Climate Change: 60 percent Vulnerable Districts of India are in Assam

GUWAHATI: A shocking fact has come to light which concerns 15 out of Assam's 35 districts. Assam's Science and Technology and Climate Change minister Keshab Mahanta revealed this shocking fact in the ongoing Autumn session of the Assam Assembly on Friday. 

Mahanta replying to a question by fellow BJP member Mrinal Saikia of Khumtai constituency in Golaghat district said that out of these 15 districts, Karimganj is the most vulnerable one. 

Assam's Barak Valley consists of three districts which are viz., Cachar, Hailakandi and Karimganj and all of them are vulnerable but Karimganj is more in the red zone, Mahanta added in his statement. 

Silchar in Cachar district witnessed the worst flood it has ever seen in July this year when 95 percent of the town went under water. 

The other districts which are battling climate change in Assam are Baksa, Barpeta, Darrang, Dhubri, Dibrugarh, Goalpara, Golaghat, Kokrajhar, Morigaon, Sivasagar, Sonitpur and Tinsukia.

Mahanta citing a 2021 report by Council of Energy, Environment and Water which is a public policy think tank in India said that Assam scored the most in the overall vulnerability index in the country which is a cause of concern for the state.

He also added that Doyang river which flows through Golaghat district in Assam has not witnessed a normal monsoon for the last 30 years. 

Mahanta also let the 126-member assembly know that Assam has witnessed worser floods since 2010 with more than 14 lakh people being displaced by flood in 18 of the 33 districts last year.

According to a report Assam is going to witness 38 percent more rainfall and 25 percent more flood by the mid-century which is nearing. 

The minister also added all the measures State government has taken to mitigate all these vulnerabilities by planting indigenous species of trees and tapping renewable energy for minimizing the impact of climate change.

Also Read: 'Cities must adapt to climate change to prevent flooding'

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