Raijor Dal MLA Akhil Gogoi has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to classify the recent floods in Sivasagar, Charaideo and Jorhat as a “national disaster” and provide substantial financial assistance to families and businesses affected by the calamity.
In a letter to the Prime Minister released to the media on Monday, the Sivasagar legislator presented a 22-point set of demands aimed at immediate relief, rehabilitation and long-term reconstruction in the flood-ravaged areas. Among his key demands is compensation of ₹10 lakh for every affected family and business establishment.
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Gogoi has also sought a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the factors that allegedly contributed to the July 19 floods. He specifically called for an investigation into alleged illegal coal mining along the Assam-Nagaland border and unauthorised sand and stone extraction near the Dikhow river, alleging that such activities have political protection.
The MLA said the scale of destruction goes beyond damage to homes and farmland, warning that the floods have also endangered Assam’s cultural and civilisational heritage. He urged the Centre to announce a special ₹1,000-crore reconstruction package for the severely affected Sivasagar and Nazira Assembly constituencies.
Gogoi further demanded that all families who were left out of the Assam government’s ₹15,000 flood relief scheme due to administrative errors or omissions should be included in the assistance programme.
For the agriculture sector, he called for urgent irrigation measures and the distribution of quality seeds to farmers whose fields have been damaged. He also sought alternative land and permanent houses for families who lost their homes in Nepalikhuti village of Nazira, along with housing support under various Central and state government schemes.
Strengthening flood-control infrastructure was another major component of his demands. Gogoi called for raising and reinforcing embankments, rebuilding damaged sections and installing modern sluice gates at suitable locations. He also sought comprehensive desiltation programmes for the Dikhow, Darika, Janji, Mitong and Namdang rivers, along with drainage bridges on national highways to improve water discharge from towns and surrounding areas.
The MLA additionally urged financial support for damaged schools, religious institutions and public infrastructure. He demanded compensation for losses suffered by fisheries, small tea growers, agarwood cultivators, livestock cooperatives, nurseries, agricultural enterprises and the handloom and handicraft sectors.
For students affected by the floods, Gogoi proposed free textbooks and uniforms and a waiver of admission fees from primary education through degree-level institutions. He also called for mobile medical teams to visit flood-hit villages every three days to prevent the spread of water-borne diseases.
Gogoi said the disaster has severely disrupted the economic and social life of thousands of people and requires urgent intervention from the Centre. The latest wave of floods in Assam has so far reportedly claimed 104 lives.
