Mandate of nature: River erosion forces shifting of polling centres in western Assam

As the dark clouds hovering in the sky indicates a heavy rainfall, bamboo walls and bamboo spars are put along the Palasbari embankment to stop erosion in the Brahmaputra River, 25 km west of Guwahati city, on June 26, 2006. Erosion is causing havoc in the Southern bank of the Brahmaputra River and there is every possibility of facing a major disaster as most of the embankments could not be maintained properly over the years due to paucity of funds. Photo: Ritu Raj Konwar

The threat of river erosion has forced the administration in Goalpara district of western Assam to shift two polling centres in the Jaleswar Assembly segment of the Dhubri Lok Sabha constituency. Accordingly, the booths have been shifted from the Paschim Kathuri and Amtoli Sundarpara lower primary schools to the Paschim Kathuri Hasnara Pre-Senior Madrasa and Sakhanipara New lower primary school, respectively. Deputy Commissioner Varnali Deka said repairs of another centre — the Meselkhowa lower primary School — damaged by a storm had been ordered.