With Monsoon looming, CIHSR fear more erosion

With the rains looming, the Christian Institute of Health Sciences and Research (CIHSR), Dimapur fears the coming monsoon will further aggravate soil erosion this year as well. Reinforced wire-mesh embankment, built to protect the southern boundary of the CIHSR in 2012, is already showing signs of damage.

The Chathe River, snaking along the CIHSR’s southern periphery has already washed away a sizeable portion of land. In 2010, its boundary wall, running some 150 feet was washed away, while the river continued to eat away at whatever that was left after the wall fell. If left unattended, it will not be long before erosion brings the river dangerously close to the CIHSR’s southern block.

The department of Irrigation and Flood Control had taken up a riverbank protection project early in 2012 to control the erosion. The project included pouring concrete over boulders bound by wire-mesh. The embankment running some 200 meters was built at an estimated cost of around Rs. 5 crores. Two monsoons later, the protective embankment is showing signs of severe wear and tear.

This monsoon, the CIHSR feels that the embankment will not be able to withstand the force of the river. “We’re scared that when the river swells this monsoon, it will take more of the hospital’s land away,” said a concerned Dr. Viu Meru, Deputy Director (Administration), CIHSR. The CIHSR’s staff quarters are directly in the path of the river before it takes a sharp curve downstream.

Quarrying on the riverbed, during the lean season, is further aggravating the problem. It has weakened the embankment as the steel wire nets holding the boulders underneath the concrete slabs has slackened. At some portions, the concrete slabs have given way.

The CIHSR has intimated the department of Irrigation and Flood Control for remedial steps. But funding constraints and government protocol is believed to be putting the brakes on the department from tackling the problem. Dr. Meru said that the department had suggested for the CIHSR to make another proposal to the government.   

Further, a proposal to divert the course of the river is doing the rounds. The idea, if it takes shape will greatly cut down cost. The affected portion of the boundary is located at a point where the river takes a loop-like curve. Cutting a canal on the other side will allow the river to take a straight course and enable it to join the point where the curve ends. This will also prevent the CIHSR’s southern boundary from taking the full force of the water. The owner of the land, where the anticipated canal will pass, is believed to have agreed in principle to the proposal at a price.