NEW DELHI, May 7 � Contrary to reports about massive erosion of Majuli island, the Centre on Monday claimed that the total land mass of the river island has increased marginally. Based on satellite imagery, the land mass of the island was calculated at 520.26 sq km.
The total area of the land mass of Majuli main island, according to satellite imagery, was found to be 502.21 sq km in 2004. The total area based on the satellite imagery as of February 2011 has been found to be 520.26 sq km. Thus, apparently land loss has not only stopped but the trend has reversed and the Majuli Island has started gaining land mass, Minister of State for Water resources Vincent H Pala said in a Rajya Sabha reply.
Since the year 2004, the protection works of Majuli Island from floods and erosion were taken up by Brahmaputra Board.
The protection work of Majuli Phase-I have been completed and works of Majuli Phase-II and III are continuing. The Physical Progress of Majuli Phase-II and III as on March, is 39.08 per cent. It is targeted to complete the Phase-II and III work in March, 2014.
