Clean-up focus for Darjeeling civic board

Municipality chairman stresses on cleanliness, transparency and the need to involve the public in decision-making

The Darjeeling municipality headquarters.: File picture

Vivek Chhetri   |   TT  |  Darjeeling   |   27.04.22  : The month-old board of the Darjeeling municipality formed by Hamro Party announced a slew of clean-up initiatives, both literal and in terms of running the town, on Tuesday.

Ritesh Portel, the 31-year-old chairman of the civic board, stressed on cleanliness, transparency and the need to involve the public in decision-making. “The new board has completed one month and five days in office and so far we have requested people not to litter (the town). However, we have now decided to take sterner steps to clean up Darjeeling,” said Portel.

To start with, the civic body has directed citizens to throw their garbage in locality vats only between 7pm and 5am every day. “Anyone found throwing garbage outside the vat will now be fined under relevant sections of the municipality act,” said Portel.

Hotels generating over 100kg of garbage a day must take up individual onus to dispose of waste, according to the state government's policy.

The new board announced Rs 10 lakh each to all the 32 wards of Darjeeling municipality. Ward committees, comprising the general public of the area, will decide on using the funds. 

The new board has also decided to float an anti-corruption number soon. 

“Houses under the house-for-all-scheme will soon be implemented. The beneficiaries only have to contribute Rs 25,000 for a Rs 4 lakh house. No commissions are to be paid. Any such demand can be informed through the anti-corruption number. If we find anyone bribing or accepting bribes, we will take police action,” said Portel, who added there would be no nepotism in the functioning of the board.

Zero tolerance for illegal buildings is also a thrust area for the new civic body. "We have already issued notices to 25 buildings. We will not negotiate on any terms with people who have come up with illegal buildings,” said Portel.

In Darjeeling, buildings can only be built up to a height of 11.5m, which essentially is four storeys. Almost every other building has flouted this rule.

The other issues that the civic body plans to address are renting of space by street hawkers, subletting municipality shops by lessees and revamping public toilets.

Courtesy & source