A prominent citizen's forum in Dibrugarh has formally appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to launch a comprehensive investigation into what it alleges are widespread illegal sand, stone, and coal mining operations, which the group claims exacerbated the recent devastating floods across Upper Assam. The Dibrugarh Zila Nagarik Sanmilan submitted a detailed memorandum to the Prime Minister through the local district administration on August 5, asserting that these illicit activities contributed significantly to the scale of the disaster.
The Sanmilan's representation, handed over to District Development Commissioner Nandita Baruah, argues that the catastrophic inundation witnessed in regions like Sivasagar, Charaideo, and Nazira was not merely a consequence of intense rainfall or cloudbursts. Instead, the organisation has publicly maintained that the disaster was largely 'man-made,' stemming from years of environmental degradation and unchecked resource extraction.
According to the memorandum, even though areas such as Nagaland's Mon district experienced heavy rainfall, the unprecedented magnitude of flooding in Upper Assam was critically worsened by prolonged unscientific open-cast coal mining in the hills of Nagaland. Furthermore, the extensive extraction of sand and stone from rivers like the Dikhow has been specifically cited as a major contributing factor to the altered riverine dynamics and increased flood vulnerability in the plains.
The citizen's body has urged the Prime Minister to ensure that those responsible for these alleged illegal mining operations are identified and brought to justice, emphasizing the need for accountability to prevent future such calamities. Key members of the Sanmilan, including President Sarat Chandra Neog, General Secretary Uttam Kumar Chetia, and secretaries Pabitra Buragohain and Partha Pratim Bhuyan, were present during the formal submission. The appeal underscores growing concerns among local communities regarding the environmental impact of unchecked resource extraction and its direct consequences on the lives and livelihoods of people in flood-prone Upper Assam.
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