Community Rituals Amid Erosion Crisis in Dibrugarh

Community Response to Erosion in Balijan

Dibrugarh, June 12: In the face of extreme heat, residents affected by flooding and erosion in Chabua's Balijan area have turned to river deities for protection against the encroaching Brahmaputra, as anti-erosion efforts commence.

The severe erosion has significantly impacted Garudharia village and the Balijan tea estate, threatening both the tea plantations and the factory. Workers are filled with anxiety over potential displacement and the loss of their homes provided by the estate management.

In response, the local community held a special puja along the riverbanks, seeking the favor of the river goddesses to safeguard their land and possessions. Sukram Bakti, one of the puja organizers, expressed that the community is experiencing trauma due to the looming threat of displacement.

“Given the seriousness of the situation, we felt compelled to invoke the river goddesses for assistance. We organized this community puja and made sacrifices, asking the deities to alter the river's course to mitigate the erosion and flooding. We believe that redirecting the river flow will alleviate our fears of losing our land, homes, and livelihoods,” Bakti stated.

Chironjit Kondpan, president of the Chabua regional committee of the Assam Tea Tribes Students’ Association (ATTSA), reported that the garden has already lost approximately 30 bighas of tea bushes due to erosion, with the threat continuing as the local embankment has been compromised. He criticized Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal for not visiting the area, despite its proximity to his native village, warning that without intervention, the garden risks losing its factory and housing for workers.

Chabua MLA Ponakan Baruah visited the erosion-affected areas on Wednesday evening, noting the alarming extent of the damage. “The Brahmaputra has eroded about 1100 meters of land, with a width of around 60 meters in just a few days. I have informed the State Water Resources Minister about the situation. Anti-erosion measures are currently in progress, and both Union Minister Sonowal and the State Water Resources Minister are expected to visit on Friday,” he remarked.

Additionally, Lahowal MLA Binod Hazarika visited the area in the morning to gather firsthand information about the ongoing crisis.