Jorhat, Aug. 2: Several organisations of Majuli and xatradhikars of well-known xatras
submitted memoranda to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, President Pranab
Mukherjee, chief minister Tarun Gogoi and governor J.B Patnaik through
the Majuli SDO (civil) today.
Friday, 3 August 2012
Thursday, 2 August 2012
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
Brahmaputra perilously close to Majuli village - Island sends erosion SOS :
WASIM RAHMAN
 |
| A damaged house. Picture by UB Photos |
Jorhat, July 31:
The Majuli administration has sent out SOS calls to Dispur and the
Brahmaputra Board as massive erosion is threatening several villages
under different gaon panchayats on the island.
Sources in the Majuli sub-divisional
administration said Puhardia village under Kamalabari gaon panchayat was
the worst hit. The Brahmaputra, which was 500 metres away from the
village a few months ago, is now only about 200 metres away.
Majuli’s recent floods have augmented the
erosion because the rising water level softened the riverbank. Other
villages like Palasani, Pokimari, Sumai-mari, Bhakat Chapori and Sunia
Chapori under Kamalabari and Dakhin Kamalabari gaon panchayats have also
been severely affected, the sources said.
Erosion is also threatening the Bengenati and Auniati xatras, two of the oldest xatras
on the island. People of the affected areas are urging the
administration to take emergency steps to save their land and property.
Majuli sub-divisional officer (Civil) S.R. Khanikar told The Telegraph
that after visiting the affected areas, he has sent urgent messages to
the Brahmaputra Board and Dispur through the Jorhat district
administration. Khanikar said about 40 families of Puhurdia villages
have been badly affected.
The SDO said he has urged the Brahmaputra Board officials to immediately start work in the affected areas.
He said he has asked the board to lay
porcupine dampers on the riverbank in the affected areas and if work
begins immediately, the situation may be brought under control.
Khanikar said there was no need to
evacuate people from Puhardia as of now, but if the erosion continues
unabated, then such a step might have to be taken. Finding an
alternative site to shift the villagers would be a Herculean task
because land is scarce here, he added.
Erosion has left 2,097 families homeless.
These families have been living in makeshift camps on the banks for the
past 15 years, awaiting rehabilitation.
In the latest bout of floods, about 500
families lost their houses in the Salmora area of Majuli. Governor J.B.
Patnaik, during his visit to the island, had asked the administration to
relocate the families inside or outside the island. He had suggested
setting up 10 villages and rehabilitating 50 families in each village.
However, the administration has not been able to find land to relocate the families. Proposals to shift people to chaporis (sandbars) around the island are not accepted by the people, as chaporis are known to sink within a short interval of time.
(News from The Telegraph, Wednesday , August 1 , 2012 )
-Abakash Majuli
Neematighat awaits saviour :
SMITA BHATTACHARYYA
 |
| A boat at Neematighat |
Jorhat, July 31: The water
resources department here has prepared a proposal worth Rs 67 crore to
check the heavy erosion by the Brahmaputra at Neematighat on the
outskirts of Jorhat.
The proposal will be sent shortly to the Central Water Commission, New Delhi, for sanction.
“Investigations said erosion was particularly heavy near the ghat, making it difficult for the Majuli ferries to dock,” Robin Chandra Bora, executive engineer, water resources department, said.
The heavy erosion is because of the Brahmaputra hitting the bank at almost a 90-degree angle from the Besamora side.
“In the last couple of days, the erosion
has been less in the Neematighat area, but prior to that it was quite
heavy and ferries had to shift from one part to the other in order to
dock. However, the embankment protecting the town has not been eroded,”
Bora said.
Sources said the Brahmaputra, which had
earlier been flowing 200 metres away from the embankment, was now only
about 50 metres away, and if the embankment came under threat, Jorhat
town would be flooded.
“The Brahmaputra Board has given its
observations on a few technical issues and these are being incorporated
before sending it to the Central Water Commission for sanction,” he
said.
