Centre begins push for World Heritage tag to Majuli

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, June 12: The Central government is fast-tracking the proposal to get World Heritage site recognition for Majuli with Union Minister of State for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Dr Mahesh Sharma holding a review meeting with Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvetion Uma Bharti and Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Affairs and Sports Sarbanda Sonowal in New Delhi today.

Dr Sharma later said that the Ministry of Culture is already working closely with the Assam government to assist it in filising the proposal. The State government will be assisted to overcome all roadblocks, he assured.

Bharti emphasized the need to conserve the culturally and historically rich riverine island as it is dramatically shrinking in size due to erosion by the Brahmaputra. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) must carry out a survey of the ancient artefacts at the island to facilitate the proposal for World Heritage site recognition, she added.

Sonowal , who is the MP from the area, said that Majuli is the largest riverine island in the world and has a population of about two lakh, both tribal and non-tribal. He requested Dr Sharma to provide tourism infrastructure at Majuli islands like a guest house, an auditorium and a museum.

Dr Sharma said that the Tourism Ministry is committed to develop Majuli island as a tourist destition, especially through cruise tourism, and the Culture Ministry will extend all help to the proposal for World Heritage site. Tourism secretary Dr Lalit Panwar and senior officers of the Union Culture Ministry were present at the meeting.