Tag: GTA

The Hills are very close to my heart: Mamata Banerjee

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Bangla Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today laid the foundation stone of ‘Darjeeling Hill University’ at a function in Darjeeling, to commemorate Teachers’ Day. This university will come up at Mungpoo.

Highlights of the Chief Minister’s speech:

Today is the birth anniversary of Dr Radhakrishnan, which is observed as Teachers’ Day. My tribute to all Siksha Gurus on this occasion. They are the pillars of our society, assets of the country.

Today we have honoured 60 teachers with ‘Siksha Ratna’ award and 13 schools have been awarded the ‘Best School’ award. We are also honouring Swapna Barman (who won Gold in Heptathlon at Asian Games). We are a poor government. We have to pay Rs 48,000 crore as instalment for the debt incurred by the previous Left Front Government. Yet, we try our best to help. We have given a cheque of Rs 10 lakh to Swapna’s mother and promised a government job to her brother. If she wants, we will give a government job to her also.

We are formulating a new Sports Policy so that our players can participate in international competitions. We are here to provide all help and cooperation.

Today is a day of pride for Darjeeling. We have laid the foundation of ‘Darjeeling Hill University’ today. We will name this campus after Tenzing Norgay. Another campus will come up which will be named after Kanchenjunga. One more campus will be named after Bhanu Bhakta ji.

The engineering college here will be connected to this university. We are setting up an education hub at Kurseong. Presidency University is also setting up a campus here. An education hub is coming up at Kalimpong also.

We have allocated 25 acres of land for ‘Darjeeling Hill University’. The subjects that will be taught here include, humanities, social sciences, media science, information technology, vocational training, tourism, travel management, tea management, horticulture, Himalayan Studies etc. The university will award diploma certificates also.

We have set up 23 universities in the last seven years, nine more are coming up. Foundation stone for a university named after Gandhiji will be laid on his birth anniversary. We are setting up a Greenfield university at Hooghly. Bishwa Bangla University is coming up at Bolpur. New universities are coming up Alipurduar and Jhargram also.

These new universities will help us spread the light of education. Students will no longer need to go outside to study. Darjeeling is known for its education infrastructure. Even the Prime Minister of Bhutan once told me he studied at Graham’s Home.

The police here is conducting a community development programme called ‘Rising Star’ – it is a commendable effort. Darjeeling is known for its talented music and dance performers. We have decided to organise a cultural festival in Darjeeling in 2019 with all the Asian countries.

We have distributed cycles to 1 crore students of classes IX to XII. Since it is difficult to ride a cycle in the hilly areas, we have decided to distribute school bags and raincoats to 28,000 students in the Hills. No one will be deprived.

Many new roads have been created in Darjeeling. The Hills are very close to my heart. We have formed a committee for the development of this region. They will prepare a report within six months with short term, mid-term and long term plans for development. We will explore ways of increasing employment opportunities, home tourism, industry, software, IT. I am confident this committee will be successful.

We started home tourism in Lamahatta for the first time. Thrust needs to be given to this sector. I would request the boards to construct 500 houses every year (instead of 1000) and spend rest of the funds for boosting home tourism.

Today we have given forest rights to 431 people for the first time. Land conversion will happen soon. This will solve a lot of problems.
I also had a talk with the chairman of Darjeeling municipality. I urged him to renovate the public clocks in the town. Lal Kothi will also be beautified. The Gandhi road in Darjeeling will be paved with paver blocks. Pedestrians will benefit because of that. Take small initiatives, make big impact.

I want Darjeeling Hills to prosper. I want you to stay happy. I want to see Darjeeling smiling, Kurseong smiling, Mirik smiling, Kalimpong smiling and Kunchenjunga smiling.

Nature is your biggest asset. You do not have to beg before others. Take a resolve to utilise your own resources and march ahead with pride. My best wishes to all.

Jai Hind. Bande Mataram.

Committed to the development of Hills: Mamata Banerjee

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Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is currently visiting the Hills. She reached Darjeeling yesterday. She attended a high level review meeting with Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) officials today.

Addressing the press after the meeting, the CM said that short-term, mid-term, and long-term plans will be taken up for the development of the Hills. A committee has been constituted under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary, which will present a detailed report in six months.

The other members of the committee would be the MLAs of the Hills, chairmen of municipalities, members of CII and FICCI, DMs and Police Super. The Chief Advisory Council will comprise Binay Tamang, Anil Thapa, Principal Secretary Mr Thade.

