The court will examine alleged illegal mining, dam releases and administrative lapses linked to the July floods
Guwahati: The Gauhati High Court has admitted a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by former Assam Leader of the Opposition Debabrata Saikia over the devastating floods that hit Upper Assam in July 2026.
The court has directed the Assam and Nagaland governments and other concerned authorities to submit detailed affidavits by November 3, 2026.
The PIL seeks scrutiny of alleged illegal mining in the Dikhow riverbed, activities in Nagaland’s catchment areas and water releases from upstream dams. Saikia has alleged that prolonged administrative inaction, despite earlier warnings and court directions, aggravated the floods that affected lakhs of people across Sivasagar, Charaideo, Jorhat and Golaghat.
Saikia cited earlier PILs filed in 2018 and 2019 concerning alleged illegal and unscientific sand and stone mining along the Dikhow river. He claimed that court directions issued in 2019 and reiterated in 2022 were not effectively implemented.
The petition also raises concerns over alleged open-cast coal mining in Nagaland and the possible impact of releases from the Doyang Hydro Electric Project on downstream Assam.
The court has sought details of preventive measures taken by authorities and the coordination mechanism governing upstream dam releases.
Saikia has sought a permanent halt to illegal riverbed mining, a high-powered monitoring committee, scientific assessment of the causes of the floods and compensation for affected families.
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