Tag: Kalimpong

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.

No politics in the development of Hills: WB CM

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WB CM, who is on a 3-day tour of the Hills, made a stopover at Dow Hill, Kurseong on Monday to lay the foundation stone of an education hub and Himalayan Centre of the Presidency University.

“I have not come here to do politics. The people of the Hills are so simple, warm hearted and give me love that I have come here to join hearts. Till I am alive I will work for the development of the Hills. Today marks a new dawn in Kurseong in the education sector,” she said.

The CM also stated that soon a Medical College would come up in Kurseong.

She is expected to attend a programme organised by the Tamang Development Board at Dr Graham’s Homes, Kalimpong later today.

On September 16, the Chief Minister is expected to attend a programme hosted by the Lepcha Development Board at the Kalimpong Mela Ground.

She will head back to Kolkata on September 17.

New dawn for education sector in Kurseong: WB CM

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Dubbing it “a new dawn in Kurseong in the education sector” chief minister Mamata Banerjee laid the foundation stone for a world class Presidency University campus in Kurseong. From laying the foundation stone for an education hub to upgrading two govermnent ICSE schools to ISC, it was an educational day out for the chief minister.

“Centres of learning, skill development and research will come up here, which will attract students and researchers from all over the country and abroad,” said Mamata amidst applause from hundreds of students who were present at the foundation stone laying ceremony at Dow Hill, 4 km from Kurseong town.

Anuradha Lohia, vice-chancellor, Presidency University, who was also present at the ceremony in Kurseong , quoting Nepali poet Bhanubhakta Acharya, said, “Yo Sansar ma hamu orko swarg banau” (let us create a new heaven on this earth). She said the campus in Kurseong will have a world class astrophysics observatory and will teach courses and research in climate change, Himalayan biodiversity, conservation of natural resource, and social anthropology documentation.

Mamata announced the upgradation of the Victoria and Dowhill Government Schools from ICSE (class 10) to ISC (class 12) and allotted a grant of Rs 2 crore to the two schools for repair and renovation.

She later interacted with the students of the two schools, asked their names, from where they hail and what they had for lunch. “Study hard you are the future of the world” was her message. A polytechnic college and medical college is also on the anvil announced Mamata.

 

WB CM posted on Twitter:

WB CM expected to visit the Hills in September

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Chief minister Mamata Banerjee will be in Kurseong on September 16 to oversee the preparations for a local unit of Presidency University , which she has announced last month from both Kolkata and Darjeeling.

Government officials told reporters that the Chief Minister is expected to be in Kurseong on September 16. However, the itinerary is yet to be finalised.

During her convocation speech at Presidency University recently, WB CM had announced formation of the varsity’s Himalayan Center at Dow Hill in Kurseong which she also reiterated during the launch of the Clean and Green Project in Darjeeling.

WB CM would also attend the programmes being organized by members of Lepcha and Tamang communities on September 17 and 18 respectively in Kalimpong.She is expected to move down to Siliguri on September 19 where she will attend a programme by Bar Council.

Mamata Banerjee’s latest statement from north Bengal Hills

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West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee had reached North Bengal yesterday night to monitor the rescue operations after the devastation caused by landslides killing 30 people. Today morning, the Chief Minister visited the affected areas.

She has been posting on social media with updates of the situation in north Bengal.

West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee’s latest statement from north Bengal Hills:

I started early this morning by road to reach the spot which was affected most by landslide.

A road journey of normally 1 hour is taking 6 hours because of rubble caused by landslide.

3 villages have been particularly affected. Community kitchens have been set up for hundreds of people.

WB CM announces compensation for the people affected by landslide in Darjeeling

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West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee announced compensation of Rs Rs 4 lakhs to be given to the family of those deceased due to the landslide disaster in the Hills. A compensation of Rs 1.25 lakh will also be given to those who are injured due to the landslide, she announced before leaving for north Bengal.

The West Bengal Chief Minister cut short her programmes in the district of Murshidabad and will visit to north Bengal after rain and landslides in Mirik and Kalimpong areas in the Darjeeling district killed around than 30 people.

She has also cancelled her programme in the Birbhum district, which was scheduled for tomorrow. She will reach north Bengal today evening and will visit Mirik tomorrow.

Under the instructions of the Chief Minister, the State Home Secretary is already in north Bengal and at the locations.

The Chief Minister has urged the tourists in the Hills not to panic and has informed that the State Government will take measures to bring them down to the plains.

The West Bengal Chief Minister said that she was monitoring the situation and will rush to north Bengal after her scheduled programmes in Murshidabad.

The people have been killed in landslides triggered by heavy rains in Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong sub-divisions of Darjeeling district since last night. The landslides have caused extensive damage to NH 10 (old NH 55A) and NH 55, cutting off road and telecommunication link to Darjeeling and Sikkim.

The State Irrigation & Waterways Dept has opened control room for north and south Bengal to tackle possible flood situations.

Control Room no for north Bengal: 18003450117

Control Room no for south Bengal: 18003453255

The West Bengal Chief Minister on Facebook said:

” The unfortunate landslides due to heavy rains in Darjeeling Hills have caused havoc.

