WB govt plans to offer aerial tiger viewing in Indian Sundarbans

The West Bengal government has announced plans for a major tourism initiative aimed at developing the Indian part of the Sundarbans into an international tourist destination. The plans include building five-star, eco-friendly treehouse resorts on uninhabited islands and introducing opportunities for tourists to view tigers from the air using low-noise aircraft.

West Bengal Tourism and Cultural Affairs Adviser Mithun Chakraborty outlined the plans at a press conference in Gosaba on Sunday during his visit to the Sundarbans, according to a report by Indian news outlet Ei Samay.

Chakraborty said there are eight to 10 uninhabited islands in the Sundarbans where five-star eco-friendly treehouse resorts could be developed through public-private partnerships. The government is considering leasing land on the islands to private companies for 99 years. If necessary, it may also consider granting land on a permanent basis, he said.

However, concrete structures will not be allowed for the resorts, Chakraborty said. He added that no resort below five-star standards would be permitted on the islands. The aim, he said, is to provide comfortable accommodation for both domestic and international tourists.

A large proportion of the staff at the proposed resorts would also be recruited from local communities. Chakraborty said 80 percent of the workforce at each resort would have to be local residents. Each resort would also be required to create employment opportunities for at least 70 to 80 local young people.

However, some environmentalists have expressed concern over plans to develop large-scale tourism infrastructure in an ecologically sensitive and biodiversity-rich area such as the Sundarbans.

Environmental activist Subhash Dutta said protecting the Sundarbans’ environment should be the foremost priority. He also stressed that development plans should be prepared in consultation with people with expertise in environmental matters.

Chakraborty, however, said development in the Sundarbans would have to comply with environmental and forest-related laws. He said all activities would be carried out in an environmentally friendly manner.

Officials of the West Bengal government said the new administration was taking initiatives to develop the Sundarbans as an international tourist destination. As part of the plan, Chakraborty visited the Sundarbans on Saturday and held a meeting with government officials at a five-star hotel in Gosaba.

The meeting was attended by the secretary of the West Bengal Tourism Department, the district magistrate and subdivisional officer of South 24 Parganas, the local MLA and the deputy field director of the Sundarbans Tiger Reserve.

While speaking to journalists aboard a launch in Gosaba on Sunday, Chakraborty was accompanied by Gosaba BJP MLA Bikarna Naskar.

Chakraborty also announced plans to offer tourists another unusual experience in the Sundarbans. He said Gosaba has a helipad, but the intense noise generated by helicopters could have harmful effects on wildlife. As a result, permission to use helicopters in the area is not available. The government is therefore considering using low-noise aircraft to allow tourists to view tigers from the air, he said.

Religious tourism is also being incorporated into the proposed plan. There are initiatives to renovate temples dedicated to Maa Manasa and Bonbibi and include them in a religious tourism circuit.

The government also plans to establish a rural market where tourists can enjoy folk music in the evenings, while local residents will have opportunities to sell Sundarbans honey and handicrafts.

As part of the tourism infrastructure, plans have also been announced for two new jetties for dolphin watching, a mangrove interpretation centre and a museum showcasing the biodiversity of the Sundarbans.

The government also plans to promote the Sundarbans as a location for films and other productions. Chakraborty said a 30 percent subsidy is currently available for filming in West Bengal, and both domestic and international production teams can benefit from the incentive.

He expressed hope that the initiative would encourage more filming in the Sundarbans and create economic opportunities for local communities.