Thrust will be given on tourism. The CM informed that the new university in Mungpoo will be named ‘Darjeeling Hill University’. She said, “this university will fulfill the long-standing demand of the people. The people had requested the Centre to set up a university, but they did not do anything. So, we have decided to set up a university.”

“We are setting up a education hub in Kurseong. Presidency University is setting up a campus in the Hills. From cinchona plantation, agriculture, sericulture, tourism, entertainment, IT, software – everything was discussed in today’s meeting. A lot of development will happen in Darjeeling.”

Bengal Govt plans to implement ‘Nijo Griho Nijo Bhumi’ in the Hills in a big way

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Now that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has brought back peace to the Hills, the developmental projects of the State Government are also gradually reaching all the people.

The latest plan by the Government will see the Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA) administering the Nijo Griho Nijo Bhumi Prakalpa extensively in the districts of Darjeeling and Kalimpong.

It was being administered there but the earlier GTA board had stopped that activity. Now things are getting back to normal.

Under the scheme, launched by Mamata Banerjee on October 18, 2011, 5 decimal of land is provided to the homeless and landless.

Another important aspect of this decision to implement the scheme is that tea garden workers can also apply as the plantations are located on land leased from the State Government.

To make things easier, applications can be submitted in block offices, block Land and Land Reforms Department offices and gram panchayat offices. Committees have been constituted in each of the eight blocks comprising the two districts which include the block development officer, block land and land reforms officer and a member of the Board of Administrators of the GTA.

Applications for the blocks of Kalimpong-1, Kurseong, Mirik, Sukhiapokhari, Rungli Rungliot and Darjeeling-Poolbazar will be received from June 4 to 9. For Kalimpong-2, it will be from June 11 to 16 while for Gorubathan it will be from June 18 to 23.

Source: Millennium Post

 

Initiatives to solve scarcity of water for agriculture in the Hills

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The Bengal Government wants to solve the problem of scarcity of water for agriculture in the Hills region by implementing ‘hydro water project-zero energy’ across the region.

The GTA would also soon submit certain proposals to the State Government.

The government has already allotted Rs 10 crore to make ways for distributing water for agriculture in the region. Among the measures being undertaken is the digging of ponds, which is part of the ‘Jal Dharo Jal Bharo’ scheme.

The ‘Jal Dharo Jal Bharo’ scheme is also being utilised for micro-irrigation in the Hills.

 

পাহাড়ে সেচের জলের সমস্যা মেটাতে উদ্যোগ রাজ্যের

দার্জিলিং, কালিম্পং, কার্শিয়াং সহ বিস্তীর্ণ অঞ্চল জুড়ে ‘হাইড্রোওয়াটার প্রোজেক্ট-জিরো এনার্জি’ গঠন করে পাহাড় জুড়ে সেচের জলের সমস্যা মেটাতে উদ্যোগ নিল রাজ্য সরকার। বিকল্প উপায়ে কীভাবে পাহাড়ে সেচের জল পৌঁছে দেওয়া যায় তার জন্য জিটিএ’র কাছে রাজ্যের তরফে প্রস্তাব চাওয়া হয়েছে। পাহাড়ে চাষের জল নিয়ে প্রয়োজনীয় প্রস্তাব তারা খুব শীঘ্রই রাজ্যের কাছে জমা দিতে চলেছে।

ইতিমধ্যেই চাষের জলের পর্যাপ্ত জোগানের জন্য রাজ্যের তরফে ১০ কোটি টাকা বরাদ্দ করা হয়েছে। প্রয়োজনে তরাই অঞ্চলে যেখানে সম্ভব সেখানে ছোট করে পুকুর কেটে তার মাধমেও এলাকায় জলের যোগান বাড়াতে উদ্যোগ নিচ্ছে জলসম্পদ উন্নয়ন দপ্তর।

সম্প্রতি হুগলী জেলার প্রশাসনিক বৈঠকে জল ধরো জল ভরো প্রকল্পের খোঁজ নেওয়ার প্রসঙ্গে পাহাড়ের জলের প্রসঙ্গ তুলে ধরেন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী। পাহাড়ে ক্ষুদ্র সেচে জলের পর্যাপ্ত জোগানের লক্ষ্যে জল ধরো জল ভরো প্রকল্পের প্রসার নিয়ে জিটিএর সদস্যদের সঙ্গে জল সম্পদ দপ্তরের আধিকারিকদের বৈঠক করার নির্দেশ দেন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী।

Mamata Banerjee inaugurates Vivek Chetana Utsab

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Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today inaugurated Vivek Chetana Utsab at a function held at Ganga Sagar Mela Camp, Babughat.

Vivek Chetana Utsab is being observed across the State on the occasion of 155th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.

