Deal done, now growth survey - Architect in tow, administration & Morcha on study tour of hills

Darjeeling, July 25: The district administration accompanied by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leadership today started a survey across Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong subdivisions to prepare a blue print for projects primarily related to decongestion and beautification of the hills in the first phase.

The study comes days after the signing of the agreement between the Morcha, the state government and the Centre to set up the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration for the hills.

Under the hill agreement, the three sides have agreed to take up over 40 development projects including the setting up of four ropeways in Darjeeling and Kurseong.

The survey team included Darjeeling district magistrate Mohan Gandhi, Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri and Delhi-based architect P.R. Mehta, apart from officials of the land and land reforms department.

The team inspected sites at Batasia, Red Cross Complex, Kakjhora, Judge Bazaar, the motor stand area and Lebong.

Gandhi, however, said Mehta was not officially tied to the survey. “Since he was in town, we thought of calling him for the inspection. The survey was in the pipeline as the state government wanted to come up with plans to decongest the town about three years ago. This was basically a follow up to this proposal and an effort to identify possible sites to create parking spaces in town,” said Gandhi.

Gandhi added that the district administration was looking at creating more parking spaces apart from beautifying the town. Mamata Banerjee had repeatedly said she would turn the hills into Switzerland.

The Morcha, which has signed the hill deal on July 18, however, indicated that the survey was part of the party’s decision to immediately start development works.

“We are not sure whether Mr Mehta has been taken in officially or not but the district magistrate and the administrator of the DGHC have recognised his expertise,” said Giri. “To start with, we are trying to concentrate on creating parking space, strengthening the motor stand and beautifying the town immediately. Apart from this, we have already started drawing up plans not just for Darjeeling but also for other towns like Kalimpong, Kurseong and Mirik,” said Giri. He said Mehta had taken up beautification projects in Delhi and Jaipur in the past.

The speculation doing the round is that though Mehta is not officially tied to the project, the Morcha is looking at taking him on board for planning.

“We have to adopt a holistic approach to develop the area. I am just looking at the sites now and we will also seek a number of suggestions. Later, we can combine the ideas to come up with a holistic plan for the region,” said Mehta.

Morcha president Bimal Gurung told party workers at Chungthung, 26km from Darjeeling yesterday, that he was racing against time to change the face of the hills. “I cannot wait for long. We have already started planning for the region,” he had said yesterday.

Sources said the Darjeeling municipality has also prepared a plan to develop the Chowk Bazar area, which includes realigning the vendors in the area.

~the telegraph