Severe erosion along the Burhi Dihing River has emerged as a major threat to the Kotha Reserved Forest in Assam, with nearly 70 hectares of forest land reportedly lost to the river.
Spread across around 400 hectares, the reserve is home to valuable tree species, several varieties of orchids and diverse wildlife, including wild elephants, deer and wild boars.
Continuous erosion along the riverbank has gradually eaten into the forest, leaving a substantial portion of the reserve submerged or washed away by the Burhi Dihing.
Environmentalists and local residents have expressed concern that the situation could deteriorate further during the monsoon if urgent measures are not taken to control the erosion.
They have called on the Forest Department and other concerned authorities to initiate immediate erosion-control measures and protect the remaining forest land.
Residents fear that continued riverbank erosion could destroy a significant part of the reserve and further threaten its biodiversity and wildlife habitat.
Environmentalists have warned that without timely intervention, the Kotha Reserved Forest could eventually survive only on official records as the Burhi Dihing continues to erode its land.
