Subscription harassment

TT, Siliguri, Oct. 22: Tour operators in north Bengal today wrote to senior officials of the state tourism department and Siliguri metropolitan police, alleging that members of some local clubs were inconveniencing tourists by forcibly stopping their cars and asking for subscription for Kali Puja in Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts.

“For the past few days, tourists, cab drivers and transporters have been complaining to us about this new problem of collecting subscription ahead of Diwali and Kali Puja. Members of some of the clubs organising the pujas are stopping vehicles carrying tourists on different roads in and around the town and also on highways,” said Raj Basu, a tour operator of north Bengal.

In Siliguri, vehicles are being stopped on the roads leading to New Jalpaiguri, on NH31, NH55 and on the Eastern Bypass.

In Dooars, tourists are finding it tough to move even a kilometre in some of the stretches of NH31C or the state highways crossing through popular destinations such as Gorumara National Park, Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary and Chilapata.

This year a new trend has been noticed. Many clubs, which are collecting money from vehicles, are putting stickers on the windscreens for the “convenience” of the drivers.

“Once the subscription is paid, the vehicle need not to stop at the same locality for the second time,” said a member of a club based in Deshbandhupara here.

Sunil Agarwal, the joint director (north) of tourism, when asked about the issue, said: “We have come to know about this problem and will speak to officials of civil and police administration to ensure free movement of tourists across the region during Diwali.”

Fire safety on bike

In a first-of-its-kind initiative, fire fighters here will carry out patrolling on a motorcycle on Diwali in Siliguri.

Sanat Mondal, the divisional fire officer (north zone) of the state fire services department, said: “This is the first time that we are introducing fire fighters on two-wheelers. They will take initial measures to check any incident of fire. Also, they will monitor Kali Puja pandals and commercial areas to avoid any disaster.”

According to him, two firemen posted at Siliguri fire station will patrol the town with portable fire extinguishers and a walkie-talkie.