Thowra MLA launches 30 lakh anti-erosion project in Sivasagar

Dibrugarh: In a move to safeguard local communities from the perennial threat of the Dihing river, Thowra MLA Sushanta Borgohain on Monday officially launched an anti-erosion project in the Dihing Kolghar area of Sivasagar district.The initiative, spearheaded by the water resources department, aims to fortify the riverbanks and provide long-term relief to residents who have long battled the destructive forces of the Brahmaputra’s tributary.The project, sanctioned with a budget of Rs 30.30 lakh, will focus on the strategic installation of RCC Porcupine screens across 19 vulnerable locations along the riverbank. This intervention is expected to directly benefit approximately seven villages in the area, which have suffered from land loss and displacement during monsoon.Dihing river is known for its high-velocity currents and heavy sediment load, particularly during the pre-monsoon and monsoon months. For years, the Dihing Kolghar region has been a “hotspot” for erosion, where the river’s lateral migration has swallowed hectares of land annually. This project is specifically targeted to benefit the villages in the immediate vicinity, providing a much-needed reprieve for hundreds of villagers whose livelihoods depend on the stability of the riverbanks.“Today marks a vital step in protecting the livelihoods of our people in Dihing Kolghar. By installing these 19 porcupine screens, we hope to control the perennial erosion in the area. I am hopeful that this project will play a transformative role in flood prevention before the rains arrive,” the MLA said.RCC Porcupine screening is a cost effective method for erosion control. An RCC Porcupine is a tetrahedral structure consisting of six reinforced cement concrete members, usually 3 metres in length, bolted together. These frames are placed in clusters or “screens” along the riverbed and banks. Unlike solid dams, they are permeable, they work by breaking the velocity of the river current. As the water slows down while passing through these structures, it loses its capacity to carry sediment, leading to siltation. Over time, this accumulated silt builds up a natural buffer of earth, effectively reclaiming land and preventing high-velocity floodwaters from directly striking and carving away the riverbank.