Incessant rains for the past several days have resulted in the Siang River, including its tributaries like Siyom, Simang, Yamne and Siku flowing above the danger level mark.
This has forced the East Siang district administration to issue an alert, cautioning people living in downstream areas not to venture in the river for fishing and driftwood collection.
Erosion of banks of the river has also been reported from areas like Jarku and 21 Mile in Pasighat and Sigar, Old Borguli, New Borguli, Seram and Namsing villages under Mebo Sub-Division.
While acres of agricultural lands, roads and other infrastructures have been flooded by the rising waters of Siang River in its left bank, the Jarku village and 21 Mile areas under Pasighat Municipal Council are also under constant erosion.
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The people of Jarku village under PMC were seen carrying out voluntary flood control works.
Men, women and youths were seen braving heavy rains and were binding and putting boulder flood control bundhs in the Siang River bank to minimize soil erosion.
Pasighat Municipal Council Ward-4 and Ward-8 councillors Rebeka Panyang Megu and Okeng Tayeng were also seen monitoring and supervising the flood control work.
While both Rebeka and Okeng appealed the Arunachal Pradesh government for emergency flood control assistance to stop further erosion, other local residents of Jarku village said that they have been urging the WRD Pasighat to provide more boulders for emergency flood control works.
“I had informed the police for action against the dynamite/blast fishing, but the police didn’t take any action. Such illegal and destructive means of fishing are leading to major erosions,” alleged a local.
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Meanwhile, the Arunachal Pradesh water resource department has informed that Siang river has crossed its danger level on Thursday and water level is higher compared to last year.
“Siang river inflow at Tuting in Upper Siang district near China border has recorded 2.48m increase, so flow level here in the downstream areas may increase further. Today’s flow level has surpassed last year’s highest flow level of 154.29m by 16 cm by 5PM this evening. And soil erosion was observed at Jarkong area of Pasighat, Sigar and Borguli area under Mebo Sub-Division”, said Pasigaht water resource department official – Gonong Pertin.