Call for Khas berth in hill growth committee

VIVEK CHHETRI, TT, Darjeeling: The Khas community in the hills has requested Bengal chief minister Mamata Baneriee to include its representatives, in a new committee formed to prepare a development plan for the hills.

The "committee for preparation of comprehensive development plan for the Hill Areas of Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts" has representatives of all 14 hill-based development boards except, the one for the Khas. Pramod Sharma, the president of the Khas Bharatiya Hitkari Sammelan Yuwa Ekai,

on Wednesday, said: "We learnt about the notification recently and only our community has been left out. This might be an error or the name might not have been included for other reasons."

"We would, therefore, request the honourable chief minister, Mamata Banerjee to kindly include a representative of our community in the said committee," said Sharma.

The committee, which is headed by Darjeeling MLA, Amar Singh Rai, has 32 members, with Binay Tamang as chief advisor, Anit Thapa as deputy chief advisor and S.K.Thade, principal secretary of the state government, as an advisor.

The chairpersons of development boards for Kurmi and Rajbanphi communities have also been included. "The chairperson of West Bengal Terai Dooars Siliguri Development and Cultural Board is also on the committee,"said a source.

The chairpersons of four hill municipalities have not found a place, even though during her recent visit to Darjeeling, Mamata had said they,

too, would be included in the committee.

Javed Shamim, additional SCP-II, Calcutta Police is a member along with IGP Darjeeling Range, and DMs and SPs of Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts.

There are also provisions to include members of different chamber of Commerce of the two districts in the committee.