Doomdooma: Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) president Lurin Jyoti Gogoi on Sunday called for stronger and long-term government action to curb unscientific coal mining, indiscriminate extraction of sand and stone, and other forms of environmental degradation that he said were aggravating floods in Upper Assam.
Addressing a citizens’ meeting organised by the Conscious Citizens’ Society at MC Club in Nazira, Gogoi questioned why the government had failed to adopt lasting measures despite years of unscientific mining, hill destruction and disruption of the natural flow of rivers.
He said providing relief after floods was not enough and stressed that authorities must address the environmental factors contributing to recurring disasters.
“Allowing the destruction of nature and then distributing relief after floods is not a solution,” Gogoi said, calling for scientifically sound policies and stronger protection of Assam’s natural resources.
The AJP president also highlighted the need for greater public awareness and collective efforts to safeguard forests, hills, rivers and other ecological resources. He said protecting these natural assets was crucial to reducing environmental risks and securing a safer future for future generations.
The meeting focused on concerns surrounding open coal mining, unregulated sand and stone extraction and the increasing severity of floods across Upper Assam.
Participants called for sustained public pressure and stronger institutional intervention to tackle environmental degradation and reduce the region’s vulnerability to recurring disasters.