Forest bungalows and other government
properties that have been destroyed in the Darjeeling hills and the
Dooars will be renovated by the state government, said Chief Minister
Mamata Banerjee this evening before wrapping up her five-day tour of
North Bengal and heading back to Kolkata.
She said, “The government bungalows that
were destroyed by Gorkha Janamukti Morcha supporters at Jaldhaka and
other places in the Darjeeling hills will be renovated and given a
makeover.”
The chief minister said her government
has several projects in the pipeline for developing the tourism sector
of North Bengal. Talking to media persons at the Bagdogra airport,
Banerjee said the state government has declared a tax holiday for
Bagdogra airport to attract more airline companies.
Commenting on the proposed
Bagdogra-Kathmandu service, she said it would be a wonderful gift for
domestic and foreign tourists, but the service should face any obstacle
once its kicks off. Banerjee also said airliners have stopped night
landing services at Bagdogra citing lack of passengers.
The chief minister alleged the Airport
Authority of India is not paying attention to ramp up services at the
Bagdogra airport and upgrade its infrastructure. Further, she announced
Rs30 crore has been sanctioned for the renovation of the Cooch Behar
airport.
Banerjee went on to state residents of
North Bengal will not need to visit the Writers’ Buildings in Kolkata
for finance-related issues henceforth as the state finance department
will be setting up an office at the Uttarkanya mini-secretariat.
When asked for her comments on the BJP’s
victory from Darjeeling, the chief minister said, “I will not answer
any questions related to the BJP, hence please do not expect any answers
from my side.”
She also warned the local media against
publishing and airing false news stories failing which she would not
interact with them in future. According to Banerjee, some local media
houses have erroneously stated jungle safaris in the Dooars have stopped
altogether.
“The safaris are available and visitors to the Dooars can take pleasure in such rides,” concluded the chief minister.”(EOIC)