Union Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, also the local Member of Parliament, conducted an urgent on-site review on Friday of severe erosion along the Brahmaputra River that has endangered the Dibrugarh Town Protection (DTP) dyke. The sudden surge in river activity on October 7 devoured large swathes of land—including a yoga centre, children's playground, park benches, and an idol immersion site at Joggers Park—in a mere 30 minutes, pushing the waterway perilously close to the town's vital embankment. This incident highlights Assam's recurring vulnerability to seasonal floods and erosion, which displace thousands annually and threaten infrastructure in the Brahmaputra Valley.

Accompanied by officials from the water resources department, Sonowal surveyed the battered shoreline and expressed deep alarm at the erosion's rapid pace. He inspected ongoing countermeasures, where teams are operating heavy machinery around the clock to reinforce weak spots. However, he critiqued traditional approaches as insufficient, observing that geo bags and porcupine structures had been swept away by the river's fury. "We need to explore more robust solutions to combat this erosion," Sonowal stated. "We observed that geobags and porcupines were found to be washed away by the river’s force. Therefore, mega geobags may be a better option to stem the erosion effectively." He directed authorities to accelerate implementation and adopt advanced techniques, emphasising a technical overhaul for long-term resilience.

Sonowal's visit underscores the central government's proactive stance on Northeast India's waterway challenges, where the Brahmaputra—spanning 2,900 kilometres—has caused erosion affecting over 4.3 lakh hectares across Assam since the 1950s, per state government data. As minister, he has championed initiatives like the Jal Shakti Ministry's flood mitigation programmes, including riverbank stabilisation under the Namami Gange model adapted for the Brahmaputra.

Local residents, who have endured repeated breaches displacing over 50,000 people in 2024 alone, welcomed the assurance. "The Centre will do everything to solve the erosion problem in Dibrugarh," Sonowal affirmed. "We understand the gravity of the situation and the threat it poses to the town and its people."

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With the monsoon season's aftermath still unfolding, authorities are intensifying surveillance of river levels and embankment integrity to avert breaches. Sonowal's intervention signals potential increased funding for geoengineering projects, aligning with the government's Rs 5,000 crore allocation for Northeast flood control in the 2025 budget. As Dibrugarh—a key tea and oil hub—braces for further risks, this review could catalyse innovative defences, blending his dual roles in waterways management and regional development to safeguard communities against nature's relentless force.

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