Why In The News?

• The Assam government has decided to create new law for protecting cultural and historic areas in the State.
• The law aims to create "heritage blocks" for protecting cultural and historic areas.
• Entire Majuli Island,and a five km radius of both Barpeta Satra and Bordowa Than in Battadrava has been declared as ‘heritage blocks’.
• These lands will be protected by unique land selling and purchase laws.
• Only those living in these heritage blocks for three generations can buy or sell lands in these notified areas.
• More areas to be notified later as "heritage blocks".
• A bill will be introduced to add a new chapter to the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation Act of 1886.

Micro Tribal belts:

=> Villages with more than 80% Scheduled Tribe (ST) population will be declared as "micro tribal belt and block" based on public demand.

=> 12 such micro tribal belt already exist in the state.

Majuli island:

=> Majuli is a river island in the Brahmaputra River, located in the Indian state of Assam.

=> It is one of the world's largest river islands.

=> Originally around 1,250 square kilometers, now reduced to about 352 square kilometers due to erosion.