Correspondent

PASIGHAT, 17 Sep: Severe erosion caused by the Siang river at the Borguli portion has gripped several acres of wet cultivation in Mebo subdivision in East Siang district, worrying the local farmers.

A strong course of the Siang river is turning to its left and eroding standing crops, plantations and bamboo groves at riverbank areas in Borguly, Seram, Kongkul, Namsing, Mer and Gadum.

Monggu Banggo-I ZPM Bapiyang Tayeng, accompanied by Water Resource Department Assistant Engineer (Mebo) Bani Langkam and local gaon buras recently visited the affected sites and took stock of the situation.

As per a report, standing paddy in a large crop field belonging to five families in Borguly village is already flooded by the river, while crop fields of other families are under threat.

Mebo MLA Oken Tayeng, who is aware of the situation, is pursuing the state government for early sanction of a mega anti-erosion project for the Lower Mebo area.

He said a project to cover riverbank protection, covering Sigar to Mer village in Lower Mebo area, has already been placed with the WRD but is awaiting sanction.