Dhemaji: The All Assam Students' Union (AASU) on Sunday launched a signature drive to pressurise the Centre to take immediate steps to reduce the turbidity of the Brahmaputra.

"We are collecting signatures of villagers living along the riverbanks and intellectuals to pressurise the Centre for immediate action. The lifeline of Assam has been contaminated for the past two months and creating an environmental disaster in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. It seems action will be taken only after everything is over," AASU leader Deven Deka said while starting the campaign at Tongani village in Dhemaji district.

"The continuous flow of turbid water indicates some major work being executed in China. Once the water is diverted, our identity will be lost," he said.

External affairs ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said it was coordinating with the water resources ministry on the dialogue between India and China on water issues.