Govt to set up eco-tourism hub in Sunderbans

Kolkata: With an aim to promote the Sunderbans as one of the most attractive tourist destinations in the country, the state government is taking up various initiatives including setting up of an Eco-tourism hub.

Various state government departments like tourism, the Sundarbans Affairs department are working in coordination to provide world class facilities, thereby attracting foreign tourists.

The Eco-tourism hub would have five-star resorts, budget hotels, cottages, swimming pools, lake, club house, among others. It would be constructed under the Public-Private Partnership model. It was learnt that an Eco-tourism hub is coming up in Jharkhali area in the Sunderbans.

As a part of the overall development of the area, all the Islands in the Sundarbans would soon be connected with each other for which the state government will bear a cost of around Rs 400 crore. The state government has already taken up various schemes to improve the socio-economic condition of the people in the Sunderbans. A comprehensive skill development programme has been conducted among the youth.

It may be mentioned that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced about the Eco tourism hub at Jharkhali and the first-ever zoo in the world's largest delta.

To augment infrastructure, the government is allotting around Rs 90 crore to build roads and bridges at Jharkhali. According to a senior official of the Sunderbans Affairs department, the state government is aggressively pursuing a project for connecting all islands in the Sunderbans which did not happen before.

It may be mentioned that hospitality management courses have been started so that the educated but unemployed youth can be trained.

Various courses on plumbing and for electricians have already started at various blocks including Kakdwip among other places.