Tag: Hill

Bangla CM to hand over land pattas in Hills

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Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will be handing over land rights documents (pattas) to more than 400 families residing in the forest villages of Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts on September 5, during her visit to the Hills.

She will be handing over the land rights documents to about 300 families of Darjeeling district and more than 100 families from Kalimpong district.

A review meeting between the state government and Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) officials was held recently in Darjeeling to work out the modalities.

In Darjeeling district, 1,509 claims were received from the Scheduled Tribe communities residing in the forest villages, along with 1,232 claims from Other Traditional Forest Dwellers.

In Kalimpong district, there were 3,376 claims from the ST community and 4,626 from other communities.

There are 59 forest villages in Darjeeling-Pulbazar block, 31 in Jorebungalow-Sukhia block, 11 in Rungli Rungliot block, 21 in Kurseong block, four in Mirik block, 21 in Kalimpong-1 block, 18 in Kalimpong-2 block and 18 in the Gorubathan block.

Source: Millennium Post

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.”

Focus on development at Bengal CM’s administrative meeting in the Hills

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On Wednesday, May 30, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held an administrative review meeting of Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts. Emphasising on the development roadmap, the Chief Minister advised the state government authorities in Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts to focus on the water supply, sewerage, construction and upkeep of roads and waste management.

Speaking at the administrative review meeting of the two districts in Kalimpong, she said: “Darjeeling and Kalimpong have immense potential. There is unmatched natural beauty here. It is your duty to present a clean and green Darjeeling to the tourists who visit these places. For the next two years, we should concentrate on four key areas — water, sewerage, roads and waste management.”

She asked the GTA and Hill Municipalities to sit with the Municipal and PHE departments in Kolkata during the next 10 days and work out a consolidated plan to resolve the drinking water crisis in the Hills.

She also insisted that henceforth funds for construction of houses of the beneficiaries through the 15 development boards should go directly to their bank accounts in two instalments. The Chief Minister spoke on the new avenues for employment generation for the youth and stressed on skill development to impart training in beautician courses, hospitality, as tourist guides and in the medical field as well.

Speaking of the immense potential in the field of tourism, she added: “Tourism industry is one of the most important industries of Bengal. We are giving a lot of emphasis to North Bengal as this place has a lot to offer. All projects have to be finished on time.”

She asked the state Tourism department and the GTA to renovate the Swiss Cottages in Mirik. De-siltation of the Mirik Lake, landscaping including gardens and pathways around the area is on the anvil. Inquiring about the progress of work at Tiger Hill, she stated that the gallery needs to be renovated. Around 19 tourist cottages are said to come up at Tiger Hill in Darjeeling.

The Chief Minister also asked the Power department to look into the electricity problems faced by Lava, Loleygaon and Reshyap in the Kalimpong district.

A proposal has also been given for six new police stations in Darjeeling and three in Kalimpong district. A new administrative building is being constructed in Kalimpong as well. Around 2 acre of land has been allotted for the Police Lines and correctional home in Kalimpong. Banerjee also inquired about the 100 day work scheme in Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts.

Around 500 schemes are underway in the Hills currently. Land right documents (pattas) will be handed over to 271 beneficiaries from the forest villages of Kalimpong on Thursday at Lohapool. The CM also inaugurated a number of projects on Thursday.

We will work together for the progress of the Hill region, says CM

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Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today urged “my brothers and sisters in the hills” to work together for the progress and prosperity of the region. “Peace and cooperation are the key words, and not animosity,” she pointed out.

Crowds of people braved inclement weather to greet and cheer her when she arrived in the hills. At a public meeting in Kalimpong today, she started her speech by paying respect to Sherpa Tenzing Norgay on his birth anniversary. “He is the pride of the country”, she said.

The Chief Minister reiterated that the Government was very earnest and keen for the progress and betterment of the hill region and its people. “Kalimpong was made a separate district last year for this purpose. And I pay a visit every six months to see the progress that is being made. But if there are bandhs and strikes that go on for months, then the livelihood of the people will be seriously affected, and the prosperity of the region will be badly hampered.”

Tourism is the mainstay of income for Darjeeling and Kalimpong. People come to enjoy the beauty and climate of the hills, as well as the warm hospitality of its people. More tourism centres and homestays as well as appropriate industry must be set up so that the region can go ahead. An education hub is coming up at Kurseong by Presidency University. People from afar come to the hills for education as their are good institutions here. The government has earmarked land for the setting up of a university at Mongpu.

