Axam Xahitya Xabha demands independent probe into Upper Assam floods

A CORRESPONDENT

JAMUGURIHAT: The Axam Xahitya Xabha (AXX) has demanded an independent, multidisciplinary inquiry into the causes of the devastating floods that recently inundated the Sivasagar, Charaideo, and Jorhat districts of Upper Assam, and has called for the findings of the investigation to be made public.

 The demand was raised through a resolution adopted at a meeting of the AXX's steering committee, chaired by its President, Dr Basanta Kumar Goswami. The literary body said that it would submit detailed memoranda to the Union Government as well as the governments of Assam and Nagaland.

 The AXX sought the constitution of an independent judicial, scientific, and inter-state inquiry commission to examine the possible role of upstream developments, including the Dihing hydroelectric project, dams in the upper reaches, hill cutting and coal mining, in triggering or aggravating the floods.

 The AXX's Principal Secretary, Debojit Bora, said that the organisation had also proposed the establishment of an Assam-Nagaland Joint River Basin Management Authority to address inter-state hydrological challenges. The proposed authority, he said, would oversee dam operations, coordinate river management, and ensure mandatory real-time sharing of hydrological data, besides strengthening early-warning systems.

 The AXX also called for immediate scientific reconstruction and strengthening of breached embankments, damaged roads and bridges, and municipal drainage systems. It sought government employment for one eligible member of each family that lost a person in the floods, along with one-time financial assistance. It urged the authorities to continue search operations for the missing, and sought a dedicated economic rehabilitation package covering permanent housing and livelihood restoration for displaced families, small traders, farmers, doctors, and journalists.

 For affected farmers, the AXX demanded full compensation for crop losses, distribution of high-yielding seeds, interest-free loans, exemption from land revenue, and a complete waiver of agricultural loans. It also sought compensation for livestock losses and assistance for tea plantations and fisheries. The organisation further called for the construction of permanent flood shelters, augmentation of medical and rescue equipment, and assured access to safe drinking water in the flood-affected areas.

 Reiterating its long-standing demand, the AXX urged the Union Government to officially recognise Assam's recurring flood crisis as a national problem and introduce a science-based, permanent flood-mitigation mechanism, backed by a special long-term financial package for structural reconstruction.

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