Former Assam Leader of the Opposition and ex-Nazira MLA Debabrata Saikia has formally urged the Assam government to launch the Special Integrated Dikhow River Basin Rehabilitation Project under the District Mineral Foundation Trust (DMFT) and the Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY), seeking sustained rehabilitation for flood-affected families and ecological restoration across Upper Assam. The demand was made through a detailed representation submitted to Chief Secretary Ravi Kota on 29 July.

Scale of the Devastation

Saikia, a senior Indian National Congress (INC) leader, highlighted that Sivasagar was among the worst-hit districts in the recent flood cycle, with nearly three lakh people impacted across different phases. The Nazira Co-District recorded extensive destruction — including collapse of homes, large-scale crop losses, damage to fisheries and livestock, and prolonged inundation of villages. The adjoining districts of Charaideo and Jorhat were also severely affected, underscoring the regional scale of the crisis.

What the Proposal Demands

Saikia's memorandum calls on the state to declare the entire Dikhow River Basin a special rehabilitation zone under DMFT and PMKKKY, contending that mining-affected communities are entitled to statutory support for environmental restoration and livelihood recovery. Among the specific demands are permanent disaster-resilient housing, livelihood restoration grants, scientific removal of sand and silt from agricultural land, reconstruction of damaged public infrastructure, and ecological restoration of the Dikhow River. He also called for stricter monitoring of mining activities and transparent utilisation of DMFT funds.

Mining Link Under Scrutiny

Notably, Saikia stopped short of directly attributing the floods to mining operations. He said the exact causes require scientific assessment and called for an expert investigation into whether authorised and illegal mining, river morphology changes, and other human interventions aggravated the disaster. This measured framing distinguishes the representation from a political allegation — it is, in effect, a demand for accountability through evidence.

Expert Committee Sought

The memorandum also seeks the constitution of a high-level expert committee comprising officials from the Mines and Minerals Department, Water Resources Department, Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), IIT Guwahati, river scientists, environmental experts, and representatives of affected communities. The committee would be tasked with examining the cumulative impact of mining on the Dikhow basin and recommending long-term flood mitigation measures.

Compensation Deemed Insufficient

Saikia contended that the existing compensation package announced by the state government falls short for families who have lost both their homes and livelihoods. He argued that a comprehensive rehabilitation package — rather than temporary relief — is what the scale of the disaster demands. This comes amid recurring concerns about the adequacy of post-flood relief frameworks in Assam, a state that has battled annual flooding for decades. The state government is yet to formally respond to the representation.