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.

The decision was taken by Mamata after several recent cyclones significantly damaged the mangroves of the Sunderbans.

On Tuesday, Sunderbans affairs minister Bankim Chandra Hazra, alongside additional chief secretary of forest and disaster management departments Manoj Kumar Agarwal, inaugurated the plantation drive at Sagar Island.

The initiative, in collaboration with irrigation and forest departments, saw the planting of 50,000 mangrove saplings ahead of the Gangasagar Mela.

"This is a visionary project by chief minister Mamata Banerjee. Her idea is to develop a bio-shield zone by planting a vast number of mangroves, which will grow into a protective wall against cyclonic catastrophes,” said South 24-Parganas district magistrate Sumit Gupta. He added that the project would generate at least 50 man-days of employment under the rural job scheme.

Agarwal said the state government identified around 500 hectares through joint surveys with the irrigation and forest departments for this initiative. The plantation sites are spread across nine coastal blocks of Namkhana, Kakdwip, Sagar, Patharpratima, Kultali, Mathurapur II, Basanti, Jaynagar II, and Diamond Harbour I.