Upper Assam floods were a man-made catastrophe, alleges Debabrata Saikia
The former Leader of the Opposition claimed government negligence and illegal riverbed mining caused the July deluge in Upper Assam.
Former Leader of the Opposition in the Assam Legislative Assembly, Debabrata Saikia, alleged on Wednesday that the July floods in Upper Assam were a man-made catastrophe. Speaking at a press conference in Guwahati, Saikia told The Assam Tribune that the disaster was caused by government negligence, official apathy, and rampant illegal riverbed mining.
Saikia said he had filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Gauhati High Court seeking justice, rehabilitation for victims, and an investigation into systemic corruption. He noted that the High Court directed state authorities to submit an affidavit by November 3, but the government sought more time after failing to furnish records on emergency relief. The court has scheduled the next hearing for December 14.
The Congress leader claimed that unregulated extraction of sand and boulders along the Dikhow river and its tributaries caused riverbed scouring. He also alleged that Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma promoted an unsubstantiated cloudburst narrative to shield associates, noting that the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued no such forecast.
Saikia demanded an inquiry committee led by a retired High Court judge and experts from IIT Guwahati to find the root causes. He also called for at least Rs 10 lakh in financial assistance for every affected family, similar to the model used in Himachal Pradesh.
The Assam government has recommended a CBI probe into the July floods, which killed 106 people. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Tuesday that the state would send a formal request to the CBI within 10 days.