Assam Floods: Former MLA Urges Government to Launch Special Integrated River Basin Project

Guwahati, July 29: Former Leader of the Opposition and ex-MLA Debabrata Saikia has urged the Assam government to initiate a Special Integrated Dikhou River Basin Rehabilitation Project under the District Mineral Foundation Trust (DMFT) and the Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY). He emphasized the need for long-term rehabilitation for flood-affected families and ecological restoration in Upper Assam.

In a detailed representation to Chief Secretary Ravi Kota, Saikia stated that a comprehensive rehabilitation package is necessary instead of temporary relief measures in the wake of the devastating floods that struck the districts of Sivasagar, Charaideo, Jorhat, and surrounding areas.

The Congress leader highlighted that Sivasagar was one of the most affected districts during the recent floods, with nearly three lakh people impacted at various stages. Nazira, a co-district, suffered significant devastation, including the collapse of homes, extensive crop loss, damage to fisheries and livestock, and prolonged submersion of villages.

Saikia proposed that the state declare a Special Rehabilitation Project for the entire Dikhou River Basin under DMFT and PMKKKY. He stressed the importance of a scientific assessment of the true causes of the floods, avoiding direct attribution of the disaster to mining activities. He called for an expert investigation into whether authorized and illegal mining, alterations to the river’s structure, and other human interventions exacerbated the devastation.

The memorandum also requested the formation of a high-level expert committee comprising officials from the Mines and Minerals Department, Water Resources Department, ASDMA, IIT Guwahati, river scientists, environmental experts, and representatives from affected communities. This committee would investigate the overall impact of mining on the Dikhou Basin and recommend long-term flood mitigation measures.

In addition to other demands, Saikia called for permanent disaster-resilient housing, grants for livelihood restoration, scientific removal of sand and silt from fields, reconstruction of poor public infrastructure, ecological restoration of the Dikhou River, stringent monitoring of mining activities, and transparent utilization of DMFT funds.

He also noted that the current compensation announced by the state government is insufficient for families who have lost their homes and livelihoods.