Sundarbans to be developed into global tourist destination

A detailed masterplan was being prepared to accord the global status to the Sundarbans, already identified as UNESCO's World Heritage Site, state Tourism Secretary Bijoy Chatterjee said in Kolkata.

The Sundarbans lies on the delta of rivers Hooghly, Brahmaputra and Meghna and known for the world famous Royal Bengal Tiger, the estuarine crocodile, the Indian python, besides 260 bird species.

Chattrjee said that a study had been conducted by the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) late last year on development of coastal tourism and a masterplan made for developing the Sundarbans delta.

The site has been identified as the key area in the state's new tourism policy, likely to be in place by the end of March this year.

Since the site was environmentally fragile, steps were being taken to prepare the detailed masterplan for developing the area without disturbing the wild life, Chatterjee said.

Both the Planning Commission and the Union Tourism Ministry had already cleared the proposal to conduct a detailed study with the support of the UNDP.

The projected UNDP aid, to the tune of Rs 2 crore, would come through the Union Finance Ministry and the ministry's nod for the project could be available by this month, Chatterjee added.

Chatterjee was confident that the Sundarbans project would be able to draw global attention in terms of investment once it secured environmental clearance.

"We have to showcase the potential before the tourists to draw global attention to this UNESCO World Heritage Site".

The state government would facilitate the mega project by providing all necessary infrastructure including roads, water and power, he said.

"We are expecting substantial private investment for the development of the Sundarbans, while Mahindra Holidays and Resorts India Ltd (MHRIL) has already signed MoU with the state to set up an 'ecotel' in the area along with greenfield resorts," Chatterjee said.

The official, however, did not comment if the state would exercise more caution now in view of the earlier Sahara group proposal for a mega hotel project in the Sunderbans falling through due to environmental factors.

"We are now waiting for the roadmap to develop the eco-tourism centre at the Sundarbans. The next course of action will follow afterwards," he said.