Arunachal East MP Ninong Ering has taken up the matter of dredging the Siang river with the Union parliamentary affairs and water resource ministry’s Brahmaputra Board.

Brahmaputra Board chairman Rajiv Yadav has assured Ering that he would visit Pasighat in November to inspect the Siang for possible dredging of the river bed.

Responding to Ering’s request, Yadav showed concern about the people of Arunachal Pradesh living along the Siang and the Brahmaputra basins and agreed to depute experts to study and survey the Siang.

Ering had earlier asked the Centre to dredge the river to solve the recurrent floods and erosion problems in the downstream areas of Arunachal Pradesh like Sigar, Raling, Motum, Borguli, Kongkul, Namsing, Gadum and Mer on the left bank and Pasighat, Berung, Sika Tode, Sika Bamin, Jampani on the right bank, besides the downstream villages in Assam.

He had also requested for the construction of embankments along the banks of the Siang, which may cost approximately Rs 2,000 crore.

Ering urged Union water resources minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, including the Brahmaputra Board, to initiate preventive measures such as dredging of Siang from Raneghat of East Siang district of Arunachal to Oiramghat of Assam.

He asked the ministry to initiate a dialogue with China on the release of water from the dams in Yarlung Zangpo/Tsangpo in Tibet.

Several lives and agricultural lands were affected this year because of the unnatural behaviour of the Siang.

The people of Mebo sub-division have formed an NGO on Sunday in a mass meeting held in Borguli village comprising former government servicemen, village leaders and gaon burahs.

The NGO — Siang Eco-System Environment Protection and Nurture Group — led by its president Yemling Tayeng and general secretary Mohonto Pangging, will appeal to the government for a permanent solution to the Siang flood menace.