Guwahati, March 7: Dibrugarh has succeeded in protecting its banks from erosion whereas Palasbari has failed in its attempts.

Dibrugarh’s success was made possible through bank protection practices, designed to save the riverbanks from erosion. These protect the eroding embankments that threaten private property or public infrastructure.

The technical assistance consultant of the Northeastern Integrated Flood and Riverbank Erosion Management Project (Assam), released a report stating that river bank protection was initially started in Dibrugarh to protect its banks from erosion. This was followed by flood protection measures, which began a year later.

Dibrugarh, situated on the bank of the Brahmaputra, has been protected from erosion and floods since 1955. Reports confirm that continuous efforts were made to protect these banks.

On the contrary, the banks of Palasbari were left without any safeguard but there were certain flood protection practices that was occasionally followed. Palasbari succeeded in having limited river bank protection only in the mid-1980s, after three decades of embankment erosion and reconstruction.

The report said Palasbari has virtually disappeared from the map, while Dibrugarh is still prosperous. It also said that sustenance of life along the Brahmaputra flood plains essentially depends on a “stability first” approach, which means that there should be increased bank protection practices. “The bank protection along the flood plains in Dibrugarh was initially made possible by the erstwhile Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru” the report stated.

It said living in a stable Assam valley, with less riverbank erosion requires planning and implementation of definite programmes. The report also emphasises the need to increase bank protection practices.

The report further stated that it was the state government’s responsibility to ensure soil conservation along the Brahmaputra.

It opined that effective soil conservation would depend on the ability of the government to gather innovative solutions and required funds.