Last Updated on: July 30, 2022

SOIL CONSERVATION: ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

 

*Divisional Soil Conservation Officer

 

Assistant Soil Conservation Officer

Supervisory Assistant

Senior Assistant (Accountant)

*Senior Assistant

*Junior Assistant

Driver

*Peon/Chowkider

*Soil Conservation Range Officer

Soil Conservation JE

Soil Conservation Draftsman

Soil Conservation Demonstrator(Sr)

*Soil Conservation Demonstrator(Jr)

*Soil Conservation Field Worker

*Soil Conservation Plantation Mali

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

N.B.- This is the organizational structure of a Soil Conservation Divisional Office. But in the Majuli Soil Conservation Division, posts bearing * mark are the only sanctioned post at this date. Proposal for additional posts has been sent to the higher authority.

 

SOIL CONSERVATION: OFFICE STAFF DETAILS

Sl. No.	Name of the Office	Designation	Name of officer/staff	Contact No.
1	Office of the Divisional Officer, Majuli Soil Conservation Division, Majuli	Divisional Soil Conservation Officer	Sultan Jahedur Rahman	9085757345 9854450561
		Sr. Asstt	Vacant	-
		Jr Asstt.	Najim Uddin Ahmed	6002871922
		Peon	Vacant	-
		Chowkider	Sri Lakhi Nath Chintey	-
		Khalasi	Vacant	-
		Khalasi	Vacant	-
2	Office of the Range Officer, Majuli Soil Conservation Range, Majuli	Range Officer	Sri Bharat Khanikar	8761889384
		Soil Conservation Demonstrator (Jr)	Sri Bharat Doley	6000906311
		Soil Conservation Field Worker	Sri Prince Pegu	9864359728
		Plantation Mali	Sri Sing Saikia	-
		Plantation Mali	Sri Deba kanta Pegu	9476533570
3	Attached to the Office of the Deputy Commisssioner, Majuli	Soil Conservation Field Worker	Sri Biswajit Doley	9401086152
		Plantation Mali	Sri Ajit Nath	8011683144

 

OTHER DEPARTMENTAL SCHEMES IN THREE YEARS

Year	Name of Plan	Name of the Project	Location	Intervention	Estimated Amount (Rs. In Lakh)	Appox. Area Benefitted (In Hact.)	Status as on 13.09.2019
2017-18	SOPD (G)	Integrated River Training Project	Vill : Kharkhati               G.P.: Jengrai        Block : Ujani Majuli	Bank stabilization & Boulder Pitching	50.00	180	100%
	TSP	Land Reclamation & Water Distribution Project	Vill : Jengrai               G.P.: Jengrai        Block : Ujani Majuli	Earthen Bund with Sluice Gate	20.00	120	100%
	SCSP	Land Reclamation & Water Distribution Project	Vill : Dekasensuwa              G.P.: Raunapara       Block : Majuli	Field Bund & Box Culvert	10.00	48	100%
2018-19	SOPD (G)	Land Development Project at Jorbeel	Vill : Jorbeel               G.P.: Rongachahi        Block : Ujani Majuli	Field Bund & Box Culvert	10.00	30.00	100%
		Land Reclamation Project at 2 No. Phuloni	Vill: Phuloni               G.P. Phuloni           Block: Ujani Majuli	Field Bund(1) & Humepipe culvert(1)	10.00	110	100%
		Integrated Wetland Development( Upar Ghuli Dubi) at Goalgaon Part A & B	Vill: Gualgaon G.P. Sri Luhit   Block: Majuli	Wetland Development(1) and Farmshed	57.00	50	70%

 

 

