Durgaduani project to threaten tigers in Sundarbans: Conservationist

Kolkata, July 2 (UNI) Durgaduani power plant, India's first tidal project, might soon wipe out the whole tiger habitat and harm the ecology of Sunderbans in West Bengal.

WWF state director S R Banerjee said '' This is a small power project but it may wipe out the whole tiger habitat and harm the fragile ecology.'' Conservationists also apprehend that large areas of the swampy mangrove belt, which is home to about 280 tigers in the state, might also get washed away in the process.

'' We have asked the Centre to stop this project immediately,'' Mr Banerjee said.

Meanwhile, West Bengal Renewable Energy Development Agency director S P Gon Chowdhury today told UNI that this project has been initiated after detailed environment study by the state government and the Centre.

'' The project has already received approval from the Union Ministry. It will not pose any danger to the tigers or the environment,'' he added.

Mr Gon Chowdhury said water from tidal rivers would be allowed to rise in one of the many creeks and then released through a turbine.

The proposed plant would generate four megawatts of power and provide light to nearly 15,000 homes.

WBREDA, under state power department, has planned to construct two sluice gates at either end of the Durgaduani creek, which connects two rivers.

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