Hamro Party to launch agitation against illegal high rises in Darjeeling

EOI DARJEELING, JULY 2, 2024 : The Hamro Party has decided to launch an agitation against the incompetence of the Darjeeling Municipality to take action against illegal construction of high rise buildings in the town.

On Tuesday, HP central committee leader and councillor of ward number 31 Ritesh Portel alleged the Darjeeling civic body board was deliberately allowing these unauthorised constructions.

Portal who is former Chairman of the Darjeeling Municipality had filed a petition before the Calcutta High Court against owners of eight buildings that were deemed to have violated the municipal norms. 

"The HC already directed the Darjeeling Municipality to take action against one of the defaulters in April. However the present board has not taken any measures to implement the HC directive. Either the existing board is incompetent or is sitting on the case deliberately," Portel said.

The former Municipality Chairman said during his tenure nearly 45 illegal structures had been identified, including the eight against the owners of which the case was filed before the High Court.

"We have submitted memorandums to the board on several occasions. But we have not received any response from the board of council," Portel said. 

The HP leader said in most cases prominent citizens and people holding influential posts were violating the civic rules and regulations. 

"During our tenure we issued notices to the prominent people of Darjeeling who violated the municipal law. Promoters and builders are destroying the town by building illegal high rises in cahoots with the civic body board," said Portel. 

Meanwhile, the Darjeeling Municipality has decided to clear the Chowrasta Mall and Nehru Road to make it a vending free zone. The present Chairman of Darjeeling Municipality on Tuesday held a meeting with the hawkers who had set up stalls at Chowrasta and social organisations.

"We all want to come to an amicable solution regarding putting up stalls at Chowrasta and Nehru Road that is causing inconvenience to the common people. We are however intent on evicting the hawkers and rehabilitating them some place else," he said. 

More than 150 hawkers have set up temporary stalls around the Mall below the Mahakal temple area and Nehru Road leading up to Chowrasta; blocking the movement of people. The problem gets amplified during the tourist season. 

Various social organisations have voiced their displeasure and have urged the district administration and the Municipality to evict the hawkers and rehabilitate them in another location. For, the Chowrasta was the only open space of the town and are creational area for the elderly, young people, tourists and morning walkers