Lok Sabha Question No. 11 (STARRED), answered on 2024-07-22
Subject: Impact of Climate Change on Majuli Island
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Gaurav Gogoi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.11

TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.07.2024

## Impact of Climate Change on Majuli Island

## *11 SHRI GAURAV GOGOI:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the  alarming  rise  in  soil  erosion  severely impacting the island of Majuli;
- (b) whether the Government has any ongoing studies or monitoring programmes to assess the rate and severity of climate change impacts on Majuli, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to address riverbank erosion and  whether  there  are  any  ongoing  projects  for  riverbank  stabilization,  if  so,  the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government has a dedicated action plan for mitigating the adverse effects of  climate  change  on  Majuli,  if  so,  the  details  and  timelines  for  implementation thereof;
- (e) whether  the  Government  plans  to  allocate  any  specific  funds  for  climate  change adaptation and mitigation projects in Majuli, if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) whether the Government is exploring partnerships with International Organizations or Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to access additional resources and expertise for climate action projects in Majuli, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BHUPENDER YADAV)

- (a) to (f) A statement is laid on the table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (f)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  11  DUE  FOR  REPLY  ON  22.07.2024  RAISED  BY  SHRI GAURAV GOGOI:

(a)  to  (f)  The  Central  Water  Commission  has  carried  out  morphological  study  of  river Brahmaputra  using  remote  sensing  technique  through  Indian  Institute  of  Technology, Guwahati. As part of the study, the decadal change in the total area of Majuli was estimated. It is found that although there is a decrease in the total area of Majuli from the base year i.e. 1973- 74 but in the recent decades, the total area of the Majuli almost remains the same. The study  indicates  that  there  exists  a  continuous  process  of  erosion-deposition  around  the landmass.

The  Government  of  India  has  constituted  the  Brahmaputra  Board  in  1980  with  the objective  of  planning  and  integrated  implementation  of  measures  for  control  of  floods  and bank erosion in Brahmaputra Valley and matters connected therewith. As per the information provided by the Brahmaputra Board, it has executed flood mitigation and erosion protection works in Majuli Island under the four schemes since 2004 at a total cost of Rs. 183.27 crore and  has  further  sanctioned  a  project  at  a  cost  of  Rs.  233.57  crore  in  2017,  totaling  to Rs. 416.84 crore. The soil erosion by river Brahmaputra has been substantially reduced after different measures implemented by the Brahmaputra Board since 2004.

The Government of Assam has outlined strategies to address riverbank erosion. One of the key strategies under the Disaster Management sector is to minimize soil erosion due to floods through appropriate construction regulations and vegetation measures.

The  Government  has  launched  the  National  Action Plan  for  Climate  Change (NAPCC) which provides the overarching policy  framework for climate change mitigation and  adaptation  through  its  National  Missions  in  specific  areas  of  solar  energy,  energy efficiency,  water,  sustainable agriculture,  health, Himalayan ecosystem,  sustainable  habitat, green  India  and  strategic  knowledge  for  climate  change.  NAPCC  represents  multipronged, long term and integrated strategies for achieving key goals in the context of climate change. Consistent with the objectives of NAPCC, States and Union Territories have prepared their State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCCs) to address their State specific action. As on date, 34 States and Union Territories including Assam, have prepared their SAPCCs.

As per the Assam SAPCC, Majuli is ranked moderately vulnerable to climate change impacts using the indicators of agriculture, water resources, forests, socio-economic development, energy, health and disaster management. To mitigate climate change and build the state's adaptation capacity, the Assam SAPCC includes 36 strategies.

Further,  under  the  Assam  Project  on  Forest  and  Biodiversity  Conservation,  the capacities of the Biodiversity Management Committees in Majuli are being strengthened for contributing towards the overall enhancement of participatory climate change adaptation.

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