Xatradhikar of Auniati Xatra Pitambar Dev Goswami seeks CM's help

PROTECTION OF MAJULI FROM EROSION

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Xatradhikar of Auniati Xatra Pitambar Dev Goswami said, "The biggest threat to Majuli is erosion. The Mighty Brahmaputra is gobbling up the river island and reducing its landed area gradually. Life and culture will thrive in Majuli only if the island survives the erosion scare from the Brahmaputra."

"Many schemes have been taken up for preventing erosion in Majuli. However, a glaring phenomenon is that the works of all such schemes begin only in Fagun-Chait (March-April) when little time is left before the onset of the monsoon. It's always better to carry out such works in the dry season. When erosion takes place in the river island, the Brahmaputra Board washes its hands of it just by placing some geo-bags at the affected sites. However, the people here want some permanent and scientific erosion-prevention works like stone spurs," Dr. DevGoswami said while talking to The Sentinel.

The Xatradhikar further said, "There has been a lot of development of roads and other infrastructure in the river island in the past four-and-a-half years. However, development on erosion-prevention front isn't up to the mark. Since the Chief Minister has made it to the Assam Legislative Assembly from Majuli, we'll talk to him and seek his help to save the river island as and when he comes here. The people of Majuli will survive only if the land of the island survives the onslaught from the gobbling river."

The river island has been facing the wrath of the Brahmaputra since 1950.

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