After deluge, erosion ravages Majuli

JORHAT: The floods might have just finished ravaging Majuli, but nature has no plans to stop her onslaught on the sand island just now. Floods over, the river island is now plagued by severe erosion by the Brahmaputra, which has been on for the past three days. The erosion took a serious turn on Tuesday as the mighty river gobbled up vast portions of the island, which is the hub of Vaishnavite culture, posing a threat to three sattras (Vaisnaviate monastries) situated here.The erosion also affected vast areas in the upper, central and lower parts of the island, leaving at least 10 villages in jeopardy.
In upper Majuli, the erosion wreaked havoc at Besamora and Salmora area where thousands of people reside at the edge of the river banks. Moreover, villages like Sunia sapori, Bhakat sapori, One no Padumoni and Two no Padumoni of Namoni Majuli area are now fighting for existence as the river is just 50 to 100 metre away from the villages.
This apart, the unabated erosion poses a grave threat to three sattras - Bhogpur, Bengenaati and Bihimpur - as in the past few days, the river is rapidly gobbling up land with devastating consequences.
"Just after the floodwaters started receding, the swollen Brahmaputra started eroding land in several parts of upper, central and lower Majuli. The erosion is also going to affect Bhogpur, Bengenaati and Bihimpur sattras as the river has come nearer and there is only a few metres distance between the river and the sattra land. The main cause for concern is that the erosion continues unabated," said Majuli Suraksha Samannya Mancha general secretary Jagat Hazatika.
He added, "Although the officials of the Brahmaputra board and the state water resource department are responsible for the island, they are standing as mute spectator to the devastation. They have no preventive measures to fight against the raging river in order to protect the land, people and property of the island." Last week, the riverine island was affected by a massive flood caused by the Brahmaputra. The flood situation turned critical after a breach of the main protection dyke of the island at Sonowal Kachari area. More than 1 lakh people were affected in the flood.