Guwahati: Former leader of the opposition and ex-Nazira MLA Debabrata Saikia on Wednesday urged the Assam govt to declare the rehabilitation of the Dikhow River Basin a ‘special integrated Dikhow river basin rehabilitation project’ under the district mineral foundation trust (DMFT) and the Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY), 2024.In a detailed representation to chief secretary Ravi Kota, Saikia called for a long-term response to what he described as one of Upper Assam’s worst flood disasters in recent years.He said unprecedented floods in Sivasagar, Charaideo, Jorhat and adjoining districts required a coordinated programme for permanent rehabilitation, ecological restoration and long-term flood resilience, rather than temporary relief.The former LoP proposed using resources available under the district mineral foundation, a statutory fund created under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act for the welfare of mining-affected communities, to finance rehabilitation in the Dikhow basin.Saikia argued that riverine communities affected by decades of sand and minor-mineral extraction had a legitimate claim to the funds, irrespective of whether scientific studies established a direct link between mining and the scale of this year’s floods.He also sought the constitution of a high-level expert committee comprising representatives from the water resources, mines and minerals, and revenue and disaster management departments, the Assam State Disaster Management Authority, IIT Guwahati, geologists, river scientists, environmental experts and local communities.Saikia also suggested measures including construction of disaster-resilient houses, one-time livelihood restoration grants, scientific removal of sand and silt from agricultural fields, and restoration of irrigation channels, fisheries and wetlands.Saikia urged Kota to convene the state-level monitoring committee under PMKKKY to prepare a time-bound rehabilitation strategy for the worst-affected areas, particularly Nazira co-district.