Since 2011, floods caused over 530 embankment breaches: Data

Guwahati: Assam has recorded over 530 embankment breaches from time to time since 2011 to date due to the ravaging floods that hits the state every year following the southwest monsoon, according to data provided by Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA).
The state recorded 283 embankment breaches due to flooding in 2015. This is the highest breach recorded in a particular year since 2011.Five embankment breaches were recorded last year, 24 in 2020, 38 in 2019, 25 in 2018, 26 in 2017, 26 in 2016, 31 in 2014, 17 in 2013 and 54 in 2011. No data on embankment breach in 2012 was available with the authority.
Neither the ASDMA nor the water resource department could provide the exact data on embankment breach this year so far.
The floods breach the embankments every year and submerge the districts, leaving behind a tale of destruction and loss of human and animal lives. Following the floods, the water resource department repairs those breached embankments spending crores of money. The floods damaged over 50,000 houses fully this year so far. Last year, 3362 houses were damaged, 56,000 in 2020, 1.3 lakh in 2019, 76,000 in 2018, 1.11 lakh in 2017, 66,000 in 2016, 63,000 in 2015, 1.38 lakh in 2014, 591 in 2013, 78,000 in 2012 and 297 in 2011. Apart from breaching embankments, erosion has been a major issue in the state. According to government data, 4 lakh hectares of land has been eroded by the Brahmaputra and its tributaries since 1950, which is around 7.5% of the total area of the state. Nearly 8,000 hectares of land is lost every year on average. The width of the Brahmaputra has increased up to 15km due to bank erosion at a few points. As per a survey report conducted in 1912-28, the total area covered by the Brahmaputra was 3,870 sq km. This has gone up to 6,080 sq km as per the survey report 2006.
According to the National Flood Commission, around 40% of the total area of the state (31.05 lakh hectares of the total 78.5 lakh hectares) is prone to floods. Roughly, this is over 9% of the total flood-prone area of the country. The annual area affected by floods in Assam averages around 9.3 lakh hectares, according to the water resources department.