The proposal envisages a porcupine screen
downstream to divert the flow of the river and boulder pitching along
the bank, to prevent erosion.
The Neemati-Hatihal anti-erosion project in the area was completed four years ago at a cost of Rs 38 crore, but the bund now faces the threat of erosion.
Started in 1996, it comprises two
bullheads (pointed extensions of the spur) and three spurs, spread over a
13km stretch on the riverbank.http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6808711883118829693#editor/target=post;postID=1671445565893625111
A source in the department had earlier
said a piecemeal approach instead of an all-encompassing central plan
had resulted in the problem being diverted from one area to another.
The source also said there had been a
substantial increase of water pressure in the Brahmaputra channel
flowing by Neematighat, because of an increase in the volume of water in
the channel.
This was because of the anti-erosion
measures, which had been executed on the bank opposite Neematighat, on
the southern side of Majuli, in the past few years.
(News from The Telegraph, Wednesday , August 1 , 2012 )
-Abakash Majuli
Friday, 27 July 2012
Ramakrishna Mission takes up flood relief work in Majuli :
The Ramakrishna Mission (RKM)
has undertaken relief operation in certain flood affected
areas of Jorhat and Dibrugarh district of Assam.
The Mission authorities have distributed 5,000
tarpaulins among flood affected families of 76 villages in
Majuli Island and Gajimukh of Jorhat subdivision, the RKM said
in a statement here today.
In Tengabari village of Dibrugarh district, 256
affected families have been identified and relief materials
have been distributed among them.
Among the materials distributed are blankets, mosquito
net, lantern and utensils.
Volunteers of the Ramakrishna Seva Samity, Tinsukia,
helped the RKM monks engaged in this work.
(News from IBN Live)
-Abakash Majuli
Thursday, 26 July 2012
Majuli’s crack at heritage tag :
SMITA BHATTACHARYYA
|
| A sketch by artist Hem Chandra Goswami of the bridges being built in Majuli. Telegraph picture |
Jorhat, July 25: The Majuli
Cultural Landscape Management Authority is hoping that it will be fourth
time lucky for Majuli as the river island readies to make another
attempt to enter Unesco’s World Heritage Site list.
As the deadline for submission of a new
report by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in this regard draws
nearer, the authority is working on all fronts to ensure that Majuli
does not miss out this time. Upper Assam commissioner Syed Iftikar
Hussain — who is also the chief executive officer of the authority —
said GSV Suryanarayan Murthy — the conservation architect deputed by the
ASI to prepare and update the heritage dossier of Majuli — has been
asked to extensively interact with experts on Majuli’s culture and
history before submitting the dossier on September 30.
“This time we would like to see the
heritage and culture of Majuli properly presented, and Suryanarayan
Murthy has been asked to incorporate everything, which represents the
ethos of the freshwater island after talking to the people and
discussing with experts,” Hussain said.
“After going through the dossier there are
still many things which have not been put in and this gives the
impression that (the dossier) does not reflect the immense composite
culture that makes Majuli unique in itself,” he added.
According to Hussain, the island is
strewn with treasures. Lying buried among the treasures at Dakhinpat
Xatra — one of the oldest xatras in Majuli — is a wooden
contraption, which tells time. It consists of a wooden bowl filled with
water, which seeps down in drops. A class of people selected by the king
would tell the time using this device. This water in the bowl would
last for two months.
“Similarly, there is an earthen lamp that
is said to be burning in the sanctum sanctorum of the Garmur Xatra for
more than 300 years now and there is an array of kharams (wooden slippers) made of marble or wood worn by the xatradhikars
and heads of the monasteries. All this and more reflects the culture
and heritage of the island and should be brought to light,” Hussain
said. Hem Chandra Goswami — the renowned mask maker of Samaguri Xatra —
has proposed to adorn the pillars of all the under-construction bridges
on the island with figures from Hindu mythology. This proposal will also
be forwarded to the government. Goswami has been asked to compile or
make miniatures of all the artefacts and elements that reflect the
essence of Majuli. Before the dossier is submitted a meeting will be
held with experts on the culture and heritage of Majuli and the people
of the island so that nothing is missed out, Hussain said.
