Generate employment to uplift Hills, says Mamata Banerjee

Amitava Banerjee | MP | 2017-03-29 | Darjeeling: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has prescribed Information Technology, agriculture, horticulture and floriculture sectors to generate employment and economically uplift the people of Darjeeling and Kalimpong. The Tea Park in New Jalpaiguri will also become operational soon, she said.

An administrative review meeting of Kalimpong and Darjeeling districts was held at the Pintail Village, located on the fringes of Siliguri on Wednesday. Addressing media persons after the meet, the Chief Minister stated: "Along with the circuit-wise review of tourism projects in great detail, we also feel that IT sector, agriculture, floriculture, horticulture and food processing have great prospects in employment generation and economic upsurge in the Hills.

I have asked the Agriculture, Animal Resource Development and Industries department to look into this. I have also instructed the Secretary of the Information Technology department to prepare IT projects for the Hills."

Basudeb Banerjee, Chief Secretary, government of Bengal stated that a Tea Park project that was initiated in 2009 is all set to be operational soon. It is a joint project between the state government, Railways and the Tea Board of India. The land on which the Tea Park is coming up in New Jalpaiguri belongs to the Railways.

"The Tea Industry has a huge turnover and employs around 3 lakh people in North Bengal. The Tea Park will have numerous Tea Board establishments along with warehousing and tea auction facilities. Many friendly units will also come up. The park will be a great source of employment," added the Chief Secretary.

The Chief Minister stated that tourism projects including the ones at Gajaldoba and Tiger Hill were discussed in detail in the presence of Tourism Minister Gautam Deb and the Chief Secretary.

"Work of the Gajaldoba project will commence soon," she added.

While a tourism hub is on the anvil at Gajaldoba, four cottages, 20 double-bedded rooms and a 20 bedded dormitory will be constructed at Tiger Hill by the Tourism department. Incidentally, both these projects have sparked protests from the green groups. 

"We have discussed different projects in connection to roads, drinking water and electricity," stated Banerjee. As many as five road-over bridges will come up in Jalpaiguri and four in Siliguri. New electricity sub-stations will be constructed at Sonada, Bagdogra, Kawakhali and Purbo Karaibari.

"We are also improving road connectivity with bordering countries — Bhutan and Nepal. We have already spent Rs 750 crore on a four-lane highway," she further stated.