Tag: North Bengal

New tourist destinations in north Bengal

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To promote Bangla as a favoured tourist destination, the State Government has taken a slew of measures and in another such initiative, the Tourism Department has earmarked new tourist destinations near Siliguri. Tourists are increasingly preferring offbeat destinations set in natural surroundings.

The Tourism Minister recently laid the foundation stone of an embankment project on the river Teesta, at Lalton Chumukdangi village in Dabgram, Jalpaiguri district. Embankment and spurs will be built at a cost of Rs 8.03 crore.

The village, located around 20 km from Siliguri, will be developed as a new tourist destination. There, tourists will be able to enjoy the serene natural surroundings around the river Teesta and the Baikanthapur forest, which is rich in flora and fauna, with elephant, deer and leopard among the animals that can be seen. The department will construct a resort with 14 cottages, a restaurant a dining hall.

The Tourism Department also has other projects near Siliguri in the pipeline. Eight acres near the BSF Radhabari Camp, on the road connecting Siliguri and Jalpaiguri, around 25 km from Siliguri, have been earmarked for an artificial forest. It will be planted with exotic trees and fruit trees and is expected to draw a large number of tourists and nature-lovers.

A ‘Karmatirtha’ will soon come up on five acres near Bengal Safari Park in Siliguri, which has become a major attraction within a short span of time, among both tourists and local residents. The Karmatirtha is expected to draw its clientele from among the tourists to the wildlife enclave. It will showcase and sell handicrafts and related items made by self-help groups.

Source: Millennium Post

 

Seasonal birds of BJP visit Bengal during elections only: Mamata Banerjee in Jalpaiguri

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Trinamool Chairperson Mamata Banerjee today attended a public meeting at Churabhandar in Jalpaiguri district. In her speech, she said that the seasonal birds of BJP visit Bengal during elections only, while Trinamool works for the people throughout the year.

Highlights of her speech:

  • North Bengal was neglected for years on end. The region lagged behind in development
  • We set up the a mini-secretariat – Uttarkanya – in Jalpaiguri district
  • We set up the Circuit Bench of Calcutta High Court in Jalpaiguri. The PM only made false claims – our government allocated funds and land for setting it up
  • We set up world-class Biswa Bangla Krirangan in Jalpaiguri. We started Bhorer Aalo tourism project in Gajoldoba
  • We have started a new road project connecting north Bengal with Bhutan, Nepal and Bangladesh
  • One closed tea garden has reopened today. We congratulate the workers
  • Before 2016 polls, Modi babu and his ministers said they will take over closed tea gardens. They did not keep their promise
  • They are seasonal birds who can be seen only during elections. We are working for the people 365 days a year
  • I regularly come to north Bengal. I am working hard for the progress of this region
  • They are creating divisions between Hills and Terai-Dooars. The BJP candidate was responsible for violence and tension between Hills and Terai-Dooars
  • The BJP is stoking the fire of violence in Hills and we are dousing it
  • Where was the BJP when the Hills were burning? Now when peace reigns in Bengal, they are coming here with a bouquet of lies, out of envy
  • This is not an election to elect the CM of Bengal. This is an election for the Lok Sabha
  • Where were you for the last 5 years? Now you have come here just before elections
  • Where was Modi baby when north Bengal was suffering from floods? Have you no shame, seeking votes now?
  • We passed a resolution to change the name of the State twice in the Assembly but they have even blocked that. What is your problem with ‘Bangla’
  • They are killing people in the name of gau-raksha. They should be ashamed
  • They are offering money to people to attend their rallies and vote for them. It is not their money. It is people’s money
  • You can take the youth to your rally by offering money. What will happen after elections? Will they get jobs?
  • I have worked with many prime ministers in the past. I have never seen a PM with such low mentality, so uncouth and lacking courtesies
  • Sarada-Narada-Hawala leader is now BJP leader. He was sharing the stage with the PM today. Our party expelled him
  • He is conducting rallies with person accused in hawala case
  • They say Didi is afraid. Yeah sure. Didi fights from front. She is not afraid of lock-up. Didi has been attacked many times. My life has been one of struggle
  • Women will not take any insult lightly. They run the family as well as the nation. Do not underestimate them
  • They are spreading lies in the name of army and central forces
  • They think they can win elections by shifting out some officers. If the Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh can be changed, why should union cabinet secretary not be changed?
  • Chief Ministers of Karnataka and Andhra are being raided by CBI. They are misusing the agencies to target the Opposition
  • When you will be out of power, no one will listen to you. People will reject you
  • From RBI to CBI, everyone is saying bye bye
  • He used to say he is chaiwala. After 5 years, he has turned into chowkidar
  • The real chowkidars, who guard the ATMs, are not getting salaries. Why are BSNL employees not getting salaries?
  • We have our own health insurance scheme Swasthya Sathi, with a cover upto Rs 5 lakh. 7.5 crore people will benefit. The cards will be issued in the name of the women of the family (to empower them). Why should we pay 40% funds for Ayushman Bharat?
  • We are giving Rs 5000 per acre annually to farmers under Krishak Bandhu scheme. We are paying the entire premium of crop insurance.
  • Khajna tax and mutation fees on agricultural land have been waived off.
  • We give Rs 1,500 to workers of closed tea gardens. We provide electricity and water for free to the tea gardens
  • Debi Chaudhurani temple in Jalpaiguri was destroyed in fire; we are restoring it. We have renovated Jalpesh Shiv Mandir here
  • My best wishes to the new voters. You must ask the ‘Expiry Prime Minister’ what happened to the promise of generating 10 crore jobs
  • In 2017-18 alone, 2 crore people lost their jobs due to demonetisation
  • They promised to bring back black money and deposit Rs 15 lakh in every bank account. Have you received it?
  • They only carry out canards and propaganda.
  • In this election, bring about change in the government at Centre. Bengal will have a decisive say in the formation of next government
  • They are threatening to throw people out of Bengal in the name of NRC. I dare them to even touch one person, we will show them their place
  • As per the Citizenship Amendment Bill, you will lose your citizenship for six years. Then if they want they will give you citizens. Why? You are already citizens. Those who came to India before March 25, 1971, are citizens of India
  • We have told the people of Assam, if they are thrown out, Bengal will give them shelter
  • Modi is very scared of Mamata Banerjee because when everyone else remains silent, we raise our voice in protest
  • They do not believe the Constitution. They want to change history.
  • It was our government that set up Panchanan Barma University in Cooch Behar. We set up the Rajbanshi Academy.
  • We gave official language status to Rajbanshi, Kamtapuri, Kurukh, Nepali, Ol Chiki, Gurmukhi and many other languages
  • The youth of the nation must rise and bring about change at Centre

