Use of Geosynthetics for Protection of B-Dyke in Dhakuakhana Along the River Brahmaputra, Assam—A Case Study

The Assam state in the north-eastern India annually bears the brunt of floods. Displacement of people on the banks of rivers due to erosion is another major issue. The meandering characteristic of Brahmaputra River is so dynamic that Brahmaputra-dyke (B-dyke) from Sissikalghar to Tekeliphuta takes the shape of a bow for nearly 5 km. To protect this area, geotextile tube and geotextile mattress were deployed for the first time in the history of India in the year 2010. This 5 km embankment became a part of the B-dyke which is 27.15 km long. Now, to further provide protection to B-dyke at vulnerable reaches from Lotasur to Tekeliphuta from the erosion of river, geosynthetics materials were used to protect existing embankment to prevent floods and erosion in Dhakuakhana, District Lakhimpur. Such applications are being rapidly deployed to achieve maximum benefit to the community, typically through the use of on-site materials, innovative Geosynthetics materials and construction techniques, where construction is to be completed in a limited time during the flood. The scheme benefits approximately 5 lakh thickly populated villages and protects 10,117 hectares of cultivated and homestead land. The paper briefly presents the problem and protection works carried out along the vulnerable reaches.