The project will be prepared by an international professional organisation, Mondal said. Under the integrated plan, investment and the planning process could be framed in a well-defined manner, he further added. Steps are also being taken to develop this world heritage site and the biggest mangrove forest, straddling the state and neighbouring Bangladesh, as a major tourist destination promoted jointly by India, Bangladesh and the World Bank, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had said recently.
Mondal claimed that under Left Front Government, no integrated plan was prepared for all round and sustainable development of the Sundarbans region. The development in the region has so far been made with the State Plan Fund and assistance from the Centre was sporadic and mostly selective area-wise, he alleged.
Stressing on the need to fulfil the basic needs of the people of Sundarbans, he said the government was committed to improve the standard of living of the locals. The department celebrated 'Sundarban Dibas' on August 21 to generate mass awareness on the conservation of Sundarbans biosphere and its ecology among the inhabitants, especially school children of this region, he said. Read the full report here.
Source: DNA, Kolkata.
