SIVASAGAR: The All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) has alleged that unregulated stone and sand extraction along the Dikhow River and ongoing coal mining in Nagaland contributed to the large-scale flooding and devastation in Upper Assam’s Sivasagar district.
An ABSU rescue team led by president Khwrwmdao Wary completed a nine-day relief and rescue operation in nine flood-affected villages of Sivasagar. During the operation, the team assisted 209 families in removing silt from their homes, repairing houses and transplanting paddy in affected agricultural fields.
After concluding the operation, Wary called on the Central and Assam governments to provide adequate compensation and rehabilitate flood-affected families in Upper Assam.
Addressing a press conference on Monday, Wary said the organisation’s field-level assessment indicated that extensive extraction of stone and sand from the Dikhow River, along with coal mining activities in Nagaland, had contributed to the disaster.
He urged the governments to formulate and implement comprehensive policies and preventive measures to reduce the risk of similar flooding and devastation in the future.
The ABSU also sought adequate relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction of houses for affected families in Sivasagar and Charaideo districts. It called for scientific identification of vulnerable areas and relocation of affected families to safer locations.
Wary said severely affected families had suffered substantial economic losses and many were left without adequate financial resources. He urged the Assam government to adopt a humanitarian approach and undertake long-term rehabilitation programmes to help flood-affected people rebuild their homes and livelihoods.
ABSU general secretary Khanindra Basumatary and assistant general secretary Kripesh Daimary were also present at the press conference.
