Climate change and the current so-called model of development have made Assam’s flood situation more severe and devastating. This concern has been expressed by the Assam Nagarik Sanmilan (Assam Citizens’ Collective). Instead of just temporary relief and embankment repairs, the civil society on Friday made it clear through a statement demanding a comprehensive and scientific approach taking into account the entire river and natural ecosystem.
According to the organisation, the devastating earthquake of 1950 changed the course of several rivers in Assam and deposited silt in the Brahmaputra, reducing the depth of the river. Subsequently, embankments were built to control floods, but the long-term utility of this step still remains questionable. Earlier, floods naturally deposited silt in agricultural fields making them fertile and filled beels, wetlands and rivers with fish; but now the nature of floods has completely changed and taken a terrible form. Recalling international efforts like the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement, the organisation expressed concern that Assam and the entire Northeast has become extremely vulnerable to heavy rainfall, landslides and flash floods. The recent flash floods in Sivasagar, Charaideo and Jorhat were cited as prime examples of this.
The Citizens’ Collective commented that large dams in the river system of the upper region, mining of mineral resources, road expansion and railway construction have increased the velocity of water flowing down to Assam. Protesting against such activities ignoring the carrying capacity of nature, citing the example of the terrible flood in Haflong in 2023, it said that if the natural flow of water is obstructed, floods take a more destructive form. Forests, beels and wetlands help in retaining water and slowing down its flow; but if water is artificially blocked and suddenly released, it causes extreme destruction. Similarly, opposing the reduction of the eco-sensitive zone of Kaziranga National Park, it demanded that along with keeping biological protection intact, the legitimate needs of local people around the protected area should also be addressed.
With the aim of a permanent solution to this complex flood and environmental crisis of Assam, the organisation has decided to organise a large convention involving environmentalists, forest experts, engineers, river experts, geologists, historians, social scientists, flood-affected people and representatives of various parties and organisations. In this convention, issues such as the development model of the Northeast, river dams, deforestation and the impact of climate change will be discussed extensively and subsequently an expert committee will be formed to give advice to the government for a long-term solution. This statement on behalf of Assam Nagarik Sanmilan was sent by eminent intellectuals Dr. Hiren Gohain, Harekrishna Deka, Ajit Kumar Bhuyan, Paresh Malakar, Shantanu Barthakur and Abdul Mannan.
