The Umananda temple in the heart of the Brahmaputra is not just a holy place for Hindus, but is also said to be the world’s smallest inhabited river island. This island which comprises a solid rock formation, is very old, and also finds mention in the Kalika purana and Yogini-tantra, where it has been referred to as Bhasmachal, Bhasmakoot and Bhasmashaila. Myth and legend have it that it was in this island that Lord Shiva had turned Kamdev into ashes. The name Umananda is said to have derived from the myth that Lord Shiva had chosen this island to provide ‘ananda’ to his consort Uma. The British on annexing Assam in 1826, thought that the shape of the island resembled that of a peacock, and hence began to call it the Peacock Island. A rock inscription in the island says the present temple of Umananda was constructed during the reign Ahom king Gadadhar Simha in 1694. While the foundation of the island is of solid and hard rock that has withstood the string current of the mighty Brahmaputra for centuries, what is alarming is the amount of plastic that people – visitors and pilgrims – throw in the island every day. The quantity of plastic, including polythene bags, polythene covers of incense-stick packets and so on, reaches its peak during the Shivaratri mela. Even otherwise, every day hundreds of pilgrims and visitors simply throw polythene all over in the island, which has definitely caused tremendous environmental pollution and degradation. Temple employees are often seen collecting the polythene waste and setting the dump on fire, thus causing even more damage to the environment in the beautiful island. The island, which also has its own tiny stock of flora and fauna, is home to a couple of golden langurs and a number of species of butterflies and birds. But then, plastic and polythene is not a problem only of Umananda temple and Peacock Island. Every day, huge quantity of polythene and plastic waste is generated in all the temples and xatras in Assam. The Assam Pollution Control Board has not been seen talking about the dangers of increasing use of polythene and plastic in general and burning of polythene and plastic waste in particular. Guwahati for instance, generates several tonnes of polythene and plastic waste every month. Assam urgently requires a ban on use of polythene. If Sikkim can do it, what prevents the government of Assam from taking a step towards controlling environmental pollution and protecting the citizens from the hazard of breathing in smoke emanating from burning of polythene and plastic?