Flood Crisis in Assam: A Growing Challenge Amid Election Promises
The Escalating Flood Situation in Assam
A file image of floods in Assam (Photo: IANS)
Guwahati, April 8: The recurring promise of a flood-free Assam has become a staple in election campaigns, yet the reality on the ground reveals a worsening crisis.
Research indicates that not only has the impact of flooding intensified, but related hazards have also emerged as significant threats.
Data from satellite imagery shows that the total area affected by floods in the state has expanded from 1998 to 2023, with the peak recorded in 2020 at 12.86 lakh hectares, followed closely by 2022 at 12.15 lakh hectares.
This increase is notable despite a decline in monsoon rainfall over the past five years, with below-normal precipitation recorded since 2020.
According to an analysis by the National Remote Sensing Centre, the extent of flood inundation has varied greatly, from 2.11 lakh hectares in 2009 to 12.85 lakh hectares in 2020, highlighting the escalating severity of floods in the region.
Flood-affected areas between 10-12.85 lakh hectares were noted in four years: 2002, 2017, 2020, and 2022. In six years, areas between 8-10 lakh hectares were inundated: 1998, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2007, and 2019. Additionally, eight years saw inundation between 5-8 lakh hectares: 2000, 2008, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2021, and 2023.
Furthermore, flood-affected districts have been on the rise, peaking in 2018, with over 30 districts impacted each year from 2017 to 2023.
Government flood reports indicate that the highest number of people affected by floods since 2010 occurred in 2019, impacting over 70 lakh individuals, followed by 58 lakh in 2020 and 57 lakh in 2022. The year 2022 also recorded the highest fatalities, with 179 lives lost.
Experts note that while the impact of floods has escalated, associated issues such as sedimentation in catchment areas have become critical concerns.
Severe siltation in districts like Dhemaji and Lakhimpur has caused lasting damage to agricultural lands, compelling farmers to seek alternative livelihoods, as highlighted in a study by Dr. Akangsha Borgohain from Gauhati University.
Assam is home to 87 wetlands exceeding 100 hectares, but approximately 80 percent of 37 of these have been lost, significantly diminishing their water retention capabilities and leading to flooding in new areas, according to Prof. Dhrubajyoti Sahariah of Gauhati University.
“A fragmented approach to flood management will not yield effective results. Solutions in one area may create problems in another. A comprehensive, multi-faceted river basin management strategy is essential, in collaboration with neighboring states. The Brahmaputra is a dynamic river, and prioritizing flood adaptation measures is crucial in this region,” Sahariah emphasized.