Villagers of Singerband Stage Sit-In Protest on River Bank, Demand Government Action Against Erosion

Villagers affected by the severe erosion of the Barak River staged a sit-in protest on the riverbanks at Singerband Part II of Hathirar Sheikhpara village in Cachar. With placards in hand and slogans on their lips, the destitute victims conducted a demonstration starting from 10 AM this morning to draw the attention of the state government towards the aggressive river erosion threatening their homes and livelihoods. Their houses are just inches away from the swift currents of the Barak River, which could wash them away at any moment.

The protest aimed to highlight the urgent need for state intervention to prevent further damage. Singerband Part II Hathirar Sheikhpara, now part of the Sonai assembly constituency (earlier Lakhipur) under Rupai Bali GP following recent delimitation, is home to an extremely poor community of fisherfolk who rely solely on fishing for their livelihood. The relentless erosion has brought their homes perilously close to being washed away, with several houses already lost to the river.

Leading the protest, former GP president and youth leader Hanif Alam Majumdar emphasized that the village has been continually devastated by the Barak River’s erosion for the past 40 years. “Many families have lost their homes and were forced to leave the village. The erosion continues to claim more houses, leaving a few in a precarious state,” he said.

One local protester shared, “For the last 50 years, one home after another has been washed away by the river. We previously met Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonwal and the departmental minister Keshab Mahanta to submit our memorandum and share our plight. When Himanta Biswa Sharma became the CM, we approached him and Water Resources Minister Pijush Hazarika. Minister Hazarika recently visited our village, inspected the erosion, and assured us that steps would be taken.”

In a heartfelt plea, the villager added, “We are extremely poor. Those who have lost their homes cannot rebuild or acquire new land. We demand compensation for the affected homes and a permanent solution to the erosion problem.”

The protesting villagers warned that if the erosion continues unchecked, the entire village could be washed away within years. “This year alone, we’ve faced two floods, which have devastated us financially and emotionally. This is an ultimatum: if no steps are taken within a pre-decided timeframe, we will be forced to exercise our democratic rights and take further action.”