While the PM’s proposed visit has been put off thrice in the past two years, the Assam Government had only last week said that Manmohan Singh was likely to visit the island next week. Union Minister B K Handique, who visited the island last month, had also promised that the PM would soon visit Majuli.

Meanwhile, the Majuli Suraksha Samanwaya Samiti, an umbrella body of various organisations of the island, on Thursday asked the Government to make its “final commitment” by May 15 whether it had any intention to protect the island or not. “Whatever funds the Government has sanctioned so far has not helped protect even an inch of land,” said an office-bearer.

Last November, the PM had reviewed the Government action to counter the erosion and directed that the action plan be implemented on “highest priority”. A meeting chaired by him in New Delhi was attended by Union Ministers Saifuddin Soz and Ambika Soni besides senior officials.