Won't meddle in Hill affairs, CM says in Darj : 44 GTA members take oath of office; CM for allowing tea workers to run home-stay business; plans 'new cities' in Hills

REZA PRADHAN, SNS, 12 JULY 2022: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee sent across a clear message that the state government would not interfere in affairs of the Hills of Darjeeling and Kalimpong.

Addressing a function organized to swear in the 44 newly elected Sabhasads of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), Miss Banerjee also announced some

development plans for the Hills, including a "new city" in Darjeeling that would be setup on 200 acres of land.

"I want friendship and do not want to fight. I want happiness of the people here. I will not come to interfere here, but to love you all. Forget which party you belong to and work for the people here," she said.

The CM also maintained that the state government had given Rs7,000 crore to the GTA in the past, apart from other funds.

"We do not want to repeat what happened in the past and I will not let anyone disturb the hills. If peace remains in the hills, then the economy will flourish," Miss Banerjee said.

Speaking about the "new city," she said, "I have asked Anit (Thapa) that after he takes oath as the chief executive, he should go to Kolkata and meet the chief secretary.

There is a 200-acr land in Darjeeling where a new city can be made, which means an industrial hub. It can have new shops, home stays, restaurants, shopping mall and hotels for tourists to stay in."

She also said that a similar plan can be executed for Kalimpong and Kurseong, while adding that an ecotourism project can be prepared for Mirik which she said %was a "baby hill" and needs special projects as the region falls in an earthquake zone.

While stressing on homestays as a source of income, she said, "I request my chief secretary to amend the rules as per the law. When we are allowing 15 percent (of land) in tea gardens to be used for tourism purposes, as per Anit's request, if we allow the people who are staying in tea gardens to run some homestays, as they have two rooms."

She added that tea garden owners could chip in with funds from their tourism sector CSR activities to help such tea garden workers who have two rooms in their houses run the home-stay business.

She also promised drinking water for all houses in Darjeeling by the end of 2024, maintaining it was taking time to lay down the pipes. She further said water from the streams and waterfalls in the Hills could be saved in reservoirs and made use, while maintaining that a Swedish team had earlier visited Darjeeling for the same and talks could be held with them to set up such a project here.

Women empowerment was also one of the main highlights of the CM's speech, with her maintaining that school uniforms could be stitched by them, along with encouraging women drivers.

The CM also announced Rs 2 lakh and a job as home guards for relatives of soldiers who recently died in a landslide in Manipur.

On the other hand, BGPM president Anit Thapa, addressing the gathering, said, "We, have tried starting practical politics, which has been successful. We should now work as a family and all elected members should take their vision forward unitedly for the people. The system here has collapsed and we need the state's blessings to make it better for, which we appeal. The people have shown their mandate."

Jalpaiguri Divisional Commissioner A K Bardhan administered the oath of office and secrecy to all the 44 elected Sabhasads (GTA members) during the function today.

The oath taking of GTA portfolios like the Chief executive, Deputy chief, Chairman and Vice Chairman is likely to be held on 14 July by Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, who is expected to arrive here tomorrow, sources said.