The Chief Minister also said that 300 poor families would be given ‘pattas’ (land rights) in Darjeeling soon. The Government had allotted Rs 96 crore for the progress of the eight hill boards. This was in addition to the Rs 557 crore given earlier. “We want that a proper audit of the expenditures from this fund is made, for this is the money of the common man.”  About 47,000 people had benefited from the programme.

The poor had been given housing, and 19,000 new toilets had been built. A hostel, mountaineering facilities, annual sports tournaments and other schemes have been initiated, and a “clean Darjeeling, green Darjeeling” drive had also been started. In the coming days, more people would get homes under the Gitanjali Housing scheme. “We want that people should live with respect and with their heads held high in their own homes.”

The Government was willing to cooperate in every way possible. “Those who will work well and cooperate with us would get further assistance. We have to strive together for the progress of the region like members of one family. I will pay visits regularly. We want to see that the people in the hills are always smiling,” she concluded.

 

We want a permanent solution to the ongoing impasse in Hills: Bengal CM

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Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today chaired an All-Party meeting regarding the ongoing impasse in the Hills. Terming the meeting as positive, she said the next meeting will be held on October 16. She added that the issue of tripartite meeting will be discussed in that meeting.

The CM said she wanted a permanent solution to the ongoing impasse. “We will immediately restore the public distribution system. We want the bandh to be withdrawn fully and normalcy to be restored as soon as possible. The process of dialogue will continue,” she said.

The CM announced that the Government has decided to call the owners of tea gardens immediately for a meeting to discuss pending wages, bonus for puja etc. for the workers. A GoM (Group of Ministers) will be formed for this purpose.

Mamata Banerjee further said, “Every citizen has a democratic right and prerogative to protest. We want peace and normalcy to be restored. Binay Tamang (representing GJM) had raised the demand for compensation for those who were killed (during agitation). We have agreed to that. They also demanded a high-level investigation for the police firing (during agitation). We have accepted that also.”

She maintained that the Hills are a part of Bengal and the State Government wants the well-being of the people of the Hills.

 

আমরা চাই পাহাড়ের সমস্যার স্থায়ী সমাধান হোকঃ মুখ্যমন্ত্রী

আজ উত্তরকন্যায় পাহাড়ের সমস্যা নিয়ে সর্বদলীয় বৈঠক করেন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়।

বৈঠকের পর সাংবাদিকদের মুখোমুখি হন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী। তিনি জানান, আজকের বৈঠক ভালো হয়েছে। পরবর্তী বৈঠক হবে ১৬ অক্টোবর। তাঁর মতে এখনই ত্রিপাক্ষিক বৈঠক সম্ভব নয়। আগামী ১৬ অক্টোবরের বৈঠকে এই নিয়ে আলোচনা হবে। চা বাগানের কর্মীরা যাতে বেতন ও পুজোর বোনাস পান তাঁর জন্য একটি মন্ত্রীগোষ্ঠী তৈরি করা হবে। শীঘ্রই এই মন্ত্রীগোষ্ঠী চা বাগানের মালিকদের সাথে বৈঠক করবেন।

মুখ্যমন্ত্রী আরও বলেন, “প্রতিবাদ করা মানুষের গণতান্ত্রিক অধিকার। আমরা চাই শান্তি ফিরুক। অশান্তির সময় যারা নিহত বা আহত হন তাদের জন্য ক্ষতিপূরণের দাবি করেছেন বিনয় তামাং। আমরা রাজি হয়েছি। বনধ চলাকালীন পুলিশের গুলি চালানোর জন্য উচ্চ পর্যায়ের তদন্তের দাবি জানিয়েছেন ওনারা। আমরা উচ্চ পর্যায়ের তদন্ত করব”।

মুখ্যমন্ত্রী আবারও বলেন, “আমরা চাই বনধ তুলে নেওয়া হোক, পাহাড়ে স্বাভাবিক পরিস্থিতি ফিরে আসুক। যত তাড়াতাড়ি সম্ভব শিল্প, পর্যটন, পরিবহন সব কিছু স্বাভাবিক হোক। আলোচনা প্রক্রিয়া চলবে। পাহাড় বাংলার অংশ। আমরা চাই পাহাড়ের ভাই বোন ভালো থাকুক, শান্তিতে থাকুক। আমরা চাই দ্রুত সমস্যার সমাধান হোক”।

We want peace and development in the Hills: Mamata Banerjee

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Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has instructed Information Technology, agriculture, horticulture and floriculture sectors to generate employment and economically uplift the people of Darjeeling and Kalimpong. The Tea Park in New Jalpaiguri will also become operational soon, she said.

