Kolkata: Actor and BJP functionary Mithun Chakraborty’s proposal to develop “tiger tourism” across 8-10 islands in the Sundarbans, with five-star facilities and treehouses, has triggered sharp criticism from environmentalists who warned that intensive tourism could further stress one of the world’s most fragile ecosystems.Chakraborty, speaking after a day-long visit to the Sundarbans, proposed leasing identified islands to private developers for 99 years, provided they create tourism infrastructure of five-star standard. He also suggested that 70%-80% of jobs generated by the projects should be reserved for local residents.“We are planning to launch ‘Tiger Tourism’ here,” Chakraborty said, adding that 8-10 relatively untouched islands could be developed for high-end tourism. Treehouses, nature tourism and specialised boat trips could be part of the proposed circuit.Environmental activists, however, cautioned against opening up fragile islands to large-scale commercial development. “Sundarbans is ecologically one of the most sensitive zones. Its mangroves provide the first line of defence against deadly cyclones for the rest of south Bengal,” green activist Subhas Datta said. “Chakraborty must have said this out of ignorance. We all must understand how over-tourism can destroy the Sundarbans once and for all.”Activists pointed out that similar proposals had surfaced in the past. “This is not the first time such wild ideas have been floated. The Sahara group had planned something similar during the Left Front regime. It drew strong criticism and was eventually shelved. We hope this proposal meets the same fate,” said Naba Dutta of Sabuj Mancha.Sudipta Bhattacharya of Saviour and Friends of Environment said the Sundarbans was already under severe stress from tourism, waste generation, erosion and rising sea levels. “Trash is already being dumped indiscriminately in several tourism zones. The islands are critically endangered because of sea-level rise and the Sundarbans is approaching ecological tipping point,” Bhattacharya said. “The Sundarbans is not like any other tiger reserve. That has to be understood first.”The Sundarbans is India’s only mangrove tiger habitat and a globally important cyclone buffer. Official Sundarban Tiger Reserve data recorded 101 tigers in the 2022 assessment, occupying about 1,895 sqkm while the Bengal forest department’s 2023-2024 camera-trapping exercise identified 105 tigers across the Sundarbans landscape.Environmentalists said any tourism expansion must therefore be preceded by rigorous carrying-capacity studies and ecological assessment rather than infrastructure-led development.
