AASU protests waterlogging woes, warns of intensified agitation in Chabua
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Dibrugarh: Frustrated by repeated waterlogging and unaddressed garbage accumulation, members of the All Assam Students' Union (Aasu) staged a demonstration in Chabua on Friday, demanding immediate govt action.
The protest was sparked by last week's relentless rainfall, which left large parts of the town, including the vital NH-37, submerged for nearly seven days.
Chabua, a key urban centre in Dibrugarh district, saw its streets turned into waterways due to heavy rain, severely disrupting daily life. Shopkeepers, commuters, and residents struggled as stagnant floodwaters made movement nearly impossible.
Protesters urged authorities to prioritise two primary issues: the completion of ongoing drainage projects and a thorough cleanup of existing drains to prevent future flooding.
They also called attention to the worsening condition of Chabua's daily market, where piles of unattended garbage pose serious health risks. Aasu warned that failure to act would lead to intensified protests.
"Every time it rains heavily, the town turns into a lake. The drainage system is either incomplete or clogged with waste, yet authorities have ignored this crisis for years," said Kashyap Kumar Mautt, vice-president of Aasu's Chabua unit.
"We've given the administration one week to respond. If nothing changes, we will escalate our agitation. Chabua needs a scientific drainage master plan and regular maintenance—ad-hoc solutions won't fix this issue," he added.
The protest concluded with Aasu leaders submitting a memorandum to Chabua circle officer Mitalee Lahon, addressed to Dibrugarh district commissioner Bikram Kairi, urging swift intervention.
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