Floods, erosion endanger lives of Majuli residents
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| A stretch of eroded land in Majuli. File picture |
l We would like to draw the attention of the government to the problem faced by the residents of the largest river island, Majuli, because of continuous land degradation and soil erosion.
From birth to death, we thrive on land.
Land is the only component which is a must for the survival of the human race! It is said that “land is the real treasure, with real worth”.
But alas! The quantity of this treasure is declining. And the areas worst affected are the areas near the waterbodies and the islands.
It all began with the earthquakes of 1947 and 1950, which led to dramatic morphological changes in the course of the Brahmaputra.
Since then, with every monsoon, the people of Majuli have suffered immensely.
Floods wreak havoc because a rise in water levels washes away the banks of Majuli.
By the time victims are rehabilitated, the floods arrive again. Thus, the residents are not secure even on their own land.
The total land area of 733.79 square km of Majuli in 1994 dwindled to just 506.36 square km in 2008.
Altogether 227.43 square km has been lost to the erosion in just 14 years.
This adds up to a loss of 16,245 square km per year.
This situation speaks for itself.
If erosion continues at this rate, then Majuli will have a fate similar to that of Indira Point in Andaman and Nicobar Islands which was submerged in the 2004 tsunami.
We would like to request the authorities and the government of Assam to take this matter seriously.
No doubt the government is taking several initiatives in providing relief to the people, but the implementation process is too slow. Improvised and innovative planning as well as immediate steps are required to avoid further erosion and degradation on the banks of the largest river island.
The main objective of a democratic government is to protect and see to the betterment of its people.
Sayesta Choudhury and Ipshita Bhattacharyya
Class XI (Science), Kendriya Vidyalaya, Khanapara
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| Irom Sharmila |
I have read the article published in your daily, Sharmila challenges Centre, published on September 6.
Irom Chanu Sharmila has done a great deed by fasting for 11 years, protesting against the draconian Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act.
The longest hunger striker of the world, she has taken into account the whole of the Northeast while challenging the Centre to take up the cause of the region and its people.
According to her, the role of the Centre in the Northeast is negligible.
Her arguments are valid because empowerment of Tada and POTA in the mainstream is supported wholeheartedly by the Centre.
The way Sharmila has stood up for the Northeast by saying that in the field of sports and games we are indomitable, must prod the government towards development in the region.
Thus, I fully support Irom Sharmila as she challenges the Centre.
Agamani Choudhury,
Lachit Nagar
The Assam Medical College Hospital, the pioneer institute of medical education and healthcare in the Northeast, has a major role in extending healthcare services to the needy and poor patients.
I joined this institute this year on being transferred from the GMCH as an assistant professor (where I served for more than a decade).
At that time, the AMCH was being criticised for its wornout Assam-type dilapidated buildings, standard of teaching and patient care, recognition of MCI for under-graduate and post-graduate and so forth.
Thanks to generous financial assistance from the health department of the government of Assam, Hope Project, NEC funds and others during the last few years, AMCH has undergone an amazing metamorphosis.
It is now a beautiful centre of excellence for its service to patients with modern amenities, better teaching facilities for students and tremendous improvement in research activities.
New buildings, which started a few years back has been completed and respective departments have also started utilising these. Yet some controversies have propped up regarding the sensitive issue of doctor-patient relationship and also the role of the media. The latest controversy was over the death of a patient in the casualty department of AMCH.
In India, all the doctors are supposed to be registered under a respective council and are bound by medical ethics and the laws of land.
Also, the security of doctors at their working place is very important.
There should be enactment of tough laws like in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra where assault on working doctors is a non-bailable offence.
Members of the fourth estate should be restrained in their activities so that a cordial atmosphere is developed.
Mihir Kr Goswami
professor and head of department, AMCH, Dibrugarh
