Smiles & promises mask hills tension

TNN Mar 1, 2012, 06.29AM IST

DARJEELING: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee announced a host of promises and projects for Darjeeling but stuck to her stand that there would not be any divison of Bengal.

In spite of the smiles and the apparent bonhomie between Mamata and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, Bimal Gurung refused the chief minister's repeated requests to take the mike. He sat stonefaced as Mamata asked her to speak. The Morcha chief had publicly announced that he would not say a word until March 27, when his deadline for the tripartite agreement for Gorkhaland Territorial Administration expires.

Kalimpong MLA Harka Bahadur Chhetri took the mike on Gurung's request and heaped praise on Mamata but made it clear that the GJM would relaunch the agitation if the GTA agreement wasn't implemented. The CM, who was delayed by an hour due to inclement weather, got off to a hurried start and announced several packages for the Hills, Terai and Dooars. "We will work together with the GTA for the development of the Hills which has been neglected for more then 34 years," the CM said. "We have drawn up plans to make this region into Switzerland."

"I congratulate Gurungji and his party for keeping the commitment to work together to form the GTA. Come what may, I will ensure that GTA is functional at the earliest ," she said, adding that she had taken up the matter with the Prime Minister. Chhetri reminded the CM that promises were not enough. He raked up old issues like the waiver of electricity and telephone dues, reopening of NH-55 (closed for 18 months) and establishing two colleges in Kalimpong . "It is after 64 years that we have a Bengal chief minister and not a Bengali chief minister. We are her fans and that is the reason why we are taking the liberty to place our grievances and demands ," Chhetri said. Earlier in the day, Mamata inaugurated the Deshbandu Chitarranjan Das museum and a tea boutique and museum in Darjeeling. She also distributed pand pattas. There would be four more passenger ropeways in Kurseong , Kalimpong, Mirik and Darjeeling. The Hills Banerjee would get a special package under the Rs100 crore North Bengal Development scheme, she said. "A master plan is being chalked out to convert the Hills with the adjoining Terai and Dooars regions into Switzerland . Darjeeling is our 'gaurav' . W e will ensure there is development here," said the CM. The government has plans for a Rs 304-crore water supply system in Kalimpong and Rs 155 crore has already been sanctioned for Darjeeling to bring potable water from Balason River, Mamata said. She announced allocation of Rs 14.98 crore worth of stipends for 7,965 SC and ST students and Rs.4.45 crore assistance to 4,952 elderly people. The CM also said that Sandakphu, a popular trekking destination, would be developed.

Source: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-03-01/kolkata/31113006_1_hills-banerjee-terai-and-dooars-mamata-banerjee

24 killed as bridge collapses in Darjeeling

Darjeeling (WB), October 22, 2011

At least 24 persons were killed and over 60 injured when an old wooden footbridge over a spring gave way, under the pressure of crowd, during a Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) meeting at Bijanbari in Darjeeling district.

District Magistrate Saumitra Mohan said 24 persons were killed and over 60 were injured when the bridge over Little Rangeet collapsed, about 30 km from Darjeeling.

Superintendent of Police Anand Kumar said the death toll might go up.

The bridge, which had been weakened by the September 18 earthquake, collapsed when a large number of people gathered on it for the GJM meeting.

North Bengal Development Minister Gautam Deb, who was at the spot, said the rescue operation was on in full swing and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was personally monitoring and supervising it.

Though the rescue team was using search lights, the darkness was posing a problem in the operation, Mr. Kumar said.

Asked whether many people were washed away by the current of Little Rangeet, he said he did not have any such information. “It was not much deep.”

Gopal Roy, in-charge of the district disaster management, said the rescue operation was being conducted by the personnel of the fire brigade, police and the disaster management department.

Ms. Mamata Banerjee, who returned from New Delhi after the NDC meeting, said she would be in Darjeeling on Sunday, along with Railway Minster Dinesh Trivedi and Union Minister of State for Health Sudip Bandopadhyay.

State Disaster Management Minister Javed Khan said all seriously injured persons were being shifted to the North Bengal Medial College Hospital.

Meanwhile, an army spokesman said it was sending a 40-member team of the Mountain Brigade, Darjeeling, along with a medical team, at Bijanbari at the request of the District Magistrate.

