The West Bengal Government today set up a task force to develop tourism across two beaches in the Sagar Islands, a deltaic region some 140 km from Kolkata, in the South 24 Parganas district. A deep sea port will also be coming up at Sagar.

“Mamata Banerjee has undertaken a business trip to the islands, accompanied by a number of industrialists, with the aim of seeking investment in tourism and infrastructure development,” the Trinamool Congress website maintained. The task force will also explore possibilities in sea and river tourism i.e., inland water transportation.

Banerjee, who named three virgin beaches – Rupsagar, Dheusagar, Bhorsagar – during her visit on Thursday, said two of these will be developed for tourism purposes.

“Rupsagar and Dheusagar beaches will be developed for tourism. We have formed a task force to develop the tourism potential of the area,” she said.

According to the Chief Minister, a deep sea port will be coming up at the third beach, called Bhorsagar.

Deep sea port The ₹12,000-crore deep sea port has already obtained some of the clearances and is expected to generate huge employment and usher in development at Sagar Islands. “We have obtained some clearances. The deep sea port at Sagar will be developed jointly by the State and the Centre,” she said.

Pointing out that no land will be acquired from the local people, Banerjee maintained that land will be reclaimed from the sea. “No one will lose any land. The port will come up by reclaiming land from the sea,” she said.

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