MAJULI, Dec 18 - River island Majuli will soon be declared a bio-diversity heritage site and in this regard, the Assam State Bio Diversity Council will soon issue a notification. The island, already identified as the heart of Satriya culture and spiritual thinking, is also known as a place of natural beauty and the State Government has given special emphasis to preserve the rich bio-diversity of this island district for the future generations.
After the approval to the proposal was given by Majuli�s local Bio-Diversity arrangement committee by a specialists committee of the State Bio-Diversity Council, the Council�s member secretary and also the State�s Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests AK Johari announced that the draft notification will be issued soon. The specialists� committee by taking �Aranya Manab� Jadab Payeng as the head has given its formal approval to the proposal of forming Majuli as Bio-Diversity Heritage Site in the conference which was held in the DC office of Majuli.
Besides the DC of Majuli, Pallab Gopal Jha, Jadab Payeng, the Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests AK Johari, specialist in the State Council Dr Anil Goswami, scientists of Dibrugarh University and Assam Agricultural University, DFO of Golaghat, DFO of Jorhat, the officials of many voluntary organisations associated with the preservation of nature, and officials of many governments departments of Majuli also participated in the conference.
Johari also announced that the decision of setting up of Majuli as Bio-Diversity Heritage Site, will not lead to any prohibitions, that can create problems for the life of the people of Majuli. Instead of creating problems, this announcement will secure the rights of the people of this island district in each bio- diversity sphere and natural property of Majuli, Johari stated. He also added that this legal initiative is very much essential so that foreigners, research institutions or companies cannot acquire international patents to prove commercial ownership on any elements of the rare natural bio-diversity of Majuli.
After the declaration of Majuli as a bio-diversity heritage site, it will be mandatory to seek permission from the people of Majuli to use any natural element of this island district.
According to Assam�s Bio-Diversity Act, after the State�s Bio Diversity Council�s enforcement of draft notification, if any person or persons have any problem, than they can file objections within 30 days. Within this timeline, if there is no objection from any side then the State Bio Diversity Council will announce this island district formally as a Bio-Diversity Heritage Site after a month.