Riverbank Erosion Devastates Farmland, Displaces Families in Parts of Assam

Severe riverbank erosion caused by the Kharoi and Beki rivers is wreaking havoc across parts of Assam, destroying farmlands, displacing families, and sparking growing anxiety among residents and farmers who rely solely on agriculture for survival.

Gohpur

In Bholukaguri Par Ghat of Biswanath district's Gohpur, the Kharoi river’s continuous erosion has become a major concern for local farmers. With farmland shrinking day by day, residents are worried that continued erosion will eventually wipe out cultivable land in the region. Most of the locals in the southern belt of Gohpur depend entirely on agriculture for their livelihood.

Barpeta

Meanwhile, in Kharballi village under the Kalgachia Revenue Circle in Barpeta, the situation has turned more dire. Riverbank erosion by the Beki River has taken on a devastating form over the last six months. Locals report that nearly 40 families have lost their homes, and hundreds of bighas of agricultural land have been consumed by the river.

Families who once lived with pride in their homes have now been reduced to homelessness, forced to live in desperate conditions. The victims of this relentless erosion allege a complete lack of response from local authorities and elected representatives. Despite the worsening crisis, Congress MP Rakibul Hussain has reportedly not visited the erosion-hit areas, and the district administration is accused of being in a "deep slumber," offering no meaningful relief or mitigation.

In protest, the affected residents of the Kharballi area staged demonstrations along the banks of the Beki River, demanding immediate intervention from the Assam government. Chanting slogans like "Rakibul Hussain Murdabad," the protestors expressed outrage at the inaction of their MP and called for urgent anti-erosion measures to save their last remaining means of survival.

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