Murthy, the man who is preparing the
dossier, represents the Hyderabad-based consultancy firm M/S Kshetra,
which provides consultancy services in matters of preserving heritage
sites/buildings and architectural planning. He had made a case for
Majuli in June this year at Unesco’s 36th session in Russia, but the
largest river island of Asia was denied the World Heritage Site tag for
the third time.
-Abakash Majuli
Article on indigenous pottery culture of SALMORA -the heritage of Majuli :
by Dr. Pitambar DevGoswami (Sattradhikar, Auniati Sattra, Majuli).
Wednesday, 25 July 2012
Sattradhikar dead :
The 'sattradhikar' (head
priest) of Majuli's Ahotoguri Borsattra, Bhoben Narayan Dev
Goswami died in the Vaishnav monastery today.
He was 86, monastery sources said.
He was head of one of the oldest sattras in Majuli,
which is the world's largest river island and seat of Vaishnav
culture. The monastery was established in the 15th century by
Madhavdeva, a disciple of Sankardeva who was the founder of
Vaishnavism in Assam.
The sattraadhikar was later cremated within the sattra
premises, sources added.
(News from IBN live )
-Abakash Majuli
Sunday, 22 July 2012
Friday, 20 July 2012
Flood of relief materials in Majuli :
| - NGOs in queue as administration tackles ‘heartening’ response |
|
Jorhat, July 19: Managing the flood
was hard, but controlling the overwhelming response in terms of relief
is not proving to be a cakewalk either for the Jorhat district
administration.
As the floods hit Majuli island twice
within a span of less than 20 days — on June 25 and July 15 — the Majuli
sub-divisional and Jorhat district administrations tackled the problem
by setting up relief camps, providing relief to the victims and taking
measures to prevent the spread of water-borne disease. But now the
administration is confronted with the task of managing the rush of
relief material for the flood-hit victims.
Relief materials, worth nearly Rs 1 crore,
have already been distributed. The administration has now asked a few
organisations, which have come forward to help people affected by the
second wave of floods, to wait for a few days.
More than one lakh people have been hit by
the two waves of floods but the intensity of the second wave has been
less than the first one with only about 10 villages under Luitporia gaon
panchayat being affected. No relief camp has been set up this time, as
houses were not submerged.
Jorhat deputy commissioner R.C. Jain told The Telegraph
here today that the response from various groups, including
international organisations, for the flood-affected people of Majuli was
“very heartening”. He said over 20 organisations had contributed in a
big way. Many local groups had also contributed on a lower scale, he
added.
“Altogether Rs 1 crore worth of relief
materials given by NGOs has already been distributed to the flood-hit
people of Majuli and many are still coming forward. We are requesting
them to wait a few days to let those organisations who are distributing
relief material at present to complete their work,” Jain said.
He said as news of parts of Majuli getting
submerged was splashed in the media, his office got offers of
assistance from various organisations and agencies. The administration
had to make plans to allot and guide the organisations in distributing
relief materials in the affected areas.
Some of the top donors are Ramkrishna
Mission, Belur Math, which distributed relief materials worth about Rs
25 lakh, the International Red Cross Society, which gave shelter kits
worth about Rs 20 lakh, the Rotary Club of Jorhat, which distributed
kits (each kit having 52 items) worth Rs 15 lakh, ONGC, which handed
over materials worth Rs 4 lakh, the Upper Assam Chamber of Commerce,
which distributed materials worth Rs 3 lakh, Supreme Master (Ching Hai),
which distributed materials worth Rs 3 lakh, and the Thengal Kachari
Autonomous Council, which gave materials worth Rs 3 lakh.
Majuli sub-divisional officer (civil) S.R.
Khanikar said at least six organisations have been requested to wait
for a few days so that there was no overlapping in the distribution of
the relief materials.
