Binay flaunts hill projects

Vivek Chhetri, TT,  Jul 10, 2018, Darjeeling: Binay Tamang seems to have adopted a two-pronged strategy for his public meetings which he is addressing for after a gap of almost six months.

On one hand, Tamang is going gung-ho after Bimal Gurung and the GNLF. On the other hand, he is placing his report card before the public.

"I want to be transparent and the public should know what we are doing," said Tamang.

After addressing a public meeting in Kurseong on Sunday, Tamang was in Kalimpong for another meeting on Monday. He will be addressing another rally at Bijanbari on Wednesday.

"In the last two years of Bimal Gurung's tenure (as the GTA chief executive), he executed 133 projects under the state plan," said Tamang.

The current GTA head then said since he had taken over in September last year, the hill body undertook 853 schemes under the state plan.

"The total funds invested in these 853 schemes stand at Rs 411 crore," said Tamang who then took a jibe at GNLF leader, Niraj Zimba. "Zimba bhai can file an RTI application for the same."

Tamang said between December 18, 2017, and July 3, 2018, the present board of administrators of the GTA had executed 89 schemes worth Rs 274 crore under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund and Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojna.

"We have recently submitted a list of projects worth Rs 160 crore to the state government ," added Tamang.

Tamang also said the GTA had on last Friday submitted a technical report for construction of four bridges that would link Darjeeling and Sikkim. "This could not be executed in the earlier tenure of GTA for various reasons."

The GTA chairperson also said following the Hill Business Summit, which was held in Darjeeling on March 13 and 14, a ginger hub was being set up in Gorubathan block in Kalimpong district along with an agriculture hub at Garidhura in Kurseong subdivision.

"The management of Nicco Park is keen to invest in Kurseong and Kalimpong (science centre) and they are also exploring the possibility of setting up an ice-park in Rohini (in Kurseong subdivision)," said Tamang.