The government will, however, allow fishermen, honey collectors and nypa palm harvesters to go to the Sundarbans. According to estimates, more than six lakh people depend on the Sundarbans for their livelihood.
Initially, the ban will be imposed for a year, later the prohibition period may be extended.
The UNESCO, which is surveying the eastern Sundarbans to assess the damage, says it will take 10 to 15 years to bring the forest back to its original state if people are prohibited from collecting wood, honey and other natural resources.
Officials say the storm destroyed more than 50,000 trees in the Sundarbans. The government says it will start fresh plantation.
The UNESCO declared the Sundarbans as a World Heritage in 1997. It turned 1,43,000 hectors area of the Sundarbans into a sanctuary for animals and birds in 1999.
“We don’t want to disturb the forest. Let the nature take its own course,” said C S Karim, the caretaker government’s adviser for forest and environment ministry.
