GURUNG-LED GJM DELEGATION PRESENTS WISH LIST TO CENTRE

Amitava Banerjee, HT, 8 Aug 2014: Request to resume border trade with the Tibet Autonomous Region through Jelapla pass via Kalimpong tops list of demands of the party.

APART FROM APPRISING UNION MINISTERS OF THE SITUATION IN DARJEELING, THE TEAM ALSO RAISED ISSUES CONCERNING GTA, DARJEELING, A Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) delegation led by party president Bimal Gurung met external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj and her cabinet colleagues Nitin Gadkari and Shripad Yesso Naik in New Delhi.

Along with apprising the ministers of the present situation in Darjeeling, the delegation raised issues relating the concerned departments.

“We requested Sushma Swarajji to resume border trade with Tibet Autonomous Region through Jelapla pass via Kalimpong. We have also urged her help for setting up a Passport Seva Kendra in Siliguri,” Roshan Giri, GJM general secretary, said.

Incidentally, the old trade route through Jelapla Pass starting from Kalimpong was a mule track passing through Alg arah, Pedong, Renock, Rangli, Sendochen, Gnatong, Kuphu and then to Jelapla. At Kuphu, the world’s highest military cantonment was built by the British in 1888.

From Jelapla, one arrived at Yatung (13,200’) and then to Langram (12 100’), a Chinese colony and Richengang (9, 530’). Jagarchi and Phali, two markets, on the way to Lhasa are the two largest trade centers.

From 1851 to 1956, 90% of India’s trade with Tibet was carried out through Jelapla. Though after 1956, the commercial exchanges lessened, it still continued. However, after 1962, commerce through the route ground to a halt.

“A Passpaort Seva Kendra in Siliguri will benefit the whole of North Bengal and Sikkim. People will not have to visit Kolkata from these regions for their passport,” GJM assistant secretary Binay Tamang said.

The GJM team met Gadkari and requested him to take immediate steps to repair National Highway-55 (connecting Darjeeling with the Plains of Siliguri.)

“Special emphasis should be given to the stretch at Tindharia and also repair of the 40 km road between Kurseong and Darjeeling,” Tamang said.

Incidentally, the stretch of the National Highway-55 between Siliguri and Kurseong has remained closed since the past three years owing to multiple landslides.

The GJM’s wish list includes alternative National Highway from Siliguri via Mirik along the Balasan River to Darjeeling, immediate repair of the Coronation Bridge that connects Darjeeling district with Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar and also Bhutan and the Northeast states with the rest of India.

Proposal of a Hotel Management School under the Union government pegged at R63 crore and declaring Sidrapong Hydel Project a national heritage site featured in the GJM’s list of proposals to the Union tourism minister.

The GJM delegation comprised Gurung, Giri and Tamang along with GJM central committee member Pemba Tshering. BJP MP from Darjeeling SS Ahluwalia accompanied the delegation