Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday inaugurated the world's first mangrove zoo at Jharkhali that will conserve the fast degenerating fauna of the ecologically high fragile zone.

Mamata also inaugurated a Rs 400-crore eco-tourism project in the Sunderbans that promises a complete metamorphosis ofthe socio-economic condition of residents.

To be built on 100 acres sprawling land, the tourism complex will have luxury cottages for high-end tourists, budget hotels for middle-class tourists along with a food park.

Inaugurating the tourism complex at Jharkhali, Mamata said, "The project will be developed through a public-private-partnership. In the first phase, the government has got Techno India as the private partner in developing the infrastructure. Besides a luxury barge, there will be a helicopter service to connect the remotest part of Sunderbans."

The CM also inaugurated a tiger rescue centre and named it 'Byaghra Sundari Sanrakshan Kendra'. Two injured tigers rescued in Sunderbans were brought there. "Hitherto, we used to keep the rescued tigers in an artificial environment in Alipore Zoo Hospital. But this tiger rescue centre offers a natural environment. Once they are fit to resume normal activities, they will be released in the wild," a forest department official said.

The injured tiger and tigress were named Suhan and Suhani by the CM, who earlier, at public rally in Kultoli, kicked off an array of social welfare schemes.

Mamata inaugurated Mridangabhanga bridge, which connects Mathurapur and Kultoli as well.

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