The festival is being organised in all 341 blocks, 118 municipalities, 6 corporations, Kolkata Municipal corporation, GTA, and all district headquarters of the State.

As part of the festival, padyatras will be held across the State. There will be symposiums, exhibitions, quiz, debates on Swami Vivekananda’s life. Football matches will also be organised. There will sit-and-draw competitions, along with essay-writing competitions and cultural events.

 

 

বিবেক চেতনা উৎসবের সূচনা করলেন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী

 

আজ বিবেক চেতনা উৎসবের শুভ সূচনা করলেন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়। বাবুঘাটে গঙ্গাসাগর মেলা ক্যাম্প থেকে আজ এই উৎসবের উদ্বোধন করেন তিনি।

স্বামী বিবেকানন্দের ১৫৫ তম জন্মবার্ষিকী উপলক্ষ্যে রাজ্যব্যাপী এই উৎসবের আয়োজন করেছে পশ্চিমবঙ্গ সরকারের যুব কল্যাণ ও ক্রীড়া দপ্তর।

রাজ্যের ৩৪১টি ব্লক, ১১৮টি পুরসভা, ৬টি কর্পোরেশন, কলকাতা পৌর সংস্থার অধীন ১৪৪টি ওয়ার্ড এবং জিটিএ সহ রাজ্যের প্রতিটি জেলাসদরে এই উৎসব আয়োজিত হবে।

এই উৎসবে থাকবে পদযাত্রা, বিবেকানন্দের জীবন ও কর্ম বিষয়ক প্রদর্শনী, ছাত্র-যুবদের চরিত্র গঠন বিষয়ক আলোচনা, বিবেকানন্দ বিষয়ক ক্যুইজ, বিতর্ক, প্রদর্শনী ফুটবল ম্যাচ, বসে আঁকো, প্রবন্ধ রচনা সহ অন্যান্য সাংস্কৃতিক প্রতিযোগিতা ও অনুষ্ঠান।

Armed struggle is not expected in democracy: WB CM

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“Not armed struggle but all round development is the key issue in the hills”, said Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee after warning people who were engaged in creating disturbance saying that “law will take its own course”.

“Such armed struggle is not expected in democracy and any attempt to weaken law and order situation will be dealt with seriously,” she said before leaving Sukna on her way back to Kolkata.

She said: “I want hill to come forward. But despite wishing for something we cannot do many things. The reason being there is GTA. But we are doing as much as work we can do from outside.”

Taking a dig at the Centre once again, Banerjee said: “Sometimes Delhi also extends support. But I am not in favour of armed struggle. I always favour nothing but development. Often, there were attempts to create such problems in the hills. But we must keep in mind that these are not expected in democracy and law will take its own course.”

সশস্ত্র আন্দোলন কাম্য নয়ঃ মুখ্যমন্ত্রী

যারা আন্দোলন করে পাহাড়ের শান্তি শৃঙ্খলা নষ্ট করছে তাদেরকে সতর্ক করে এদিন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায় বলেন, “সশস্ত্র সংগ্রাম নয়, পাহাড়ের উন্নয়নই মূল লক্ষ”।

এদিন সুকনা থেকে কলকাতা ফেরার আগে মুখ্যমন্ত্রী বলেন,”এই ধরনের সশস্ত্র সংগ্রাম গণতান্ত্রিক দেশে কাম্য নয়। আইন-শৃঙ্খলা পরিস্থিতি দুর্বল করার কোনরকম চেষ্টাকে বরদাস্ত করা হবে না”।

তিনি বলেন, “আমি চাই পাহাড়ের মানুষ মূলস্রোতের সঙ্গে থেকে পাহাড়কে ভালবাসুন, সামাজিক সব কাজে অংশ নিন। পাহাড়ের আরও উন্নয়ন হোক। অনেক কিছু করার ইচ্ছে থাকলেও আমরা তা করতে পারছি না জি টি এ র কারণে। কিন্তু বাইরে থেকে যতটা সম্ভব ততটা কাজ আমরা করছি”।

কেন্দ্র প্রসঙ্গে মুখ্যমন্ত্রী বলেন, “কখনো দিল্লিও ওদের সমর্থন করছে। কিন্তু আমি সশস্ত্র সংগ্রামের পক্ষে নই। আমি উন্নয়নের পক্ষপাতী। প্রায়ই পাহাড়ে বিভিন্ন সমস্যার সৃষ্টি করা হচ্ছে কিন্তু আমাদের এটা সবসময় মাথায় রাখা উচিত যে এই ধরণের কাজ গণতন্ত্রে এটা আশা করা যায় না। সশস্ত্র আন্দোলন হলে আইনগত ব্যবস্থা নেওয়া হবে”।

WB CM forms a development board for Mangar community

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West Bengal Chief Minister on Wednesday announced formation of a development board for the Mangar community residing in the state and sanctioned funds for the Lepcha Board.

