The Devastating Impact of Brahmaputra River Erosion in Assam
Sufia Ahmed and her family have lost everything. The mighty Brahmaputra River has swallowed their house, crops, and land, forcing them to live in a makeshift hut on the riverbank. They are not alone. Thousands of families in the Moinbari area of Assam's Barpeta district have been displaced due to the relentless erosion of the Brahmaputra.
Char Ali, another resident of the affected area, describes the immense hardship faced by the displaced families. He says that the river has swallowed hundreds of bighas of land, houses, schools, and religious institutions, leaving nearly 3,000 families homeless and struggling to survive.
Ramzan, another victim of the erosion, echoes the sentiment of despair. He lost his house and now lives on the road with his family. He feels forgotten by the government, which promised to address the issue during elections but failed to deliver.
AIUDF MLA Rafiqul Islam highlights the urgency of declaring Assam's flood and erosion problem a National Calamity. He emphasizes the suffering of millions living in the state, including those displaced by the Brahmaputra and its tributaries. He criticizes the government's inaction and calls for immediate intervention to address this critical issue.
The situation in Moinbari is particularly dire. The historic Moinbari Satra has been swallowed by the river, and a World Bank-funded project to mitigate erosion is progressing slowly. The Assam government data reveals the devastating impact of the Brahmaputra, with over 4.27 lakh hectares of land lost to erosion.
The plight of the displaced families in Moinbari and across Assam is a stark reminder of the urgent need for effective solutions to address the Brahmaputra's erosion. The government must prioritize this issue and implement comprehensive measures to protect the lives and livelihoods of those affected.