By IANS,
New Delhi: After failing to make the cut twice, South Asia’s largest river island – Majuli in Assam – may finally become a World Heritage site in the near future as India again urged the visiting Unesco director general for its recognition.
Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal, during his meeting with Irina Bokova, advocated the case for the Majuli Island in the Brahmaputra river to be declared a Unesco World Heritage site.
The minister underlined the unique character of this island and said that it needs to be preserved.
This landmass, with a population of 160,000, majority being tribals, has a very rich heritage and has been the abode of Assamese Vaishnavite culture with tremendous option for spiritual and eco-tourism. The island is a bio-diversity hotspot and has rich ecology with rare breeds of flora and fauna.