Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh is most likely to visit river island Majuli in April. The issue of permanent physical protection measures of the island of unique heritage is expected to top his agenda. Informing this, Assam Water Resources Minister Bharat Chandra Narah said that the State Government has decided to engage the Water Resources Department, besides the Brahmaputra Board, to save the island from Brahmaputra erosion. “The State Government has attached top most priority to the task of protecting the island. Whatever may be the cost, the State Government will save the island and the cultural heritage of its people,” he said.

The State Government had handed over the job of protecting the island from erosion to the Brahmaputra Board following demands from the people, with an NOC in 2004. Since January 2004, the Board has been adopting various measures under different schemes to save the island.

As part of the immediate measures, the Board has completed raising and strengthening of 5.50 km of embankment and reconstruction of the breached portions of 20 embankments. Moreover, RCC porcupine screens have also been installed at the vulnerable sites. These works were started in January 2004 and completed in February 2005 spending an amount of Rs 5.92 crore, the Minister said.

The first phase of the Majuli protection work is expected to be over before the onset of monsoon this year. This phase includes raising and strengthening of 90 kms of the embankment. Under this phase, 25.51 kms of the embankment have been completed, besides reconstruction of three breached embankments. Of the remaining part of this work, 60 per cent has been covered so far, he said.

Since April 2005, the Board has been installing RCC porcupines at the erosion-prone areas of Katanibari-Sonowal Kachari, Salmara-Besamara, Dakhinpat, Sumoimari-Kaniajan-Kamalabari, Bhakat Chapari, Kordoiguri, Maluwal, Malapindha, Ukhalchuk and Jengrai etc. It has also arranged for repair of the checkbundh of Sonowal Kachari-Kandhulimari area. About 67 per cent of the first phase work has been covered so far spending an amount of Rs 27.90 crore, said the Minister.

The Board is gearing itself up to undertake boulder riveting, RCC porcupines etc during 2008-09, under the second and third phases of its Majuli protct6ion work. Estimates for the purpose have already been submitted to the Central Water Commission and it is expected that the work under the two phases could be completed within three years’ time.

Moreover, following requests of the people, the State Water Resources Department (WRD) has also taken up some measures in the vulnerable areas utilising the Calamity Relief Fund (CRF). These include immediate repair of the 10km to 21 km stretch of the abandoned PGJH PWD Road, on the left side of the Subansiri embankment as an anti-erosion measure, with an estimated cost of Rs 49.87 lakh, immediate anti-erosion measures between Sumoimari and Bengenaati with an estimated cost of Rs 339 lakh.

The WRD measures also include a Rs 37.90 lakh project for immediate repair of the 10 km to 21 km stretch of the PGJH PWD Road. Besides, an estimate of Rs 743 lakh is also under preparation for raising and strengthening this stretch of the abandoned PWD Road, said the Minister, adding, strengthening of the Matmara embankment is, however, vital for the island.

The Rs 100-crore package announced by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi for Majuli is not meant for its physical protection. Various departments are involved in implementing the package having components like repair of PWD roads and bridges, school buildings etc. Already an amount of Rs 20 crore of the assured sum has been released, said the Minister.

Earlier former chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta regretted that the Appropriation Bill had also failed to project the Government’s desire to check Majuli erosion. He demanded an official statement on the anti-erosion measures taken for the island and on the size of the money earmarked in the Chief Minister’s package for the island’s physical protection. He also demanded steps to prevent religious conversion of the poor islanders.

|  Headlines  |  Editorial   | Cover story  |
|  Travel Column   |   News Briefs  |
| OT Main Page | Nena  Home Page  |