Deb to work with GTA to solve water crisis

SNS, 26 June 2014: Mr Goutam Deb, North Bengal Development minister today admitted in the state Assembly that there is problem of drinking water in Darjeeling and the state government will work closely with Gorkha Terretorial Administration(GTA) to resolve the crisis.

While placing the budget, Mr Deb added that in many areas in Darjeeling, there is lack of drinking water and state will take initiative so that every residents of Darjeeling could get safe drinking water. He also added that the state has spent more money in this department compared to Left front regime.

It may be mentioned that the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha in Darjeeling is unhappy with Mamata Banerjee's government for the delay in transferring several key departments to the newly elected Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA) Sabha in Darjeeling. There are 59 departments in Darjeeling hills which are controlled by the West Bengal government.

GTA member, Roshan Giri said: “After we won the GTA Sabha elections and taken charge of the autonomous body, the state government had promised to hand over all these 59 departments to us. But till today only six departments were officially handed over to the GTA Sabha. Rests are still under the control of the West Bengal government.”