Social media is constantly abuzz with what is wrong with the
infrastructure of Darjeeling but when it comes to providing constructive
feedback to a proper forum, fingers of net savvy urban residents seem
to have been stuck.
The committee formed by the Bengal government
to draw up short, mid and long term development plans for the hills has
received 100-odd proposals so far but surprisingly include just one from
Darjeeling town.
The committee had asked for feedback from the residents till December 31 either in hardcopies or through email.
“Most
of the suggestions are from rural areas. Villagers have mostly
submitted proposals in hardcopies. However, from the Darjeeling town,
the committee has received only one suggestion,” said a source.
Some rural proposals deal with improvement in education system and sustainable tourism.
The
Darjeeling town-centric proposal is from a merchant body and specific
to Nehru Road and Chowrastha. It stressed the need to remove overhead
wires, put in place proper drainage system and install water vending
machines in the area among others.
“It seems it is easy to make
criticisms in the social media but difficult even to send a proposal on
how one envisions his/her own town,” the source said.
The 100-odd proposals cover 12 sectors.
The
proposals from the rural areas are mostly short-term. “They mostly talk
about the need to build a bridge here or a road there,” the source
said.
This is not to say the committee has no proposals to work
on. “Most administrative bodies, like municipalities, are ready with
their suggestions. However, our focus was to listen to and seek
suggestions from residents,” said the source.
The committee,
headed by Darjeeling MLA Amar Singh Rai, has decided to extend the
deadline for online submissions by 10 more days. “A meeting with citizen
forums and NGOs has also been fixed at Park Community Hall in Kurseong
on January 5,” said the source.
Other members of the committee are
Kalimpong and Kurseong MLAs, chairpersons of 16 development boards, and
district magistrates and superintendents of police of Darjeeling and
Kalimpong.
GTA chief Binay Tamang, his deputy Anit Thapa and
principal secretary (backward classes welfare department) S.K.Thade have
been given advisory roles.
Sources said the committee would
compile short-term plan in two-three weeks. “The thrust will, however,
be on long term proposals,” said the source.
The committee has been asked to submit the proposal to the government by March-end.
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