Congress Criticizes Assam Government Over Flood Management Failures

Congress Raises Concerns Over Floods in Upper Assam

Guwahati, Aug 3: The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) has ramped up its criticism of the BJP-led state administration regarding the recent flooding that has affected numerous districts in Upper Assam. They assert that the floods are a result of human actions, particularly illegal mining and a pervasive coal syndicate operating near the state's borders.

During a press briefing at Rajiv Bhawan in Guwahati, APCC officials stated that illegal mining along the borders with Meghalaya, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh has worsened the flooding by disrupting the natural terrain and causing flash floods.

Bedabrata Bora, chairman of the APCC Media Department, claimed that illegal stone crushing operations and coal syndicates are central to the devastation seen in Upper Assam.

"The devastation in Upper Assam is primarily due to illegal crushers and coal syndicates along the borders. Open-cast mining has resulted in large pits that collect rainwater, which then overflows and causes flash floods downstream," Bora stated.

He called for a judicial investigation led by a sitting Supreme Court judge into the alleged coal syndicate, asserting that illegal open-cast coal mining in the hilly areas bordering Assam has created significant pits and artificial reservoirs that release rainwater downstream, leading to flash floods.

Bora further alleged that between 40 to 60 coal-laden trucks enter Assam from Nagaland daily, with illegal fees ranging from Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 2 lakh collected from each vehicle.

He pointed out that despite previous judicial orders from the Gauhati High Court and the National Green Tribunal in 2022 to form a task force to combat illegal mining, the state government has not acted, even after admitting to the existence of illegal mining in an affidavit.

Additionally, he mentioned that a chargesheet filed in response to allegations from former Leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia confirmed the presence of a coal syndicate valued at approximately Rs 3,000 crore.

The Congress party also accused the government of not utilizing between Rs 300 crore and Rs 400 crore available under the District Mineral Foundation Trust (DMFT) for disaster relief efforts.

They announced intentions to file a new Public Interest Litigation and a contempt petition with the Gauhati High Court regarding these issues.

The party criticized both the central and state governments for their handling of flood management and relief distribution.

Former minister Nilamoni Sen Deka claimed that while the Centre allocated funds for flood relief, the state government struggled to use them effectively due to a lack of corresponding budgetary provisions.

"The government cannot effectively utilize funds from the Centre without appropriate provisions made through the Assembly. Assam's flood crisis should be declared a 'State Problem' through legislation to enable the government to allocate resources from its own revenue," Deka stated.

He noted that the APCC had already presented a 24-point demand list to Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, requesting financial aid for farmers, GST exemptions on materials for rebuilding homes, compensation for business losses, and free food supplies for families affected by the floods.

Deka questioned the Centre's recent allocation from the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF), highlighting that Assam received only Rs 379 crore despite significant flood damage.

He argued that this allocation was insufficient, citing that states like Odisha, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan received Rs 500 crore each, despite experiencing less severe flooding.

"The state has incurred losses amounting to thousands of crores, yet the assistance provided falls far short of what Assam needs for relief and rehabilitation," he urged, calling on the Centre to reassess the allocation and offer additional support given the extent of the damage.