Kolkata, Feb 18 (IANS) The West Bengal government has sought funds for the development and restructuring of the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest, from the World Bank, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said Friday.
‘We have told the World Bank that we have to get the money. Experts of the bank have already visited the Sundarbans which witnessed a devastating cyclone Aila. We will get funds from the bank,’ Bhattacharjee told a Left Front rally at Kultali in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district.
Cyclone Aila ravaged large parts of the West Bengal’s delta region in 2009. Nearly three lakh families were affected in South 24 Parganas in the wake of the cyclone.
‘We will build infrastructure that will help the people of Sundarbans combat cyclones like Aila. We will set up long dams which will save houses during cyclones. For that land has already been acquired. We need more money,’ the chief minister said.
Bridges and roads were being constructed in the region, he said adding: ‘We will carry out more works if more fund is ensured.’
He claimed it was the Left Front government in West Bengal which provided leasehold of land to the poor.
‘We always fought for the rights of the poor and agriculturists. On the other hand what do the Congress and Trinamool Congress do for the poor? They are even trying to take away leasehold of land from the farmers,’ Bhattacharjee added.
