Rs. 400-crore project to develop infrastructure of Sunderbans.

After Babul Supriyo and Kumar Sanu joined BJP, speculations are afoot that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is trying to induct Bollywood singer Abhijit into the TMC. The reports gained ground as the singer was seen accompanying the CM during her three-day visit to the Sunderbans in South 24 Parganas. The CM'c visit was intended to boost tourism and infrastructure in the region. 'Abhijeet is a talented singer and although I have not seen but I have heard about the beautiful Durga Puja that he organises at his home in Mumbai,' she said at Jharkhali, adding that the state would soon felicitate the singer with Maha Sangeet Samman.

She was also accompanied by about two-dozen Bengal-based industrialists, including Harsh Neotia, Sanjay Budhia, Utsav Parekh, Sumit Dabriwal and Sanjay Agarwal. She visited Kultali and Jharkhali areas recently.

At Kultali she inaugurated a host of projects including the 725-mentre long bridge which would connect Mathurapur and Patharpratima and a 132 Kv power substation at Shirakole. 'I had come to Kultoli before elections – I had said six months ago I will come again. When I give a word, I keep it. That has been my habbit,' she said.

At Jharkhali, she assured that some fishermen who had, by mistake, crossed over to the Bangladesh border and had been taken into their custody would return soon. 'The fishermen who had unknowingly crossed the border did not know about the recent changes in the boundary. I have written to the Central government and they are in talks with the Bangladesh government and the fishermen would return home soon,' she said.

Talking about boosting tourism, she said that a Rs. 400-crore project in a public-private partnership was afoot to develop the tourism infrastructure there. “We will also set up the world's first mangrove zoo. Land has already been identified for the purpose,” she said adding that she had requested the tourism secretary to also put up a 'gateway' to Sunderban.

A private player would put up a 'budget to star category' hotel which she has named 'Jhar' because it is in Jharkhali. She also named a wildlife park as Baghra Sundari at Jharkhali.


THE INDIAN EXPRESS