Over 90 per cent of the Rs 8.21 crore project to close the Beki embankment breach at Narayanguri is complete by now, while the rate of erosion is reduced considerably at Bahari in Barpeta district. Highly-placed sources in the State Water Resources Department (WRD) told this newspaper that by June 15 the rest of the work was expected to be complete. Meanwhile, a sanction of Rs 5 crore has been granted for opening the silted up mouth of the Manas at Mathanguri. The BTAD is to execute the work by excavating the mouth of the Manas, sources said.

The All Assam Students' Union today queered the pitch for the speedy execution of the anti-erosion works by the Brahmaputa Board to protect the geographical area of Majuli. Office-bearers of All Jorhat District Students' Union (AJDSU) have also expressed serious displeasure over the nature of work done by the central agency, entrusted with the task of controlling floods and erosion in the river island, so far.

DHUBRI

The living condition of the people of Paschim Ratiadaha part-II village under Bisondoi gaon panchayat in the far western part of the Indo-Bangladesh border in Golokganj LAC of Dhuburi district are in a deplorable state as the villagers are yet to see the development even after six decades of India's Independence. The heavy-erosion of the river Gangadhar has made more than 300 families of Ratiadaaha part-II village homeless and has devastated their cultivable lands. As a result, the homeless families have to take shelter on roads and dykes.

NALBARI

Streo Cartosat-1 satellite data was processed to generate high spatial resolution digital elevation model (DEM) using ground control points (GCPs) collected through geodetic single frequency GPS in differential GPS mode. DEM was processed to generate bare earth DEM by removing heights of natural and man made features from DEM.

Getting farmers to adopt new technologies to address soil erosion and fertility problems is not easy. In Vietnam, a multidisciplinary research project to improve soil management in traditional mountainous agricultural farming systems managed to attract farmers' interest and stop soil erosion. This success stems from encouraging farmers, extensionists and researchers to jointly define and implement the project.

India carries a huge livestock population. Small ruminants, namely, goats and sheep, play a vital role in securing the livelihood of small and marginal farmers and landless labourers. Such animals should not be blamed for the ecological degradation, soil erosion and desertification caused by human activities.

CHAPAR

Due to the unabated erosion at the Matmara dyke in Dhakuakhana by the river Brahmaputra, about 80 families, who had been living there since 2007 had to leave their homes to other safe places. According to sources, a part of the Matmara dyke had already been submerged as the concrete embankments that were built to check the inflow of the flood waters had been destroyed.

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