Bista draws Goyal's attention to Rangpo rail row

SNS, 30 August 2019, DARJEELING, Darjeeling: Darjeeling MP Raju Bista today met Railway Minister Piyush Goyal, where among different issues concerning the Railways in Darjeeling constituency, he also drew the attention of the minister on concerns shared by forest villagers who will be affected by the Sevoke-Rangpo railway line that is coming up there. The proposed railway line will include the Himalayan state of Sikkim in the country's railway map for the first time.

"In my last constituency visit, there were concerns shared by forest villagers of Sevoke-Rangpo on the new rail-way line that is coming up. During discussions, I mentioned about the issues facing the forest villagers due to the non-implementation of PRA (Forest Rights Act) 2006 in Darjeeling and Kalimpong district. The minister has assured me that he will discuss these issues with the departments concerned under the Ministry of Railways and send it for necessary action," Mr Bista said in a statement.

The Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) has already given a go-ahead to the Rangpo rail project, a major portion of which falls in areas under the GTA in West Bengal. However, residents of 24 odd forest villages that fall under the GTA have demanded implementation of the Forest Rights Act 2006 before the project kicks off. Hundreds of residents of such forest villages in Kalimpong and Darjeeling which constitute the Gram Sabhas have demanded conversion of forest villages into revenue villages to ensure their right, first. The villagers have also said that they would not allow the authorities concerned to begin construction of the railway project without the NOC from each Gram Sabha. They further claim that the GTA does not have the right to issue the NOC to the railway authorities for the forest land.

According to the GTA, the total rail line between Sevoke and Rangpo will be approximately 44.98 km, and 90 percent of that distance (41.54km) will fall in the GTA area. The project is said to have 14 tunnels with a total length of about 38.64 km, and 80 percent of the project is supposed to be underground.

"Work on the project has started in some of the cinchona plantation areas, while they are yet to start work in the forest areas, as they have not got any NOC so far. However, they have brought some machines and kept there in the forest area. Moreover, before starting any work, they should also get the NOC from the gram sabhas. Our demand is that all the forest villages that are there (in the hills) should be converted to revenue villages like it was done for Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar in the year 2014. After that parja- patta (land rights documents) should also be given to them. The gram sabhas will give the NOC once these demands are met." the general secretary of the Himalayan Forest Villagers Organisation, Lila Gurung, said today. The Kalimpong district magistrate could not be contacted on the phone for comments despite.

Meanwhile, the Darjeeling MP said he also took up other issues with the Railway minister, like establishing a separate Division for Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, converting Kurseong Railway Press to a Heritage Museum and introducing Specialized Printing Press, filling up vacant posts in the DHR and permanent status to casual workers who have worked for over 20 years.

He also talked of issues like the new train originating from Gulma station in Darjeeling to Kolkata stopping of trains bound for Kolkata. Delhi and other place; in rest of India at Bagdogra, Naxalbari and Chopra., modernization of the New Jalpaiguri Railway Station, construction of Flyovers / Underpasses at railway crossings at Bagrakote, Sevoke and NTS More.