All-party meeting in Darjeeling discusses relief for victims of flash flood

EOI, DARJEELING, 10 OCTOBER 2023: With the people of Teesta Valley yet to recover from the flash flood that caused havoc and unprecedented loss, the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha, the ruling dispensation in the hills, convened an all party meeting on Tuesday to gather ideas and suggestions to move forward to help the affected. 

The Gorkhaland Territorial Administration and the district administration along with the residents are working on war footing to clear roads inundated by mud and debris that destroyed several houses and property by the October 4 flash flood which had its origin in Chungthang in Sikkim. 

"The flash flood was a natural phenomenon and can strike again. The situation is precarious for us all. We must share ideas and suggestions from all quarters. We therefore had decided to have an all party meeting," BGPM general secretary Amar Lama said after the meeting in Darjeeling. 

The BGPM general secretary said the all party meeting was fruitful and a report would be prepared and submitted to the GTA. "We had a long discussion and deliberation on the issue. Those who attended the meeting on our request gave positive feedback and suggestions. We will prepare a report and submit it to the GTA chairman. 

We will sit for another round of meeting soon," said Lama, who is also the advisor to the GTA chairman. Lama said it would be an uphill task to restore Teesta Valley even though all efforts were being put in and demanded that the Centre take initiatives. 

"The task at hand is enormous. The West Bengal government is pitching in. However, no Central team has come to Teesta, yet. I believe and hope that a Central ministerial team will come to assess the situation," he said. The State Government has sanctioned Rs.25 crore for relief and rehabilitation work in Teesta.. 

GTA chairman Anit Thapa is camping in Teesta to oversee rescue, relief and rehabilitation work. The Gorkha National Liberation Front, Hamro Party, Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxists, Congress and the Gorkha Rastriya Congress attended the meeting. 

GNLF senior central committee leader, N. B. Chhetri said it was imperative for the GTA to be proactive and seek the support of the State Government and the Centre. "We are willing to go to Delhi if required. We must have a long term fool- proof plan to ensure such incidents do not occur again.

We need to have ideas and suggestions from experts in the field of environment which can be utilized by the government. We will submit our suggestions to the GTA who will have to take all initiatives," he said. 

The BGPM part is in control of the hill council body. The GNLF leader said it was important to take in to account the means of livelihood of the affected people to rehabilitate them. "Just providing relief will not be enough. 

Life has to go on and the means of earning has to also to be looked into," said Chhetri. Restoring normality in Teesta will take time, but a start has been made with students on Monday returning to schools, with the GTA providing buses and small vehicles to ferry them. Social organizations, political parties, educational institutions and non government organizations of the hills have started mobilization to offer relief materials, food items and monetary help to the affected of the flash flood in Teesta.