Serious allegations of irregularities and poor-quality work have emerged against the Water Resources Department and contractors engaged in an anti-erosion project at Chenga in Assam’s Barpeta district.
Local residents have accused the authorities of using substandard geo bags and carrying out the Brahmaputra erosion protection work without following proper technical standards. The allegations have raised concerns over the effectiveness of the flood and erosion control measures being implemented in the area.
Residents claimed that the geo bags being used in the project are not being filled properly with soil or sand, making them ineffective against the river’s strong currents. According to locals, many of the bags contain only a small quantity of soil and sink immediately after being placed in the water.
One resident alleged that nearly 40 percent of the required soil was being filled in several bags, far below the expected level needed for durable erosion control work. Locals argued that if the bags were filled adequately, they would remain stable and help strengthen the embankment protection system.
People in the area also questioned the role of officials responsible for monitoring the work. Residents alleged that there was a lack of proper supervision at the site and claimed no authority was ensuring whether the construction work was being executed correctly.
Criticising the ongoing work, several locals said poor-quality execution could worsen the erosion problem rather than solve it. Some residents expressed frustration over what they described as negligence by both the department and contractors involved in the project.
The anti-erosion work was launched to protect riverbank areas from the Brahmaputra’s continued erosion threat, especially ahead of the flood season. However, the allegations have now sparked demands for stricter monitoring and immediate corrective measures to ensure the project meets required standards.
