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बाढ़ और तटकटाव से माजुल� �वीप का ��तर�ण

Protection of Majuli Island from Floods and Erosion

��मपु� बोड�

Guwahati

Brahmaputra Board

May 2012

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Protection of Majuli Island from floods and erosion –

Measures, Outcome and Plan ahead

1.0 Introduction

The River Brahmaputra divides into two channels – the northern

Kherkutia channel and the southern Brahmaputra channel between

Dibrugarh and Lakhimpur Districts and both the channels join again

about 85 km downstream at Ukhalchuk - forming Majuli, the largest

inhabited river Island in the world. The width (in North- South direction)

of island varies between 10 Km to 15Km.

The Majuli Island is a part of Majuli Revenue Circle. As per the revenue

records, the area of Majuli Revenue Circle in the year 1950 was

1245.12 sq-km. It included entire reach of Brahmaputra water body

up to left bank along Sibsagar, Jorhat and Golaghat Districts. But as

per Survey of India map, the area of Majuli Island was only 733.79 sq-

km in the year 1914.

The Majuli Island is an administrative Sub-division under Jorhat District.

The Island represents a colorful rainbow of cultural integration with 70

% of its population belonging to tribal communities such as Mishing,

Deori, Kachari and Koch Rajbongshi. It has a population of 1.68 lakh

as per 2011 census.

Majuli Island has been under serious attack by the mighty

Brahmaputra. Loss of land mass on account of erosion of

Brahmaputra River right bank has been regular feature for Majuli

Island.

Erosion at Bengen-Ati, Majuli

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On receipt of request of the Government of Assam in November 1999,

Brahmaputra Board prepared a Scheme for ‘Protection of Majuli

Island from Floods and Erosion’ at the estimated cost of ` 86.56 crore,

based upon the recommendations of the Master Plan of

Brahmaputra River, prepared earlier by Brahmaputra Board. The

scheme was proposed to be implemented in three phases – Phase-I,

Phase-II and Phase-III – as per break-up given below-

Sl.No. Phase Amount

(in ` in crore)

1 Phase-I 41.28

2 Phase-II 18.28

3 Phase-III 27.00

Total 86.56

The above scheme was submitted to the Central Water Commission

(CWC) by Brahmaputra Board during August, 2000 for examination.

The scheme was examined in the River Management (RM) Wing of

CWC and recommended to Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR),

Government of India for acceptance, at the estimated cost of ` 86.56

crore, through letter No: 59/Majuli Island/FM-11/95/354 dated 25th

August 2003.

2.0 Execution of Protection Works

2.1 Immediate Measures

Massive land erosion started in Majuli during the monsoon in the year

2003. A Central Expert Team headed by Director, Flood

Management, Central Water Commission visited vulnerable sites of

Majuli Island in the month of June 2003 and recommended certain

immediate measures. Brahmaputra Board formulated a scheme at

the estimated cost of ` 6.22 crore for undertaking immediate

measures, based upon recommendations of the Central Expert Team.

Execution of works started in January, 2004 and completed in

February, 2005 at the expenditure of ` 5.92 crore.

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2.1.2 Important works executed under ‘Immediate

Measures’

Following are the main works carried out under ‘Immediate

Measures’-

(a) Closing of 20 breaches – 16 on Malual-Malapindha Dyke and PWD Road and 4 on Pahumora-Garmur-Jengrai-Haldibari (PGJH)

road,

(b) Raising and Strengthening of 5.55 km long embankment from Kamalabarighat to Kharkharijan and

(c) Casting and laying of permeable RCC porcupine screens / spurs / dampeners at various locations.

Protection works carried out by Brahmaputra Board under

‘Immediate Protection Measures’ are shown in the Plate-1.

