Aasu on 12-hr hunger strike, seeks erosion control measures in Dibrugarh

Dibrugarh: Members of the All Assam Students’ Union (Aasu) launched a 12-hour hunger strike on Monday, demanding immediate and effective anti-erosion measures along the Dibrugarh Town Protection (DTP) Dyke stretching from Maijan to Bogibeel.The protest, held in the Phoolbagan area, highlighted growing concerns over the city’s vulnerability to the approaching monsoon season and threat from the Brahmaputra.Led by Dibrugarh Aasu unit president Tanuj Haloi and general secretary Papu Saikia, the protestors sat on hunger strike from 6 am to 6 pm, voicing strong criticism of the current anti-erosion strategies being employed.“The anti-erosion work has been progressing at an extremely slow pace, which poses a serious threat to Dibrugarh during the upcoming monsoon. We cannot afford another catastrophic flood and erosion season without adequate protection measures in place,” said Haloi.The student organisation criticised the use of geo bags, calling them ineffective and alleging that they serve as a mechanism for financial irregularities.“Geo bags have proved to be a total failure in controlling erosion in Dibrugarh, as evidenced by past flood and erosion incidents. These bags, filled with river silt, are washed away by the strong currents of the Brahmaputra. They sink into the river, making it impossible to verify how many have actually been deployed. This entire process has become a money-minting machine that lacks any accountability,” Saikia said.“We need scientific measures, not this endless cycle of dumping bags that disappear into the river,” he added.The organisation has called for intervention from experts at IIT-Guwahati to conduct detail studies and develop sustainable solutions to Dibrugarh’s recurring erosion crisis. They also appealed directly to CM Himanta Biswa Sarma and water resources minister Pijush Hazarika to implement long-lasting protective measures for the city.Additionally, Aasu demanded the strengthening of existing river spurs along the Brahmaputra. The current network includes 8 stone spurs, 3 permeable spurs, and 47 wooden spurs, all strategically positioned to deflect river currents and reduce erosive velocity.“The DTP dyke is the only barrier between the Brahmaputra and Dibrugarh city. If this protection fails, the consequences would be devastating for the entire urban area. We need scientific interventions and a commitment to save Dibrugarh from being wiped off the map by erosion,” Haloi added.