Dibrugarh: Authorities have begun dredging the Namdang River in Sivasagar district to ease flooding and revive the waterway.Excavators are removing silt and water hyacinths that have reduced the Dikhow tributary to a stagnant, marshy canal. Its failure to drain water into the Dikhow this monsoon flooded homes and farmland in Na-Pukhuri, Geleki, Rajabheta, Piyali Phukan and Jerenga Pathar for days.Work is also under way near the historic Namdang Stone Bridge, where the July 19 deluge damaged the structure. The swift current eroded its base, while cracks, fissures and penetrating tree roots weakened it.Assam industries minister and Sivasagar guardian minister Bimal Borah, who is overseeing the operation, said, “For years, silt accumulation left the historic Namdang River almost lifeless. We have initiated work to revive the river and restore its natural drainage route, carrying stagnant water from the region to the Dikhow River. These practical measures will revive a river of historical and ecological importance while ensuring a sustainable natural drainage system.”Originating in the Naga Hills, the Namdang flows 30-35 km before joining the Dikhow near Sivasagar. Environmentalists said its decline deprived the region of a crucial drainage channel, worsening floods.The operation follows concerns raised by All Tai Ahom Students’ Union over damage to the 323-year-old bridge, known as “Namdang Silar Sako”. Built in 1703 during Ahom king Rudra Singha’s reign, it was carved from a massive rock and remains a prominent example of Ahom engineering. Union president Basanta Gogoi had sought urgent intervention from Archaeological Survey of India.Residents welcomed the work but sought sustained action. “They must clear the entire stretch and prevent encroachment so water can flow naturally. Otherwise, the same cycle of flood and damage will repeat,” Piyali Phukan resident Ritu Hatikakoti said.