-Abakash Majuli
|
Tuesday, 17 July 2012
International Conference on Majuli :
The background note on Majuli and the endeavour to get it listed it as a World Heritage Site was presented by GSV Suryanarayana Murthy. He described the geo-cultural features of Majuli and explained the salient points of the dossier prepared by him. He revealed the discriminatory attitude by the Govt. of India, which had listed Majuli in the third position in submission of three sites to UNESCO for inscription as World Heritage Site. He appreciated the role played by Society for Srimanta Sankaradeva and Friends of Majuli in this process. He suggested a proactive role by MCLMA and for that matter Govt. of Assam.
Eminent Gandhian Natwar Thakkar from Nagaland Gandhi Ashram released the news-letter MITRO, published by Friends of Assam and Seven Sisters (FASS). He was assisted by Nabajit Roy of FASS. Releasing the special issue of the news-letter on Majuli, Thakkar said that it was every one’s duty to keep alive the contributions of Srimanta Sankaradeva, who was one of the leading religious preachers in India. He reminisced his journey to Majuli and lauded the present effort to create awareness about this culturally rich river island.
Narayan Chandra Goswami spoke briefly about the significance of Majuli. He said that it was the centre of Assamese culture and Vaishnavite movement launched by Srimanta Sankaradeva. He expressed concern over irresponsible news items by electronic as well as print media over the extent of flood damage, since it might affect the prospect of Majuli’s inscription as WHS. He said that flood was normal for Majuli and people there co-habitated with flood.
Jayanta Barman, Vice President of FASS made a presentation about FASS. He also dwelt upon the future plans of the organization in Majuli. Prof. Chandan Mahanta of I.I.T., Guwahati spoke briefly about Core Professional Group-Brahmaputra and its activities. He highlighted the need for serious academic discussion as well as setting up of a research centre to solve the problems of Brahmaputra River and valley.
Prof. Arvind Phukan, the Chief Resource Person of the conference made an elaborate presentation about the nature and changes in the Brahmaputra river over time. He highlighted the braided nature of the river and talked about the need to channelise the river. He showed the dimension of erosion in Majuli and other parts of the river. He said that erosion could be checked if one proceeded with proper mathematical model, if concrete lining was done, if the embankments were designed scientifically and repaired regularly. He said that rats dug up the embankments making them weak from inside. He said that embankment should be made with soil dug from river-bed. Such soil could be deposited in the Majuli island too, thereby helping in land reclamation. He lamented the non-cooperation of bureaucrats in anti-erosion planning. He showed video footage of erosion.
Sayed Iftikar Hussain, CEO of Majuli Cultural Landscape Management Authority gave a presentation on the perspective of Govt. of Assam on Majuli. He said that the Majuli Cultural Landscape Management Act passed by the Legislatures in Assam was unique in the world and hoped that it would help in getting Majuli inscribed as WHS. He said that six international firms had been shortlisted for preparing the Comprehensive Development Plan for Majuli, but the initiative of Govt. of Assam was not adequately supplemented by Govt. of India, who went about the entire nomination process in a disinterested manner. He also revealed that Archaeological Survey of India did not invite any official or expert from Assam to offer suggestions while preparing the present dossier on Majuli. He hinted at forces working against the interest of Majuli in the entire process. He showed power point presentation depicting the details about Majuli. He said that while some chaporis had been lost in erosion, new chaporis had been created amidst Brahmaputra. Bhakat chapori was one such sand bar, he said.
Prof. Dilip Medhi, head of Anthropology Deptt., Gauhati University spoke about the massive cultural wealth of Majuli. He said that what was the most important thing for Majuli was its preservation and protection. He stressed on creating greater awareness about these issues in different fora. He said that a long-term vision was necessary for Majuli. The role of Brahmaputra Board was crucial for the island, he said. He also opined that the dams being constructed in upstream would affect Majuli badly.
A paper sent by Gili Navon, research scholar of Hibru University, Jerusalem was taken as read since she was not physically present. The paper suggested setting up a cultural centre in Majuli.
