Pigs & tigers, update

[Guest guest]

On July 1, I responded to Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's

suggestion of " pig rearing in the Sundarbans to increase the tigers'

prey base, " as reported by Kolkata news media, by explaining why

this was & is a bad idea, concluding that:

 

In view that all of the above is reasonably well-known to

anyone who has ever observed pig behavior in a forest, one must

wonder how Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee came to hold a position with

authority over wildlife, and why the reporters assembled to listen

to him at the Writers' Buildings evidently did not ask him what

interest he may hold in evicting tigers from the Sundarbans,

developing the pig industry, and perhaps developing the Sundarbans

in some manner, once it no longer holds tigers.

 

 

Debasis Chakrabarti of Compassionate Crusaders Trust just

forwarded this update--

 

 

<http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Help-me-develop-Sunderbans-Buddha-tells\

-World-Bank/332783/>http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Help-me-develop-Sund\

erbans-Buddha-tells-World-Bank/332783/

 

Help me develop Sunderbans, Buddha tells World Bank

 

Sabyasachi Bandopadhyay

 

Posted online: Tuesday , July 08, 2008 at 12:53:17

Updated: Tuesday , July 08, 2008 at 12:53:17

 

 

 

Kolkata, July 7 Barely 24 hours after Chief Minister Buddhadeb

Bhattacharjee held his party's youth captive with an angry speech

against 'American hegemony', he met officials of the World Bank on

Monday and exhorted them to prepare an action plan for the

development of the Sunderbans.

 

Sunday's speech was aimed at members of the CPM's youth wing - the

Students Federation of India - at its 32nd state conference. But it

was business on Monday. Leading environment specialist with the World

Bank, Erbesto Sanchez Triana, who is based in Washington told

reporters after the meeting: " The chief minister has asked us for a

detailed study of the Sunderbans with twin aims - poverty alleviation

and the preservation of bio-diversity. We shall visit the area on

July 9 and will stay for three days. We will submit the report in six

months. "

 

It is learnt the mode of funding the project will be decided after

the officials submit the report. Triana said, " It may be a soft loan,

or a grant. " The World Bank's participation was sought by CM himself

when he had broached the subject of developing the area to Planning

Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia. This was six

months ago at a meeting on the 11th Plan. Ahluwalia had visited the

Sunderbans following the proposal and nodded on the World Bank's

participation.

 

World Bank has done similar jobs in countries like Costa Rica,

Tanzania, Indonesia, Thailand, to name a few. In the Sunderbans, the

officials will look into soil erosion, breach in embankment,

maintenance of the flaura and fauna, poverty alleviation,

preservation of bio-diversity, power distribution and the improvement

of communications and transport, to name a few. " The ultimate aim is

to improve the condition of the people without disturbing the

eco-system, " said a government official.

 

Tailpiece: Though the CPM might not admit it in as many words, it has

come a long way since the sixties when Marxists had opposed the entry

of former WB chairman Robert McNamara to Kolkata on grounds that the

US was trying to extend its influence in Bengal through the world

body.

 

 

 

--

Merritt Clifton

Editor, ANIMAL PEOPLE

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Clinton, WA 98236

 

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