Siang river is surging due to torrential rain for the last two weeks in the upper reaches of Siang region, leading to serious erosion on both banks in East Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh.
A strong course of Siang River is taking a critical turn towards its left bank and posing serious erosion at Sigar, Borguli, Seram, Kongkul, Namsing, Gadum and Mer villages at Mebo sub division in East Siang district.
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The rising waters of the river has already eroded Primary School at Sigar, while it has eroded girls’ hostels at Borguli village.
It has also inundated several acres of cropland at Motum and Ralling WRC field besides submerging bamboo groves, sericulture farm with the department’s SPT office building, herbal garden and orchard at Borguli.
The Siang River has also eroded 1-km portion of Mebo-Dhola PWD road between Borguli and Serum in the district.
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Meanwhile, a team of leaders from the National People’s Party (NPP) from the district led by its district president Shoney Pertin visited the erosion-hit site of Mebo.
They have demanded the state government to take up anti-erosion measures to save fertile croplands and human habitation of Mebo.
“The elected leaders of the area are silent over the alarming issue for reasons best known to them. The anti-erosion project worth Rs 35 crore funds released by DoNER ministry two years back was utterly misused by the elected leaders,” said NPP’s East Siang district general secretary Olik Megu.
Megu has urged the local MLA, MP and Zilla Parishad leaders to take up the matter with the state and central governments.
Sources from Pasighat Water Resource division said it has submitted an estimate of Rs 370 crore for implementation of anti-erosion project covering both banks of Siang River.
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Officials said that a proposal with concept paper has already been sent to the “Technical Advisory Committee” of the Arunachal Pradesh government for approval.
It may be recalled that the DoNER ministry sanctioned Rs 35 Crore as one-time Central financial assistance for erection of the embankment in Mebo two years back.
However, the flood control and anti-erosion schemes implemented in the area failed to protect the rural areas from the grip of mighty Siang River.