Parl Panel on Home Affairs asks DoNER Ministry to take urgent steps to save worlds largest river island

The Parliamentary committee headed by Rajya Sabha MP Anand Sharma observes that this Island requires a great amount of attention in order to preserve the rich ancient culture, protect livelihoods and prevent erosion caused due to anthropogenic activities. ETV Bharat Senior Correspondent Gautam Debroy writes.

New Delhi: A Parliamentary panel on Home Affairs has expressed concern over the slow progress of completion of the "Protection of Majuli Island from flood and erosion of river Brahmaputra" scheme. The scheme which was supposed to be completed by February 28, achieved 88.31 per cent of work to date. More interestingly, Majuli (the world’s largest river island) may again miss out on the world heritage site tag as the government is yet to submit their required dossier to UNESCO.

The Brahmaputra Board is the implementing agency of the Majuli protection project. The Parliamentary committee headed by Rajya Sabha MP Anand Sharma observes that this Island requires a great amount of attention in order to preserve the rich ancient culture, protect livelihoods and prevent erosion caused due to anthropogenic activities.

"This calls for focused attention by administrators along with collaboration and cooperation with several expert groups, agencies at local and global levels to promote their idea for minimizing natural disaster risks," the committee said in its report. The Committee recommends that the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) must work in coordination with the State government so as to protect and preserve Majuli Island through institutional and community participation. The Committee appreciates the fact that an area of 319.21 sq km will be benefitted following the Majuli protection scheme.

Situated in the middle of Brahmaputra River, Majuli is the seat of neo-Vaishnavite culture initiated by reformist saint Srimanta Sankardeva and his disciple Madhavdeva in the 16th century, who established about 70 Vaishnaviate monasteries. Majuli is also a hot tourist destination. The Committee recommends that the North Eastern Council (NEC) may endeavour to complete the projects in time for the protection of Majuli Islands from anti-erosion and minimize natural disaster risks.

"The deadline of February 28 , 2021 has already been missed. Considering the slow progress in completion of these projects, the Committee recommends that the Ministry may take up the matter with the NEC on a priority basis in this regard," the report said. The DoNER Ministry, however, said that timely progress and coordination between the Ministry & State government was done from time to time. "After completion of the project, major parts of the Majuli Island will be protected from anti-erosion and minimizing natural disaster risks," the DoNER Ministry said.

Its estimated population of 1,15,000 (70 per cent of the total population) is likely to be benefitted from the project with about 319.21 Sq. Km of the land area proposed to be protected from flood & erosion of river Brahmaputra. "NEC is making a constant coordinated effort with the Ministry of Jal Shakti & State Government of Assam to get the project completed," the DoNER Ministry pointed out.