The state government will now send the proposal to Union Forest Ministry for its approval.

After the approval, the sanctuary will be able to receive more funds from the Centre. Ananta Roy, state minister for forest and vice-chairman of the Board, said, “Since the rhino population at Jaldapara has increased, the area of the forest will also be expanded. It will be a major tourist attraction.”

On the issue of increase incidents of tiger straying into the human settlements in the Sunderbans, the minister said that state government is planning to set up piggeries where pigs will be reared so that they could be given as food for the tigers.

“The incident of tigers straying into nearby villages has increased a lot and it is a cause of major concern. One major reason behind this is the dearth of food for tigers in the forests.

The chief minister floated the idea of rearing pigs for tigers and we are examining the proposal,” Roy said. He also said that the state government was very much concerned about the incident of elephants straying into villages. “We have plans to raise hula parties who will be trained to drive out elephant herds. We are planning to increase the amount of compensation for crop destruction from Rs 4,000 per hectre to Rs 7,000 per hectre,” Roy added.

Among other issues that were discussed in today’s meeting include the proposed zoo at Bhagwanpur in South 24 Parganas district.