Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said that many people living in the flood-affected districts of Sivasagar and Charaideo depend on coal and stone mining activities in neighbouring Nagaland for their livelihoods, and urged local residents to decide whether they want such operations to continue or be shut down.The Chief Minister made the remarks after visiting flood-hit areas of Upper Assam, where demands have been growing from opposition parties and several social organisations to stop alleged illegal coal and stone mining along the Assam-Nagaland border. They have alleged that such mining activities contributed to the recent floods that caused widespread damage in the region.Addressing reporters, Sarma said the Assam government has no authority to stop mining operations taking place inside Nagaland.”All the people in those affected places depend on mining. So, I have requested the public to give a decision,” he said.The Chief Minister explained that stones used in the affected areas are sourced from Nagaland, where mining activities are carried out, and reiterated that Assam cannot interfere with the neighbouring state’s policies.
“Assam cannot go and stop mining in Nagaland. At the most, we can stop the stone crushers at Bihubor. Coal mining also does not take place in Assam; it happens in Nagaland. We cannot dictate what policy the Nagaland government will take,” Sarma said. He said the Assam government would raise the matter with the Nagaland government through the Centre once the immediate flood situation improves. “We will try to talk to Nagaland through the central government. No illegal mining takes place inside Assam. I will try to hold discussions myself once the flood situation improves,” he added. However, Sarma refrained from directly linking mining activities to the recent floods, saying a scientific study was needed before drawing any conclusions. “Rain occurs every year, but such a flood has never happened. Satellite data will have to be studied, and institutions like IIT will have to be roped in. We politicians cannot comment so easily,” he said. The remarks come amid allegations by the Congress, Raijor Dal, Assam Jatiya Parishad and the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti that the floods in Upper Assam were “man-made” and resulted from an alleged nexus involving coal and stone mining interests and influential political figures in Assam and Nagaland. Opposition leaders and social organisations have claimed that illegal open-cast mining in the hilly areas along the Assam-Nagaland border created large pits and artificial reservoirs. During heavy rainfall, they alleged, these reservoirs overflowed and sent large volumes of water into the low-lying areas of Assam, triggering flash floods.
The latest floods caused extensive damage in Sivasagar and Charaideo districts, particularly in villages located along the Assam-Nagaland border. According to official figures, the death toll has risen to 89, while more than 1.22 lakh people continue to remain affected even though floodwaters have started receding in several areas.During his visit, the Chief Minister inspected a relief camp at the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology campus in Sivasagar and interacted with displaced families.”Assam will overcome every obstacle to rebuild people’s lives and support them in starting over, leaving behind the scars of the floods. We are taking feedback from every affected family to see whether they have received relief and assistance,” Sarma said.He announced that government teams would begin visiting affected households from August 9 to conduct a detailed assessment of the damage, following which compensation would be released.”I want to assure every flood-affected family in Assam that in this difficult time, the government stands with them at every step. From rehabilitation to restoring normalcy, every possible assistance will be provided,” he said. According to the Chief Minister’s Office, Sarma directed the district administration to ensure adequate food, safe drinking water, healthcare services and essential facilities for children, elderly people and women staying in relief camps.The Chief Minister also handed over cheques of Rs 5 lakh each from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to the families of 10 people who lost their lives in the floods. The families had already received Rs 4 lakh each under the State Disaster Response Fund, taking the total ex gratia assistance to Rs 9 lakh for each deceased person.Sarma further announced that Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda would visit Upper Assam on Wednesday to review the flood situation and interact with affected residents.As part of his tour, the Chief Minister visited several flood-hit areas, including Rajabari, Dihirgaon, Dhai Ali-Darikhat, Kakpathar-Kukurpuhia and Banmukh. Travelling by rubber boat, he also reached the marooned villages of Panbecha, Hatimuria, Betena, Dhupaboria, Tatipathar and Luruki to assess the damage and hear the concerns of flood-affected residents firsthand.