The Disappearing River Island Of Majuli

Is There a Glimmer of Hope?

Majuli is the world's biggest river island in the Brahmaputra River, Assam, and in 2016 it became the first island to be made a district in India. In this article, Namrata Gulati Sapra says that unfortunately the river island of Majuli is facing an existential crisis as we stand the risk of losing this biodiversity heritage site due to large-scale industrialization and the perils of climate change. But, she further says that there is a ray of hope as the government is leaving no stone unturned to conserve Majuli and if things go as planned, India will have its first ever carbon neutral district in the form of Majuli. She also highlights the societal efforts at spreading awareness and impacting change as there is a realistic chance of it being granted the UNESCO World Heritage Site status in the near future.

The tales of the mighty Brahmaputra River flowing through Tibet, India, and Bangladesh have been, and continue to be, handed down from one century to another repeatedly, yet never failing to inspire curiosity and excitement. Inhabited by over 150,000 people, Majuli Island, the world’s largest river island known for its idyllic beauty, which nestles in the Brahmaputra, is dying a slow death at the hands of the very river it has been calling its home ever since its birth. The angry torrents of the water, however, have refused to reciprocate with the same warmth towards the island that is seeking refuge in it. On the contrary, the water body is engorging the island bit by bit, making it disappear faster than the mind can fathom. Consequently, the island has shrunk to one-third of its original size, going from an expansive 1,200 sq. km to a mere 400 sq. km. If these distressing figures are anything to go by, the island may disappear without a trace in two decades! Large-scale industrialization and climate change leading to the melting of the snow (thanks to the soaring temperatures of the Himalayas), are to be blamed for the gushing, uncontrollable flood along the Brahmaputra that has been gnawing at the land. The fury of the floods has been unleashed on human life too as many are rendered homeless every year. The annual tally of death toll and casualties are a number too big to grasp.

The First Carbon-Neutral District and Biodiversity Heritage Site

 Unfortunately, we stand the risk of losing not just a strikingly enchanting stretch of land once it is wiped off from the face of earth, but also a treasure trove of biodiversity, for the island boasts of more than 250 species of birds—migratory as well as resident. Many of them are rare or enlisted as endangered. These birds include the Siberian crane, greater adjutant stork, the whistling teal, and the pelican.