Hills too bar entry of tourists Tourists presently in Darjeeling and Kalimpong to beasked to leaveassoonasthey can

REZA PRADHAN, SNS, DARJEELING, 18 MARCH 2020: To stop the spread of coronavirus, the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) today decided to bar the entry of tourists, both local and foreign, in areas under the GTA from tomorrow. 

While the restrictions will remain until 15 April. The GTA has also decided to ask tourists that are already here to leave as soon as they can. 

The decision was taken today in a meeting the GTA held with different stakeholders, along with the district administration, at Lalkothi here. 

"The meeting had been called to discuss if tourists would be allowed to enter the GM area, keeping in mind the precautionary steps for coronavirus. It was decided that from tomorrow no tourists shall be allowed to enter the hills till April 15. We will take further decision after watching the situation. I request drivers not to bring tourists here from tomorrow and also request the district administration to issue a strong notification regarding this matter so everyone follows it," GTA chairman Anit Thapa said today. 

"We will also ask tourists who are already here to leave as soon as they can. This should all be done with a good message and not like we are chasing them away as the hills are dependent on tourism and we need them. I also request hoteliers to stop further bookings and cancel advance bookings. while asking them to return the entire booking charges without any deduction," said Thapa. 

Most of the stakeholders present today, including transport people tour operators ancl hoteliers were in favour of barring tourists for now. In fact. representatives of the Home Stay Owners Assodation also maintained that they had already stopped bookings from yesterday and had started returning the advance booking charges. Decisions were also taken to stop over crowding of places so that the virus cannot spread. 

"Community halls in the GTA area will also be closed from tomorrow onwards until April 15. while they will be asked to cancel prior bookings, for which the GTA will also take out a notification. I also urge the Municipality to stop hat bazaars being held in the GTA areas for now so that crowding can be avoided. Similarly, I also appeal to all political parties not to hold any programmes at present and request the police not to give permission for this," said Thapa. 

Maintaining that even though schools had closed, children were seen roaming around. he said. "Parents and students should realise that schools have not be endorsed for vacation, but for their safety: They should stay home as much as possible and keep themselves safe. A notification to this effect will also be sent to school heads. Though I cannot comment or say much on religious gatherings. I do appeal to them to try and prevent gatherings and if possible. stop mass praying for now as health is important. They can pray from their own homes." 

"We will start more screening camps in some entry points. There is the problem of manpower. but we have decided that development work that is going on in the GTA will be lessened and those involved in them will be used in these camps," said Mr Thapa. The meeting also decided to form a coordination committee comprising all stakeholders to see and correct things that we are lacking. The GTA will also be providing free masks and hand sanitisers in rural areas.