Deforestation resulting in recurrent floods: Gogoi

‘‘Large-scale deforestation and unplanned activities in the hills are definite reasons behind flash floods and rising of river beds in Assam. I am surely going to move the Centre and other departments in this regard,’’ Gogoi told a press conference.

Gogoi, who blamed Met department officials for failing to send out weather warnings ahead of time, also asked experts and academics to study the situation emerging from deforestation.

Assam has been facing a series of flash floods in the past few years that have devastated hundreds of villages and uprooted millions of people. Large tracts of paddy fields in Dhemaji district in Eastern Assam have been reduced to desert due to heavy siltation caused by flash floods since 1999. A number of rivers have even changed course, endangering human habitations as well as wildlife sanctuaries in the state, with the Manas National Park remaining the worst sufferer.

Guwahati too has been hit by flash floods from the East Khasi hills of Meghalaya. Last week, 70 to 80 per cent of Guwahati was submerged for three to four days, throwing normal life out of gear. The army had to be called for rescue operations.