Sunderbans, the largest mangrove forests on earth, would be brought in the world tourism map and a task force had been created for the purpose, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said.
Banerjee said she had already talked to the Planning Commission in this regard and it evinced keen interest in the project.
"I have also talked to the Prime Minister who has agreed to provide funds," she said here.
On the second day of her visit to the forests, a greater part of which has gone to Bangladesh, she said she held a meeting last night with officials of the tourism department regarding the task force which would be composed of officials from the departments of tourism, public health, engineering and Sunderbans development as per a PTI report.
Besides this, an eco-tourism hub would be created surrounding the Pakhiralaya (bird sanctuary) between Sonakhali and Sajnekhali, she said, warning against encroachment into the area.
On delay in acquiring land for embankments in the Sunderbans to prevent Aila-like natural disasters, Banerjee alleged that CPM and RSP were playing "dirty politics" to mislead local people who were refusing to accept compensation cheques in exchange for their land.
"Under no circumstances, land will be taken over forcibly," she said.
Banerjee said she had asked Sunderbans development minister Shyamal Mandal to start work on embankments on a "war footing and within a month". |