Darjeeling, Feb. 16.TT: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s plan to set foot in Sandakphu, the highest point in Bengal, is likely to hit logistic and time hurdles and administrative sources said she might have to drop the idea of visiting it.
Mamata had said in Siliguri on February 11 that she would not only visit Darjeeling to announce some projects but would also make a trip to Sandakhphu at 12,000 feet. In that case, she will be the first chief minister to visit the high-altitude tourist hotspot located in the Singalila wildlife sanctuary.
Sources in the chief minister’s office in Calcutta said they were yet to finalise Mamata’s itinerary for the Darjeeling tour. “She had expressed her desire to visit Sandakhphu. Although she had not said anything more about her visit, we are keeping it tentative as of now. The final plans for her Darjeeling visit will be made after she returns from Delhi,” a senior member of the chief minister’s secretariat said.
Mamata had said she would meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on February 24 for the early implementation of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration.
A senior Darjeeling district administration official said the chief minister might not be able to make it to Sandakphu despite her announcement.
“According to information received, the chief minister will come to Darjeeling on February 29 and will hold a meeting with district officials on March 1 before leaving for Calcutta the next day. To visit Sandakphu, one would need at least two clear days and there is very little time available,” he said.
The local people — around 2,000 of them live in settlements scattered along the Maneybhanjyan-Sandakphu route — had hoped that the chief minister’s visit would usher in development in the area, which is only about 60km from Darjeeling but is one of the most backward places in the region.
Even if the chief minister does decide to visit Sandakphu at the last moment, working out the logistics would be a major problem. This is largely because only the 1950s-made Land Rovers ply on the 31km stretch from Maneybhanjyan to Sandakphu.
Maneybhanjyan is about 30km from Darjeeling.
No modern vehicle, even if it has a four-wheel drive, dare climb the rough terrain of the Singalila range. Apart from the drivers of the 34 Land Rovers that ply on the route, not many are ready to take their vehicles to Sandakphu.
“Even though the route from Maneybhanjyan to Meghma is in good shape, those unfamiliar will find it difficult to drive because of the steep gradient. It is better not to talk about the remaining stretch,” said Nima Sherpa, a resident of Maneybhanjyan.
The road from Meghma passes through Tumling — a favourite haunt of sky watchers — Gairibas, Kaiyakatta and Kalpokhri before reaching Sandakphu. Phalut, another tourist hotspot, is 10km away but the stretch is virtually unmotorable except for the Land Rovers.
At Sandakphu, accommodation could be a major problem given the size of the entourage of the chief minister. There are three DGHC cottages, apart from two private lodges and a guest house each of the forest department and the Darjeeling Improvement Fund. “If the chief minister does decide to go, then the entourage will definitely have to be made small. In such an event, there would not be problems in accommodations,” said the official.
He said usually a chief minister is accompanied by two-three ministers of her cabinet. “Then, at least 30 people will be in her entourage. Maybe more,” he said.
A Land Rover can comfortably accommodate around five persons.
The local people of Sandakphu, however, said the DGHC cottages were in bad shape and needed immediate repair. The district administration will also have to arrange for all food items and other amenities to be ferried over from Darjeeling. Besides, there is no electricity and cellphone connectivity is also very poor in the region. “We charge Rs 4,300 for a trip to Sandakphu and back with an overnight halt,” said Chandan Pradhan, secretary of the Singalila Land Rovers’ Association.
Taking the chief minister by helicopter would largely depend on the weather conditions which change every hour.
“There was once a talk of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi visiting Sandakphu and a helipad was also constructed at Chandu, 3km away. However, the visit got cancelled for some reason,” said Migma Sherpa, who runs a homestay in the area.
The district administration has submitted a Rs 15-crore proposal to construct a road from Meghma to Sandakhphu-Phalut but it is yet to be sanctioned.
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