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INTRODUCTION :
Majuli, the
largest inhabited river island in the world, is
situated in the upper reaches of the river
Brahmaputra between chainage 435 km and 520 km
from Indo-Bangladesh border. The Island extends
for a length of about 80 km in East-West
direction and about 10 km to 15 km in
North-South direction. It lies between latitudes
26o 45N′
and
27 o 10′ N and
longitudes between 93 o
40′E and 94 o
35′ E.
An
administrative Sub-Division of Jorhat district,
the Majuli Island represents a colourful rainbow
of cultural integration with 70% of its
population belonging to tribal communities such
as Mishing, Deori, Kachari and Koch Rajbongshi.
It has a population of 1.534 lakh as per 2001
census.
Majuli Island
has been threatened by massive erosion since
early 1950, as a consequence of dramatic
morphological changes of the Brahmaputra River
related to the two major earthquakes in 1947 and
1950. A study on erosion of Majuli Island shows
that for the period 1914 to 2008 (94 years)
there was a loss of about 227.43 sq.km area.
In order to
bring the problem under control, the Govt. of
Assam requested Brahmaputra Board for taking up
protection work of Majuli Island. Accordingly,
Brahmaputra Board agreed to take up the work and
prepared a Detailed Project Report for
protection of Majuli Island from the flood and
erosion based on the recommendation of Master
Plan and submitted the same to the CWC in
August, 2000. The CWC cleared the schemes in
August, 2003 for an amount of Rs. 86.56 crores.
The project emphasized implementation of
protection work in 3(three) phases such as
Phase-1, Phase-II and Phase-III. Accordingly,
Brahmaputra Board took up the following measures
to arrest flood and erosion for protection of
Majuli Island.
1.
IMMEDIATE
MEASURES -
Considering the time taken
in the process of mandatory investment clearance
for the DPR,
Brahmaputra Board took up immediate
measures as per recommendation of the Expert
Team. These works were started in January, 2004
and completed in February, 2005 at a cost of Rs.
5.92 crores.
Following are
the main works carried out under Immediate
Measures –
a)
Closing of 20 Nos of breaches on
Malual-Malapindha dyke and PWD
road.
b)
Raising and strengthening of 5.55
km embankment from Kamalabarighat to
Kharkharijan.
c)
Construction of RCC porcupines
permeable screens/spur/dampeners at various
locations.
- PHASE-I WORKS -
The works
under Phase-I was originally sanctioned for Rs.
41.28 crores in January, 2005 which was later
revised to Rs. 56.07 crores. Phase-I work was
started in March, 2005 and completed in
April,2011. The total cost was incurred under
Phase-I is Rs.53.34 crores upto April, 2011.
Following are the main works carried out in
Phase-I.
i)
Raising and strengthening of the
embankment system for a length of 90.08
km.
ii)
Closing of breaches on PGJH road
cum embankment.
iii)
Anti erosion measures in the form
of RCC porcupine screens, spur and dampeners in
the affected areas.
iv)
Construction and repair of nose
portion of two land spurs at Sonowarkachari and
Kandulimari.
- EMERGENT
WORKS -
There was a devastating flood in the year
2007 which caused several erosion at various
locations of Majuli. Standing Committee of
Experts on Majuli which visited the erosion area
in the year 2008 recommended a few measures to
be completed prior to the monsoon of 2008. The
works were started in April, 2008 and completed
in September, 2008 at a cost of Rs. 4.62 crores.
The works under emergent measures comprises of
construction of RCC porcupines screens/dampeners
at Bessamora, Dakhinpath, Bhogpur, Bengena-ati,
Kamalabari, Bhakatchapuri and Pakhimuri
reach.
- THE WORKS UNDER PHASE-II AND
III -
Phase-II &
III works envisages taking up permanent
protection works like construction of boulder
spurs in Majuli in addition to other measures.
The works under Phase-II & III were started
in March, 2009 and is targeted to be completed
by March, 2012. The progress of work upto May,
2011 is 23.32% at a cost of Rs. 26.79
crores.
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