Source: www.thehindu.com/news/states/other-states/article2562793.ece

Bengal wants three-year interest holiday from Centre

Posted: Thu Oct 13 2011, 03:47 hrs
Jalpaiguri:Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday urged the Centre to waive interest on loans taken by the state for three years.

Addressing a rally at Malbazar in Jalpaiguri, the Chief Minister said 87 per cent of the state’s income is spent on paying interest on loans taken by the earlier Left Front government. She said it is increasingly becoming difficult to manage the finances of the state government.

“I request the Centre not to take interest on loans for the next three years. For every rupee spent by the government, the state has to pay 87 paise as interest to the central government on loans. Where will I get the money from?” she said. The chief minister said she has to think twice about funds before starting any priority projects on schools or hospitals.

“The balance 13 per cent of the state’s earnings is not sufficient to pay salaries to government employees. Only I know how I am running the government. That is why I am working so hard,” she said. But despite the poor finances, in the last few days the CM announced a Rs 50-crore package for Darjeeling and on Wednesday, she announced bounties for Adivasi areas of Terai and Dooars in Jalpaiguri.

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/bengal-wants-threeyear-interest-holiday-from-centre/859280/

Darjeeling tripartite accord to be signed on Monday

KOLKATA, July 15, 2011

New set-up to be called ‘Gorkhaland Territorial Administration'

The memorandum of agreement to pave the way for establishment of a new elected administrative body for the Darjeeling hills will be signed at a tripartite meeting involving the Centre, the State government and the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) at Sukna in Darjeeling district on July 18.

Announcing this here on Friday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram and she will be among those present on the occasion. Leader of the Opposition Surya Kanta Mishra has also been invited.

The GJM will be represented, among others, by its president Bimal Gurung.

“We are very happy that the agreement is to be signed…The proposal to name the new set-up ‘Gorkhaland Territorial Administration' has been accepted,” GJM general secretary Roshan Giri told The Hindu over telephone from Darjeeling.

Ms. Banerjee's announcement came on the first day of a series of bandhs called by various organisations in north Bengal that is to continue till July 19 in protest against the setting up of the new body for the hills, particularly in the context of the claims of the GJM leadership that the set-up is a step towards the creation of a separate Gorkhaland State which it is demanding.

Critical of certain “divisive” forces driven by “narrow political interests” for spreading “false propaganda so that the Darjeeling problem is not solved,” Ms. Banerjee asserted that the “main purpose” of the tripartite agreement is to ensure “all stays well in both the hills and the plains.”

Dismissing apprehensions that the formation of the new set-up meant the Darjeeling hills “is going out of our hands,” she said that on the contrary “it would only further integrate Darjeeling with us.”

“Just as Kashmir is close to the country's heart, Darjeeling is to West Bengal's,” the Chief Minister said.

Ms. Banerjee, who had earlier wanted the tripartite agreement to be signed in Darjeeling, said that the choice of Sukna, a town in Darjeeling district located in the foothills, as the venue was “a precautionary measure” in view of the “uncertain weather” in the hills during the monsoon.

New Delhi Special Correspondent reports:

The Centre will provide a Rs. 600-crore economic package over the next three years to the proposed Gorkhaland Territorial Administration.

The funds will be released in three years — Rs. 200 crore each — beginning this fiscal, as part of the tripartite agreement to be signed, official sources said on Friday.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/other-states/article2230291.ece

Mamata Banerjee solves Darjeeling hill problems

ET Bureau Jun 7, 2011, 10.10pm IST

KOLKATA: Mamata Banerjee has done a magic. Within 19 days after she was sworn in as the chief minister, Mamata on Tuesday solved the Darjeeling hill crisis by convincing the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) to accept an agreement with her government which will intend to address all the key issues raised by the GJM. Mamata also assured the GJM leaders that her government will take up all the development activities for the Hills.

"Darjeeling problem has been solved. The next tripartite meeting among the Centre, the state government and GJM will be held in Darjeeling hills very soon and the discord in the hills will be nipped in the bud there," chief minister Mamata Banerjee announced at Writers' Buildings after a successful meeting between the GJM and senior state government officials including the chief secretary Samar Ghosh.

She also said that she had asked the state's chief secretary Samar Ghosh to talk to the Centre so that the agreement could be finalised at Darjeeling. "I will personally be there in Darjeeling during the tripartite talks," said Mamata.

Source: http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-06-07/news/29630070_1_gjm-leaders-darjeeling-hills-dooars