The Sundarbans: Whose World Heritage Site?

Abstract

"In 2002, the Supreme Court of India ordered the eviction of fishermen from the island of Jambudwip. Jambudwip is an island in West Bengal customarily used by fishermen as their base to catch and dry fish during the fishing season. The main reason for their eviction was to make way for a Rs. 5.4 billion tourism project sanctioned by the West Bengal government to the Sahara India Group. The Sahara India Groups project was to build a world class city-centre spread over 250 km2 of water surface planning to include a business centre, a cinema theatre, a cultural centre, club houses, health clubs, a helipad, etc. Advertising virgin islands and beaches of pristine glory, this dream tourist destination guaranteed a service of global standing on floating boat houses where one was assured of finding all at the same time a casino, scuba diving facilities and a tiger (Panthera tigris) breeding centre. In other words, it guaranteed to be, in the words of Sekhsaria, a modern tourism blockbuster."