Congress Leader Blames Illegal Mining for Upper Assam Floods
Impact of Floods in Upper Assam
Sivasagar has come out to be one of the worst affected districts in the recent Upper Assam floods (Photo: AT)
Guwahati, Sept 10: Debabrata Saikia, a prominent Congress figure and former Leader of Opposition, has pointed fingers at rampant illegal mining and lack of administrative response for the severe flooding in three districts of Upper Assam.
During a press briefing at the New Delhi Press Club, Saikia emphasized that the calamity was exacerbated by human actions, particularly illegal mining and quarrying activities in the Dikhow River basin.
“July 19 marked a tragic day for Assam, with floods claiming over 100 lives. This disaster was man-made, yet the Chief Minister attempted to frame it as a result of a cloudburst,” Saikia stated.
He further noted that the Meteorological Department later rejected the cloudburst narrative. Saikia also highlighted previous warnings and judicial actions regarding illegal mining in the Dikhow River area.
Referring to a 2015 international scientific study that cautioned against the repercussions of ongoing illegal mining in the Dikhow River, Saikia mentioned that he had filed Public Interest Litigations (PILs) in the Gauhati High Court in 2018 and 2019 to address the issue and safeguard the river's ecosystem.
“The Gauhati High Court instructed the Assam government to create a specialized body to combat illegal mining and enhance the protection of the Dikhow ecosystem. However, the government ignored these warnings and court orders. I approached the court again, but there was no action from the government. This negligence led to the floods in Upper Assam, resulting in loss of lives and extensive damage,” Saikia claimed.
Saikia is now calling for a special rehabilitation package from the central government for those affected by the floods, arguing that the devastation necessitates more support than what the state government has provided.
“The government has allocated Rs 15,000 for affected families, but that amount is insufficient. People cannot simply return to normalcy overnight; they need to rebuild their lives from the ground up. We are urging the Government of India to provide a special package for the flood-affected residents of Upper Assam,” he asserted.
Additionally, Saikia has reached out to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for financial aid for flood-impacted Upper Assam, including requests for assistance from the PM CARES Fund and the National Disaster Response Fund.
“I urge the people of Assam to speak out against the numerous syndicates operating in the state. We cannot permit illegal extraction to persist while ordinary citizens suffer the environmental and economic repercussions,” he concluded.
The death toll from the Upper Assam floods that began on July 19 has reached 108, with officials reporting damage to 26,681 homes and 18,887 cattle sheds.