GUWAHATI: Assam's cultural capital and one of the largest river-islands in the world, Majuli, did not make it to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites this year. Reason: the State Government failed to pass the Majuli Cultural Landscape Region Bill 2006 ahead of the ongoing 30th session of the World Heritage Committee at Lithuanian capital of Vilnius. The Bill was unanimously passed on Thursday.

Eighteen new sites were included in the list this year.

Paris-based Junko Okahashi, Assistant Programme Coordinator of UNESCO World Heritage Site Committee, informed Dr. Aswini Sarma, Secretary-General of UNESCO Association, Guwahati, on Friday that India's nomination, Majuli, did not make it this year, as news of the Bill's passage reached the committee late. However, he said the legislation was "good news and could be a positive element for consideration of the nomination next year."

AGP MP and Chairman of the Majuli Island Protection and Development Council Dr. Arun Kumar Sarma hoped that Majuli would be included in the UNESCO list next year. The MP played a key role in generating awareness among the people about the importance of Majuli. Later, it grew into a movement, with residents and visitors demanding that the Centre nominate the river island for inclusion in the World Heritage Sites list.

The Act would now enable better protection and preservation of Majuli, an important centre of Vaishnavite culture. It would also facilitate the setting up of the Majuli Cultural Landscape Management Authority to integrate development and heritage through education. One of the objectives of the Bill was to incorporate non-indigenous techniques in sustaining Majuli's traditional lifestyle and institutions.

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