Fed up with the constant opposition from NGOs and activists to some of the state's most ambitious projects, tourism minister Chhagan Bhujbal has hit out, saying fringe groups are stalling Maharashtra's development as a tourist hub.

Bhujbal was reacting to a latest missive by renowned dolphin specialist Ric O'Barry, who was featured in the academy award winning film The Cove, which documented the annual dolphin slaughter in Japan, calling on chief minister Prithviraj Chavan to stop plans to construct a marine mammal park (Sea World) along the Arabian Sea coastline in Sindhudurg. "Anything and everything is facing opposition from NGOs. This is not good for the state's development as a tourist hub," Bhujbal said.

In his letter, written on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), O'Barry said that dolphins and other marine mammals suffer immeasurably in captivity and that they do not belong in tanks. "Dolphins in aquariums - even those born in captivity - quickly become depressed, stressed and volatile," wrote O'Barry. Apart from But PETA, is not the only opposing body, Greenpeace, a global campaigning organization, has opposed many projects in the state, including Sea World as per a TOI report.

The state hopes that by developing such a park, the Konkan coastline, so far lying in neglect, could be turned into a major tourist attraction. The government has already approved a plan to build a dolphin and water theme park. The CM has given an in-principle approval to the Rs 510-crore project that will be part of a plan to promote the 720km coastline.

The land for Sea World, to be built on a PPP model, will soon be identified and construction will start on the lines of a dolphin theme park in Florida. Going by the blueprints, Sea World will have a giant aquarium, a dolphin park and a stadium, a facility to train and keep dolphins, guest houses, a theatre and theme restaurants.