Majuli Cultural Landscape Region Act, 2006

No: 7 Dated: Aug, 28 2006

THE MAJULI CULTURAL LANDSCAPE REGION ACT, 2006

ASSAM ACT NO. VII OF 2006

    An Act to integrate development and heritagefor protection of heritage resources of MAJULI CULTURAL LANDSCAPE REGION, through education, awareness, understanding of cultural significance and ensuring a sustainable and positive deve!opment trend.

    Preamble:- Whereas it is expedient to provide for,-

(a) Delineation of boundaries of MAJULI CULTURAL LANDSCAPE REGION;

(b) Conservation and .sustainable development of the resources within the Cultural Landscape Region;

(c) Preservation and progression of cultural values, ethos and identify of the Cultural Landscape Region;

(d) Preventing uncontrolled land , use and disintegrated developmental measures 'of any type as understood so far as development;

 (e) Preventing commercial exploitation, incorporation of nonindigenous techniques into sustaining traditional life-style and institution;

(f) 'Encuraging heritage and environment sensitive tourism and tourists controlled tourist influx to the island including type of products/daily needs of tourists, limited to basic necessities only;

(g) Support proliferation of locally based (economic) initiatives, control external Initiatives in the core area " for economic activities except for the case of provision oftechnlcal expertise and keeping with one traditioR ofthe place;

(h) Preventing loss of values and authenticity of the Cultural Landscape with unthoughtful and disconcerted projects or programmes by various implementing agencies:

(i) Continuous development of a hydrological, disaster management, risk preparedness model for flood and erosion for preventing recurrent loss of properties and landmass due to both factors;

(j) Sustainable Development of buffer area with growth centres, blo-economic activities, market centre of national status which can provide for adequate . livelihood options for both people of core area and outside, as well;

    It is hereby enacted in the Fifty-seventh Year of the Republic of India, as follows:-

1. Shorttitle. extentand commencement:- (1) This Act may be called the Majuli Cultural Landscape Region Act, 2006.

(2) It shall come into force at once.

2. Definitions:- In this Act unless the context otherwise fequires.-

(a) "Authority" means the Majuli Cultural Landscape Management Authority specifically designated for Majuli Cultural Landscape Region with Core Area and Buffer Area;

(b) "Buffer Area" means the landmass around the Core Area along both sides of Majuli sub-dfvislon as may be notified by the Authority with the approval of the government;

(c) "Chairperson" means the .Chairperson of the Authority;

(d) "Chief Executive Officer" means the Commissioner, Upper Assam Division or an officer of equivalent rank so appointed by the Government as Chief Executive of the Authority;

(e) "Core Area" means the water and landmass of Majuli Civil Sub-division;

(f) "Cultural Landscape Region" means the total landmass inclusive of Core Area and Buffer Area;

(g) "Cultural resources" means all the tangible and intangible heritage components in Majuli like Sattras. manuscripts, antiquities, village,fields , waterbodles,dance ,drama,local proverbs, beliefs, rituals, festivals etc. including typologies of unique and special systems viz. geo-hydrologic system, bier economic system, socio-cultural system, socioreligious system etc.;

(h) "Development" means sustainable development of all the cultural and natural resources including ethnological, hydrological, topographical and land features, blo-diverse areas,ecosystem sattra region and traditional settlements, without loosing the unique and outstanding values of Majuli Cultural Landscape Region;

(i) "Executive Officer" means the officer posted in Majuli Cultural Landscape Management Authority who shall be responsible for day-to-day activities of the Authority;

(j) "Executive Group" means the group constituted by the Government under section 5 of the Act;

(k) "Fund" means Funds of the Authority ;

(I) "Government" means the Government of Assam; (m) "Local Authority" means all the panchayati Raj institutions and other autonomous tribal authorities operating in the Landscape Region;

(n) "Management Plan" means Management plan for the Cultural resources and Economic development of Majuli Landscape Region;

(o) "Prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act;

(p) "Stakeholders" means indigenous residents,Government Organlzations,People's Organizationsand privateindividuals/Institutions who has stake In natural resources; possess own organizational structure and decision making process, with or without formal status and can contribute to development in resource management in the area;

(q) "Sattra" means all the sattras presently located in Majuli Core area and Buffer Area as specified in the Schedule appended to this Act and such other Sattras as may be notified by the Government from time to time being in existence for at least fifty years prior to the commencement of this Act and accepted by the Authority;

(r) "Sattra region" means the area around the Sattra, including the traditional villages and natural resources with its traditional spatial entity;

(s) "tourists" means touristls coming from outside Majuli Cultural Landscape Region, both domestic, national and international staying not more than 7- 10 days;

(t) "Village" means all the revenue villages habited or uninhabited in the Cultural Landscape Region and will also include habitable clusters not yet notified as revenue villages;

3. Establishment of anAuthority:- With effect from such date, as the Government may by notification in the Official Gazette constitute, there shall be established an Authority to be called the MajuH Cultural Landscape Management Authority