From Our Correspondent
Guwahati:Expressing deep concern at the devastating flood havoc at the world’s biggest inhabited river island Majuli in Assam where more than one lakh people have been rendered shelter-less overnight besides causing damage to lives, livestock and property, Assam Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has taken exception to the reported inadequate relief and rehabilitation measures by the local administration which have been prominently highlighted in different print and electronic media continuously for several days.
Division Bench of Assam Human Right Commission (AHRC) comprising Chairperson Justice Dr Aftab Hussain Saikia and Member Tarun Phookan has taken suo moto cognizance of the case on the basis of media reports and has issued
notice to the Chief Secretary Government of Assam to facilitate an enquiry by an officer of the rank of an additional Chief Secretary and a technical expert which will look into the problem of relief and rehabilitation faced by the people of the marooned and flood-affected people and see if such measures have been adequate, to examine the measures taken or proposed to be taken for controlling flood and erosion, the amount of money sanctioned and spent in anti-flood and anti-erosion works particularly in repair and maintenance of the embankment and the stone spars which were washed away.
The Commission should also be informed of the names of officers/engineers of the Brahmaputra Board and water Resources Department, Government of Assam during the last five years in this division. The enquiry report and other information sought for by the Commission must be sent to the Commission within 90 (ninety days) after receipt of this notice.
The Division Bench of AHRC took serious note of reports about the breach of about 200 meter stretch of 37 km long embankment of Sonowal-Kochari section on the night of June 27 rendering about 1.30 lakh people homeless and destitute besides washing away almost all household belongings and thousands of cattle. Equally alarming has been the washing away of the three stone spurs at Shalmora which was constructed at the cost of Rs 31 crore. The Division Bench of AHRC takes the fact of fast shrinkage of the land area of Majuli because of successive flood and erosion posing a threat of total extinction of Majuli which besides being the hub of Assamese culture is also a potential spot of eco-tourism.
The AHRC Division Bench also expressed concern over reported inadequate relief and rehabilitation measures like providing only 500 to 1000 grams of rice and 50 to 100 grams of wheat per family by the local administration.