Assam to seek CBI probe to find flood cause sack govt employee if involved in polygamy Himanta

    Guwahati, Nov 3 (PTI) The Assam government on Tuesday decided to write to the Centre for a CBI investigation to find the exact cause of the devastating floods in Sivasagar and Charaideo districts earlier this year, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

    The government has also decided to terminate an employee, irrespective of religion, if he is found involved in polygamy, the CM added.

    Addressing a press conference after a cabinet meeting here, Sarma said, "The state cabinet has decided to request a CBI probe to find the exact reason behind the floods in Sivasagar and Charaideo districts."

    The government will send a letter to the Centre within the next 10 days, but the final call to hand over the probe will depend on them, he added.

    "We want the exact cause to come out of the unprecedented floods of July 2026," he said.

    The Dikhow River ravaged Charaideo, Sivasagar and Jorhat districts in eastern Assam a few months ago. The Opposition alleged that rampant illegal mining in the river on the Nagaland side led to the flood.

    At least 108 people died in the floods in Assam this year, with massive damage to houses, schools, roads, embankments, cattle sheds, fisheries and health centres reported in the affected districts.

    The CM further said the state cabinet has approved to amend the Assam Services (Discipline & Appeal) Rules, 1964 and inserted a new clause in relation to polygamy.

    "The government servant indulged in polygamy will be dismissed from the service after necessary departmental proceedings. That will be a disqualification for future employment also," he added.

    The cabinet has inserted Clause 6 of Rule 7 to include the stringent punishment, Sarma said.

    "As UCC (Uniform Civil Code) has been implemented in Assam, it will be applicable for Hindu, Muslim, Christian, everyone," he added.

    On May 27, the Assam Assembly had passed 'The Uniform Civil Code, Assam, 2026 Bill', which seeks to establish a common legal framework to govern marriage, divorce, succession and live-in relationships irrespective of religion.

    Home and Political Department Additional Chief Secretary Ajay Tewari on October 13 said the parent Bill has been sent to the central government for the assent of the President.

    The Assam government has set up a committee to frame the rules for the UCC in order to implement the law in the state, according to a notification.

    Sarma further said that the cabinet has approved the allotment of around 6,000 bighas (nearly 1,984 acres) of land at Nellie in Morigaon district for setting up of Assam's first defence park.

    The cabinet has also gave its go ahead to sign the Ropeway Development Agreement with the National Highways Logistics Management Ltd and the Assam government to establish an institutional framework to construct ropeways.

    "We will develop ropeways as innovative transport solutions in five different routes across the state," Sarma said.

    To ensure comprehensive and inclusive execution of welfare schemes under the vision of 'Viksit Assam', the cabinet approved 13 state-level sectoral councils, he said.

    "To provide additional support to farmers, the cabinet approved an extra Rs 200 per quintal for this Kharif Marketing Season (KMS). Farmers will now receive a total of Rs 2,640 per quintal," Sarma added.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)