Centre allots Rs 500 crore for NH 10 restoration, to sanction Rs 2,000 crore to rebuild it: Raju Bista

Darjeeling MP to request PM’s intervention to protect people living along Teesta banks

PRASHANT ACHARYA and YOWAN MOTHAY, EOI, KALIMPONG / SILIGURI,JUNE 15, 2024 : The Centre has allocated Rs 500 crore towards addressing the immediate repair and restoration of National Highway – 10 and is preparing a detailed project report under the supervision of scientific and terrain experts for rebuilding NH-10,and expanding it by further10 meters, for which a budget of Rs 2000 crores will be additionally sanctioned, Darjeeling M. P. Raju Bista said on Saturday.

He assured that he would approach the Centre and the West Bengal Government, Niti Aayog, National Disaster Management Authority to help solve the problems they were facing. 

During the day, Bista visited villages situated along river Teesta and interacted with people whose lives had been upturned due to the devastating flood in Teesta. 

“This year’s unusually heavy pre-monsoon rains have led to further devastating consequences in our Kalimpong, Darjeeling and Sikkim region,” he said. 

During the visit, he expressed his condolences to the families who had lost their loved ones and his solidarity with those who had been displaced or had lost their homes and livelihood due to the ongoing rains.

“The relentless rains and resulting damage highlight he region’s vulnerability, ”he said. 

“During this challenging time, it is crucial for the Centre, State, and local bodies such as Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, Panchayat Samiti, and Panchayats to collaborate effectively in responding to this unfolding disaster,”Bista told reporters at Teesta. 

He said: "In a federal structure like ours, responsibilities are divided between the Centre and the State under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 (DMA2005). 

Each state, headed by the Chief Minister through the State Disaster Management Authorities(SDMAs), is mandated to formulate and coordinate disaster response efforts based on national guidelines.

Under Chapter II Section26 (35) of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration Act of 2011, disaster management, relief and rehabilitation are GTA's transferred subjects. It is therefore primarily GTA's responsibility to focus on disaster risk reduction and mitigation in our region.

However, it remains unclear whether GTA has established a dedicated body such as GTA Disaster Management Authority(GTA-DMA) or the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), as required under the DMA2005. Because of all this, thousands of people have continued to suffer. 

Double tragedy has struck the people who had become victims of the Teesta Floods of October 2023, and who are yet to receive any help from the West Bengal Government. Neither have they declared the Teesta Floods as "disaster", which would have allowed Rs 120crore of SDR Funds to be used towards the rehabilitation of the people here.” 

Bista said he had formally requested intervention from Prime Minister Narendra Modi as Chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority, outlining the failure of the West Bengal Government to adequately protect lives and livelihoods along the Teesta River.

“Given the strategic significance of the region, particularly in terms of national security, I have also requested for a Central team to assess the situation and take necessary actions to fix the damage at the earliest, ”he said. 

Bista also suggested people should start 'Teesta Aarati' like Ganga Aarati along river Teesta to pray river God for the savior from natural disaster.