Raju Bista tours landslide-hit areas of Darjeeling hills, nudges state government for aid

 MP says he has also spoken to administrative officials and requested them to assess stability of these areas by conducting a study with the help of Geological Survey of India

Bireswar Banerjee, TT, Siliguri, 09.10.24 : Darjeeling MP Raju Bista visit land slide area in Bijanbari at Darjeeling on Tuesday

Raju Bista, the BJP MP of Darjeeling, has demanded compensation from the state government for residents of the landslide-affected areas of Darjeeling hills.

On Tuesday, the Darjeeling MP visited some locations in Bijanbari, Rimbick and Lodhama that have been affected by recent landslides.

“I have urged the district administration to compile a list of landslides which have occurred in these areas so that we can seek support from the state and central governments for the affected families,” Bista said after his visit.

Bista, who extensively toured the Bansbote region of the Bijanbari block from Darjeeling, said that during his trip, he saw certain locations where the landslides had occurred recently.

"The administration has not taken any steps to clear the roads. As a result, local people and daily commuters are facing daily inconveniences,” he added.

He said that the landslides during the monsoon months have damaged roads, houses, agriculture fields and temples in these areas. In Lodhama, for instance, residents of Shanti Road are spending sleeping nights as a crack has developed on a hilly stretch above the village because of the heavy downpour.

Bista said that the Bijanbari valley, encompassing Bijanbari, Pulbazar, Goke, Kainjaley, Jhepi, Lodhama, Bansbotey, Rimbick, Sirikhola, Raman and Gorkhey were economically important for the entire Darjeeling region.

“The area is often referred to as the food basket of Darjeeling. It produces some of the healthiest foods, including organic vegetables, millets, maize and several varieties of mountain rice,” the two-time Darjeeling MP said.

The MP said that he had also spoken to administrative officials and requested them to assess the stability of these areas by conducting a study with the help of the Geological Survey of India.

“We are apprehensive that if effective steps are not taken in time, there might be a significant loss of life and infrastructure in due course. If these areas are deemed unstable, the state government should provide alternative land and financial support to the residents and relocate them,” the Darjeeling MP said.

Courtesy & source- The Telegraph