“The Hill communities are very close to my heart. Today I have announced setting up of a development board for the Mangar community,” Ms Banerjee said on a Facebook post during her tour to Darjeeling district.

She said funds have been sanctioned for construction of night schools, hostels for girls, jhora improvement schemes, apart from several other projects for the Lepcha Board, which would now be known as the West Bengal Mayal Lyang Lepcha Development Board.

“Today, I have handed over to them a cheque of Rs 10 crore for construction of ‘Rong Lee’ houses for Lepcha families. 2,000 such houses have already been completed and (work on) 1,000 more are going on, which will be completed very soon,” the chief minister said.

Since its formation, the Lepcha Board has actively worked for development of housing, education, livelihood, sanitation, tourism and preservation and propagation of heritage, arts and crafts and language of the community, she said.

As a part of the ‘Clean Darjeeling, Green Darjeeling’ mission, the government has sanctioned 22,500 toilets for various Hill communities involving a substantial funding.

“We have taken a decision to build two 100-seater Youth Hostels – one for Lepcha Board and another for Tamang Board at Rs. 5 crore each. The hostels will be equipped with solar lighting, solar heating, rainwater harvesting and other modern eco-friendly amenities,” Ms Banerjee added.

Tamang community confers the title ‘Nalsang Dolma’ (Goddess of Light) on WB CM

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On the invitation of the Tamang Development and Cultural Board, West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee was present in their First Foundation Day Celebration in Kalimpong on September 15, 2015.

The Board was formed by West Bengal Government in July, 2014.

It was a very colourful show with thousands of participants comprising various indigenous people of the hills turning out in their traditional attire and performing their traditional arts.

The Tamang community conferred on WB CM the title “Nalsang Dolma” (The Goddess of Light).

“I feel humbled with their love and affection,” WB CM tweeted in response.

“Our government is providing support for building houses, livelihood, preservation of language and culture and development of handicrafts and traditional art forms of these people of the hills,” she further wrote on her Facebook page.

On the occasion, WB CM handed over a cheque of Rs 10 crore to Tamang Board as first installment for construction of 1000 houses.

The Chief Minister also released funds to Sherpa Board and to Bhutia Board for construction of houses for Sherpa and Bhutia communities, respectively.

Darjeeling will remain in Bengal: WB CM

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West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee while addressing a gathering in Kalimpong said she was ready to lay down her life for the Hills but would not allow the Hills to separate from Bengal.

The message was loud and clear. “Mera jindagi pahar ke liye barbad karney ke liye hum taihar hain, lekin hum pahar chorney ke liye, torney ke liye taihar nehi hain” (I am prepared to lay down my life for the Hills but will not leave the Hills or allow the separation of Hills), said the chief minister.

She was addressing a large gathering in Kalimpong on the occasion of the foundation day of Tamang development and cultural board. “I do not come to the Hills to indulge in politics. The Hills have not witnessed any developmental activity for a long time. I come to the Hills to ensure development,” said Banerjee.

WB CM also said, “The Mangar community has been demanding a development board for long. Let me work out how we can resolve their problem.”

“I have come to the Hills more than 70 times. However, I do not come to the Hills just to enjoy the view and the weather. I come here when the people of the Hills are in trouble. My heart is with the Hills. When the Hills cry I cry, when the Hills smile, I smile,” said the CM.

WB CM launches ‘Clean and Green Darjeeling’ project

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West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is currently on a 3-day Darjeeling visit today launched the ‘Clean and Green Darjeeling’ project at a function. 53000 toilets will built in Darjeeling as part of the project.

The ‘Clean and Green Darjeeling’ project is an edition of Nirmal Bangla, and in Darjeeling, it will be launched for the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) areas.

The West Bengal Chief Minister said that Bengal is No. 1 in Swachh Bharat campaign as three out of the top four districts in India are from the State. “I want Darjeeling to also become No. 1 in cleanliness drive” she said.

“We will employ 250 people under 100 Days’ Work scheme for cleanliness drive. This model is successful in Kolkata,” the CM added.

She also announced that Presidency University will set up a campus at Dow Hill and Kurseong will be developed as an educational hub.

“I have visited Darjeeling more than 50 times in the last four years. Darjeeling is smiling. My best wishes to all,” the CM said.