Krishi Mela at Rangbang Khola near Sukhaypokhari

Gorkhaland Territorial Administration  chief executive Bimal Gurung today inaugurated the four-day Krishi Mela at Rangbang Khola near Sukhaypokhari as he pledged to invest in developing the area.

He said more than Rs100 crore would be pumped in from funds from the Centre to develop the area.

“We will be getting Rs200 crore as promised by the central government. From this, we will invest about Rs143 crore in the Rangbhang area for various infrastructural development works,” said the GTA chief while laying the foundation stone for a model high school at Magarjung near Sukhaypokhari, about 35 km from Darjeeling.

Speaking at the fair ground, Gurung said, “The GTA will focus on developing the hills with active cooperation from both the state and central governments. We have lined up various projects that will be implemented soon.”

He added, “The last round of agitation for statehood proved the people are more interested in development. Many supporters and people deserted our party then. With the general public voicing demand for development and with my returning to the GTA, I was compelled to resume office as its chief executive.”

The GTA chief added plans are on to prioritise development of the agriculture and tourism sectors to strengthen the economy of the hills.

The popular tourist destination of Mirik that neighbours Sukhaypokhari will also be developed soon and nearly Rs23 crore invested in the area, informed Gurung.

“I will make a field visit to Mirik soon to see what type of projects will benefit the area,” he said.

Further, the Gorkha Janmuki Morcha president warned contractors to refrain from indulging in corruption while executing house-building works for the poor under the Indira Awaas Yojana, a central government scheme. Under the scheme, 1,150 houses will be constructed in the GTA area with a budget of Rs75,000 set aside for each dwelling.

The model school at Magarjung, for which Gurung today laid the foundation stone, will come up at a cost of Rs6.14 crore. Indira Ojha Madhyamik School, which is in the same area and in a  dilapidated state, will be shifted to the new building once it is complete with facilities including a laboratory, toilet and hall among others. Gurung added the GTA has plans to build a college at Dhajey near Sukhaypokhari.(EOI)