Can sacrifice our lives, but won't part with Darjeeling: Mamata

By Pradipta Tapadar, Darjeeling, Oct 11 : Asserting that the West Bengal government will not give in to the demand for a separate Gorkhaland state, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Tuesday announced wide-ranging sops and promised all help to a proposed autonomous hill development body. But "we will not leave Darjeeling", she affirmed.

In a bid to fulfil her pre-assembly poll promise of turning Darjeeling in northern West Bengal into a "Switzerland", Banerjee announced that a master plan for tourism development was under way, and once completed and implemented, most of the issues of unemployment in the hills would be solved.

"We will help you with each and everything. We will help you with all our hearts. You people are our brothers and sisters. We are ready to sacrifice our lives for your development, but we are not ready to leave Darjeeling," said Banerjee at a government function with Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) leaders on the dais.

The GJM has, over the past three and a half years, spearheaded the movement for a separate Gorkhaland to be carved out of some northern parts of the state, including the Darjeeling hills.

On July 18, a tripartite agreement was signed between the GJM and the state and central governments. At the core of the agreement is the formation of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA).

The GTA is armed with more powers as compared to its predecessor, the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) formed in the late 1980s.

"For the sake of development and peace of the hills, for bettering the lot of the youths of the hills, we have done the GTA agreement. The work has already started for GTA. After that, there elections will take place for the formation of the GTA. For the election of GTA, the work for delimitation has also started," said Banerjee.

Expressing concerns over condition of quake-stricken Darjeeling, Banerjee said she will request the central government for an additional Rs.500 crore grant.

"Darjeeling has been worse affected than even Sikkim. In addition to the Rs.500 crore relief already requisitioned under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), I will make a further request for Rs.500 crore," said Banerjee.

Banerjee's comments came a day after a GJM delegation gave her a memorandum asking for a Rs.1,000 crore central grant for restoration work and resettlement of the quake affected.

Banerjee, now on a two-day visit to Darjeeling, said the northeast and north Bengal should be treated similarly as both the areas have the same topography and geography.

She also announced that a Lepcha development council will be constituted, with its office to be set up in Darjeeling.

In a bid to woo the people on her third visit to north Bengal after taking over the reins of the state May 20, Banerjee announced various developmental projects, which would help to improve the social and economic conditions of the hills.

"Darjeeling will be Switzerland and everybody's dreamland. The master plan for tourism development is under way, and once completed and implemented, the region will turn into a Switzerland," she said to tumultuous applause.

Banerjee announced the "Destination Darjeeling" project under which the infrastructure of the Darjeeling district would be upgraded.


"From installing street lamps and signages across the roads, to sanitary development and garbage disposal, all will be done to make the city better. Eco-tourism policy for Darjeeling is ready. The funds have been sanctioned."

Banerjee unveiled six railway projects, which include a modern printing press and basic training centre at the neighbouring hill town Kurseong, a filter manufacturing plant and a multi-functional complex building at Siliguri in the plains.

An international research centre named after Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore and a Nepali academy after poet Bhanubhakta will also come up at Kalimpong's Mongpu.

Banerjee kept on interacting with the crowd switching between Bengali, Hindi and at times in English, after starting her speech in Nepali.

She urged the people of the hills to walk along with those from the plains for development. "I am not here for politics but for development. If we work together, we will surely be successful...hum honge kamyab...we shall overcome."

The youth of the region were promised police jobs, "like the people in Junglemahal (Maoist-affected forested areas in western part of the state)".

--IANS

Mamata's sops to 'turn Darjeeling into Switzerland'

Darjeeling, Oct 11 : In a bid to fulfil her pre-poll promise of turning Darjeeling in northern West Bengal into Switzerland, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Tuesday announced a host of tourism and economic projects for the hilly region.

"Darjeeling will be Switzerland and everybody's dreamland. The master plan for tourism development is underway, and once completed and implemented, the region will turn into Switzerland," Banerjee said at a government programme here while announcing the 'Destination Darjeeling' project.

"Under the project, from installing street lamps and signages on roads, to sanitary development and garbage disposal, all will be done to make the city better. Eco-tourism policy for Darjeeling is ready. The funds have been sanctioned," she said.

Banerjee also unveiled six railway projects, including a modern printing press and basic training centre at the neighbouring hill town Kurseong, a filter manufacturing plant and a multi-functional complex building at Siliguri in the plains.

A tourist information centre (TIC) will be set up in the picturesque Mall, the tourist hub of Darjeeling town.

An international research centre named after Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore and a Nepali academy named after poet Bhanubhakta will also come up at Kalimpong's Mongpu.

"In addition to the beautification of stations, tourist lodges will be renovated and upgraded. A trekking route will be created from Moniganj to Sandakphu...With private participation, four ropeways would also be installed," she said.

A tea tourism festival and an orange festival will also be held, with the former being organised from Dec 20 to Jan 5.

