Shopping mall in Kalimpong has come up on school, PWD land, says Raju Bista

YOWAN MOTHAY, EOI, KALIMPONG, JULY 1, 2023 : In the hill regions of the Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts, some of those who have been running the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration since 2017 have been selling public properties in bits and pieces, BJP M.P. of Darjeeling Raju Bista said on Saturday. 

These politicians had ruined the education system completely, not even sparing school properties. 

Bista said after his visit to Kalimpong in April he had got in touch with the Governor of West Bengal, the School Education Minister and the PWD Minister; requesting for a detailed investigation into the construction of a big shopping complex in Kalimpong town.

During his visit, citizens had complained to him that the mall had been constructed by usurping the land belonging to a higher secondary school for girls and to the PWD.

“Was the handing over of the land officially approved by the Education Department? What was the price charged by the Education Department for selling public land to a private builder? Did the Education Department conduct public auctioning of the portion of the land where the mall has come up,” he asked.

“Today I have received this letter dated June 22, 2023, from the Commissioner School Education, West Bengal, who has asked the District Magistrate of Kalimpong to conduct an inquiry and report back within 15 days.”

 

Bista said in the interest of impartial inquiry members from the civil society organizations, principals and heads of other schools and colleges and journalists should be included in the inquiry team.

Ed: In his Facebook Page MP Raju Bista has stated "In the Darjeeling and Kalimpong hill region, those who have been running the GTA since 2017 have been selling off public properties in bits and pieces. One of the most heinous crimes perpetrated by these politicians have been ruining our education system completely, and not even sparing school properties to fulfill their greed."

"Following my visit to Kalimpong in April, I had reached out to the Hon'ble Governor, Hon'ble Minister-in-Charge, School Education WB, and Hon'ble Minister Public Welfare Department requesting for a detailed investigation into the construction of massive shopping complex named ‘Big Will Mart' in Kalimpong town. During my visit, concerned citizens had complained to me that the mall had been constructed by usurping the land belonging to the Kalimpong Girl’s Higher Secondary School and the Public Welfare Department (PWD). "

"I had raised the following concerns:

1. Was the handing over of the land officially approved by the Education Department?

2. What was the price charged by the Education Department for selling public land to a private builder?

3. Did the Education Department conduct public auctioning of the said portion of land, where the mall has come up? 

If yes, please provide details there of including the auction bids placed

If no, please state reasons on why it wasn’t done.

I had shared my fear with the Hon'ble Governor and the Hon'ble Ministers that that the transaction done away from the public eyes could have resulted in massive loss for the state exchequer. Furthermore, it is highly possible that the entire transaction was fraudulently handled by a few Officials associated with the Education Department or School concerned, Kalimpong Municipality etc.

Today, I have received this letter dated 22nd of June, 2023 from the Commissioner, School Education, Directorate of School Education, WB who has instructed the District Magistrate Kalimpong to conduct an inquiry and report back within 15-days.

In order to maintain impartiality of inquiry, I request the Kalimpong DM to include members from Civil Society Organisations, Principals/Head of other schools and colleges, and Journalists in the inquiry team, so that the entire truth behind the transfer/usurping of the Kalimpong Girl's Higher Secondary School and PWD land can be brought to light. 

I share my gratitude to Hon'ble Governor H.E Dr. C.V. Ananda Bose ji and Minister Sh. Bratya Basu ji and the School Education department officials for taking due action on the concerns raised by me.

To put an end to rampant corruption unleashed in our hills, every citizen must speak out and take a stand. I know a new and better dawn is possible, when the citizens become united against the system of corruption, nepotism, cut-money and ghotala."