Sushmita Dev Demands Better Action to Tackle Flood Issue as Minister Jayanta Mallahbaruah Tour Barak Valley

Following the visit by Minister Jayanta Mallahbaruah and Shri Pabitra Margherita Minister of State for External Affairs to assess the flood damage in Barak Valley, TMC leader Sushmita Dev organised a press meet, posing serious questions about the government’s handling of the crisis. Dev’s pointed inquiries and critiques, from the lack of mechanical engineers in the Water Resources Department to the perceived inefficacy of “Model Flood Relief Camps,” aimed to hold the administration accountable and sparked a heated discussion on flood management in Assam.

Today, on 12 July 2024, Minister Jayanta Mallahbaruah visited Barak Valley along with Shri Pabitra Margherita, Minister of State for External Affairs, to assess the damage caused by the recent floods and to discuss steps for addressing the situation. The ministers toured each district of Barak Valley, held meetings, and reviewed the ongoing work in the region. Minister Mallahbaruah also interacted with party workers and urged the administration to ensure that government relief reaches everyone in need.

During their visit, Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Sushmita Dev organised a press meet to discuss various issues and pose questions she believes Minister Jayanta Mallahbaruah must answer. She particularly criticised the Water Resources Department for not having a full-fledged Mechanical Engineer, questioning why an SDO is fulfilling the duties of an engineer. Dev asked, “If there is no mechanical engineer, how are we supposed to expect that the sluice gates will be maintained by a mechanical division?”

Dev also questioned the concept of the “Model Flood Relief Camp” being showcased across the valley. She argued that having one exemplary camp while others are not is discriminatory and unappreciated, labelling these efforts as PR stunts. She emphasised that in Assam, where floods are a recurring event, every relief camp should be a model camp.

TMC Leader Sushmita Dev further stated, “If CM Himanta Biswa Sarma’s claims are true that there is no lack of money in the state government, then why was no work done during the past eight dry seasons to tackle the erosion issue in the region? The BJP has been ruling over Assam for eight years continuously, and yet nothing was done. Why?”

She also stressed the importance of dredging the Barak River, noting that even Minister Sarbananda Sonowal agrees with this necessity. She highlighted that this expensive procedure can only be done with the Central Government’s help. Dev pointed out that both Assam University and IIT Guwahati have River Engineering courses, questioning why the government is not utilising the expertise of these fields to address the flooding issue. She insisted that her concerns are not politically motivated but for the greater good of the state. Emphasising the need for a united approach, she stated, “we all have to come together and pursue the solution.”

Furthermore, Dev condemned the Assam Government for failing to elect members of the Silchar Municipality Board. She questioned the duration of this undemocratic administration and announced her plans for another press meet, where she will provide evidence to show the illogicality of not electing the board members. She expressed support for the municipality becoming a corporation but stressed the need for democratically elected members in the interim. “The MLA is a total failure in planning,” she declared, accusing the MLA of monopolising the administration and failing to find solutions before the monsoon season.

Dev raised several pertinent questions: Why are sluice gates not maintained? Which department—irrigation or water resources—should handle this should not concern the public. She also reiterated her criticism of the Water Resources Department’s lack of a full-fledged Mechanical Engineer. Lastly, she questioned why actions similar to those in Guwahati, where water is pumped out of the city to the Brahmaputra River, are not taken for Silchar.