Agencies
GUWAHATI, August 6
[dropcap]E[/dropcap]rosion caused by the river Brahmaputra and its tributaries has rendered 36,796 families homeless in 10 districts of Assam over the past ten years.
These families include 2,426 families of Majuli river-island in upper Assam’s Jorhat district as the landmass of river-island shrunk by 5,900 bighas ( about 7 bighas equal one hectare ) due to erosion. Total area of the river island was 5,37,633 bighas about ten years ago. This has now reduced to 5,31,733 bighas.
In South Salmara revenue circle in lower Assam’s Dhubri district the highest number of 11,989 families of 65 villages were rendered homeless due to erosion during this period. Majority of the affected families have been taking shelter on embankments and Public Works Department roads.Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Prithibi Majhi tabled this information on the floor of the Assam Assembly on Tuesday, in written reply to a question raised by All India United Democratic Front member Abdur Rahim Khan.
The State government has asked for information from 11 other affected districts, he stated.
The State Government, during the Question Hour, also announced a probe into allegations of anomalies in implementation of soil conservation schemes in the state after members, cutting across party lines pressed for the probe alleging that massive irregularities in those schemes of the Soil Conservation Department had taken place.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Nilamani Sen Deka announced that the findings of the probe would be tabled on the floor of the House in December. Some members urged the Speaker Pranab Gogoi to constitute a House Committee to probe the alleged irregularities.
The Speaker, however, said that he would take a decision after the State Government tabled the probe report on the floor of the House in December.