2019-20	SOPD(G)	Protective Afforestation at Borpomua	Vill: Borpomua          G.P. Jengrai             Block: Ujani Majuli	Plantation of soil conservation species	22.34320	11.50	100%
		Protective Afforestation at Major Chapori	Vill: Major Chapori G.P. Karatipar Block: Majuli	Plantation of soil conservation species	23.65680	11.60	100%
		Wetland Development Project at Barhoi Dubi Beel	Vill: Jorbeel G.P. Rongachahi        Block: Ujani Majuli	Renovation of Beel with plantation -1 No.	33.50000	155	100%
		Wetland Development Project at Kharjan Morasuti Beel	Vill: Kakorikota             G.P. Chilkaola                Block: Majuli	Renovation of Beel with plantation -1 No.	20.24000	102	100%
		Land Development Project at Samaguri Boniapathar	Vill: Samaguri Boniapothar                    G.P. Bongaon                         Block: Majuli	Drainage Channel-1 No.	25.15000	126	100%
		Land Development Project at Morituni	Vill: Morituni G.P. Garamur Block: Majuli	Earthern Embankment-1 no., Hume Pipe Culvert-1 no, Box Culvert-1 no.	24.85000	120	100%
		Boritika Land Development Project	Vill: Boritka Gaon G.P: Kamalabari Block: Majuli	Earthern Embankment-1 no., Hume Pipe Culvert-1 no, Box Culvert-1 no.	14.24000	140	100%
		Pokajara  Land Development Project	Vill: Pokajara G.P: Pokajara Block: Majuli	Earthern Embankment-1 no., Hume Pipe Culvert-1 no, Box Culvert-1 no.	14.24000	150	100%
		2 No. Bhuramora Land  Reclamation Cum Water Distribution  Project	Vill: 2 . Bhuramora G.P: Rangachahi Block: Ujani Majuli	Earthen Bund - 1 no.                       Box Culvert- 1 no.	12.00000	195	100%
		Bormukoli  Land  Reclamation Cum Water Distribution  Project	Vill: Bormukoli Gaon G.P: Sri Luhit Block: Majuli	Earthen Bund - 1 no.                       Box Culvert- 1 no.	18.00000	150	100%
2019-20	RIDF-XXV	Kherkati River Training Project at Ratanpur Miri	Vill : Ratanpur Miri,                                                   GP : Ratanpur Miri                                     Block : Ujani Majuli	Bank stabilization & Boulder Pitching	56.66900	631	100%
		Kalia-Jokaibowa Riverine Land Protection cum Land Development Project (Group-I)	Vill : Namoni Jokaibowa, Ujani Jokaibowa, Kalia                             GP : Pokajora, Phulani                                     Block : Majuli, Ujani Majuli	Bank stabilization & Boulder Pitching	169.57570	397	100%
2020-21	SOPD(G)	Kuli Chapori   Protective Afforestation	Vill : Kuli Chapori                                    GP : Ratanpur Miri                              Block : Ujani Majuli	Plantation of soil conservation species	11.40720	3.00 Hac.	100%
		Bagori Chapori Protective Afforestation	Vill : Jengrai Chapori                GP : Jengrai                                           Block : Ujani Majuli	Plantation of soil conservation species	13.65140	8.82 Hac.	100%
		Japonchuck Protective Afforestation	Vill : Japonchuck                              GP : Ratanpur Miri                                   Block : Ujani Majuli	Plantation of soil conservation species	12.64200	7.00 Hac.	100%
		Ujani Gezera  Protective Afforestation	Vill : Ujani Gezera                                  GP : Ratanpur Miri                                   Block : Ujani Majuli	Plantation of soil conservation species	15.21940	10.00 Hac.	100%
		Jengraimukh- Nayabazar Road Side Plantation	Vill : Kumarbari                                               GP : Cherepai                                              Block : Ujani Majuli	Road Side Plantation	8.82000	-	100%
		Selek-Malapindha Road Side Plantation	Vill : Selek -Malapinda                                           GP : Sri Luhit                                                 Block : Majuli	Road Side Plantation	8.82000	-	100%
		Regam M.E.School Nature Conservation	Vill : Barpamua                          GP : Jengrai                                      Block : Ujani Majuli	Nature Conservation	11.76000	-	100%
		Extension of Range Office building	Vill : Farm Tiniali                                  GP : Dakhin Kamalabari                                      Block : Majuli	1 building	21.50000	-	100%
2021-22	RIDF- XXVIII	Bheuchuk Kumarbari Riverine Land Protection cum Land Dev. Project	Vill: Bheuchuk Kumarbari G.P: Cherepai Block: Ujani Majuli	Bank stabilization & Boulder Pitching	109.5287	265	100%

 

HISTORY AND GROWTH OF THE DEPARTMENT:

Soil Erosion is a major problem facing the state, which is more dominant in the areas where shifting cultivation is practiced. In the tribal areas or the sixth schedule districts of the state wherein the primitive form of agriculture or shifting cultivation is practiced, the need to study the growing problem has been long felt. In the year 1953, at the request of the State Government and a section of tribal leaders, a preliminary study was undertaken by the Inspector General of Forests, Govt. of India and the Agricultural Commissioner, Govt. of India. Based on the recommendation of the experts, a pilot project to tackle the problem of diminishing soil fertility of the shifting agricultural lands was undertaken in the Garo Hills in the year 1954.The experts pointed that the problem of soil erosion was not so significant in these areas as was that of diminishing soil fertility. Further, it was pointed that integrated land use could solve the problem of diminishing soil fertility. 

