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MAJULI’S CRY FOR SURVIVAL
The Brahmaputra Board in 2004 had taken up some preventive short-term measures to protect the biggest river island in the world from continuous erosion and devastation by flood. The RCC porcupine and bamboo crisp had been erected in different erosion affected locations of Majuli. The then Chairman of the Brahmaputra Board, Sri M.L.Goyal, General Manager - Sri A. Barkataki, Secretary & Chief Engineer (I&W) - I.Islam and Secretary Water Resources Department, Govt.of Assam visited Majuli on August 15, 2004 and met the local people and high officials and discussed regarding permanent solution to Majuli's flood and erosion problem. It was a matter of great pleasure for the islanders and a ray of hope emerged when the Chairman, Brahmaputra Board informed the local people about the Detailed Project Report (DPR) already submitted to the concerned Ministry for permanent protection measures of Majuli which was awaiting approval and sanction from Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR). Works of permanent nature will be taken up on receipt of approval and financial sanction from the Govt.of India, he said. The Chairman further informed them that an additional temporary erosion control measure in the severely eroded areas of Kamalabari would be taken up immediately.
Transport and communication:
The communication system of Majuli is very poor because of flood and erosion. P.W.D. roads and embankments are damaged and large areas of the island are submerged every year. The breaches in the PWD Roads are ignored and usually not repaired. Practically, Majuli is inaccessible without crossing waterways except the north eastern part where waterways of Kherkatia Suti was closed by an earthen dam which is being used as road to the northern side.
Though the island is connected by ferry services from both northern as well as southern side, it remains cut off from rest of the country during high flood in the months of June, July and August when ferry movement becomes risky due to high current in the river Brahmaputra. The construction of a bridge over the river Brahmaputra connecting south bank towards Jorhat may be a distant dream and do not seem economically viable at this stage. But a major R.C.C. bridge may perhaps be constructed over the river Luit in the north-west side of the island near Badatighat (Lal Gudam) connecting the Lakhimpur District with Malowal area of Ahatguri Mouza of West Majuli. It seems to be economically viable and will be the shortest route connecting N.H. - 52 from Narayanpur via - Bihpuria - Badatighat to Garamur - the Sub-divisional head quarter of Majuli.
As the improvement and strengthening of the NH - 52 has already been handed over to the Boarder Roads Organization (BRO), this proposed road project from NH -52 starting from Narayanpur to Garamur, Majuli may be offered as supplementary work to BRO if there is political goodwill between the Govt. of Assam and Govt. of India. The length of the road from starting point of NH-52 at Narayanpur to Garamur will be approximately 35-40 km. only. The width of the river Luit may be maximum 0.70 km. at this proposed bridge site. Moreover, there is no erosion problem related to the river. Permanent banks on both sides of the river Luit will help in construction of the bridge. On the other hand, two bridges have to be constructed to connect the Lakhimpur - Khabulighat - Luitghat and Garamur, one bridge at Khabulighat and another at Luitghat, which will not be economically viable and the length of the two bridges will be double the proposed bridge at Badatighat over the river Luit.
Transport and communication:
The communication system of Majuli is very poor because of flood and erosion. P.W.D. roads and embankments are damaged and large areas of the island are submerged every year. The breaches in the PWD Roads are ignored and usually not repaired. Practically, Majuli is inaccessible without crossing waterways except the north eastern part where waterways of Kherkatia Suti was closed by an earthen dam which is being used as road to the northern side.
Though the island is connected by ferry services from both northern as well as southern side, it remains cut off from rest of the country during high flood in the months of June, July and August when ferry movement becomes risky due to high current in the river Brahmaputra. The construction of a bridge over the river Brahmaputra connecting south bank towards Jorhat may be a distant dream and do not seem economically viable at this stage. But a major R.C.C. bridge may perhaps be constructed over the river Luit in the north-west side of the island near Badatighat (Lal Gudam) connecting the Lakhimpur District with Malowal area of Ahatguri Mouza of West Majuli. It seems to be economically viable and will be the shortest route connecting N.H. - 52 from Narayanpur via - Bihpuria - Badatighat to Garamur - the Sub-divisional head quarter of Majuli.
As the improvement and strengthening of the NH - 52 has already been handed over to the Boarder Roads Organization (BRO), this proposed road project from NH -52 starting from Narayanpur to Garamur, Majuli may be offered as supplementary work to BRO if there is political goodwill between the Govt. of Assam and Govt. of India. The length of the road from starting point of NH-52 at Narayanpur to Garamur will be approximately 35-40 km. only. The width of the river Luit may be maximum 0.70 km. at this proposed bridge site. Moreover, there is no erosion problem related to the river. Permanent banks on both sides of the river Luit will help in construction of the bridge. On the other hand, two bridges have to be constructed to connect the Lakhimpur - Khabulighat - Luitghat and Garamur, one bridge at Khabulighat and another at Luitghat, which will not be economically viable and the length of the two bridges will be double the proposed bridge at Badatighat over the river Luit.
