Bill on Majuli passed
By A Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, July 13 The State Assembly today unanimously passed The Majuli Cultural Landscape Region Bill, 2006 paving the way for the islands attaining the status of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The legislation provides for preservation and conservation of the unique cultural landscape values of Majuli island, support to the protection of the island from perceived natural disasters, constitutional back up for local communities for suitable development through resource management plan and maintenance
It has also provided for maintenance and management of the area through holistic development programmes and also for a management authority for all the above purposes. The authority is proposed to be headed by the Chief Secretary as the chairperson. It will have on it Cultural Commissioner and Secretary as the vice-chairman, Commissioner of the Upper Assam Division or any other officer of equivalent rank as the chief executive officer and Sub-divisional Officer (Civil), Majuli as the executive officer. The authority will have five members to be nominated by the executive group from amongst themselves.
The executive group is to be constituted with the local Lok Sabha member; a Rajya Sabha member to be nominated by the State Government; the Majuli MLA; DC, Jorhat; chairman or secretary of the voluntary organization MIPADC, DC of both the districts of Lakhimpur and Dhemaji; presidents of the Anchalik Panchayats of Majuli Sub-division and of the SC/ST Boards of Majuli; CEC of the Mishing Autonomous Council of his representative; Superintending Archaeologist of the ASI, Guwahati Circle; Director, Archaeology; Director State Museum; Director, Cultural Affairs; Senior Representative of the Brhamaputra Board; Secretary, Flood Control Department, Asom; Chairperson, Town Committee, Majuli and five to ten other members to be nominated by the Government from amongst the persons involved in promotion art and culture more particularly culture and academician and stakeholders from the cultural landscape region.
It has also empowered the management authority to counter or mitigate any development pressure, which may reduce the values of the island.
Taking part in the discussion on the Bill, Jonai MLA Bhuban Pegu (Independent) drew the attention of the Government towards the concern expressed by the State Water Resources Department that the constriction of the Brahmaputra by about 4 kms with the construction of the Bogibeel Bridge over the mighty river might cause serious harm to the island. He also suggested that the bill should incorporate a specific provision on checking erosion of the islands landmass. Besides, he called for steps to refer to the Mishing villages as Mishing villages only. These villages should not be identified as Dahgam and Baragam, he said.
Moving an amendment, Majuli MLA Rajiv Lochan Pegu (Congress) said that the name of Tokobari Sattra should be incorporated in the bill. His amendment was accepted and thus the number of sattras in the island listed by the Bill rose to 31.
Mission Ranjan Das (BJP) moved an amendment suggesting that a provision for a master plan for development of the surface communication network of the island should be incorporated in the bill. He later withdrew his amendment when Flood Control and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Bharat Chandra Narah said that the provision was already there in the Bill in a different language.
Keshab Mahanta (AGP) suggested that there should be a full time officer to look after the management of the cultural landscape region. However, he had not moved any amendment motion and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Bharat Narah said that this would be discussed with the Chief Minister. Leader of the Opposition Brindaban Goswami said that they were in favour of the Bill.
By A Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, July 13 The State Assembly today unanimously passed The Majuli Cultural Landscape Region Bill, 2006 paving the way for the islands attaining the status of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The legislation provides for preservation and conservation of the unique cultural landscape values of Majuli island, support to the protection of the island from perceived natural disasters, constitutional back up for local communities for suitable development through resource management plan and maintenance
It has also provided for maintenance and management of the area through holistic development programmes and also for a management authority for all the above purposes. The authority is proposed to be headed by the Chief Secretary as the chairperson. It will have on it Cultural Commissioner and Secretary as the vice-chairman, Commissioner of the Upper Assam Division or any other officer of equivalent rank as the chief executive officer and Sub-divisional Officer (Civil), Majuli as the executive officer. The authority will have five members to be nominated by the executive group from amongst themselves.
The executive group is to be constituted with the local Lok Sabha member; a Rajya Sabha member to be nominated by the State Government; the Majuli MLA; DC, Jorhat; chairman or secretary of the voluntary organization MIPADC, DC of both the districts of Lakhimpur and Dhemaji; presidents of the Anchalik Panchayats of Majuli Sub-division and of the SC/ST Boards of Majuli; CEC of the Mishing Autonomous Council of his representative; Superintending Archaeologist of the ASI, Guwahati Circle; Director, Archaeology; Director State Museum; Director, Cultural Affairs; Senior Representative of the Brhamaputra Board; Secretary, Flood Control Department, Asom; Chairperson, Town Committee, Majuli and five to ten other members to be nominated by the Government from amongst the persons involved in promotion art and culture more particularly culture and academician and stakeholders from the cultural landscape region.
It has also empowered the management authority to counter or mitigate any development pressure, which may reduce the values of the island.
Taking part in the discussion on the Bill, Jonai MLA Bhuban Pegu (Independent) drew the attention of the Government towards the concern expressed by the State Water Resources Department that the constriction of the Brahmaputra by about 4 kms with the construction of the Bogibeel Bridge over the mighty river might cause serious harm to the island. He also suggested that the bill should incorporate a specific provision on checking erosion of the islands landmass. Besides, he called for steps to refer to the Mishing villages as Mishing villages only. These villages should not be identified as Dahgam and Baragam, he said.
Moving an amendment, Majuli MLA Rajiv Lochan Pegu (Congress) said that the name of Tokobari Sattra should be incorporated in the bill. His amendment was accepted and thus the number of sattras in the island listed by the Bill rose to 31.
Mission Ranjan Das (BJP) moved an amendment suggesting that a provision for a master plan for development of the surface communication network of the island should be incorporated in the bill. He later withdrew his amendment when Flood Control and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Bharat Chandra Narah said that the provision was already there in the Bill in a different language.
Keshab Mahanta (AGP) suggested that there should be a full time officer to look after the management of the cultural landscape region. However, he had not moved any amendment motion and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Bharat Narah said that this would be discussed with the Chief Minister. Leader of the Opposition Brindaban Goswami said that they were in favour of the Bill.
More details on www.majuli.info
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