An administrative review meeting of Kalimpong and Darjeeling districts was held at the Pintail Village on Wednesday. Addressing media persons after the meet, the Chief Minister stated: “Along with the circuit-wise review of tourism projects in great detail, we also feel that IT sector, agriculture, floriculture, horticulture and food processing have great prospects in employment generation and economic upsurge in the Hills.

I have asked the Agriculture, Animal Resource Development and Industries department to look into this. I have also instructed the Secretary of the Information Technology department to prepare IT projects for the Hills.”

The Chief Minister stated that tourism projects including the ones at Gajaldoba and Tiger Hill were discussed in detail in the presence of Tourism Minister Gautam Deb and the Chief Secretary.

“We have discussed different projects in connection to roads, drinking water and electricity,” stated the CM. As many as five road-over bridges will come up in Jalpaiguri and four in Siliguri. New electricity sub-stations will be constructed at Sonada, Bagdogra, Kawakhali and Purbo Karaibari.  “We are also improving road connectivity with bordering countries — Bhutan and Nepal. We have already spent Rs 750 crore on a four-lane highway,” she further stated.

 

আমরা পাহাড়ে শান্তি ও উন্নয়ন চাইঃ মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়

বুধবার দার্জিলিং জেলার পিন্টাইল ভিলেজে দার্জিলিং ও কালিম্পঙ জেলার প্রশাসনিক বৈঠকে মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায় তথ্য প্রযুক্তি, কৃষি, উদ্যান পালন ও ফুল চাষে জোর দেন যাতে মানুষের কর্মসংস্থান হয়। নিউ জলপাইগুড়িতে টি-পার্কেও কিছুদিনের মধ্যে কাজ শুরু হবে বলে তিনি জানান।

বৈঠকের শেষে সাংবাদিকের তিনি বলেন, “পর্যটনের ওপরেও জোর দেওয়া হচ্ছে। বিভিন্ন পর্যটন সার্কিট গড়ার ভাবনা রয়েছে রাজ্যের। এ ছাড়াও, তথ্য প্রযুক্তি, কৃষি, ফুল চাষ, উদ্যান পালন ও খাদ্য প্রক্রিয়াকরন এই সকল ক্ষেত্রে কর্মসংস্থানের মাধ্যমে পাহাড়ের অর্থনৈতিক উন্নয়নের সুযোগ রয়েছে।”

গাজোলডোবা ও টাইগার হিলের পর্যটন প্রকল্পগুলি নিয়েও আলোচনা হয় বৈঠকে।

“আমরা সড়ক যোগাযোগ, পানীয় জল ও বিদ্যুতের প্রকল্পগুলি নিয়েও আলোচনা করেছি” মুখ্যমন্ত্রী বলেন। সোনাদা, বাগডোগরা, কাওাখালি ও পূর্ব করাইবাড়িতে গড়া হবে ইলেকট্রিক সাব-স্টেশন। প্রতিবেশী দেশগুলির সাথেও সড়ক যোগাযোগে জোর দেওয়া হচ্ছে বলে জানান মুখ্যমন্ত্রী।

 

Bengal CM declares Mirik as sub-division

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The Chief Minister declared Mirik a sub-division of Darjeeling district at an official programme today.  Mirik was earlier a block under the Darjeeling district.

Mirik is an important tourist destination and several lakh tourists visit the hill town every year for its beautiful lake.

During her speech, the Chief Minister said that earlier people had to commute for hours to Kurseong or Darjeeling for administrative work. Hailing the day as ‘historic’ she said she wants development for the Hills and employment for the youth.

She also commented that while the State Government has provided all help to GTA, they have even failed to renovate the Mirik Lake. The CM said that her thrust is on tourism and Bengal is incomplete without the Hills. “We do not believe in speeches. We believe in actions.,” Mamata Banerjee added.

