Pasighat: The farming communities of Mer village in Mebo Sub-Division, East Siang District, suffered a severe setback as the flooding Siang River eroded farmlands and submerged paddy and pulse crops. The floodwaters completely washed away the cultivated land of five families and submerged over 200 hectares of wetland rice cultivation (WRC) belonging to fifty other families. The river, which has shifted its course further east this season, has particularly impacted the villages of Mer, Namsing, and Borguli (New).
A team of officials from the local administration, led by Extra Assistant Commissioner (EAC) Toni Mitkong, conducted an inspection of the affected agricultural areas on Saturday. The team included Horticulture Development Officer Bini Tagom, Agriculture Development Officer Aido Moyong, Range Forest Officer Domek Koyu, and Monggu Banggo Zila Parishad Member Gumin Tayeng. They were accompanied by village authorities, including PRI leaders, Gaon Burahs, and the village secretary, who guided them through the submerged WRC fields.
The inspection team traversed the flood-hit areas on foot and by country boat to assess the extent of the damage. Gumin Tayeng, the ZPM of Monggu Banggo, and Mer Village Gaon Burah Binod Perme, expressed concern over the severe impact of the floods, which have rendered the paddy fields of fifty families unusable, leading to an impending ration crisis in the village.
They noted that the paddy fields of five families, including one pulse field, were completely washed away by the floodwaters.
Tayeng criticized the state government for failing to provide relief or compensation for the flood-related crop damages reported by Namsing village in previous years. He urged the Pema Khandu-led state government to ensure that the affected families receive appropriate compensation for their losses. Tayeng also called on MLA Mebo, Oken Tayeng, to advocate for the affected villagers and ensure that the damage reports submitted by local authorities result in tangible relief.
Mer Village Gaon Burah Binod Perme echoed these concerns, appealing to the state government and the local MLA to allocate funds for constructing flood control measures along the Siang River to prevent future damage.
EAC Mebo Toni Mitkong assured that the crop damage reports would be submitted to the government promptly, with a view to securing relief and compensation for the affected villagers.
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