Guwahati: Sivasagar MLA and Raijor Dal chief Akhil Gogoi on Tuesday gave the Assam government 48 hours to disburse pending interim financial assistance to flood-affected families, warning that affected residents would march to Guwahati if the aid was not released.
Gogoi issued the deadline while addressing a rally organised by the Raijor Dal at the Boarding Playground in Sivasagar, where thousands of flood-affected residents gathered to demand immediate release of the Rs 15,000 one-time assistance announced by the state government.
Gogoi alleged that several flood victims were yet to receive the promised assistance weeks after the floods.
“The Assam government has termed the financial aid of Rs 15,000 or Rs 25,000 as emergency relief or urgent relief. Emergency relief is provided within 24 hours or 48 hours. However, it has been over 36 days now. If the remaining flood-affected victims do not get their funds within 48 hours from today, we all will march towards Guwahati,” he said.
The protesters alleged that several flood-affected families in Sivasagar are still awaiting the promised assistance weeks after the floods, accusing the district administration of delaying its disbursal.
Gogoi said the government had announced compensation of Rs 1.2 lakh for affected families in Sivasagar town, Rs 1.7 lakh for affected rural households and up to Rs 3.85 lakh for families whose houses were completely damaged. He, however, said the assistance was inadequate considering the extent of the losses.
“Many people have lost assets worth more than a crore; lost their lives and livelihoods. We demand a minimum compensation of Rs 10 lakh for every flood-affected family. Business owners and shopkeepers who suffered losses should also receive financial assistance. Otherwise, many families will be pushed back by 25 to 30 years,” he said.
Gogoi warned that the agitation would intensify if the government fails to respond to the demands.
“Until the government complies, we will gherao the Chief Minister’s Office. But we will not rest,” he said.
He also demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the causes of the floods, alleging that illegal mining and extraction activities had aggravated the situation.
“For whose benefit and for which coal, sand and stone syndicates were the lives of lakhs of people endangered? We demand a proper CBI investigation into those allegedly involved in mining activities that triggered the disaster,” he said.
Residents at the rally said many affected families were yet to receive the announced assistance and were struggling to recover from losses to their homes, property and livelihoods.
The protest comes amid concerns in flood-hit areas over delays in financial assistance, rehabilitation and loss assessment.