As reported till now, 30 precious lives have been lost and 8 persons are missing. I have been monitoring the situation very closely since this morning and providing all necessary assistance from the administration to the affected areas.

After cancelling tomorrow’s administrative meeting at Birbhum, I am now on my way from Murshidabad to Darjeeling, so that I can be amidst the affected people at their hour of grief.

We have announced rupees 4 lakh compensation for each of the families of those who have passed away. Administration is working round the clock to complete all procedures to hand over bodies of the victims to their families for their last rites, for which assistance is being provided by the local administration.

Also at the plains, vast areas in Jalpaiguri District have been inundated due to sudden rise in water level in all major rivers and many people got affected. More than two thousand people have been rescued to safe place.”

WB CM to visit north Bengal, to monitor landslide situation in the Hills

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West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee has cut short her programmes in the district of Murshidabad and will rush to north Bengal after rain and landslides in Mirik and Kalimpong areas in the Darjeeling district killed more than 10 people.

Under the instructions of the Chief Minister, the State Home Secretary is already in north Bengal and at the locations.

The Chief Minister has urged the tourists in the Hills not to panic and has informed that the State Government will take measures to bring them down to the plains.

The West Bengal Chief Minister said that she was monitoring the situation and will rush to north Bengal after her scheduled programmes in Murshidabad.

The people have been killed in landslides triggered by heavy rains in Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong sub-divisions of Darjeeling district since last night.

The landslides have caused extensive damage to NH 10 (old NH 55A) and NH 55, cutting off road and telecommunication link to Darjeeling and Sikkim.

The West Bengal Chief Minister on Twitter said:

“Anguished about loss of lives in Mirik/Kalimpong landslides. Home Secretary already in N Bengal

I am monitoring situation closely and will rush there after meet in Murshidabad “

Tourism gets special focus under Trinamool Government

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The West Bengal Government under the leadership of Ms Mamata Banerjee has made developments in every sector in every districts of the State. The Chief Minister has visited each district, chaired meetings across the State with the district officials from Darjeeling to Sundarbans to take stock of ongoing projects and plan newer ones. Identifying new tourist spots and creation of infrastructure for tourists have been one of the agendas of the Chief Minister during her numerous district visits.

The Trinamool Government under Ms Mamata Banerjee had rightly identified that West Bengal with its varied natural beauty has the capability to attract tourists from national and international sphere, and thus earn huge revenue. However, after 34 years of Left misrule, the tourism infrastructure in the State was in tatters. So, firstly, it was decided to renovate the existing to a quality standard and then identify the newer options.

Increased planned expenditure In Tourism under Trinamool Government

In the four year, from 2007-08 to 2010-11, the planned expenditure in Tourism under the Left Government was on an average Rs 16.88 crore only. In the first four years of the West Bengal Government under Trinamool Congress, the planned expenditure in Tourism rose to a total of Rs 331.93 crores, which is Rs 82.95 crores on an average per year. In the years 2011-12 the the planned expenditure on tourism was Rs 30.64 crores. It was increased to Rs 52.62 in 2012-13 and in 2013-14 it further increased to Rs 81.16 crores. In 2014-15, the planned expenditure (revised) was Rs 167.50 crores.

It is observed that while the past Left Government was downsizing the planned expenditure on Tourism year after year, the present Government under Trinamool has been instrumental in increasing the same.

Completed Tourism projects under Trinamool Government

As published on the Economic review2014-15, the following tourism projects have been completed since May 2011:

• Construction and renovation of cottages in different locations at Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong

• Tourism centres in Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar districts

• Tourism centres in Cooch Behar

• Construction of Maldah Museum

• Motijhil tourism centre in Murshidabad

• Chupchar project, Batukeshwar Dutta project and Gopinath Sabji project in Bardhaman

• Ballavpur-Sharmbati project in Birbhum

• Gadiara tourism centre in Howrah

• Furfura Sharif and Chandannagar tourism centres in Hooghly

• Kashipur Mahashram, Kolkata Maidan, Police Museum, College Street, Eden Gardens and other such projects in Kolkata

• Malancha Tourist Lodge in North 24 Parganas

• Tourism projects in Gangasagar and Basanti in South 24 Parganas

• Digha Tourist Lodge in Purba Medinipur

Newer tourism projects are coming up in Bengal

The West Bengal Government has taken up a ne Tourism Incentive Policy in 2015. Under the initiative of the West Bengal Chief Minister, Eco-tourism, Home Tourism and Tea Tourism have been included under this policy.

New projects that are coming up include the Gajaldoba Mega Tourism project, Jharkhali Eco-tourism project, Sabujdwip Eco-tourism project and Jhargram Rajbari Heritage project. Besides, facilities of home-stays are being identified at Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Mukutmanipur and other places of scenic beauty.

Bottomline

The West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee has time and again given suggestions regarding different tourism projects and providing proper facilities to the tourists. The State Government is following the suggestions and also taking part in different tourism fairs nationally and internationally in order to promote Bengal and attract tourists. From Gangasagar in the south to Darjeeling in the north, special focus is being given to tourism and this will be a major success for the State in the coming years.