Arunachal: NGO urges Govt to take step in minimizing soil erosion

While marking the present intensity of soil erosion at Sigar, Raling, Motum, Borguli, Seram, Kongkul and Namsing villages in Arunachal Pradesh as alarming, the committee members of SEEANG (Siang Ecosystem Environment and Nurturing Group), an NGO which looks after the flood-affected villages and their concern under Mebo Sub-Division, has decided to re-approach the government and other sources for urgent help to minimize further soil erosion.

The team SEEANG led by President, Yemling Tayeng, Secretary-General, Group Captain Retired Mohonto Pangging, Advisors Ranpok Perme, Obang Tayeng (Director DIPR, Govt. of AP), Jalas Pertin (Director Panchayati Raj, Govt. of AP) and other executive members visited the flood damage sites at Sigar, Seram and Namsing village where school playground and part of the village (of Sigar) and several hundred hectares of agricultural fields of Namsing village was washed away by the flood. The Mebo-Dhola Road which is the lifeline of Lower Mebo villages including lower parts of Lower Dibang Valley district is also under threat as the erosion is nearing the road.

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While interacting and narrating their concern and worries about the flood damages to the visiting SEEANG committee, the Sigar Village Gaon Burahs and village secretary said that the massive erosion has taken place due to faulty and improper construction of the flood protection project just near the Sigar village along with the upstream. “We are very sad, how can we leave our age-old village if it is completely washed away? The Tie-Bundh flood control project has breached and damaged from the village side, had the damage been from the western side, the damage in our village would have been reduced”, added the Gaon Burah. The Sigar village heads also said that the lifting/removal of boulders from the upstream project sites was a big mistake as those boulders which have been helping in neutralizing floodwater toward left bank were collected by contractors/boulder suppliers who wanted to earn maximum money by the maximum collection of boulders.

Meanwhile, at Seram village too the Gaon Burahs informed the SEEANG committee that, the boulder bund erected for their protection was also not as per their desire which as per them is not diverting the river current, rather it is a suicidal structure as the bund was constructed vertically from the river bank. While at Namsing village, Arunachal Pradesh, several hundred hectares of agricultural lands were being washed/eroded away. The villagers said that, even the Namsing village is also under threat and if erosion continues the Mebo Dhola Road and the Namsing village will also be washed away.

While summing up the visit at Namsing, the SEEANG committee office bearers including President, Yemling Tayeng, Secretary General, Grp Captain Retired Mohonto Pangging, Advisors Ranpok Perme, Obang Tayeng and Jalas Pertin said that, a concerted and collective effort is required at this moment instead of cross blaming and decided to arrange funds for urgent flood control works and construction of Porcupine spars so that massive soil erosion could be minimized.

While villagers of Borguli village also carried out a voluntary flood control programme along the bank of River Siang beside the village today where sand filled gunny bags were filed as flood protection structure using ware and bamboos. Gaon Burah of the village, Nogen Yirang and ex-Anchal Samity Member, Yung Tayeng appealed the government for assistance to save the erosion.

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