TMC offer for hills' growth

The Mirik town. Picture by Passang Yolmo

BIRESWAR BANERJEE, TT, 2 November 2017, Siliguri: The Trinamul Congress has said the party will work together with the GTA for the development of the hills, a few days after Binay Thapa said politics shouldn't come in the way of Darjeeling's growth.

Bengal tourism minister Gautam Deb said on Thursday that he would soon meet Binay Tamang, the chairman of the GTA's board of administrators, to discuss tourism projects in the hills.

L.B. Rai, the chairman of the Trinamul-run municipality of Mirik, said he would meet GTA representatives on Friday to work out a comprehensive plan for the development of the hill town.

"It is good that he (Anit) has said that we should work together for the development of the hills. For Mirik, we will work for the renovation the lake and will take up some other projects at different locations in the hills. Soon, I will hold a meeting with Binay Tamang," said Deb.

On Tuesday, Thapa, who is the second-in-command of the Tamang camp of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, had visited Mirik. The rebel Morcha leader had said development had been hindered in the hills and it was time to keep aside political differences and work together.

Rai said the civic body was planning to give a face-lift to Mirik in three months. The civic body has received funds from the state and will take up a number of projects for infrastructure development of the town with the GTA.

Mirik, located about 50km from here, is surrounded by tea gardens and orange plantations and is a favourite spot for tourists.

The civic chairman informed that the state municipal affairs department had recently allotted funds to the civic body, including Rs 6 crore under "green city project," Rs 13 crore for installation of street lights and Rs 10 crore to beautify the lake side and the town.

"We have to defer our plan due to the four-month long strike. We will start the work soon as funds are available with us. I will soon meet the GTA representatives and have already sought their cooperation," said Rai.

In Mirik, he said, the civic body will work on starting drinking water supply. A sum of Rs 56 crore for the project has been sanctioned. Once completed, it would largely help all over 17,000 residents who have to depend on other water sources now.

(Shared by Kalimpong News: Source & Courtesy:  https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/west-bengal/tmc-offer-for-hills-growth-183002)