Deep Gazmer, TNN | Aug 6, 2011, 06.24AM IST
NEW DELHI/ DARJEELING: A Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) delegation met home minister P Chidambaram in Delhi on Friday and took up the key issue of transfer of the reserve forests under the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) areas to the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) when it comes into existence.
The four-member delegation was led by GJM president Bimal Gurung. "We spoke to Chidambaram about the necessity of delegating power to the GTA to administrate the reserve forest that is presently under the DGHC. Otherwise, we may have to face problems with development work in the Hills," said Jyoti Rai, the GJM assistant secretary, over phone from Delhi on Friday evening.
The GJM has demanded that at least 1,115 sqkm of the reserve forest under the DGHC be transferred to the GTA. "It covers 38% of the geographical area of the Darjeeling hills," said Rai. The GJM's contention is that the reserve forest could be a hindrance to development work in rural areas. "We may have to build new roads and carry out some development work through the reserve forest," argued the GJM leader.
The GJM leader maintained that the Union home minister had cited the case of reserve forest being transferred to the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) and suggested that the same could be implemented in the GTA. Along with the transfer of the Tauzi department and inclusion of Terai and Dooars in the GTA, transfer of the reserve forest has been a key demand put forward by the GJM to the central and state governments.
The party leaders also asked the him to provide the GTA with the authority to issue Gorkha certificates that is at present under the district administration, said Rai. At present, the SDO issues the certificate, which is required during recruitment in the Army.
Another important issue raised by the GJM was providing tax benefits to GTA that is under the provision of the North East Council (NEC). "We asked the home minister to provide GTA with the facilities given of the NEC in the form of tax waivers and benefits," said Rai.
Next, the GJM delegation met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to persuade the latter to establish a central university and an IIT or an IIM in the Hills. "We have requested him to declare the projects from Delhi," said Rai.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/GJM-team-meets-PC-with-forest-demand/articleshow/9499392.cms
NEW DELHI/ DARJEELING: A Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) delegation met home minister P Chidambaram in Delhi on Friday and took up the key issue of transfer of the reserve forests under the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) areas to the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) when it comes into existence.
The four-member delegation was led by GJM president Bimal Gurung. "We spoke to Chidambaram about the necessity of delegating power to the GTA to administrate the reserve forest that is presently under the DGHC. Otherwise, we may have to face problems with development work in the Hills," said Jyoti Rai, the GJM assistant secretary, over phone from Delhi on Friday evening.
The GJM has demanded that at least 1,115 sqkm of the reserve forest under the DGHC be transferred to the GTA. "It covers 38% of the geographical area of the Darjeeling hills," said Rai. The GJM's contention is that the reserve forest could be a hindrance to development work in rural areas. "We may have to build new roads and carry out some development work through the reserve forest," argued the GJM leader.
The GJM leader maintained that the Union home minister had cited the case of reserve forest being transferred to the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) and suggested that the same could be implemented in the GTA. Along with the transfer of the Tauzi department and inclusion of Terai and Dooars in the GTA, transfer of the reserve forest has been a key demand put forward by the GJM to the central and state governments.
The party leaders also asked the him to provide the GTA with the authority to issue Gorkha certificates that is at present under the district administration, said Rai. At present, the SDO issues the certificate, which is required during recruitment in the Army.
Another important issue raised by the GJM was providing tax benefits to GTA that is under the provision of the North East Council (NEC). "We asked the home minister to provide GTA with the facilities given of the NEC in the form of tax waivers and benefits," said Rai.
Next, the GJM delegation met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to persuade the latter to establish a central university and an IIT or an IIM in the Hills. "We have requested him to declare the projects from Delhi," said Rai.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/GJM-team-meets-PC-with-forest-demand/articleshow/9499392.cms