Safeguarding the threatened hydrogeo-cultural heritage of Majuli Island in Assam, India: A case study

Abstract

Water resources are basic need for life, and it has a vital role on any riverine island and its diverse culture and heritage. Majuli, the riverine island in Assam is distinctive for its origin, characteristic water resources, hydrogeological manifestations as well as its cultural heritage. River Brahmaputra, the lifeline of Assam, transverses through Assam’s valley, resulting in the deposition of alluvial sediments and forming one of India’s most potential aquifer systems. Every year, the state is prone to frequent natural disasters like massive floods and riverbank erosion in the valley during the monsoon months. Majuli Island is the cultural heritage site of Assam, which is often highlighted as the ‘Cultural Capital’ of the state. It is termed as the largest river island of India and one of the largest inhabited riverine islands in the world. In combination with cultural aspects, the island holds typical hydrogeological heritage, consisting of encircled fresh surface water bodies, wetlands, beels, various sub-surface aquifer systems, and water quality issues. However, the existence of the hydrogeo-cultural heritage in the island is under acute threat due to frequent floods, land erosion by the Brahmaputra and its tributaries, surface water and groundwater quality deterioration. Hence, the present study has emphasized the changing hydrogeological scenario of Majuli over the last decades and the correlation of diverse cultural perspectives followed by the establishment of mutual interrelationships between hydrogeology and cultures, which have not been addressed so far. The paper also aims at understanding the demographic status, landscape pattern, hydro-geomorphological characteristics, biodiversity and ethnic diversity perspectives, which would facilitate to adopt the effective measures for protection of the island from further environmental degradation and thereby to recommend a sustainable management strategy to uphold the multidimensional cultural heritage perspectives of the island.