GTA ALLOTS FUNDS FOR HAWKERS’ MARKET IN DARJEELING

AMITAVA BANERJEE, HT, Darjeeling: A tug of war is all set to ensue between the State Government and the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) with the GTA allotting funds for the construction of a Hawkers’ Market at the Darjeeling Chowk Bazar through the Municipality. This decision comes on the heels of the State Government having started construction of a Hawkers’ Market on CR Das Road adjacent to the Darjeeling Chowrasta.

Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) President and GTA Chief Bimal Gurung has opposed the construction of the Hawkers’ Market by the State Government on CR Das Road. Along with him GJM frontal organization and the Morning Health Club is also opposing the construction.

“I have always said that no trees should be cut in Chowrasta in the name of Development. I am against any concrete building in Chowrasta. It is the only patch of greenery that we have left in Darjeeling town” stated Gurung.

Gurung has demanded that a public referendum be taken on the district administration’s decision to build the Hawkers’’ Market. “This will clearly reflect whether the public approve of the construction on Chowrasta or not” stated Gurung.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on January 23 had laid the foundation stone for the Hawkers’ Market at the CR Das Road, below the Darjeeling Chowrasta. The concrete building would accommodate around 90 Hawkers’. The project is pegged at Rs. 1 Crore.

On June 13, M/s Rohini Engineering Cooperative Society Ltd on the instructions of the PWD had started excavation work on the proposed construction site on CR Das Road. The Darjeeling Municipality had immediately issued a notice ordering that the construction work be immediately halted as it is illegal without a prior sanctioned building plan.

Puneet Yadav, District Magistrate countered that samples were being collected for soil test. Only after the soil test report would the Municipality be approached with a building plan and construction work ensue. “No trees will be felled for the construction and the building will be constructed as per the norms of the Municipality” Yadav has assured.

“I would appeal to the State Government and the District Administration to construct the Hawker’s market at any place other than Chowrasta. I strongly support the Hawkers’’ right to a permanent place from where they can earn their livelihood. GTA has already given the Darjeeling Municipality Rs. 1 crore to construct a hawker’s market in Chowk Bazar. The construction of which will start immediately after monsoon. I am not opposed to development, but development should not be undertaken at the cost of our environment, religious beliefs and our cultural heritage” remarked Gurung.

Incidentally the heritage Brabourne Park which was built in 1897 on Chowrasta had also been dismantled and replaced by a 300 Capacity Open Air Theater (OAT.) The land for the park had been gifted to the Darjeeling Municipality by the Maharaja of Cooch Behar exclusively for a Children’s Park. The park which was named after Lord Brabourne, the then Governor of Bengal and boasted of exotic plant and trees.

Federation of Societies for Environment Protection (FOSEP,) a green group of Darjeeling had then taken Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) and others to court for the dismantling of the Park. In July 2012 the Calcutta High Court had ruled against the felling of trees. By that time all the plants and trees had already been uprooted and around only a handful trees managed to survive the ordeal.