Mamata Banerjee bid to bridge Hills-Dooars divide

MALBAZAR: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday sought to bring an end to the politics of bandhs that has crippled the Darjeeling Hills and the plains and Dooars for the last three years.

She advised political pressure groups in Dooars and Terai not to resort to frequent bandhs. asA section of vested interests, who do not want peace in the area, are calling bandhs. But this is only affecting the interests of the common people. You should desist from bandhs,a? Mamata told a gathering at Malbazar after a two-day trip to Darjeeling.

She also advised people to maintain peace and calm. asI have talked to the leaders of Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad (ABAVP) . I will not allow peace to be disturbed here at any cost,a? the chief minister said.

In a clear attempt at striking a balance between the ambitions of the Hills and the apprehensions of the Dooars, she said that a high power committee is looking into the problem posed by Gorkha Janmukti Morchaas demand for inclusion of parts of Dooars and Terai areas in the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration. asWhy are you unduly worried that your interests will be compromised? The government has appointed an expert committee, chaired by a former chief justice of Calcutta high court. The people of the Hills can make a demand. What is wrong with that? You can also give your representation before the committee,a? said Mamata.

She said it was unfortunate that trouble had broken out in the Dooars over the issue of area demarcation and made it clear that the government would put down efforts at trouble-making with strong hands.

in a bid to woo the adivasis she said: a?The people of Terai and Dooars are as close to my heart as the people of Darjeeling are. I have been to Darjeeling but am visiting north Bengal frequently as well.a?

She announced a host of tourism-related projects for the region, the whole of Darjeeling hills and North Bengal clubbed together. Once this is in place, employment problem in north Bengal will be solved to a large extent, she hoped.

Among them are setting up of several tourism parks, and tourist resorts in north Bengal, a new trekking route at Buxa and development of roads in different tourist destinations in north Bengal. Darjeeling and north Bengal will be developed into Switzerland which will be a model for developing tourism at the hill-station, she said.

A Rajbanshi Academy will also be set up for conservation of their culture. Mamata asked railway minister Dinesh Trivedi to develop the Jobigopa and Malbazar-Khangrabadha broad-gauge rail connection and start a new passenger train from Siliguri to Aluabari. She also announced a number of primary and secondary schools.

"The previous government had neglected north Bengal, allotting only Rs 59 crore under the North Bengal Development Board. But we have allotted Rs 200 crore," Mamata said, adding that she is trying to bring parity in wages of tea -garden workers in North Bengal.

TOI