GUWAHATI, June 9 - The All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) has called upon the Central government to declare the flood and erosion problem of Assam as national calamities, besides providing loan waiver to farmers who have suffered losses on account of the problem.
AIUDF president Badruddin Ajmal has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in this regard.
�You are surely aware of the fact that flood and erosion are the two main natural disasters being faced by people of Assam every year. The disaster wreaked by Brahmaputra River and its tributaries is almost yearly phenomenon of the State (sic). The average annual area affected by flood is 9.3 lakh hectares and the average annual rate of erosion is 8,000 hectares... Erosion is a most dangerous thing as it takes away villages, towns and cultivated land into river. Therefore, we have been demanding and today once again we request you to declare flood and erosion of Assam as �National Calamities� and find out permanent solution of the problem in order to protect people of Assam from this disaster,� Ajmal stated in the letter adding, �... request you to provide financial help and loan to farmers of Assam... and in case flood destroys the crops, the loan should be waived up without any condition.�
Ajmal said that unemployment is one of the main reasons for backwardness of the State.
�Assam is one of the most backward states of the country which is confronting challenges at various levels. Unemployment is one of the main reasons for backwardness of the state. The Cachar Paper Mill and Nagaon Paper Mill � two units of Hindustan Paper Corporation � are under suspension of production since 2015 and 2016, respectively, leading to unemployment of about four lakh people directly or indirectly. I urge upon you to take necessary steps for revival of both paper mills,� he said.
The AIUDF leader also requested the Prime Minister to restore the North East Industrial & Investment Promotion Policy to facilitate faster industrialisation in this region.
He said that Assam�s tea industry is facing a lot of problems.
�I request you to kindly chalk out a policy for betterment of the tea industry of Assam and especially for welfare of tea garden workers who are living in a miserable condition,� Ajmal said.
With a view to reviving the jute sector, too, the AIUDF has asked the Centre to take steps to fix proper price for jute crop and to consider establishment of some new jute mills in the State.
Ajmal also called upon Modi to sanction funds for early start of construction activity in the proposed Dhubri-Phulbari Bridge over the Brahmaputra.
Though the survey has been done and DPR has been prepared, yet it is getting delayed because it is a big project and needs huge amounts, he said.
He also urged the Centre to sanction setting up of new power plants in Assam to tide over power scarcity as well as to take steps for improving road connectivity in the State.
Ajmal demanded that the provisions of the Assam Accord be strictly adhered to for the purpose of detection and deportation of foreigners, saying his party has a clear view on this issue and March 25, 1971, should remain the cut-off date for the purpose.
Ajmal also raised the issue of the detention camps for persons who have been declared as foreigners. He stated that the camps lack adequate space and are not maintained hygienically, besides suffering from the problem of overcrowding.
�Insufficient meals are supplied and no clothes have ever been supplied to the inmates of the camps. There has been gross violation of the human rights in these camps. Therefore, I request you to kindly take appropriate steps in this regard while keeping in mind the humanitarian ground (sic) as well as law of the land,� hesaid.
