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Mr. Vice-Chairman, Sir, I thank you very much for giving me this opportunity to speak on this issue.
Sir, there is a very famous saying, “Sab tirtha bar bar, Ganga sagar ek bar”. This phrase itself speaks the laurels of the historic heritage of the Ganga Sagar Island in the Sundarban Biosphere. The Ganga Heritage River Cruise Circuit is an initiative by the Government of West Bengal for identifying, preserving and promoting art, tradition, heritage, culture and environment as thrust areas for development of Indian culture and tourism.
Sir, the Ganga Sagar pilgrimage and fair is the second largest congregation after the holy Kumbh where over five lakh people take a holy dip on a single day of Makar Sankranti. The tirthasthan and the Kumbh Mela attract an annual footfall of 15-20 lakhs. The Government of West Bengal has connected the villages in the Sagar Islands with electricity through aerial wires across the river – the first ever initiative of its kind in the country.
Sir, West Bengal is the final recipient of all upstream pollution of River Ganga, while West Bengal is leading in Clean Ganga Mission, having completed 24 out of the 30 sanctioned projects implemented in 24 towns across the State. The previous Government had sanctioned Rs.1,200 crore for West Bengal under NGRBA, however no amount has been allocated to West Bengal under the Namami Ganga either in 2014 or in 2015.
Sir, tourism boosts the socio-economic development of the people in the region. The Ganga Sagar, as a place of religious importance and a hub for tourism and promotion of Indian culture, should be declared as a National Heritage Site. Sir, through you, I would like to draw the Government’s attention to this.
Thank you, Sir.