The integrated land use recommended was that the top and upper slopes should be afforested to reduce soil wash and preserve streams flow, the middle slopes should be used for horticultural purposes and the slopes and valley bottoms be shaped for permanent staple food cropping. It was suggested that simultaneously efforts for restoration of the jhummed fields be initiated by raising leguminous crops viz; wattle (Acacia Mollesima var durrans) in the freshly abandoned jhummed land. Acacia Mollesima var durrans has a maturity period of 8-9 years but could be harvested earlier also. The crop being leguminous, it helps in increasing the soil nitrogen content as also retention of soil moisture. The idea was that when the land was to be jhummed as per the cycling jhumming, these wattle trees could be cut down, the bark could be used for tanning and the stems burnt to get wood ash. But the experimental wattle cultivation in the three centres in the Garo Hills revealed that the crop could not be grown at these low elevations. Therefore this part of the recommendations was not fruitful and had to be abandoned.

In another part of the recommendation concerning horticultural crops, it was decided to take up cultivation of cashew nut, black pepper, Para rubber, coffee etc. at three centres in the Garo Hills on a pilot basis. As the tribal areas are poorly connected and marketing of perishable horticultural crops such as pine apples, banana etc. would be difficult, on perishable cash crops were selected.

The three selected centres where the pilot project was undertaken showed considerable growth, which encouraged the formation of a separate forest division, under the forest department to take up trial cum demonstration centres in other Sixth Schedule Districts. Centres were opened in the United Mikir-North Cachar Hills District, the Khasi and Jaintia Hills and the Mizo District to cover a wide range of elevations, soil and temperatures, humidity and rainfall conditions. Gradually more Forest Division for Soil Conservation works were opened till by 1958, one Forest Division was created for this work in each of the Sixth Schedule Districts.

By the year 1959, the work had expanded sufficiently and it was decided to constitute a separate Department to conduct soil conservation works. The Chief Conservator of Forests was also designated as the Director of Soil Conservation. In 1960 Soil Conservation work was extended to areas outside the Sixth Schedule Districts and a Lower Assam Soil Conservation Division was constituted. Further encouraged by the prospects of cultivation of certain non perishable crops, a loan-cum-subsidy scheme was initiated for cashew nut, coffee and black pepper. As per the scheme, half the estimate cost of creating small scale plantations of the tribals was granted as subsidy and the other half was treated as loans recoverable in easy installments when the plantations begin yielding harvests. The cashew nut was to be grown primarily in freshly abandoned jhum lands so that these orchards would provide permanent soil cover and at the same time yield incomes. While owing to lack of technical personal at lower levels, much progress initially could not be made in the creation of terraces where food crops could be grown by the tribesmen on such permanent yields, yet under the supervision of trained Divisional Soil Conservation Officers gradually their Programme was also taken up where the slopes were moderate and gravity irrigation facilities were available by construction of dams and irrigation channels. Some experiment work was also done using high dams and light irrigation pumps to provide water for paddy growing on terraces.

Afforestation work in eroded land made available by District Councils was first taken up in the United Khasi and Jaintia Hills in 1958-59 in two Centres and then extended significantly in the Mizo districts and still taken in the United Mikir/ North Cachar Hills.

In 1963, in the month of July, Shri M.C. Jacob, IFS, took over full time charge of the Department as Director of Soil Conservation, Assam. He has been associated with Soil Conservation works in the state from its inception as a pilot project and through its various stages of Development as conservator of Forest and later as Chief Conservator of Forests and Director of Soil Conservation with effect from his assumption of charge as Director of Soil Conservation, having been relieved of his charge of the Forest Department. Since then the department is functioning independently and numbers of Divisions were created accordingly.

 

ARRANGEMENT / DISTRIBUTION OF WORKS:

The Director is the overall in-charge, he is assisted by one senior most Joint Director of Soil Conservation and one senior most Divisional Officer as a Planning Officer in the Headquarters. Apart from them, there are two Assistant Soil Conservation Officer present in the Directorate one is to assist the Director of Soil Conservation in statistical matter and the other one is to assist in other related matters of the Directorate. Also, one Finance and Accounts Officer is helping in financial matter, who is generally posted on deputation from the Finance Department.

In the field level, the Zonal Officers who is termed as Joint Director of Soil Conservation is responsible for various field works under respective Divisions within their zones. All the Joint Directors of Soil Conservation are helping the Director of Soil Conservation, Assam, in formulating policy and planning and execution etc of the Department.

In the Divisional Level, the Divisional Soil Conservation Officers are responsible for implementing all the ongoing schemes of the Department. In this respect the Divisional Soil Conservation Officers are assisted by the concerned Assistant Soil Conservation Officers posted under their control.

