Assam floods: A perennial problem

Floods are an annual feature in Assam eluding solution for umpteen number of years.

Hrishikesh Sarma

Assam – The land of blue hills and red rivers is one of the most beautiful states in Northeast India. The annual rainfall of the state is around 1500 mm and above. One of the perennial problems being faced by lakhs in Assam is floods and the miseries related to seasonal inundations. Most of the rivers of Assam originate in the Himalayas – China (Tibet in particular) and Bhutan – flowing in via Arunachal Pradesh and northern parts of West Bengal, mighty Brahmaputra being the main. Human and animal loss in national parks and wildlife sanctuaries en route is a regular occurence. If the malady continues, animal scientists warn, the state will lose some of its precious species.

The world is experiencing a pandemic of overwhelming intensity that has affected humans, their lifestyle and daily chores in a massive way, across the globe, India being no exception. The COVID-19 pandemic has held the country at ransom since March. Currently it has reached alarming proportions in India.

From December 2019 till date, Assam has had its quota of problems one after the other beginning with CAA upsurge and reports of detention camps. During CAA protests, there was unrest among tea growers and other industrial units. Shortly after the festivities of Holi and Bihu, the Bhagjan oil field blaze struck in the month of May. And now the fury of floods!

Floods are an annual feature in the state eluding solution for umpteen number of years. Vast network of rivers prone to overflowing and erosion always had a negative impact on overall development of the state. The Brahmaputra and Barak Rivers, with more than 50 tributaries feeding them, have been submerging very vast area in the region every monsoon, generally longer than rest of the country. Deluge resulting in corrosion, crumbling of earth and related wear and tear are issues much different from other states.

Flood prone area of Assam has been four times the national mark of the country. Post Independence, Assam faced major floods in 1954, 1962, 1972, 1977, 1984, 1988, 1998, 2002, 2004 and 2012. Almost every year, three to four rounds of torrential rains swamp areas in different districts.

Average annual loss due to floods in Assam is to the tune of Rs. 200 cr. Every year there is loss of human and animal life besides washing away of property, agricultural fields, road and bridges, and other assets. The problem is further aggravated due to flash floods by the rivers flowing down from neighbouring states like Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya.

Disintegration of banks has been a nuisance for last many decades. More than 4.27 lakh hectares of land has been eroded by major rivers/tributaries since 1950. This accounts for 7.40 % of area of the state. As assessed, the annual average loss of land is nearly 8000 hectares. The width of river Brahmaputra has increased up to 15km at some places.

Breaching of embankments has eaten into fertile agricultural land at many places affecting the economy of the state.

Both the Central and State governments may have taken measures to resolve the complication but they are not enough.

The scenario is a regular feature. Unless some tangible steps involving international water resources and ecological experts are taken, this beautifully green carpeted state faces bleak future. There has to be a visible will to resolve vexed issues resulting in human and animal loss.

At one time, early this week, 24 out of 33 districts were affected, 15 of them very badly.

As per official reports the floods have resulted in 92 deaths so far in Kamrup (Metro), Baksa, South Salmara, Darrang, Sonitpur, Biswanath, Tinsukia, Lakhimpur, Bongaigaon, Kamrup, Golaghat, Sivasagar, Morigaon, Dhubri, Nagaon, Nalbari, Barpeta, Dhemaji, Udalguri, Goalpara and Dibrugarh districts, while 26 others were killed in separate landslides since May 22. Around 25 lakh people have been affected. Forest department and Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) officials report that at least 116 animals have been killed in floods and 143 animals rescued even as 90 per cent of the world famous Kaziranga National Park, home to more than 2,200 one-horned Indian rhinoceros, remained flooded.

According to ASDMA, eight rivers Siang, Dhansiri, Jia Bharali, Kopili, Beki, Gaurang, Kushiyara and Sankish besides the tempestous Brahmaputra are flowing above the danger mark at several places in 12 districts. Over 2,323 villages and 110,323 hectares of crop area in 24 districts have been engulfed with flood waters. The district administrations has set up 397 relief camps and distribution centres in these districts, where around 45,000 men, women and children have taken shelter.

Besides erosion of river banks at a large number of places, roads, embankments, bridges, culverts and other infrastructure have been damaged at many locations. Around 14 lakh domestic animals and over 8 lakh poultry birds too have been affected. Besides Kaziranga, the Manas and R.G. Orang national parks, the Pabitora and Tinsukia wildlife sanctuaries too came under severe pressure.

Meanwhile, there are claims and counter claims by ruling dispensation and the opposition regarding taking enough preventive measures in time. Media is under fire for not giving proper coverage to the disaster. For them it has become an annual ritual. Time is not to blame each other but join hands together with capable ones helping the needy.

Hrishikesh Sarma is a student based in Guwahati, Assam and regularly contributes to The Sentinel paper. 

Email author: hriskikeshsarma@gmail.com

This is the first part of the series curated by Professor Avinash Singh on Assam Floods

It was an out-of-the-blue message from a complete stranger. A line in introduction and this first year BA LLB student of Faculty of Law, Gauhati University wanted help in highlighting Assam floods. Amanpreet Kaur Washist was to the point, brief and crisp and felt genuinely for the annual sufferings of people in her State.

Still in the last year of her teens, this daughter of a medium-sized workshop owner impressed me with her resolve and so did her brother Kanwal Jit Singh Washisht, a student of final year MSc Zoology at Central University, Sikkim through the next message. Clarity of their thought was reflected in their confidence…READ MORE

Complete coverage on Assam Floods

2 Comments

  1. It is a burning topic that Assam faces every year. As Bihu is an inevitable festival of Assam, some people consider it as a festival because they get a lot of means to fill their pockets. As a result the victims suffer every year.
    Very good Hrishikesh for discussing on this.

  2. Please share everyone.

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