Besides, a Rs.28 crore parking lot and a Rs.3 crore stadium will be set up. Air-conditioned buses will soon connect Darjeeling to various important centres.

She also said her government would provide Rs.56 crore for developing drinking water facilities in the region and establish 100 primary and upper-primary schools.

The government will also upgrade hospitals and health centres in the area.

The youth of the region have been promised police jobs.


"Like the people in Junglemahal (Maoist-affected forested areas in western part of the state), the youth here too will get police jobs," the chief minister said.

--IANS  

'Will do everything for Darjeeling, no separate Darjeeling'

 Darjeeling, Oct 11: Asserting that her government is ready to do everything for uplifting Darjeeling's people, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Tuesday clearly indicated that she did not favour the creation of separate Gorkhaland state.

"We will help you with each and every thing. We will help you with all our hearts. You people are our brothers and sisters. We are ready to sacrifice our lives for your development but we are not ready to leave Darjeeling," said Banerjee at a tourism festival sitting beside pro-Gorkhaland GJM leaders.

GJM has, over the past three-and-a-half years, spearheaded the movement for a separate Gorkhaland to be carved out of parts of northern West Bengal, including the Darjeeling hills.

On July 18, a tripartite agreement was signed between the GJM and the state and central governments. At the core of the agreement is the formation of Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA), armed with more powers as compared to its predecessor, the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) formed in the late 1980s.

"For the sake of development and peace of the hills, for the betterment of the youths of the hills, we have done the GTA agreement. The work has already started for GTA. After that there will be a election for the formation of GTA. For the election of GTA, the work for delimitation has also started," said Banerjee.

"Please believe me... I want to work for your development and progress. I have visited north Bengal three times after coming to power," said Banerjee who is on a three-day visit to the area.

She announced that a Lepcha development community will be constituted under the backward development community

"We will also constitute a Lepcha development council under backward classes. Its office will be come up in Darjeeling only," she said.

Banerjee also expressed concerns for the quake victims in Darjeeling and said that northeast and north Bengal should be treated similarly as both the areas have same topography and geography.

"We will help the people of the hills who are suffering the relief camps due to this earthquake. We will help them. I have requested the national disaster team which have just come from Sikkim to give same importance to north Bengal as it is to northeast because the geography and topography of both the areas are same," she said.

"I will pursue the matter with the prime minister so that the people of the hills gets ninety percent subsidy for development as other hilly regions get. A cost of making a house in hills is much more than making a house in hills," she said.

In a bid to woo the masses of Darjeeling, Banerjee announced various projects for the development of both social and economic conditions of the hills. Several projects will be taken up in close coordination with the GTA.

"We will recruit Darjeeling youths in state police force. We are also preparing master plan for tourism in Darjeeling. Renovations for Darjeeling Gymkhana club and other clubs will be done," she said.

Banerjee also announced setting up of two international research centers in after the name of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore and Bhanu Bhagat.

"We will also organise Tea tourism festival here in Darjeeling from December 30 to January 20. We will organise a orange festival in Darjeeling. We will give three crore rupees for the upgradation of Lebong stadium," she said.

--IANS 

 

Mamata to seek Rs.500 crore more for quake-hit Darjeeling

Darjeeling, Oct 11: Giving in to the demand of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Tuesday said she will request the central government for an additional Rs.500 crore grant for quake-stricken Darjeeling.

"Darjeeling has been worse affected than even Sikkim. In addition to the Rs.500 crore relief already requisitioned under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), I will make a further request for Rs.500 crore," said Banerjee at a programme at this tourist hill resort in the state's northern part.

Banerjee's comments came a day after a delegation of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, the dominant party in the Darjeeling hills, gave her a memorandum asking for a Rs.1,000 crore central grant for restoration work and resettlement of the quake affected.

Banerjee, now on a two-day visit to Darjeeling, said the disaster management team will continue rehabilitating the quake-affected people in the area.

"The situation here is worrisome. The roads are in a poor state and many people are still living in relief camps. The disaster management teams are working on a war footing to rehabilitate them, I have asked them to speed up their efforts," she said.

Along with other developmental packages, Banerjee announced several quake relief projects, including Rs.20 crore for construction of houses and Rs.1 crore for reconstruction of schools destroyed in the quake.

"The NDRF fund would be reaching here any time as it has been sanctioned. In the interim, I am giving you Rs.20 crore for building and repairing houses."

Banerjee added that she would ask the central government to provide the people of Darjeeling additional funds for rebuilding their houses as constructing houses in hilly areas was three times more expensive than in the plains.

At least 68 people were killed and over 300 injured in the 6.8-magnitude earthquake that rocked large parts of eastern and northern India Sep 18. The high-intensity quake, which was followed by two aftershocks, had its epicentre on the Sikkim-Nepal border.

--IANS