Guwahati: Former Leader of the Opposition in the Assam Legislative Assembly, Debabrata Saikia, has blamed years of alleged illegal mining along the Dikhow River for the recent flood devastation in Nazira and parts of Upper Assam, claiming that unchecked extraction of natural resources has severely altered the river’s course.
In a statement posted on social media, the senior Congress leader said satellite imagery comparing the region between 2010 and 2024 indicates extensive changes along the Dikhow River, which he alleged were caused by rampant mining of sand, stone and coal. According to Saikia, these activities have weakened the river’s natural ecosystem and contributed to flooding in Nazira, Sivasagar, Charaideo, Jorhat and nearby areas.
Saikia claimed that he had consistently highlighted the issue before both the government and the judiciary over the past several years. He referred to PIL No. 62/2019 before the Gauhati High Court, stating that the court had directed the Assam government in October 2019 to establish a Mines and Minerals Task Force Battalion to tackle illegal mining. He alleged that the proposed task force was never operationalised despite the court’s directions.
The former LoP also pointed to a Water Resources Department inspection carried out in January 2022, which, according to him, warned that continued excavation near Bamunphukhuri Tea Estate and Santak could divert the Dikhow River and increase the likelihood of severe flooding. He alleged that the report was ignored and no effective action was taken.
Saikia further said he raised the matter during the 2022 Assam Assembly session and later wrote to the state’s Environment and Forest Minister in June 2024, cautioning that continued illegal mining posed a serious threat to nearby communities. He claimed those warnings failed to prompt corrective measures.
Calling for accountability, Saikia urged the government to take stringent action against illegal mining networks and implement long-term measures to protect the state’s rivers and vulnerable communities from future disasters.
The Assam government has not responded publicly to Saikia’s latest allegations. The claims regarding the impact of illegal mining on the recent floods have not been independently verified.
The recent floods have affected several districts across Upper Assam, damaging homes, roads, embankments and agricultural land, with relief and restoration work continuing in many flood-hit areas.
