SC pulls up centre for assam's loss of landmass

The Supreme Court today issued notices to the Centre and Assam government on a petition stating the state was losing large areas of landmass due to lack of an effective flood management.

The Supreme Court on Monday issued notices to the Centre and Assam government on a petition stating the state was losing large areas of landmass due to lack of an effective flood management.

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Petitioner and Assam state BJP President Prodyut Kumar Bora claimed that floods in a single year in Assam had caused losses to the tune of R600 crore and even the Planning Commission agreed that poverty in the state was directly related to floods.

He cited the example of Majoli Island in the state that has lost 350 sq km of landmass due to floods in the last 50 years.

Taking note of the issues raised in the petition, the bench headed by Chief Justice Altamas Kabir also directed Arunachal Pradesh government to file its response to Bora's claim that being an upper riparian state it had done nothing to combat the floods effectively.

Bora sought directions to the Centre and two state governments for implementation of the 1980 law which provides for establishment of a board.