After deluge, Majuli faced with receding landmass :

Jorhat (Aug 1): After the deluge, Majuli, the world’s largest inhabited river island and hub of Vaishnavite culture, is now plagued by severe erosion. After the Brahmaputra waters receded, erosion has taken a serious turn in recent weeks, with the river gobbling up vast tracts of the island’s already-receding landmass.

More than 500 families have already been rendered homeless in the recent floods in Salmora area of the island. Massive siltation after the flood has forced people of the area to shift their homes to other locations. Residents of the area have already turned down the government’s proposal to rehabilitate them at the chaporis of the island.

Floodwaters also entered the island through the breached section of the embankment at Sonowal Kachari in Upper Majuli, inundating several villages and threatening the existence of the island. Several areas of west Majuli were also inundated in the floods. With the residents yet to recover from the damage of the floods, they are now facing a fresh threat from severe erosion at the island. The Brahmaputra is flowing just 30 metres from the Bengena-ati Satra, one of the oldest in Majuli, threatening its very existence.

According to local residents, severe erosion had been witnessed during the recent weeks at Bamungaon, threatening Auniati and Natun Kamalabari Satra too. Erosion has also been reported at Salmora, Besamora, Puhordia, Palasani, Pokimari, Bhakat Chapori and Dakhinpat.

Majuli sub-divisional officer (civil) Sonaram Khanikar told Seven Sisters Post that he had already informed his higher authorities about the erosion. “Although the total area affected by erosion has not been ascertained, about 300 families have been affected by the recent erosion. The administration has already rehabilitated 56 families at Sakala Chapori in Dakhin Ahatguri,” he said. He said that erosion had posed a greater threat than the floods. “I have requested the Brahmaputra Board to start work at the affected areas immediately. The situation may be brought under control, if immediate measures are undertaken,” he said.

On the other hand, measures undertaken to protect Majuli from flood and erosion by the Brahmaputra Board in Halmora and Besamora areas have now affected the downstream areas of Mouchapori and Nimatighat. Due to the protection measures undertaken in these areas, the Sumoimari stream passing through Majuli has been blocked due to silt deposits. This led to the flow of excess water through the main stream of the Brahmaputra.

Officials of the water resources department said that Sumoimari stream carried more than one-third of the Brahmaputra waters. “Due to excess flow of water through the main stream of the Brahmaputra passing by Nimatighat, the stream has become deeper, bringing threat to Mouchapori and Nimatighat areas,” officials said.

Although the water resources department has prepared a detailed project report to protect Nimatighat and Mouchapori areas, delay in sanction of the protection works has led to severe erosion in these areas.

(News from Seven Sisters Post)

-Abakash Majuli