Chopper service for Majuli soon

BY Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, May 29: The Central government will make all efforts to ensure that Majuli island in Jorhat district is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list, Union Minister for Cultural Affairs and Tourism Dr Mahesh Sarma said today.

Speaking at the iugural function of North East Youth Festival at Majuli, Dr Sarma said the Centre will vigorously pursue the matter of developing Majuli as a World Heritage Site and getting the recognition from UNESCO.

“The government will take all steps within its means to ensure that Majuli gets the UNESCO recognition,” he said.

Besides urging all stakeholders to lend their helping hands, the Union minister also sought blessings of the Xatradhikars (heads of Vaishvite mosteries in Majuli) for the government’s endeavour.

Dr Sharma, who is also in-charge of Civil Aviation ministry, said a helicopter service could be launched for Majuli soon to remove connectivity bottleneck with the riverine island.

He also announced a package of Rs 15 crore for development of infrastructure in the island.

After having made it to the Tentative List in the 28th Annual World Heritage Committee session of UNESCO in 2004, Majuli is yet to be enlisted in the World Heritage Site list.

It is considered to be the largest inhabited fresh water mid-river deltaic island in the world, situated in the middle of Brahmaputra river.