Arunachal: Officials and Mebo MLA conduct extensive survey of flood erosion areas along Siang River

In a move to address the escalating issue of flood-induced soil erosion, a team of senior officials from the Water Resources Department (WRD) embarked on an extensive survey of key erosion-prone areas within the Mebo Sub-Division. The team was led by Chief Engineer Er. Tokbom Lego of the Eastern Zone, along with Superintendent of Engineers Er. Mojom Ete, and Executive Engineer Er. Onit Panyang of the Pasighat division. They were joined by the Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) for the 39th Mebo Assembly Constituency, Oken Tayeng, and a group of Assistant Engineers (AE) and Junior Engineers (JE) from Mebo.

The survey commenced at 6 AM from the Raneghat bridge, where the team navigated the turbulent waters of the Siang River using manually rowed rubber boats. Their mission was to assess the flood damage and the extent of soil erosion along the river's left bank. Utilizing drones for aerial surveillance, the team meticulously inspected vulnerable zones and culminated their survey at Namsing village by 12:30 PM. Key affected villages, including Sigar, Raling, Motum, Borguli, Seram, Kongkul (Padan), and Namsing, were visited to assess the impact of the erosion first-hand.

During their inspection, the team also examined the remnants of flood control structures near Sigar village, constructed in 2020. These structures had succumbed to the overwhelming force of the Siang River, leading to severe downstream erosion in several villages as a result of the sudden discharge of pent-up river water.

In Borguli village, the survey team was welcomed by local leaders, including the village Gaon Burah and Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) representatives, who shared their concerns over the extensive loss of village land due to erosion. Following this, the team proceeded to Namsing village, where a brief public meeting was held along the riverbank. Villagers, led by senior citizens and PRI leaders, appealed for immediate flood control measures to protect their land from further degradation.

Chief Engineer Er. Tokbom Lego assured the villagers that a detailed project proposal for the time-bound protection of the erosion-affected areas would be prepared. He emphasized the need for the state government to pass the Flood Plain Zoning Act in the assembly, which would facilitate the initiation of large-scale flood protection projects at the central level and aid in the development of a comprehensive master plan under the basin concept.

MLA Oken Tayeng, addressing the concerns of villagers in Borguli and Namsing, reiterated his commitment to securing funds for flood protection measures. He urged local leaders to ensure integrity and dedication in future construction efforts, cautioning against any misuse of funds which could undermine the effectiveness of flood control structures. Tayeng also mentioned his efforts to integrate flood control measures along the Siang River's left bank into the larger Siang dam construction project, should it come to fruition.

Earlier in the day, Pasighat East MLA Tapi Darang had met the WRD officials and the Mebo MLA at Raneghat bridge, extending his well-wishes for their safety given the risks associated with navigating the Siang River during the flood season.