Centre to take up plan afresh

NEW DELHI, March 14: The proposal to include the Majuli island in the World Heritage Site Map by the UNESCO would be taken up afresh by the Government of India in the next timetable of the UN body that starts from 2002-2003. The proposal would now be taken up jointly by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest and Union Tourism and Culture Ministry. The Tourism and Culture Minister. Ananth Kumar faced with criticism from members in the Rajya Sabha members here this morning, for the delay in pursuing the case, agreed to jointly take up the proposal with the Environment and Forests ministry with the world body. As the next timetable starts in from next year the government would take up the proposal for that period assured the minister. The uncertainty over the fate of the proposal to include the world's largest river island in the World Heritage Map, had arisen after reports indicated that it may be rejected as the island did not have the required numbers of historical sites. The Environment and Forests Ministry had submitted the proposal under the category of Natural World Heritage site, whereas it should have been classified as Living Cultural Heritage, Arun Kumar Sarma claimed. The UNESCO has three classifications including natural, cultural and dual for including any monuments in the World Heritage map. Raising the issue during the question hour, the AGP MP charged that the ministry has not gone into the details of the project before recommending it to the UNESCO. Majuli Island with its rich cultural heritage is the fit case to be declared as a Living World Heritage Site under Clause Five & Six of the Charter of the UNESCO, he pointed out. "Majuli Island has maintained a distinct culture for the last 500 years and fulfils both the criteria stipulated by the UNESCO under its Charter Five & Six," the MP said. Replying to the charges, the minister conceded that the Majuli Island fulfils both the categories. The Island, which is a Karmabhumi of Srimanta Sankaradeva is a fit case for inclusion as a World Heritage Site for Living Culture. He assured that his ministry would now be joining the Environment Ministry in pursuing the proposal with the UNESCO. The ministry further added that as of 11 proposals are currently pending with the UNESCO, out of which only three sites were accepted by the UN body during the current timetable. Joining Sarma in expressing concern at the plight of the River Island. Bharati Roy, a Left member wanted to know what steps the Government of India had taken to protect Majuli Island from floods that hit it every year. In reply the Ministry said the Government of India has taken a number of steps to preserve the natural and cultural sites of the Island. Joyashree Goswami Mahanta also joined the issue wondering about the fate of the report of the Expert Body appointed by the Archaeological Society of India. The ministry said it was in pursuant of the report that the Environment and Forest Ministry had taken up the proposal with the UNESCO. The Ministry of Tourism and Culture would now he supplementing their efforts, he assured.