Kokrajhar: The All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) has alleged that uncontrolled stone and sand mining along the Dikhow River and coal mining in the hills of Nagaland contributed to the devastating floods in Upper Assam, particularly in Sivasagar district.
ABSU President Kwrwmdao Wary , who led the organisation’s relief team, made the allegation at a press conference in Kokrajhar today. The relief team had spent the past nine days assisting 209 families in nine flood-affected villages of Sivasagar district, including removing mud from houses, repairing damaged homes and helping affected farmers replant paddy in their fields.
Wary urged the Central and Assam governments to provide adequate compensation and rehabilitate the flood-affected families in Upper Assam.
He said that large-scale commercial mining of stones and sand in the Dikhow River and coal mining in Nagaland had contributed to a major disaster in the region. Citing the team’s field-level observations, he called for preventive policies and scientific measures by both the Central and state governments to prevent such disasters from happening again.
ABSU also demanded adequate relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction of houses for flood-affected people in Sivasagar and Charaideo districts. The organisation called for scientific assessment of vulnerable areas before rehabilitation, as many affected families have suffered severe economic losses.
Wary said the Assam government should take a humanitarian approach and implement long-term rehabilitation programmes for flood-affected families.
ABSU General Secretary Khanindra Basumatary and Assistant General Secretary Dinesh Brahma were also present at the press conference.