Declare Assam Floods a National Disaster: Asom Sangrami Mancha

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The flood crisis in Assam is one of the major issues of the country and needs national aid and attention. As such, the Asom Sangrami Mancha (ASM) organized a press communiqué on Saturday regarding the flood crisis in Assam. A Central Minister had previously commented that the flood crisis of Assam is not a National Disaster and the Mancha assertively questioned, why not?

As per the Mancha, since 1897 which is 122 years, the people of Assam are struggling with the crisis of flood which announces itself every year from May to September since the 1950s. “39.58 percent of the land gets submerged in flood waters in the State while the national average is 10.2 percent. This is a clear indicative that the situation is much worse in Assam”, said Adip Phukan, Working President of the Mancha.

The fatalities incurred during the flood disaster are surmounting with each passing year. As per the Mancha, due to flood and erosion, 3093 people and 679578 animals have lost their lives while 439312 houses have been swept away by the Brahmaputra current from 1953 to 2017. The largest river island Majuli was 930712 bigha 3 kattha and 4 lecha in 1951, which reduced to 525236 bigha 12 lecha in 2017. This means that the geographic pride of the State reduced 405476 bighas in 66 years. Inspite of it all, why should the floods of Assam still remain un-named as a national disaster is the prime question.

“The embankments have always remained our shield against floods. The construction works on the embankments began in 1954 which indicates that 50 years have already been completed. But almost 950 km, which is 21.3 percent has completely broken off, 53.6 percent is slightly better and only 25 percent is completely in good condition”, said Phukan.

“To build the embankments, the State Government has been procuring loans from NABARD and Asian Development Bank, however, the condition in Assam still remains critical. The Central Government has also been allocating funds to the Water Resource Department every year but the department is unable to spend them wisely.”

“In the financial years 2015-16, 2016-17, and 2017-18, as per the State plan, Rs 225.4 crore was allocated in the budget as flood mitigation relief but only Rs 59.86 crore was utilized. Along with this, during the years, relief funds from various organizations such as NABARD, who allocated Rs 562 crore, out of which the Water Resource Department utilized only Rs 305 crore, NEC allocated Rs 19.65 crore out of which only Rs 4.75 crore was utilized, NLOPR allocated Rs 6.86 crore out of which only Rs 97 lakh was utilized, CLA/CSS/EFC/FMP allocated Rs 4070 crore out of which only Rs 72.93 crore was utilized, FMP State Share allocated Rs 618.73 crore out of which only Rs 71.63 crore was utilized, EAP allocated Rs 390.92 crore out of which only Rs 162.44 crore was utilized, CM’s Barak Valley Package included Rs 126.64 crore out of which only Rs 52 crore was utilized, SPA allocated Rs 59.66 crore out of which only Rs 9.28 crore was utilized, RIDF State Share allocated Rs 243.12 crore out of which only Rs 11.31 crore was utilized. This issue has occurred due to the negligent attitude of the State Government regarding the flood situation and the much need funds are not made use of in ways that it should have been”, Phukan rued.

The Mancha demanded that as the Brahmaputra River is under the Ganga Commission, it should be separated and a Brahmaputra Commission should be formed in its stead. Further, to stop erosion, the Central Government was urged to undertake a project. “When the Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal came into power, he assured the State of an Embankment Security Committee which should be fulfilled at the earliest. Most importantly, the flood crisis of Assam should be declared a National Disaster and mitigation works should be undertaken”, said Phukan.

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