Mandarmoni beach to find place in history

Midnapore, July 27: The Centre's proposal to set up a nuclear power plant at Mandarmoni here has struck the death knell for this quaint sea resort off the Bay of Bengal.

Mandarmoni had been developed as a private sea-side village resort recently, but the proposal for a nuclear plant was a bolt from the blue not only for the villagers but also for hoteliers, transport operators, prawn cultivators, salt factory owners and tourists.

The five kilometre beach has casurina and Keya forests on the right and the Bay of Bengal on the left making it an excellent tourist destination during the past few years.

Enthused by its ambience some investors from Kolkata had developed a few resorts. There was also a proposal to construct a star hotel.

The villagers, who are mostly fishermen, said their future seemed bleak if the proposed plant was constructed.

''It will severely affect our livelihood as the fishes will not come there because of pollution to be caused by the plant,'' rued fisherman Bhagyadhar Manna.

Goutam Chatterjee, a resort owner said, ''We have been promoting tourism here for the past few years but I am afraid that no visitor will like to come here now.'' Most people here are illiterate and dependent on fishing and tourism. ''But both sectors are going to be hampered,'' averred a transport operator.

''The nuclear plant would pollute the serene atmosphere here and affect the flora and fauna,'' added a foreign tourist.

UNI