In an attempt to boost tourism on Sagar Island, located in the southern-most tip of Sunderbans archipelago of West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee along with a team of industrialists from the State will visit the island on Thursday. The Chief Minister will take a hovercraft from Millenium Park jetty in the Kolkata and travel by a hovercraft to the Sagar island, senior government officials told The Hindu . Ms Banerjee is expected to announce a detail plan for development of tourism at Island where river Hooghly meets the sea. She is expected to spend the night on the island.
Recently the West Bengal government has convinced the Centre to include the State under the Clean Ganga project. State’s Irrigation Minister Rajib Banerjee had confirmed only a few days ago that the Centre has acceded to West Bengal government request. This would mean that island where the river Ganga meets the Arabian Sea will also be hub of activity. Sagar Island which is home to more than 2 lakh people is also an important pilgrimage where every year more than 10 lakh people descend during Makar Sankranti in January.
Fishermen had threatened to agitate earing loss of livelihood
Several thousand fishermen use the adjacent areas of the creek of the island, nearly 225 sq. km in size, and the sea for their livelihood. The catch is then carried to the mainland and sold in local markets or in big cities. The fishermen also use the island for net and boat mending.
