A delegation from the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) met with the Governor of Assam on Wednesday, urging the central government to declare the state’s recurring flood and river erosion crisis as a ‘national problem’. The delegation submitted a multi-point memorandum to the Governor, addressed to the Prime Minister, Union Home Minister, Union Jal Shakti Minister, and Union Finance Minister.
According to the memorandum, the people of Assam have been suffering significant losses due to floods and river erosion for decades. Approximately 40% of the state’s land area is flood-prone, which is significantly higher than the national average of 10.2%. Heavy siltation, monsoon rains, shallow riverbeds, embankment breaches, and climate change have exacerbated the situation, destroying the livelihoods of lakhs of people and leaving countless families displaced.
The APCC delegation emphasized that the magnitude and recurring nature of the crisis are beyond the state government’s capacity to handle alone. They demanded that the central government recognize the crisis as a ‘national problem’ and form a high-level task force to develop a comprehensive master plan to address the issue. The task force would comprise central and state government officials, scientists, technical experts, and representatives of flood-affected people.
The memorandum also called for the allocation of adequate central funds to implement the master plan, which would involve river course regulation, embankment strengthening, scientific dredging, real-time flood forecasting, early warning systems, and planned rehabilitation for displaced families. Effective coordination among central ministries is also necessary to ensure integrated management of the Brahmaputra and its tributaries.
The delegation stressed that temporary relief measures alone cannot provide a lasting solution to the long-standing crisis. They urged the central government to take immediate action to address the issue and provide permanent relief to the people of Assam.
