree logs and by putting up sand filled gunny bags. But despite their efforts, the river volume is seen increasing.
“If massive erosion continues, the Mebo Dhola Road will be snapped completely”, added one of person while viewing and checking the rise of water level this evening.
People of this Lower Mebo villages are praying the God for safety and are of the hope that, the funds sanctioned recently by the DoNER ministry will be of good help in diverting the river current in the middle course works of which are likely to be started by coming winter/dray days.
In view of the alarming situation, the people of Seram, Namsing, Mer, Gadum, Paglam and Banggo have conducted a joint and major crash programme on Saturday under the supervision of SEEANG committee which is looking after the affairs management of ground level voluntary flood protection works.
The SEEANG committee has also approached local MLA Lombo Tayeng who on his part handed over an amount of Rs 5 lakhs for the voluntary and immediate traditional means of flood protection works so that soil erosion is restricted before the start of government funded major flood protection works likely to begin by end of monsoon season.
Most of the flood affected people including the members of SEEANG are of the view that, DoNER Ministry funded Rs 35 Crore shouldn’t be handed over to any bigger firms from outside the district and the state which is likely to overlook the basic flood protection works of the region as most of the firms, especially from outside the district looks out for their profit instead of doing quality works.
The total funds after following basic formalities may be handed over to the ground level SEEANG committee who in turn will engage the affected villagers of all villages under affected zone with minimum misuse of funds and carry out of maximum works as total of few kilometers are to be protected in the three vital locations at Sigar, Bakkul and Namsing side.
The affected people are requesting Chief Minister Pema Khandu and concern department for handing over this flood protection works to the affected villages which have been doing voluntary flood protection works since couple of years ago without expecting any government funds.