By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, July 5: In support of various demands, including the demand to declare the flood and erosion problem in Assam as a national problem within this month, the All Assam Shramik Krishak Kalyan Parishad will stage a 72-hour protest at Dispur Last Gate on July 16. Unless the demands are fulfilled, the workers’ body has threatened to stage an indefinite fast from July 21.

At a press conference in Guwahati today, All Assam Shramik Krishak Kalyan Parishad general secretary Pradip Kalita said, “In 2011, the Water Resources Department of Kamrup district received Rs 31.57 crore as fund. However, this fund was not utilized. Embankments which were in a poor condition were not repaired. As a result, they were washed away by surging waters this year and places like Hajo, Rangiya, Sualkuchi, Bamundi, Tangunmari and Bhakuwamari have been flooded.”

Kalita also alleged that due to the “wrong” policies of the State Government, people have perished in devastating floods this year. He sought a CBI probe into the “misutilization” of funds by the State Water Resources Department.

Activists of the All Assam Shramik Krishak Kalyan Parishad will be staging a 72-hour protest at Dispur Last Gate on July 16 in support of various demands. “Within this month the Centre must declare the flood and erosion problem in Assam as a national problem. People in the flood-affected areas should be given free ration for the next 12 months and flood-hit farmers must be given free seeds and Rs 10,000 financial aid each. The government must give Rs 10 lakh as compensation to families of each of the deceased. We also demand that all breached embankments across the State must be repaired within this month,” said Kalita.

He added, “We have visited the flood-affected areas and observed that relief has not reached most of the areas. Whatever relief has reached some areas is inadequate. Medical aid has not reached the flood victims in most affected areas. People are suffering but the Health Department appears indifferent. The government must do more for the flood-affected people. Also, State Water Resources Minister Rajib Lochan Pegu must resign.”