Sivasagar residents demand river dredging to combat flooding

Residents in Sivasagar district, Assam, blocked the Geleki-Nazira road on Monday. They protested for six hours, from 5 am to 11 am, demanding government action against flooding and erosion in their area. The blockade caused major disruptions, especially for oil tankers and ONGC vehicles trying to reach the Geleki oilfield. Protesters, including members of the Tai Ahom Yuba Parishad (TAYPA), expressed their frustrations about annual flooding from four rivers: Doikhona, Namdang, Isoi, and Densi. They blame the government for not dredging these rivers. The rivers have filled with silt, making them shallow and prone to overflowing during the rainy season. TAYPA leader Pranab Gogoi highlighted the destruction to farms, homes, and livelihoods caused by these floods. Local farmer Bimal Hazarika shared his concerns. He has lost nearly three acres of paddy fields to erosion over the years. He said every monsoon brings fear as rising water levels threaten their remaining land. The protesters handed a memorandum to co-district commissioner Kanika Rathee. They urged immediate action for dredging the rivers before the next monsoon arrives.