Breach closure work on PGJH dyke

2.2 Implementation of Phase-I

The ‘Administrative Approval and Expenditure Sanction’ to the

Scheme titled ‘Protection of Majuli Island from Floods and Erosion’ (of

total estimated cost of ` 86.56 crore) for estimated cost of ` 41.28

crore was communicated by Ministry of Water Resources (Indus Wing)

through letter No: 31/14/2003-IT/141-152 dated 28th January 2005. The

estimate was subsequently revised to ` 56.07 crore. The works under

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Phase-I were taken up by Brahmaputra Board in March 2005 and

completed in April 2011 at the cost of ` 53.40 crore.

2.2.2 Important works executed under ‘Phase-I’

Following are the main works carried out under ‘Phase-I’ –

(a) Plugging / Closure of 3 breaches on Pahumora-Garmur-Jengrai-Haldibari (PGJH) road,

(b) Raising and strengthening of 90.70 km of embankment from Molual to Balichapori, Bokora to Kamalabari, Kharkharijan to

Tekeliphuta and Mili Tiniali to Jengrai,

(c) Casting and laying RCC porcupine screens / spurs / dampeners on northern and southern sides of Majuli Island and

(d) Construction and Repair of nose portion of land spurs at Sonowal Kachari and Kandulimari

Raising and Strengthening of Embankment

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2.2.3 Performance

On execution of works under Phase-I, erosion got arrested

substantially in the severely affected reaches of Sonowal Kachari,

Salmara, Dakhinpat, Kamalabari, Bhakat-Chapori, Kordoiguri, Malual

and Ukhalchuk along the Brahmaputra bank. Similarly, anti-erosion

measures undertaken by Brahmaputra Board proved very effective in

checking erosion along Kherkutia-Subansiri bank at Jengrai, Chelek-

Pathali and Natun Chapori area. The villagers who deserted their

villages at Salmara and Kordoiguri earlier returned back to their

homes on improvement in situation. Anti-erosion / Protection works

executed by Brahmaputra Board under ‘Phase-I’ are shown in the

Plate-2.

2.3 Emergent Works on Recommendations of Standing

Committee of Experts on Majuli

Unprecedented floods occurred during the monsoon of the year

2007. Massive land erosion took place in the reach from Katonobari to

Sonowal Kachari in Upper Majuli, in Dakhinpat-Salmara-Kamalabari

(in Middle Majuli) and Birinabari-Ukhalchuk reach (in Lower Majuli).

The land erosion was virtually unmanageable particularly in Begen-Ati

and Sumoimari reach.

After the devastating floods in the year 2007, Ministry of Water

Resources constituted a Standing Committee of Experts on Majuli

under the Chairmanship of Member (River Management), Central

Water Commission through Office Memorandum No: 11013/6/2007-

B&B/2002-70 dated 25th October 2007 with the following ‘Terms of

Reference’ –

(a) The Standing Committee of Experts will meet and visit Majuli Island at least once in a period of 4-6 months,

(b) The Committee shall review the work executed by the Board for protection of Majuli Island,

(c) The Committee shall suggest suitable measures for protection of Majuli Island,

(d) Brahmaputra Board shall make all necessary arrangements for visit of the team to the site,

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(e) The Committee shall submit the report to the MoWR within 15 days of the visit to the Majuli Island and

(f) The TA/DA in respect of the officials working in Central and State Government will be borne by their respective Ministry /

department.

The committee made its 1st visit of the Island in January 2008 and

recommended certain emergent measures to be undertaken by

Brahmaputra Board prior to onset of monsoon of the year 2008. An

estimate for an amount of ` 4.99 crore was formulated by

Brahmaputra Board.

So far, there have been 7 visits of the island by Standing Committee of

Experts on Majuli Island.

7th visit of Standing Committee of Experts on Majuli Island under the

Chairmanship of Sri S.P. Kakran, Member(RM), CWC

2.3.1 Particulars on Execution of Emergent Works

The ‘Emergent Works’, basically involved construction and laying of

RCC porcupine screens / dampeners at the following vulnerable

locations -

(a) Bhogpur area , downstream of Sumoimari check bund,

(b) Downstream of Kharkharijan in Begen-ati,

(c) Kamalabari reach,

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(d) Bhakatchapori–Pakhimuri and

(e) Bessamara and Dakhinpat reaches

All works planned under the estimate were completed satisfactorily

by September 2008 at the total cost of ` 4.62 crore.

