Debabrata Saikia Alleges Illegal River Mining Behind Dikhow Flood Devastation in Assam
Guwahati, July 30: Former Leader of the Opposition in the Assam Legislative Assembly and former Nazira MLA Debabrata Saikia has alleged that the recent devastation caused by the Dikhow River in Upper Assam is the result of years of illegal stone and sand mining, coupled with the state’s failure to implement directions issued by the Gauhati High Court.
In a post on social media, accompanied by satellite images, Saikia claimed that large-scale extraction of stones and sand from the Dikhow riverbed had significantly altered the river’s natural ecology, contributing to the severe flooding witnessed this monsoon in Nazira and adjoining areas.
Describing the Dikhow—historically known as the “Vashistha Ganga”—Saikia said the river’s natural flow was once regulated by stones that acted as natural barriers. According to him, their removal has made the river shallower and wider, increasing the risk of flooding and riverbank erosion.
He further alleged that despite widespread awareness of illegal mining activities, authorities failed to take action due to the influence of those involved in the trade.
Cites 2019 PIL and Gauhati High Court Directions
Saikia also referred to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL No. 62/2019) that he filed before the Gauhati High Court in 2019, seeking action against illegal riverbed mining and mineral smuggling. He said the petition had warned that continued extraction of stones from the Dikhow River would disturb its ecological balance, alter its course and increase the threat of floods and erosion in Nazira and Sivasagar.
According to Saikia, the Gauhati High Court, in an order dated October 21, 2019, directed the Assam Government to constitute a dedicated Mines and Minerals Task Force Battalion under the Department of Mines and Geology to curb illegal mining. The court also called for the formation of a high-powered committee to protect the river ecosystem and prevent changes to the river’s course.
However, Saikia alleged that the state government failed to implement these directions, forcing him to file a contempt petition in 2021. Instead of creating a separate task force, he claimed, the government later informed the court through a review petition that the existing forest department machinery was sufficient to address the issue.
Claims Warnings Were Ignored
The Congress leader further claimed that officials of the Water Resources Department had also raised concerns over illegal mining. He said an inspection conducted on January 12, 2022, by the Assistant Executive Engineer of the Nazira Water Resources Sub-Division near Bamunpukhuri Tea Estate warned that continued extraction of stones and sand could alter the Dikhow’s course and lead to extensive damage in nearby areas.
Saikia said he repeatedly raised the issue in the Assam Legislative Assembly, including during the March 2022 session, and also wrote to the state’s Environment and Forest Minister in June 2024, cautioning against the consequences of unchecked mining along the river.
Sharing satellite images comparing the Dikhow River and its banks in 2010 and 2024, Saikia alleged that once-green riverbanks had been transformed into “massive pits and ruins” due to illegal extraction.
Calling the recent flood devastation a “man-made disaster,” Saikia alleged that the suffering of the people of Nazira was the result of prolonged illegal mining and administrative inaction. The state government has not yet responded to the allegations.
