Mangrove forest may become one of the seven wonders
The world’s largest estuarine mangrove forest area, the Sunderbans, may soon find itself in the list of seven wonders of nature. Chances of it getting into the top list are high as Bangladeshis are ready to vote in favour of the Sunderbans.
The Bangladesh government has already been informed by New
Delhi about the vote. And the good news is that both countries have agreed to vote in favour of the Sundarbans. Chief minister of West Bengal Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee told reporters: “This is indeed good news for both the countries. It will be great that the people of both the countries will vote to put Sunderbans in the top tier.” Other contenders from India include the Ganges and the Kaziranga National Park. Mount Everest, K2, Chitwan National Park, Baikal Lake and the Dead Sea are the nominations from Asia. The nomination process is on with 261 entries received for the top 77 slots. The results will be announced in 2011. The New7Wonders Foundation said the campaign would surely renew people’s interest in nature.
Two years back, fans had voted for the iconic Taj Mahal for a position in the new seven wonders of the world. This time too people are hopeful that Sunderbans will clinch it. No body wants it more than Kolkata-based environmentalist Subhas Datta. “The ecology of the region has to be preserved and that will definitely bring in tourists from all over the world,” he said. He is right. But what about the damaged embankments in the Sunderbans that were destroyed by cyclone Aila? And why did the government take five months to acquire lands? There are many unanswered questions.
However, the state government is all set to acquire 5,963 acre for reconstruction of 834 km of embankment in the Sunderbans with Rs 100 crore of Central assistance. “The decision has been taken for restoration of the area,” said state FM Asim Dasgupta. But many doubt the government’s decision as it was announced after dates of by-polls to the 10 Assembly seats were out. The ruling Left Front was routed in the recent polls in districts where Aila wreaked havoc. Senior journalist Sankar Roy told TSI that acquisition of land in this case may be less cumbersome. But he added, “Is the announcement legal because it came just after by-poll dates were announced?” The readers will know the best answer.
The world’s largest estuarine mangrove forest area, the Sunderbans, may soon find itself in the list of seven wonders of nature. Chances of it getting into the top list are high as Bangladeshis are ready to vote in favour of the Sunderbans.
The Bangladesh government has already been informed by New
Delhi about the vote. And the good news is that both countries have agreed to vote in favour of the Sundarbans. Chief minister of West Bengal Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee told reporters: “This is indeed good news for both the countries. It will be great that the people of both the countries will vote to put Sunderbans in the top tier.” Other contenders from India include the Ganges and the Kaziranga National Park. Mount Everest, K2, Chitwan National Park, Baikal Lake and the Dead Sea are the nominations from Asia. The nomination process is on with 261 entries received for the top 77 slots. The results will be announced in 2011. The New7Wonders Foundation said the campaign would surely renew people’s interest in nature.Two years back, fans had voted for the iconic Taj Mahal for a position in the new seven wonders of the world. This time too people are hopeful that Sunderbans will clinch it. No body wants it more than Kolkata-based environmentalist Subhas Datta. “The ecology of the region has to be preserved and that will definitely bring in tourists from all over the world,” he said. He is right. But what about the damaged embankments in the Sunderbans that were destroyed by cyclone Aila? And why did the government take five months to acquire lands? There are many unanswered questions.
However, the state government is all set to acquire 5,963 acre for reconstruction of 834 km of embankment in the Sunderbans with Rs 100 crore of Central assistance. “The decision has been taken for restoration of the area,” said state FM Asim Dasgupta. But many doubt the government’s decision as it was announced after dates of by-polls to the 10 Assembly seats were out. The ruling Left Front was routed in the recent polls in districts where Aila wreaked havoc. Senior journalist Sankar Roy told TSI that acquisition of land in this case may be less cumbersome. But he added, “Is the announcement legal because it came just after by-poll dates were announced?” The readers will know the best answer.
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