Majuli becomes first river island district of country

Local legislator and Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal formally declared Majuli island, amidst the Brahmaputra river, as the 35th district of the state. Majuli, formerly part of Jorhat district, is recognised as the world’s largest river island by the Guinness Book of World Records. 

Sonowal inaugurated the new deputy commissioner’s office at Garmur in Majuli to mark the functioning of the new district. 

A public rally was also organised later to mark the occasion. The state Cabinet, which met in the island for the first time earlier on Thursday, also took a number of decisions for the development of Majuli. 

Cabinet Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary said all roads in Majuli will be converted to state highways to ensure better quality. 

The embankments will be made into road-cum embankments for more resilience. A mega project for flood and erosion control would also be undertaken  for Majuli. 

The decision to upgrade Majuli to a district was taken as part of the current government’s 100 days programme as per a decision taken at the very first Cabinet meeting, after the new BJP-led coalition government had assumed office in May this year. 

These latest developments are likely to boost Majuli’s efforts to enter into the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which have failed so far. Majuli covers an area of around 547 kilometres and is one of the prime tourists destination of North East. 

It is a seat of Vaishnavite learning, with numerous monasteries dotting the island.