Northeast Desk, 30th June: Soil erosion remains a critical threat in Assam and Meghalaya, significantly impacting agricultural productivity, soil fertility, and water systems. The issue is exacerbated by unplanned land use and rapid population growth, which have led to reduced forest cover and accelerated erosion rates.
Researchers at IIT Delhi’s Hydrosense Lab, under the leadership of Ravi Raj and Manabendra Saharia, have developed the Indian Water Erosion Dataset (IWED) to assess water erosion nationwide and support soil conservation efforts. The Indian Soil Loss Maps (ISLM) application aids in visualizing factors contributing to soil loss.
The study highlights alarming statistics for Assam and Meghalaya, revealing they have the highest potential soil loss (PSL) values in India, at 78.16 and 77 tons per hectare per year, respectively—nearly four times the national average of 21 tons. Assam alone contributes 107.83 million tons annually, despite covering only 2.4 per cent of India’s land area.
In Meghalaya, three districts—East Khasi Hills, Jaintia Hills, and South Garo Hills—are among the top 20 most vulnerable districts due to high mean annual PSL values. The region’s predominant loamy and clay loamy soils are especially susceptible to erosion, particularly on slopes. Heavy rainfall erosivity and frequent flooding from the Brahmaputra River exacerbate soil loss issues.
Approximately 5 per cent of India’s land, primarily in Assam and parts of Meghalaya, falls under the catastrophic erosion category (E6), with PSL values exceeding 100 tons per hectare per year, posing significant threats to infrastructure and environment alike.