Prasujya Gogoi, research scholar of Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi presented a paper on ‘Eco restoration of Majuli island’. She described the wide variety of flora and fauna available in Majuli. She said that increase in human population in the island had created problem for nature. She suggested zonation of critical areas of the island. Tourism also should be planned properly so that it does not hurt the ecology. Guides should be qualified. Resorts should be made with locally available materials like bamboo, thatch etc. A traffic management also was necessary.
Dr. Arun Kumar Sarma, President of Majuli Island Protection and Development Council (MIPADC) gave an account of their initiative for inscription of Majuli as WHS. He suggested GVS Suryanarayam Murthy to involve more people, especially those having exposure to the life in Majuli, in the revision of the dossier.
Bharat Saikia, retired Engineer and Secretary of MIPADC, who had prepared the first dossier on Majuli, spoke about the faulty embankments on Brahmaputra. He said that the embankments had led to rise in the river-bed and braided nature of the river. He suggested installation of good quality hard plastic pipes of one foot diameter in the embankment, at intervals of say one Km. in order to inject flood water inside the island and release of the same later to the river. This would prevent breaches in the embankment, bring in fertile sediments and wash away stale water inside.
An interaction session took place with Prof. Arvind Phukan in afternoon. M.N. Dutta Bordoloi, former G.M. of Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer Corporation Ltd. and Putul Mahanta, General Secretary of Asom Sattra Mahasabha, Majuli branch took part in the interaction. Mahanta submitted that Prof. Phukan’s data about erosion was old and new found data had proved that erosion had been checked in Majuli, leading to increase in land mass marginally.
In his presidential comment, Dr. Sanjib Kr. Borkakoti said that the Society for Srimanta Sankaradeva would remain associated with the Comprehensive Development Plan of Majuli initiated by MCLMA. He lamented the lack of interest by Indian representative in UNESCO on Majuli’s nomination for WHS. He also pointed out that the dossier needs greater emphasis on Sattriya Culture. He stressed the need of more academic analysis of Majuli’s problems. He thanked Dr. Sanjib Bhuyan of ASAF for mooting the idea of such a conference in the first place.
Several dignitaries like Ripu Mahanta, Vice President of Asom Sattra Mahasabha, A.K. Mitra, Chairman of Technical Advisory Committee, Water Resource Department, Anjana Chaliha, Retired Principal of J.B. College, Manoj Kr. Das, DGM of NEDFI, Sankar Das, prominent social activist, Satyajit Mahanta, Deka Sattradhikar of Natun Kamalabari Sattra were present in the conference. Representatives of several NGOs and Sattras attended the conference. President Dr. Sanjib Kumar Borkakoti thanked all of them as well as the members of Facebook groups ‘Followers of Srimanta Sankaradeva’ and ‘Friends of Majuli’ for their support.
Neilh M. Gautam, General Secretary of the Society offered vote of thanks to all participants and collaborators. With that, the conference came to an end.
(News from: Assam Times Online News)
-Abakash Majuli
Official push to Majuli landscape authority :
Jorhat, July 16: Upper Assam
commissioner S.I. Hussain, who is also the chief executive officer of
the Majuli Cultural Landscape Management Authority, will submit a
proposal to the government to make the body functional and implement the
comprehensive development plan for Majuli.
Six international firms have been shortlisted to execute the development project.
Hussain said though the organisation had
been constituted in 2007 under the Majuli Cultural Landscape Region Act,
2006, it was yet to function independently, and it was imperative to
strengthen the authority for the development work to progress in Majuli.
The act was passed to protect Majuli from
floods and erosion and develop and preserve the unique identity of the
river island so that it would be considered for the coveted status of a
World Heritage Site from Unesco.
“Unless the authority is empowered to
undertake the work with separate offices and staff, the implementation
of the comprehensive development plan will not progress,” Hussain said.
In this context, the commissioner said
experienced hands could be drawn from other departments and experts on
Majuli could be appointed, as fresh hands would be recruited on
contract. “Majuli is still on the reckoning for Unesco’s World Heritage
Site tag and there should be a proper authority as an interface for the
island, which embodies Assam’s culture.”
