The Mamata Banerjee government has initiated an extensive mangrove plantation project to establish a bio-shield zone for the Sunderbans in a bid to lessen the recurring damage caused by cyclonic storms.
For this, 50,000 saplings were planted on Tuesday. This protective zone will span all nine coastal blocks in the South 24-Parganas district, with specific stretches of land earmarked for the initiative.
The project aims to fully recreate and reinforce the natural barrier with mangrove forests to minimise the impact of frequent cyclones on inhabited areas of the delta, which has borne the brunt of several storms in recent years.
