Bengal's first Safari Park inaugurated by Mamata Banerjee

EOI, Siliguri, 21 Jan 2016: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today inaugurated Bengal's first Safari Park 'Shorea Bengal Safari Park' near Salugara in the outskirt of Siliguri under Jalpaiguri district.

Chief Minister along with TMC MP Mukul Roy, MP Abhijit Banerjee, North Bengal Development Department minister Gautam Deb, minister AroopBiswas, singerIndranilSen who are on five days North Bengal.

After the inauguration function Banerjee said, "Government properties are not built to set on fire, we should protect and save the government properties."

Banerjee was referring to the incident of Darjeeling hill where various government properties were set on fire by protesters during agitation. Though chief minister did not pointed directly to GJM she said, "Earlier government properties were set on fire, setting fire is easy but to reconstruct is difficult so don’t set on fire."

Banerjee claimed that her government has done a lot for the development for the people of Hills and North Bengal. Tiger hill is being renovated, new airport established at Coochbehar, various developmental works are being on going in Siliguri and Jalpaiguri.

The huge gathering including school children and general public clapped for Mamata Banerjee when she requested the Park authorities to make free entries for public for one month.

Later Banerjee along with ministers and journalists went for jungle safari in pollution free buses which took about an hour to see the wild animals including deer, wild cat, various species of birds and others.

The foundation stone of park which is spread over in 297 hectares was laid by the chief minister on 17th July 2014. The total estimated project cost is around 270 crores but till now only Rs 27 crores has been invested for the first phase of work.

North Bengal Development Department minister Gautam Deb said that five buses have been brought for Jungle Safari. The buses are pollution free and will create no sounds. The visitors will have to pay Rs 50 for jungle safari and Rs 20 for entering the park but since chief minister urged there will be free entry for one month. He also informed that a restaurant has been established inside the jungle so that visitors can enjoy foods in the pollution free environment.

Agencies: Inaugurating the Park, Banerjee said efforts were in full swing to complete the remaining part of the work. 

Without naming the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (JGM), she said no organisation should resort to violent agitation. All problems could be sorted out across the table. "It takes a long time to build an asset, but little time to destroy it," she said. 

The Chief Minister announced health insurance coverage for all accredited journalists in the state from March 1, 2016. 

She also handed over 'Kanchenjunga Award' to renowned table tennis coach Bharati Ghosh and mountaineer Pusan Sherpa for climbing the Kanchenjunga peak without oxygen support several times.