Assam: AASU demands Rs 1,000 crore flood package from central government

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI: The All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) has appealed to the central government to come forward with a Rs 1,000 crore package to rid the people of Assam of the untold sufferings they have been undergoing during the current wave of floods.

Taking stock of the flood situation in the state, AASU general secretary Sankor Jyoti Baruah said, “Almost all districts in the state have been reeling under floods. The state government is not doing enough to give succour to the flood-affected people of the state. The relief and rescue operations have yet to pick up pace. Many places have no relief camps. The government is also not doing enough to supply food and medicines to the affected people. Fodder for livestock is also lacking. This has led the affected people to reel under floods.”

Baruah said, “We want the state government to carry out relief and rescue operations on a war footing, besides the supply of adequate food, fodder, and medicines.” A team of the AASU led by its general secretary, Sankor Jyoti Baruah, and leaders of the Sadou Dibrugarh Zila Chatra inspected the flood situation and the relief camps.

Meanwhile, there has been no let-up in the state's flood situation, although the water levels of some rivers are showing a receding trend. Thousands of people are still taking shelter in relief camps, hundreds are living in temporary shelters on embankments or roads, and many are stranded in their own homes amid the flood waters for refusing to leave their houses and possessions.

On Thursday, the rivers flowing above the danger level are Brahmaputra, Subansiri, Dikhow, Disang, Dhansiri, Kopili, Barak, and Kushiyara. There are 29 affected districts and 3208 villages. The population affected has been placed at 16 lakh. The death toll has now reached 52.

From today, everyone, from ministers to the Chief Minister and the Governor, has headed to the various districts to take stock of the flood situation firsthand. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited Majuli and the xatras situated on the river island on Thursday. He sought suggestions from the xatradhikars at the many xatras.

 Also Read: Assam: Ageing embankments and erosion aggravate the flood problem (sentinelassam.com)

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