Darjeeling tea & tourism festival flagged off

THT, Kolkata, 24 December 2013: The 3rd Darjeeling Tea and Tourism Festival was flagged off on Tuesday.

The Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) has decided to give tourism a boost in the Hills stressing on the rural and eco-tourism sectors along with adventure sports. 

DTTF is organised by GTA jointly with the Bengal government, Indian Tea Association (ITA), Darjeeling Tea Association ( D TA) and the people of Darjeeling. This is the third consecutive year of the festival, which will run till January 1, 2014.

Though West Bengal tourism minister Krishnendy Narayan Chowdhury was scheduled to inaugurate the festival, he could not be present. He will arrive in Darjeeling on December 27.

The festival has been trimmed down this time showcasing mainly local talents, folk music and local bands. It is being organised only in Darjeeling town this time. Bengal government has sanctioned 40 lakh for DTTF. NHPC, NTPC, DTA and ITA will also pitch in with funds. “More thrust is being given to showcase home stays. We are felicitating aged tea pluckers too,” said Col (retd) Ramesh Allay, deputy chief, GTA. There will be celebrity artists from Nepal and Sikkim.

Nepali poet Agam Singh Giri’s birth anniversary will also be commemorated on December 27 as part of DTTF. Renowned persons from the literary and musical fields will also be felicitated.

Sonam Bhutia, executive director, tourism, GTA, said, “We have numerous tourism projects in the pipeline. Stress will be given to eco-tourism and home stays in PPP mode. Process has already begun to identify such spaces at the block level. The projects are expected to be complete by October 2014.” Four new car parks are coming up in the three hill sub-divisions along with mini parking spaces in all tourism spots. Tourism Finance Corporation of India has already given the green light to four new ropeway projects in the three hill sub-divisions in Darjeeling. The ropeway services will include Tukvar to Gok and Batasia to Rock Garden in the Darjeeling sub-division, Giddey to Rohini in the Kurseong subdivision and Deolo to Relli in Kalimpong sub-division.

“Construction of the four ropeway services will begin in July 2014,” said Bhutia.

A circular road from 3rd Mile to Lebong on the outskirts of Darjeeling town is awaiting government nod. Work on the Pankhabari road connecting Kurseong to the plains, which is undergoing revamping, is expected to be complete by October 2014.