Protection works carried out by Brahmaputra Board under ‘Emergent

Protection Measures’ are shown in the Plate-3.

2.4 Implementation of Phase-II and Phase-III

The estimate / proposal for ‘Protection of Majuli Island from Floods

and Erosion under Phase-II & Phase-III’ was placed before the 110th

meeting of the Advisory Committee for consideration of techno-

economic viability of Irrigation, Flood Control and Multipurpose

Project Proposals, held on 20th July 2011. The Project Appraisal

Organization, Central Water Commission communicated

acceptance of the Advisory Committee to the proposal for the

estimated cost of ` 115.99 crore at the Price Level of the year 2010

through letters No: 16/27/2011-PA(N)/1391-1424 dated 5th August 2011

and No: 16/27/2011-PA(N)/1520-1553 dated 23rd August 2011.

Effectiveness of RCC Porcupines in inducing Siltation

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2.4.1 Status of execution of protection works for Majuli

Island under ‘Phase-II’ and ‘Phase-III’

All works under Phase-II & Phase-III are targeted for completion by

March, 2014. The current status (up to March, 2012) on progress of

works is tabulated below-

Sl.

No. Works planned

Progress in

%age upto

May 2012

Remarks

1. Construction of 5

Boulder Spurs with geo-

bags below Lowest

Water Level (LWL)

39.35 Work is in progress.

2. Casting & Laying of RCC

Porcupines

(1,27,396 porcupines)

72.14 Work is in progress.

3. Bank revetment with

boulders and geo-bags

at 4 (four) locations for a

total length of 5190 m

NIT was floated for

procurement of geo-

bags on 14th February

2012.

4. Bank Stabilization at

PGJH dyke by use of

sand filled geo-mattress

in a length of 3095m

Proposed to be taken

up in XII Plan.

5. Bank revetment at

Jengrai

Tendering is under

process.

6. Raised Platform at 5

locations

One Raised Platform

constructed. Placing

of ‘Work Orders’ for 3

is under process. Land

Acquisition for one is

in process.

7. Pilot Channel- 2 KM Requirement is to be

assessed on

withdrawal of next

monsoon.

8. Construction of Check

bunds at Sonowal

Kachari and Kandulimari

NIT was floated on 9th

March 2012.

The cumulative expenditure incurred on protection works of Majuli

Island under Phase-II & Phase-III upto March, 2012 is ` 49.86 crore.

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2.42 Performance of protection works executed under

Phase-II & Phase-III

The anti-erosion works carried out by Brahmaputra Board so far have

yielded positive results. It may be stated that in the year 2007 the

Sumoimari channel of Brahmaputra river, flowing along southern bank

of Majuli Island from Dakhinpat to Kamalabari for an approximate

length of 25 Km, carried a considerable discharge of Brahmaputra

(40%-45% of total discharge of Brahmaputra). Use of RCC porcupine

screens in Aphalamukh-Dakhinpat area i.e. at the mouth of the

Sumoimari channel induced heavy siltation, as a result, gradually, flow

in the channel got reduced substantially.

Similarly, judicious laying of porcupine screens in the upstream at

Tekeliphuta and downstream areas encouraged heavy siltation. As a

result of above, the entire upper Majuli reach of Brahmaputra has

seen no erosion during the monsoons of the years 2009 and 2010. This

shows that the anti-erosion works carried out by Brahmaputra Board

have brought about far reaching consequences and changes in the

river morphology and thereby these have considerable favourable

impacts in river regime.

Protection works undertaken by Brahmaputra Board till March 2012

under ‘Phase-II & Phase-III’ are shown in the Plate-4.

