Danger pose to Garo hill by climate change

TURA, JUNE 7: The Centre for Environment Protection and Rural Development (CEPARD) on Tuesday raised an alarm bell over the danger posed by Jinjiram and its confluence Ringgi river, which flows through plain belt area of West Garo hills.

Activist Samgar Sangma, associated with CEPARD said, “The onset of monsoon will create turbulence and flash floods, which will endanger human life in Phulbari and its adjoining areas”. He sought government attention to mitigate climate change measure.

The ngo pointed that the changing course of Ringgi river towards the Shyamnagar valley are a major concern for the settled populace in Phulbari town, which is close to neighbouring Dhubri town of Assam.

Jinjiram is a tributary of Brahmaputra river.

The ngo said that the rise in the water level of Brahmaputra and Jinjiram will pose a threat in the year ahead, if concrete steps are not taken.

The organisation, which has carried out a survey, revealed that the downstream of Ganol river, near Damalgre village in the outskirt of Tura has changed its course due to excessive and unscientific method of sand mining and extraction of mud beds from the river.

Quoting reports on climate change, the ngo felt that if by 2030, half of Bangladesh is submerged then days were numbered for Garo hills and other parts of northeastern region, which is close to Bangladesh.

“It calls for serious measure. The entire northeastern region will face massive demographic displacement. Once population displacement occurs, it will become a cumbersome task for any law enforcing agencies and even for the government to control the impending environment”, Sangma added.

Terming that climate change can be attributed as one of the reasons for infiltration from Bangladesh, Sangma said, “Many of the low lying areas in Bangladesh are partially or fully submerged under water. Those affected populace has no other alternatives but to migrate from one place to another in search of food and livelihood. The fertile lands and valleys along the river Brahmaputra and Jinjiram become a safe haven for such immigrants”.

Seeking urgent attention from the government, the ngo has termed the problem as “complex” and “petrifying”. They have sought for concrete and comprehensive measures by both state and centre to take corrective steps to mitigate such forms of extraneous intrusion from the foreign lands.

“The rivers of our country are an easy entry for the antisocial elements to take advantage of the porous International border. Climate change not only displaces a particular territory but it also creates disturbance to the indigenous communities”, the ngo pointed out.- From Our Correspondent