Assam: Massive erosion by Subansiri affects thousands of villagers in Lakhimpur

North Lakhimpur: Unabated bank erosion by the Subansiri River in the downstream areas of the Subansiri Lower Hydro Electrical Plant dam has affected thousands of villagers in the Lakhimpur district.

The river bank erosion has been widespread in Na-Ali, Baligaon, Ghagarmukh, No. 1 Morton Chapori, Migamchuk, Na-Dhola, Ghuliagaon, Dafalakata, Tameragaon, Echarikata and Goalbari villages of the district.

The erosions this time appear massive as repair and bank protection works by the National Hydro-electrical Power Corporation (NHPC) for mitigating the downstream impact of the 10,000 MW Subansiri Lower Hydro Electrical Plant (SLHEP) remained incomplete.

A survey was conducted by the state Water Resources Department on the downstream areas of the SLHEP dam in December 2022 to assess the impact.

The report, which was submitted early this year, observes that the PSU has not conducted repair and maintenance of bank protection works on the downstream areas of the Subansiri.

Local villagers alleged that the lack of repair and maintenance work on the embankments of the Subansiri has led to an increase in bank erosion this time.

The state Water Resources Department’s survey identified fifteen areas of the river bank of the Subansiri on either side as threatened requiring urgent repair work.

Four of them require immediate repair as the river is seen fast approaching.

Eight areas have been marked as vulnerable and three as most vulnerable to erosion.

These include Kaliyani, Naharani and Balibheta in Ghunasuti GP Lethiakola in Bhimpora GP and Echarikota, Goalbari, Na-Ali and Maralia in Pub-Telahi GP on the left-hand side embankment of Subansiri.

On the right-hand side embankment of the river, the vulnerable areas are Hekerajan-Sonowalgaon, Haridas, Sagalikata, Ghagar Kalakhowa, Mohaijan Elengi, No. 1 Somdiri, Kakatitup and Ghancharai.