Dimbeswar Talukdar, 65, from Patacharkuchi constituency in lower Assam’s Bajali district is a retired government employee. But problems — flood and erosion — he grew up with at his Gahinpara village continue to torment him.

Life is no different for Upen Das, a 40-year-old daily wager from the same area who has to spend at least 15 to 20 days every year in relief camps or on an embankment because of floods caused by the Pahumara river flowing close by.

Although flood and erosion have been routinely flagged by political parties, religiously figuring in their election manifestos before every Assembly and general election, those affected by the twin problems say they continue to suffer.

Union home minister Amit Shah had made flood a key poll plank during campaigning for the ongoing elections, seeking another term for the BJP in Assam, where three-phase polling will end on April 6. He has pledged to make Assam flood-free in the next five years.

Shah has even spelt out how — by building large reservoirs to divert excess water that could be subsequently used for irrigation, among others. The BJP later included it in its sankalp patra or poll manifesto.

Assam has been synonymous with flood and erosion. Any talk on the issues attract attention because of their gravity.

Retired schoolteacher Surendra Nath Choudhury Umanand Jaiswal

“The months from May to September see Assam in the headlines because of lives and houses lost due to floods. The visuals are stunning but soon it drops off the radar. But the affected wait anxiously for the next round. We are in deep water,” said Simanta Baruah of Pathsala.

Government reports suggest the Brahmaputra and its tributaries alone wash away over 8,000 hectares of land every year, over 4.27 lakh hectares since the 1950s, which works out to 7.40 per cent of the state’s total area. The width of the Brahmaputra is about 15km at some places due to bank erosion, according to the state water resources department.

Coupled with the fury of the annual flood, which had affected over 50 lakh people in 31 of the 34 districts of Assam in 2020 and left over 100 dead, those living by the riverbanks face an uncertain future. About 31.05 lakh hectares of the state’s 78.523 lakh hectares is flood prone, about 39.58 per cent, according to government reports.

Dimbeswar Talukdar with his wife. Both families are victims of yearly floods in Assam Umanand Jaiswal

The release of water from the Kurichu hydropower plant in Bhutan, about 30km from Barpeta Road, is a source of constant worry for the people living in downstream lower Assam districts such as Barpeta, Baksa, Bongaigaon, Nalbari and Chirang. It floods the Beki, Manas, Pagladia, Kaldia and Pahumara rivers.

“We welcome Amit Shah’s commitment but assurances and promises won’t help tackle these issues. A long-term and practical plan is needed along with the right intent. I have grown old but there seems to be no end to the problems,” retired schoolteacher Surendra Nath Choudhury told The Telegraph at Gahinpara, about 5km from Pathsala town in Patacharkuchi constituency which is about 120km northwest of Guwahati.

Choudhury added: “As a teacher I have seen the havoc wrought by floods and erosion caused by the Pahumara and the Beki. I have seen at least six villages being wiped out and another six almost wiped out. Only those who have lost know what they are going through.”

Assam state BJP president Ranjeet Kumar Dass is involved in a three-cornered contest with the Congress and the Assam Jatiya Parishad candidates in the third and last phase of the state polls on April 6.

For the Talukdars and the Choudhurys, elections will come and go but the government of the day needs to find a permanent solution.

Talukdar is happy because the government has started work on an embankment that was breached twice last year. He just hopes the embankment-cum-road is completed as soon as possible. The Pahumara flows about 400 meters from his house. The river breaches the embankment every year.

“I have seen it since 1971. Pathsala town, which is about 5km away, suddenly becomes a 20km trip as we have to take a detour. Then the water stays for two-three days, sometime even more. Many households have had to give up farming because of flood and siltation. It becomes very tough during the monsoon. We just want that the government find a permanent solution so that the younger generation does not face the problems we are facing,” Talukdar said.

Choudhury said that apart from building the road along the Pahumara, the government should also strengthen the bank upstream for at least 20km so that water released from the source at Laogaon does not cause havoc.

Every affected household has a story. Every household wants a solution. Certainly people like Upen Das, who said:“ I want to live in my own house, not on the road.”