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Manmohan Singh promises to protect Majuli from floods in Brahmaputra

Nagaon: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday assured a delegation of Sattradhikars (heads of Vaishnavite monasteries) of Majuli that his government would leave no stone unturned in protecting the erosion-affected island from the fury of the Brahmaputra. He said the government would make every effort to get Majuli recognised as a World Heritage Site.

Dr. Singh gave these assurances to 24 Sattradhikars who called on him at Jorhat town and submitted a memorandum calling for a “sincere initiative” from the government to provide both physical and cultural protection to Majuli. However, the Majuli units of the All-Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) observed a “betrayal day” to protest against the non-inclusion of Majuli in the itinerary of Dr. Singh.

Earlier, at the foundation laying function of the Jorhat Medical College, Dr. Singh said he was worried about the recurrence of floods in Assam and the damage they caused. He said his government had taken major initiatives to address this problem; during the 11th Plan, 75 schemes at an estimated cost of Rs. 430 crore had been sanctioned for flood control in the State.

“I understand that Phases 1 and 2 of the river protection works on Majuli island are being implemented. I assure the State government of funding support for Phase 3 also. This year we have provided Special Plan Assistance of Rs. 20 crore for the development of Majuli,” he added.

Dr. Singh made an aerial survey of the river-island, one-third of which was remaining submerged under the flood waters of the Brahmaputra for the sixth day.

“I am happy to know that there is now a consensus emerging on my suggestion of setting up a North Eastern Water Resources Authority to plan and implement the use of the mighty waters of this region. Arunachal Pradesh can benefit hugely from the electricity generation through hydel power, while Assam simultaneously benefits from reduction of floods,” he said.

Dr. Singh, who arrived at Jorhat on a two-day visit to the State, later proceeded to Guwahati for an overnight stay during which he is scheduled to address a meeting of the Assam Council of Ministers.

He will be visiting the software training centre established by Tata Consultancy Services at IIT-Guwahati on Tuesday and lay the foundation for a new university at Kokrajhar.

Dr. Singh said he hoped to be back in the northeast soon in connection with the inauguration of the Kumarghat-Agartala railway line which, he said, was a major initiative taken by his government as a national project.

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