THE BRAHMAPUTRA

Every year in mid-summer, news of devastation along the banks of the mighty Brahmaputra reverberates far and wide. Newspaper headlines scream grossly overused catchphrases like unprecedented devastation, thousand homeless, hundreds dead, crops destroyed, etc etc !  Lengthy editorials and comments adorn the pages of the newspapers. The TV channels go shrill, hosting debates by panelists who outshout each other. But a few days later, a new issue with the potential of a higher TRP crops up. A vital issue, nothing short of a national crisis is forgotten.

More than six decades ago, I witnessed a violent devastation and a fearsome erosion of the river’s southern bank in Dibrugarh. I stood stunned at a safe distance away with my parents, my kid sister, my uncle, aunt and their children. There was a road along the river and a magnificent church stood proudly overlooking the Brahmaputra, enhancing its pristine beauty. On the other side of the road were three sprawling bungalows inhabited by the District Commissioner (DC), Superintendent of Police (SP) and the Civil Surgeon. The last named was my uncle. The horrifying sight is still etched in my memory. First the church fell and was dragged away mercilessly followed by the three majestic bungalows. My cousin sister, four years older, broke down as her home disappeared.

Decades later, time stands still. The devastation has become an annual event. I find it hard to believe that no solution could be found till date. India of today is vastly different from the India of the 50’s. Today we are the topmost I.T power in the world. We are on our way to be recognized as the world’s pharmaceutical hub. We sent a satellite to Mars on our first attempt. Our men and women head leading multinationals.  I refuse to accept that no solution could be found. We have a large pool of proven talents, - planners, engineers, architects and what have you. Funds are not a constrain these days; - thousands of crores are being spent on infrastructures around the country. Why can’t there be a concrete plan to solve the problem once for all? What happened to the masterplan of linking all the rivers of India? Can the plan be revived and updated?

It is a national issue. The central/state governments, private enterprises, academicians, civil society, all need to step in, form a team, develop a plan, allocate funds and go for the kill. Let us set a deadline. It can be done. We have the resources.

All we need is an honest will.

Kolkata; 21 July 2020