Food & more buses for hills - Control room for strike-hit

Gautam Deb

TT, Siliguri, Aug. 29: The state government will distribute food grains from around 50 ration shops across the hills starting tomorrow, minister Gautam Deb said here today.

He also said from tomorrow the number of NBSTC buses that ply on different routes across the hills would be increased and light vehicles too would be operated.

The minister also said a control room would be opened in Siliguri tomorrow to monitor the hill situation and assist the strike-hit people.

“On August 14, we had opened special outlets in the hills and distributed food grains among people who are in distress. Tomorrow, we will distribute food grains from around 50 ration shops in the hills. These shops were closed because of the indefinite strike (called by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha) but they will open tomorrow,” Deb claimed after a meeting with officials of the GTA, district administration and different state departments.

“Security arrangements would be in place to avert any protest during the distribution. Earlier, we had distributed rice and flour but tomorrow we would sell mustard oil and sugar also. We also have plans to distribute lentils,” he added.

Deb said 30-35 light vehicles would run on different routes across the hills from tomorrow. “We started NBSTC bus services from August 13. There are reports that people are making a beeline for the buses and that is why we have gradually increased the number of buses,” he said.

“As of now, 16 buses are plying on different routes (daily) and from tomorrow, the number will increase to 22. We also plan to run around 30-35 light vehicles.”

He added that the state government had also decided to open a control room at the north Bengal development department office here tomorrow. “From the control room activities of different departments in the hills and the situation would be monitored. Tourists can get information and call for help. Information would be provided regarding food grain distribution from the control room. It will function till Diwali,” Deb said.

Police said around 850 persons, including 12 GTA members, had been arrested in the hills.