Guwahati | Raijor Dal MLA Akhil Gogoi has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to declare the recent floods in Assam’s Sivasagar, Charaideo and Jorhat districts a “national disaster” and provide financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh each to affected families and business establishments.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, the Sivasagar MLA submitted a 22-point charter of demands covering immediate relief, rehabilitation and long-term reconstruction in the flood-affected areas.

Gogoi also sought a CBI probe into the causes of the July 19 floods, alleging that illegal coal mining along the Assam-Nagaland border and illegal sand and stone mining along the Dikhow riverbed may have aggravated the situation. He alleged that such activities were being carried out with political patronage.

The MLA said the floods had affected not only lives and agricultural land but also the cultural and civilisational heritage of Assam, warranting intervention at the national level. He demanded a Rs 1,000-crore special reconstruction package for infrastructure in the Sivasagar and Nazira Assembly constituencies, which he described as among the worst-hit areas.

Gogoi also urged the Centre to ensure that the Rs 15,000 one-time assistance announced by the Assam government reaches every affected family, including those left out because of errors or omissions in official assessments. For farmers, he sought measures to restore irrigation facilities in flood-affected agricultural land and ensure the supply of quality seeds.

He also demanded alternative land and permanent houses for families who lost their homes in Nepalikhuti village in Nazira, besides housing assistance under Central and state schemes for affected families across the three districts. On flood control, Gogoi called for strengthening and raising embankments, rebuilding damaged sections and installing modern sluice gates at strategic locations to improve drainage.

He further sought comprehensive desiltation of the Dikhow, Darika, Janji, Mitong and Namdang rivers, along with drainage bridges along national highways to facilitate the removal of floodwater from towns and adjoining areas. The MLA demanded funds for repairing and rebuilding damaged schools, religious institutions and other public infrastructure.

He also sought compensation for losses suffered by fisheries, small tea growers, agarwood cultivators and youth-run enterprises involved in piggery, poultry, duck and goat farming. Compensation, he said, should also cover plant nurseries, agricultural farms and the handloom and handicraft sectors.

For students affected by the floods, Gogoi sought free books and uniforms and demanded a waiver of admission fees from the primary level through degree courses. He also proposed deploying mobile medical units to flood-affected villages every three days to monitor public health and prevent outbreaks of water-borne diseases.

Gogoi said the floods had caused extensive damage to households and livelihoods while disrupting the socio-economic fabric of the affected districts, making immediate Central financial assistance essential. According to official figures, 104 people have so far died in the floods in Assam.