Assam-Arunachal Villagers Revive ‘Dong’ Irrigation; Raju Dhakal Supports

By- Shajid Khan

Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border villagers in Mazbat under Udalguri district, facing worsening drought-like conditions, have taken matters into their own hands by reviving the age-old ‘Dong’ irrigation system to save their crops and livelihoods.

The villages of Deowsani, Jingabil, Jagyapur, Lokampur, and Chaprabari—home to nearly 500 residents across 95 farming households—have been battling acute water scarcity for over six years due to erratic rainfall, silted canals, and a lack of government action. With paddy cultivation under threat, the community turned to the traditional Dong method, which diverts river water through manually-dug canals.

This year, the villagers’ efforts received a major boost when Raju Dhakal, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) Chief Executive Member Pramod Boro, stepped in. Responding to the community’s needs, Dhakal arranged excavators to clear the choked canals and restore the flow of water to the fields.

“I facilitated the clearance work by deploying excavators to unblock the Dongs, which have remained clogged since 2018,” Dhakal said, reaffirming his commitment to grassroots development.

Villagers welcomed the timely support. “We’ve been struggling for years as our appeals were ignored. Raju Dhakal’s help finally brought water back to our fields,” said Bal Bahadur Ghale, a local farmer.

While the immediate water crisis has been mitigated, residents continue to urge the government and the irrigation department for long-term solutions, including modernization and maintenance of irrigation infrastructure in the region.