The National Informatics Centre had been
entrusted with the task of preparing a website to showcase the heritage,
culture and biodiversity of Majuli, one of the largest river islands of
the world.
Hussain said the process was on to
finalise the appointment of six international consultant firms, which
had technical and financial competency to implement the comprehensive
development plan, the work for which would most likely start from
October.
“The first full-fledged work of the
authority was to formulate the plan, which will include boundary
delineation of the cultural region of Majuli, comprising the subdivision
areas and some outer regions like parts of Dhemaji, Neematighat,
Patiagaon upto National Highway 37 and a few other areas. Other plans
include water transport, infrastructure development, road connectivity,
maintenance of biodiversity and promoting of eco-friendly production
activities like tourism,” he said.
Hussain said the first priority would be
the submission of a proposal to the government to manage water transport
along with the inland water transport department.
Crossing over to Majuli by ferries is still an arduous journey and the proposal comprises the development of ghats
and to make the ferry services in Majuli visitor-friendly by fitting
those with modern amenities. “We can run ferries daily along with the
inland water transport department and increase the frequency of services
and spruce up the ghats so that they are more welcoming,” he said.
Hussain had also asked Hem Chandra
Goswami, the famous mask-maker of Majuli Samaguri Xatra, to compile a
miniature form of all those artefacts and elements, which represented
the uniqueness of the island as a heritage site.
These would be displayed in an auditorium, to enable a visitor to sample them at a glance and subsequently see the real item.
- Abakash Majuli
Dyke breach prompts alert in Majuli :
Jorhat, July 16: The Majuli
administration is on an alert after the Brahmaputra breached a portion
of the embankment at Sonowal Kachari near the eastern tip of the island,
flooding over 10 villages.
Just last month, a breach in the same
embankment wreaked havoc on the island and flooded 30 villages with the
Salmora area being badly hit.
Sources in the sub-divisional
administration said the water level of the Brahmaputra kept rising all
through yesterday, and eventually water gushed in through the
200-metre-long breach.
Preliminary work by the water resources
department to repair the embankment began last week. The plan was to
build a cofferdam near the breach but work had to be called off after
the sudden rise in water level, sources said.
Majuli Sub-divisional officer (civil) Sonaram Khanikar told The Telegraph
that about 10 villages under Luitporia gaon panchayat were partially
submerged. Water entered the compounds of the houses in the villages,
roughly affecting around 10,000 people, Khanikar said. In a few houses
water had entered the houses.
The SDO said so far the situation had not
turned grim and people were not forced to leave their houses. If the
situation demanded, relief materials would be provided to the families,
he said.
Khanikar said the administration had
sufficient food and medicine stocks in Majuli and contingency plans were
ready to deal with a big flood. Adequate number of vehicles, boats,
medical staff and manpower were ready to act in case of a flood, he
said.
Khanikar said according to the latest
reports received today from Dibrugarh, which lies east of the island,
the water-level of the Brahmaputra in the upper Assam district was
receding and if the same trend continued, then by tomorrow morning the
water would move out of the island.
Ramakrishna Mission (Belur Math) has
decided to offer a helping hand to Majuli’s flood-hit people. Talking to
reporters at Ramakrishna Mission’s branch here today, Swami
Gitatmananda, the secretary of the Narutamnagar branch (Tirap district
of Arunachal Pradesh) of the mission, said the organisation would
distribute 5,000 tarpaulin sheets worth Rs 25 lakh to flood-hit families
on the island from tomorrow.
He said last week, members of the mission
conducted a survey in flood-hit areas of Majuli and distributed coupons
to genuine flood-affected families so that they could collect relief
materials from volunteers during the time of distribution.
The organisation had distributed about 200
kits containing blankets, mosquito nets, and biscuits to flood-affected
families at Tengapani area in Tinsukia district last month.
(News from : The Telegraph Tuesday , July 17 , 2012 online news)
-Abakash Majuli
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