Jorhat, Assam:
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today made an aerial survey of the ongoing anti-erosion works to save the world's largest river island Majuli and its gateway Neematighat in upper Assam.
The chief minister was happy to see the progress of the work over several hundred metres along the bank of the river Brahmaputra, Water Resources Department sources said.
More than 70 per cent of the work has been completed so far at an expenditure of Rs 541 crore and was undertaken jointly by the Water Resources Department, Assam government and Central government, the sources said.
The work had made the gateway to Majuli stable for both, the islanders as well as tourists visiting the 14th century centre for Vaishnavite culture, sources said.
Neematighat area was washed away in 2012 and 2013, cutting off the island for several weeks, affecting tourists and islanders.
Several schools, colleges, Vaishnavite Sattras (monasteries) and Namghars (prayer houses) were also reported to be washed away then.