PALASBARI, July 31: A significant stockpile of geo-bags and other crucial erosion-control materials has been observed lying idle for several years at the Water Resources Department’s inspection bungalow premises in Chulikata, near Simina Chowk under Palasbari LAC in Kamrup district. This discovery has ignited a wave of concern and criticism among local residents, particularly as parts of Assam continue to battle severe riverbank erosion.
According to observations by residents, these materials, vital for protecting vulnerable riverine areas, have remained stacked in the open for an estimated two to three years. The prolonged exposure has led to weeds and vegetation growing around the massive pile, raising fears that materials potentially worth crores of rupees could be rendered useless before ever being deployed.
The situation has drawn a strong reaction from the community, especially given the unabated erosion along the Brahmaputra river at critical stretches like Simina, Guimara, and Gumi. Locals have vocally questioned the department's failure to utilise these readily available resources, even as their homes and lands face constant threat from the encroaching river. Many residents allege that the long-term storage of these geo-bags points to a concerning lack of strategic planning and effective management by the concerned authorities.
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