Massive erosion poses threat to Auniati Xatra in Majuli
From a Correspondent
Jorhat, April 25: The massive erosion of Brahmaputra River in Majuli in Jorhat district has taken a serious turn. The erosion has affected all the four erosion protection spurs in Majuli. In upper Majuli region from Kamalabari to Bhakat sapori, including Solmora erosion protection spur is the worst affected as compared to the other places.
The erosion has also been posing a serious threat to the existence of Auniati Xatra in Majuli in the past few days. Officials of the Water Resources department have visited the erosion-affected areas in Majuli to take stock of the situation there. A team of government officials comprising both Water Resource department officials and Brahmaputra Board officials had already visited the island on Sunday and sat for a discussion at Garmur in the island.
Erosion has been posing a serious threat to the existence to the hub of Vaisviate culture, Majuli in the last few years. The river has already gobbled up many villages in Majuli rendering hundreds of people homeless. Hundreds of villages in Ahotguri mouza under Majuli revenue circle in the district have completely been eroded by the mighty river. Thousands of families have lost their houses and properties due to erosion and many others became homeless. Some of them are now taking shelter on different embankments in the island. The government has taken up some rehabilitation projects in the island to rehabilitate the erosion-hit families, but the project is yet to benefit many such families here.
Meanwhile, the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) has demanded the government to take immediate preventive measures to protect Majuli from erosion. They have also demanded of the Union Water Resource minister to implement projects by Brahmaputra Board in the island soon.
AASU publicity secretary Biren Saikia said, “The erosion has taken a serious turn in Majuli in the last few days. Besides other areas, it has been posing a threat to Auniati Xatra. The mighty river has affected all the erosion protection spurs in Majuli. We have demanded the government to take immediate steps to ensure protection of the island from erosion.”
Criticizing the role of the Brahmaputra Board in Majuli, Saikia said, “Although the government formed Brahmaputra Board but it has not taken up even a single project in Majuli in the last two years due to some unknown reason. We have demanded to the government to take steps in Majuli immediately otherwise we have no altertive but to take rigorous agitation against the government soon.”