 

মিরিককে মহকুমা ঘোষণা করলেন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী

আজ মিরিককে দার্জিলিং জেলার মহকুমা ঘোষণা করলেন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়। এর আগে মিরিক দার্জিলিং জেলার একটি ব্লক ছিল।

মিরিক একটি গুরুত্বপূর্ণ পর্যটন কেন্দ্র এবং প্রতি বছর বহু পর্যটক এখানে বেড়াতে আসেন।

বক্তব্য রাখার সময় মুখ্যমন্ত্রী বলেন, আগে মানুষকে যেকোন সরকারী কাজের জন্য কার্শিয়াং, দার্জিলিঙে যেতে হত, এখন সেই সমস্যা মিটবে। আজকের দিনটিকে ঐতিহাসিক আখ্যা দিয়ে তিনি বলেন, “আমরা পাহাড়ের উন্নয়ন চাই, আমরা চাই পাহাড়ের যুবসম্প্রদায়ের কর্মসংস্থান হোক”।

তিনি আরও বলেন উন্নয়নের জন্য জিটিএ কে সব রকম সাহায্য করা সত্ত্বেও ওরা এখনও মিরিক লেক সংস্কার করেনি। রাজ্য সরকার পর্যটনে জোর দিচ্ছে, মহোম-ট্যুরিজম, ইকো- ট্যুরিজমেও জোর দেওয়া হয়েছে। লামাহাটায় পর্যটনের বিকাশ হয়েছে। টাইগার হিলে নতুন প্রকল্প শুরু হয়েছে। তাঁর কথায়, “ভাষণ নয়, কাজ করে দেখাতে হবে”।

 

Govt set to promote home stays in north Bengal

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Two thousand rooms and increasing, home stays are the new craze for tourists visiting north Bengal. Home tourism in Darjeeling Hills is set to get another boost. The State government has decided to promote organic farming in areas promoting home stays.

The move is also aimed to streamline the services and to have a data base on home stay facilities and to categorise them as per their standard. The concept started during the last Commonwealth Games in Delhi to provide world class services to tourists and to supplement the availability of accommodation in the metros and tourist destinations.

Home stays have become very popular in remote tourist destinations in Dooars and Darjeeling hills where many unemployed youths and families have made them their main source of income.

“There are more than 2,000 home stay rooms and the number is increasing rapidly,” said Goutam Deb, West Bengal tourism minister. “The State government will religiously and seriously promote home stays. We will also promote organic farming in the areas coming up with home stay facilities. Organic food would be another attraction,” said the Minister.

 

উত্তরবঙ্গে হোম-স্টে পর্যটনে নতুন উদ্যোগ রাজ্যের

দার্জিলিঙের হোম ট্যুরিজম একটি নতুন দিশা পেতে চলেছে। উত্তরবঙ্গ পরিদর্শনে আসা পর্যটকদের জন্য ২০০০ এর বেশি হোম ষ্টে রুমের ব্যবস্থা করা হয়েছে। হোম স্টে প্রমোট করার পাশাপাশি চারপাশের এলাকায় জৈব চাষ করার সিদ্ধান্ত নিয়েছে রাজ্য সরকার।

দার্জিলিং আর ডুয়ার্সের পাহাড়ের প্রত্যন্ত এলাকাগুলিতে হোম ষ্টে পর্যটকদের কাছে ভীষণ ভাবে জনপ্রিয় হয়ে উঠেছে এবং এগুলি এখানকার বেকার যুবক ও তাদের পরিবারগুলির আয়ের প্রধান উৎস।

রাজ্যের পর্যটন মন্ত্রী গৌতম দেব বলেন, “এখনও পর্যন্ত ২০০০ এর বেশি হোম ষ্টে রুম আছে এবং এর সংখ্যা আরও বাড়ানো হবে”।

তিনি আরও জানান, “রাজ্য সরকার অত্যন্ত গুরুত্ব সহকারে হোম ষ্টে-র উন্নয়নের উদ্যোগ নিয়েছে। হোম ষ্টে ফেসিলিটির সঙ্গে জৈব চাষের ক্ষেত্রেও জোর দেওয়া হবে। অরগ্যানিক ফুড হবে আরেকটি আকর্ষণ”।