DARJEELING, 27 FEB: On the lines of Miss Mamata Banerjee’s call to turn Darjeeling into Switzerland, CPI-M Politburo member Sitaram Yechury today said: “There are varied possibilities and tremendous potential to develop the Darjeeling Hills, but it cannot be Switzerland as Switzerland is not one city.”
The 10-member Parliamentary Committee on Tourism, Transport and Culture, headed by Mr Yechury, today held a meeting with the Darjeeling district magistrate, state officials, Union ministry of tourism, Union agencies of culture, Air India and the ministry of road. Mr Yechury said: “Tourism is an important economic lifeline of Darjeeling but there should first be proper flow of infrastructure for transport and culture that would eventually lead to the development of tourism.” “A range of issues in connection with the development of the three hill sub-divisions of Darjeeling ~ Kalimpong, Kurseong and Mirik ~ have been discussed with concrete recommendations and suggestions,” said Mr Yechury. He said Darjeeling is in need of a heritage legislation of old and rich culture and hence many proposals have come forth to develop the area. He also discussed to build a heritage museum and a cultural centre in the area.
On development of Bagdogra airport, which is under the Air Force, he said: “A suggestion has been made by Air India officials today at the meeting and we feel that the airport requires to increase its volume of landings and we will recommend this to Parliament.”
Mr Yechuri expressed the committee’s concern over NH-55 which has been closed to traffic for some time now following a landslide at Tindharia disrupting access of tourists to the Hills. The tracks of the toy train have also been affected and the toy train, a popular tourist attraction, is also not plying. Mr Yechuri said the committee would try and make an evaluation of all this and recommend to Parliament what needs to be done to make sure that Darjeeling and north Bengal get the facilities provided to that of the North-east.
The 10-member Parliamentary Committee on Tourism, Transport and Culture, headed by Mr Yechury, today held a meeting with the Darjeeling district magistrate, state officials, Union ministry of tourism, Union agencies of culture, Air India and the ministry of road. Mr Yechury said: “Tourism is an important economic lifeline of Darjeeling but there should first be proper flow of infrastructure for transport and culture that would eventually lead to the development of tourism.” “A range of issues in connection with the development of the three hill sub-divisions of Darjeeling ~ Kalimpong, Kurseong and Mirik ~ have been discussed with concrete recommendations and suggestions,” said Mr Yechury. He said Darjeeling is in need of a heritage legislation of old and rich culture and hence many proposals have come forth to develop the area. He also discussed to build a heritage museum and a cultural centre in the area.
On development of Bagdogra airport, which is under the Air Force, he said: “A suggestion has been made by Air India officials today at the meeting and we feel that the airport requires to increase its volume of landings and we will recommend this to Parliament.”
Mr Yechuri expressed the committee’s concern over NH-55 which has been closed to traffic for some time now following a landslide at Tindharia disrupting access of tourists to the Hills. The tracks of the toy train have also been affected and the toy train, a popular tourist attraction, is also not plying. Mr Yechuri said the committee would try and make an evaluation of all this and recommend to Parliament what needs to be done to make sure that Darjeeling and north Bengal get the facilities provided to that of the North-east.
statesman news service
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