Guwahati, Aug 2: The flood situation in Assam improved on Sunday with around 1.35 lakh people now affected in five districts even though three more persons died, taking the toll in this year’s deluge to 85, according to an official bulletin.
All three deaths were reported from Sivasagar district.
The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) reported that more than 1,36,200 people have been affected by floods in the Charaideo, Dhemaji, Golaghat, Jorhat, and Sivasagar districts. On Saturday, almost 1.8 lakh people were affected across five districts.
Sivasagar is the worst-hit district with over 55,000 people affected, followed by 40,000 people in Charaideo and 22,000 in Jorhat. According to ASDMA, 335 villages are inundated, while 15,422 hectares of farmland have been damaged.
The administration has been operating 54 relief camps and relief distribution centres in five districts, taking care of 13,771 people at present.
At present, the Dhansiri river is flowing above the danger level at Numaligarh.
Meanwhile, the Assam unit of the Congress on Sunday alleged that the state government was unable to utilise flood relief funds released by the Centre due to lack of budgetary provisions and demanded a Supreme Court-monitored probe into what it termed “man-made” floods.
Addressing a press conference here, former minister Nilamoni Sen Deka claimed that despite the Centre releasing funds from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), the Assam government is unable to utilise it without fresh allocation in the Assembly.
“At a time when people are suffering, the government has no money to spend because it did not allocate funds in the state budget. A new bill must be passed to declare floods a ‘State Problem’ so money can be spent directly from state revenue,” he added.
The Congress criticised the Centre for giving Assam just Rs 379.35 crore, while states like Odisha, Gujarat and Maharashtra with less flood impact received Rs 500 crore each.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday approved the advance release of Rs 2,117.85 crore from the central share of the SDRF to support the states affected by floods during the ongoing southwest monsoon.
Deka also accused the government of insensitivity and evading responsibility by blaming cloudbursts and water flow from neighbouring states.
Assam Congress media department chairman Bedabrat Bora alleged that illegal open-cast coal mining and syndicates along Assam’s borders with Meghalaya, Nagaland and Arunachal have created pits that burst during rains, triggering flash floods in Upper Assam.
“Around 40 to 60 illegal coal trucks enter Assam daily from Nagaland and Rs 1.5-2 lakh is extorted per truck. This is a Rs 3,000 crore syndicate,” he claimed.
Bora said that no task force was formed despite NGT and High Court orders in 2022, and announced the Congress will file a PIL and contempt petition.
The Congress also submitted a 24-point charter to the Governor and Chief Minister, seeking farm aid, GST waiver on rebuilding materials, business loss compensation and free food for victims. (PTI)
