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Sunderbans tiger census puts pressure on local economy
Kolkata: It is the peak tourist season in the tiger reserve forest in Sunderbans in West Bengal. But the ongoing six- day tiger census has adversely affected the business of local tour operators and fishermen. No fisherman is permitted to catch fish in these areas during the census started from January 5. The census will continue till January 10.
"The fishermen face huge losses during these six days of tiger census
as they are not allowed to enter in these areas. They used to catch fish
in the buffer area and wildlife area aside from core area but now those
places are out of bounds. The fishermen and woodcutters are facing losses,
"said Rampada Mondol, a fishery business man. "It would have been better
if the tiger census had been postponed by a month. We are losing out our
business. But on the other hand the increasing result of tiger census
helps boost the number of tourists ", said Khagendranath Mondol, a tour
operator. All water transports around the Tiger Reserve Forest area, including
in the buffer as well as core areas have been banned and consequently
the tour operators are failing to fulfil promises made to the tourists
to show various locations in the delta forest. The entire Sunderban area
now wears a deserted look. All fishing boats have been grounded and the
tourist but-buttis or mechanized boats are also unable to carry out the
tour packages in the creeks around the reserve forest area. Many people
like the woodcutters and honey collectors who depend on this forest for
their livelihood have also been prohibited to enter this area during the
census. People in the villages adjacent to the Sunderban area prefer to
go on a short holiday or relatives' home as life has come to a standstill
during the six day census.
-Jan 7, 2006
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