Dibrugarh: Severe riverbank erosion has been reported at the historic Kahai Spur (Spur No. 1) along the Brahmaputra at Maijan in Assam’s Dibrugarh district, raising concerns among residents over the safety of the town’s river protection system.
The spur, whose foundation stone was laid in 1955, has developed significant erosion. Located adjacent to the main embankment, it is the longest and one of the most important protective spurs safeguarding Dibrugarh town from erosion by the Brahmaputra.
Residents fear that further damage to the structure could pose a serious threat to the town.
“Kahai Spur is one of the significant spurs in Dibrugarh. Erosion has been going on in the area. The concerned department has reached the spot and taken immediate measures by dumping geo-bags. The geo-bag dumping is a temporary solution. We need a permanent solution to save Dibrugarh from unabated erosion, which is posing a threat to the existence of the historic city,” said Bhaskar Jyoti Saikia, a resident of Dibrugarh.
Saikia said the spur was constructed using boulder pitching and iron framing and that several boulders had been washed into the river on Tuesday morning.
“This spur controls the river’s current and slows it down,” he said.
Calling for a long-term solution, Saikia said scientific measures were needed to address Dibrugarh’s erosion problem.
He said the Asian Development Bank (ADB) had surveyed the area two years ago and suggested the use of mega bags to tackle erosion, but the proposed project did not cover the affected stretch.
“We want the government to look into the matter and take immediate steps. The entire 8.5-km Dibrugarh Town Protection (DTP) dyke area should be fully protected to save Dibrugarh from erosion,” he said.