Unused Geo-Bags Highlight Erosion Control Failures in Assam

Concerns Over Erosion Control Materials in Assam

PALASBARI, July 31: As the floods wreak havoc across Assam, significant quantities of geo-bags intended for erosion control have been left unused for years at the Water Resources Department's inspection bungalow in Chulikata, near Simina Chowk in Kamrup district.

Local residents report that these geo-bags and other materials for erosion management have been stored outdoors for nearly two to three years without any clear plan for their deployment. With weeds and other vegetation surrounding the stockpile, there are concerns that these valuable materials, worth crores, may deteriorate before they can be utilized.

This situation has sparked considerable criticism from the community, especially as riverbank erosion continues to threaten areas along the Brahmaputra at Simina, Guimara, and Gumi. Locals are questioning the department's inaction regarding the use of these materials, despite the ongoing erosion crisis.

Residents argue that the extended storage of the geo-bags indicates a lack of effective planning and management by the authorities. They emphasize that while the government has been rolling out ambitious erosion-control initiatives statewide, valuable resources are sitting idle when many riverbank areas desperately need protection.

Previously, erosion protection efforts in the Palasbari-Gumi area were carried out under a project funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) through Brahmaputra Infrastructure Limited. However, locals assert that the unused materials have remained neglected, even as erosion continues in the region.

Residents are questioning whether public funds are being squandered under the guise of government initiatives. They are calling on Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and the Water Resources Department to take immediate action, ensure accountability, and deploy the geo-bags to vulnerable areas before they become unusable. They also demand strict measures against any planning and execution failures.

In response, a Water Resources Department official stated that the geo-bags were acquired through the ADB-assisted project, with the contract awarded to Brahmaputra Infrastructure Limited. The official noted that approximately 90% of the project work in the Palasbari area has been completed.

Furthermore, the official assured that the geo-bags stored at the Chulikata Inspection Bungalow are in good condition and ready for use.

The department claims that around 2.5 lakh geo-bags are available at the site and will be utilized in the next phase of anti-erosion efforts in the Chhaygaon and Boko regions.

While the department maintains that the stored geo-bags are intended for future projects and remain usable, the extended storage of such a large quantity during an active erosion season is likely to attract further public scrutiny.