Land reclaimed at Dakhinpat area

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3. Abstract of Expenditure incurred by Brahmaputra Board on protection of Majuli Island

Estimated Cost, Actual Expenditure incurred and status up to May’12

of the works executed by Brahmaputra Board at various stages since

the year 2004 are tabulated hereunder-

Entire works executed by Brahmaputra Board for protection of Majuli

Island till March 2012 at various stages are shown in the Plate-5.

Sl.

No.

Description Estimated

Cost

(` in crore)

Actual

Expenditure

(` in crore)

Remarks

1 Immediate

Measures

(Year 2004-

2005)

6.22 5.92 Completed

2 Phase- I

(Years 2005-

2011)

56.07 53.40 Completed

3 Emergent

Measures

(Year 2008)

4.99 4.62 Completed

4 Phase-II &

Phase-III (Since

2011)

115.99 49.86 Targeted to be

completed by

March 2014

Total 183.27 113.80

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4. Overall Achievement / Reclamation of Land Mass of Majuli Island

It may be worthwhile to mention that during the period from the year

1963 to the year 2004, there has been, year after year, loss of land

mass of Majuli Island. Brahmaputra Board took up protection of Majuli

Island from floods and erosion in January 2004. Since then no loss of

land mass of Majuli island has occurred. Erosion / Reclamation of land

mass of Majuli Island during the years from 2004 to 2011 is tabulated

below-

It is observed from the above that the total area of the land mass of

Majuli Main Island (assessed as per Satellite Imagery) was 502.21 sq km

in the year 2004. Since the year 2004, with regular implementation of

ant-erosion / bank protection measures by Brahmaputra Board, the

total area of Majuli Island has increased to 520.26 sq km (based on

the Satellite Imagery of February 2011). Thus, not only overall erosion

has arrested, but in fact the trend has reversed favourably. Map of

Majuli Island showing Satellite Imagery of the year 2011 superimposed

on Satellite Imagery of the year 2004 is appended at Plate-6. This map

indicates locations of erosion and locations of reclamation of land

mass in Majuli Island during the years from 2004 to 2011.

Year

Area of Majuli

Island

(in sq km)

Net Area

reclaimed

(in sq km)

2004

502.21

2008

506.37 4.16

2011

520.26 13.89

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5. Future Plan

Remaining protection works, such as completion of five spurs, river

bank revetment, laying porcupines at vulnerable locations,

contemplated under Phase-II and Phase-III are under execution and

targeted to be completed by March 2014.

The ‘Standing Committee of Experts on Majuli’ on its 6th visit of Majuli

Island during the period from 6th to 8th November 2010,

recommended for construction of guide bunds to channelize river

flow with the view to protect Majuli Island from recurring floods and

bank erosion.

6th visit of the standing committee of experts on Majuli under the

Chairmanship of Sri R.C. Jha, Member(RM), CWC

Various alternatives for alignment of guide bunds are to be examined

/ studied through ‘Physical Model Study’ of Majuli Island set up at

North Eastern Hydraulic & Allied Research Institute (NEHARI), North

Guwahati. Final selection is to be made on confirmation through

‘Mathematical Model Study’ assigned to Central Water and Power

Research Station (CWPRS), Pune.

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Physical model of Majuli Island set up at NEHARI

Based upon the ‘Physical Model study’ carried out at NEHARI,

Brahmaputra Board has come out with three alternatives. Preliminary

design, assessment of quantum of work involved and estimation of

financial implication are in advanced stage of finalization. Three

proposed alternatives / options for alignment of guide bunds are

shown in the Plates-7(a) to 7(c). The above proposal will be placed

before the ‘Standing Committee of Experts on Majuli’ for final decision

on alignment of guide bund in its next meeting.

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Siltation at Bengenati due to screen laid during 2008& 2009

and re-strengthened in 2010

updated Majuli report June'21.pdfPlate 1.pdfPlate 2.pdfPlate 3.pdfPlate 4.pdfPlate 5.pdfPlate 6.pdfPlate 7a.pdfPlate 7b.pdfPlate 7c.pdf

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