NEW DELHI, Feb 1 – Decks have been cleared for execution of the crucial phase of the Majuli Island Protection Project aimed at ensuring protection of sattras, with the Planning Commission on Wednesday sanctioning investment clearance for implementation of the Phase II and III of the anti-eorsion project at an estimated cost of Rs 115.99 crore. The project aims at protecting 22 sattras and public and private properties, as well as ensuring economic development and social uplift after reconstruction of roads and bridges usually destroyed during floods.

The Planning Commission has given its investment clearance for a Rs 115.9 crore project titled ‘Protection of Majuli Island, Assam from flood and erosion, Phase II and III.’

According to an official statement here on Wednesday, the project will be completed by the current fiscal and Plan accounts would be closed by March 31, 2012.

KOLKATA/PATNA, 30 JAN: The chief minister's proposed visit to the Aila-affected areas in the Sunderbans tomorrow is likely to be another gimmick as the state government has so far failed to acquire required land for setting up embankment. The state has got only 150 acres out of required 4,000 acres of land. A total of 5,700 acres of land will be needed to set up the embankments in North and South 24-Parganas. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 5,032 crore, of which 75 per cent will be borne by the Centre.

SHILLONG: Pointing out that the State is blessed with the highest amount of rainfall, Principal Secretary of Soil and Water Conservation PBO Warjri rued the fact that the State has not been able to retain this blessing.

“The total amount of water which precipitates from Meghalaya either goes to Bangladesh or the Brahmaputra. We are able to retain very less water,” Warjri said after the release of the annual report of the State Soil and Water Conservation department on Tuesday.

GUWAHATI: Erosion was a graver problem in Assam compared to floods as it resulted in permanent land loss and crippled a family”, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said on Wednesday.

“It is an area where much importance has to be accorded by the Central Government and the Brahmaputra Board”, Gogoi said at the 6th High Powered Review Board Meeting of Brahmaputra Board here.

He said over eight lakh people had been rendered homeless and over 4 lakh hectares washed away by Brahmaputra.

JORHAT, Jan 17 – Visiting the erosion-hit areas at Salmora, Majuli this afternoon, P K Bansal, Union Cabinet Minister of Water Resources and V H Pala, Minister of State for Water Resources, stated at a meeting held in the Majuli College playground near Daria Bridge that Majuli has enough potential to get recognition as a World Heritage Site from UNESCO. Bansal also said that the required nomination dossier for the recognition has already been submitted to the authority concerned.

Dhubri, Jan. 5: A Rs 14-crore project to protect villages along downstream Koimari to Moisa upto Chilarai bridge under Agomoni revenue circle of Dhubri district has been sanctioned by the Centre, while another anti-erosion project worth Rs 2 crore to protect Gou Jhapusabari border village has been sanctioned by the Dhubri district calamity relief fund

The death toll from flash floods that swept away entire villages in the southern Philippines climbed to nearly 1,500, as authorities widened their search for bodies.

The Office of Civil Defense's latest tally listed 891 dead in Cagayan de Oro and an additional 451 in nearby Iligan city. The rest came from several other provinces. Most of the dead are unidentified.

"The search will continue as long as we are recovering bodies," said Civil Defense head Benito Ramos.