The Soil Conservation Divisions are subdivided into various Ranges, which are working as Sub-Divisional Unit under direct control of the Soil Conservation Rangers. These officers are responsible for cent percent execution of the various schemes in the field level. Of course they are assisted by numbers of subordinate staff like Soil Conservation Overseers, Soil Conservation Demonstrators (Senior and Junior), Soil Conservation Field Works and Soil Conservation Field Malies.

 

OBJECTIVES OF THE DEPARTMENT

1. To reduce all forms of soil erosion.
2. To increase agricultural productivity in sustained manner without deteriorating the soil health.
3. Efficient use of rainfall and development of water harvesting structures such as wetland development, farm ponds, check dams, nalla bunds, percolation tanks etc. to recharge the ground water and make storage water available for irrigation.
4. Restoration of ecological balance by harnessing, conserving and developing natural resources.
5. To minimize flood hazards in the valley bottom areas and farm lands by way of preventing silt deposition in the riverbed.
6. Protection of paddy land from throwing of sand during flood season to some extent.
7. To maintain ecological balance by taking up plantation programme.
8. To provide shelter to human and animal husbandry by constructing earthen platform.

ACTIVITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT

 

(a) Brief Description of the Schemes indicating main objectives of the Department:

 

Land Development Works: Land Development works are mainly earthen works for development of land. In Majuli two types of land development works are executed or proposed to execute.

(i) Earthen Bund : These bunds are made across the field to conserve water at the comparatively higher land.

(ii) Shelter Platform: This intervention is new for the department. This is required not only for shelter of human and animal husbandry but also to for storage of the harvested crops during flood season.

KOLIA – JOKAIBOWA RIVERINE LAND PROTECTION CUM LAND DEVELOPMENT PROJECT UNDER RIDF – XXV 2019-2020 (Group- II)

BORITIKA LAND DEVELOPMENT PROJECT UNDER MAJULI SOIL CONSERVATION DIVISION SPOD (G) 2019-2020 IN MAJULI DISTRICT.

LAND DEVELOPMENT PROJECT AT MORITUNI UNDER MAJULI SOIL CONSERVATION DIVISION SPOD (G) 2019-2020

Land Reclamation and Water Distribution: Uncultivable waterlogged area can be reclaimed by constructing drainage channel, culvert and disposing the stagnant water through these channels to adjacent river /streams. Land reclamation is also done by cutting and leveling of tillah lands and eradication and removal of weeds like Ipomoea, water hyacinth manually or by using herbicides. 

Land Reclamation and Water Distribution Project (TSP) from Jengrai Thekeraguri to Kechaikhuwa under TSP/2017-18

Land Reclamation and Water Distribution Project SOPD (SCSP) from   2 No Bhuramora under SOPD (SCSP/2019-20

Land Development cum Water Distribution Project at Samaguri Boniapathar under                        SOPD (G) 2019-20

Gully Control Works (With or without Sluice Gate): Gully erosion is the main erosion problem of the state which eats up about 3000 hectares of agricultural land annually. But in Majuli gully erosion is not very prominent. Gullies are formed due to the uncontrolled run off of rain water. It can be protected by constructing Drop Spill Way.

Monbhalchuk Gully Control Project with Sluice Gate under SCSP/2016-17

 

River Training Project: The rivers/streams in Assam are meandering in nature and have caused severe river bank erosion problems in areas adjacent to banks of most of the rivers and tributaries. Due to heavy sedimentation in riverbeds, the problem is getting worse every year. In Majuli two types of river training works are executed or proposed to execute.

1. Stabilization of bank: To protect the river bank from bank erosion, bank stabilization by maintaining the slope and boulder pitching on the slope.
2. Boulder Spur: By constructing boulder spur, the current of the river can be diverted to protect the bank from erosion.
3. Loop Cutting: To reduce meandering of river course, some time it become necessary to cut a loop to make the river course straight to protect the bank as well as to protect the area from over flow by increasing the depth of bed level.

   River Training Works at Bahini River near Blind School under NEC

 

River Training Works of Kherkati River at Monbhalchuk under Jorhat Soil Conservation Division, Jorhat during 2017-18

Kolia – Jokaibowa Riverine Land protection cum Land Reclamation Project (Group- I & II) RIDF- XXV for 2019-20

Nature Conservation/Landscaping & Beautification Works: Nature Conservation, Landscaping and Beautification works are done in some of the districts, have created positive impact on people and also maintains microclimate to some extent.  It is helping in maintaining the ecological balance of the District.

Protective Afforestation: All the riverine non agricultural land, degraded wasteland not suitable for raising agricultural crops are brought under plantation to provide permanent cover to the top soil as well as to maintain the ecological balance