Harka Bahadur Chhetri alleged that the state government had not kept its promise on funds for quake-hit Darjeeling hills

Calcutta, Nov. 23: Kalimpong MLA Harka Bahadur Chhetri today alleged that the state government had not kept its promise on funds for the reconstruction of the quake-hit Darjeeling hills.

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leader said the hills had received only Rs 40 crore from the state, and nothing from the Centre, against a demand of Rs 1,000 crore.

“Chief minister Mamata Banerjee had promised many things when she visited the affected areas. But nothing has been done yet. All we got was Rs 40 crore. No repair can be started with such meagre amount,” Chhetri said at Writers’ Buildings today.

Chhetri said the Morcha had demanded Rs 1,000 crore for Darjeeling after an earthquake registering 6.8 on the Richter hit on September 18.

“A few thousand people from 67 villages in Kalimpong alone lost their homes. They are still living in camps. But they need to shift before winter,” said Chhetri. “These people will not have other options but to launch an agitation if the promises are not kept.”

Chief secretary Samar Ghosh said neither the state nor the Centre had promised a rehabilitation package of Rs 1,000 crore as claimed by the MLA. He added that the state government had spent Rs 55 crore for earthquake relief and rehabilitation in north Bengal and plans to send more as and when possible. 

TT