With Majuli in Assam being declared the largest river island in the world in the Guinness World Records, Union Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma today said the recognition will enhance its bid to get world heritage status.
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As the Chief Minister in the Cabinet meeting told the Forest Minister to implement necessary measures to protect the lives and agricultural produce from marauding wild elephants in certain resourceful agrarian areas of Majuli, Brahma announced her decision to set up a divisional office of the State Forest Department soon as well as to deploy adequate staff to control the movement of wild elephants.
Hindustan Times via Getty Images File photo os Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal at Mishing village in Majuli, India.
“When I proposed in the Cabinet that Majuli be upgraded to a district, everyone agreed”.
I represent Majuli in the Assam Legislative Assembly and so I have more responsibility towards the island. According to The Telegraph, people of this island that has no electricity, hospital or college in the vicinity, are hopeful that these basic necessities will soon be fulfilled.
“Majuli has a lot of problems. The government will leave no stone unturned to make it one of the best and developed districts of the state”, Sonowal said. “We are also preparing a very strong dossier to seek Majuli’s inclusion in the list of World Heritage Sites”, he said. Other steps will also be taken to develop communications network for the benefit of Majuli residents, he added.
Speaking on the occasion, Assam Transport Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary said the island will be connected with Guwahati through bus service.
Known as the top seat of neo-Vaishnavite culture propagated by 15th century saint and reformer Srimanta Sankardeva, Majuli had remained backward due to long neglect by subsequent Governments at Dispur and due to severe erosion every year. The island has already lost 60 per cent of its landmass to erosion since 1950.
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He said within the next couple of months the Government would change the face of the river island with lots of developmental initiatives.