 

Kalimpong Forest Division created

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To manage the forests of the district better, the State Forest Department has created a new forest division, Kalimpong Forest Division. The office has been set up in Kalimpong, and was inaugurated on November 1. It is being headed by a divisional forest officer (DFO).

Certain infrastructure of the Kalimpong Forest Development Corporation (KFDC) like the forest rest houses at Jaldhaka, Mongpong and Lava would be transferred to Kalimpong Forest Division.

A certain number of workers from the KDFC would also be transferred to Kalimpong Forest Division. Originally it had a sanctioned strength of 229. An additional 130 people have been employed. The district’s Soil Division, including its workers, has been absorbed by the newly-created forest division.

Source: Uttarbanga Sangbad

North Bengal Development Department to reconstruct Rajrajeshwari Hall in Kurseong

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The North Bengal Development Department has undertaken the construction of Rajrajeshwari Hall in Kurseong.

The heritage — Rajrajeshwari Hall had been torched during the political unrest in the Hills in 2017.

The Rajrajeshwari Hall under the Bengali Association of Kurseong has a rich history. Rai Bahadur Sashi Bhusan Dey had started a Tuberculosis Sanatorium in Kurseong, in memory of his late son who had died from this disease.

While he was in Kurseong, the local Bengalis approached him for his patronage in constructing a Hall for the Bengali Association to meet. Being a philanthropist, he built the Rajrajeshwari Hall in the name of his wife just below the TB Sanatorium. Thus, it was built in 1930.

Along with this, the department has also taken up the project of constructing a Subash Ghising memorial community Hall in Kurseong.

 

Bengal Govt to open 89 more trekking routes in north Bengal

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To draw adventure-loving tourists, both from as well as outside Bengal and also from other countries, the State Tourism Department is sanctioning 89 more trekking routes in north Bengal.

To make it convenient, there would be trekkers’ lodges along the routes. The lodges, basically small cottages, would also have facilities for serving food. Additionally, at these lodges, trekking equipments would also be available on hire.

All these lodges would also lead to the creation of employment opportunities, in regions which are socio-economically backward.

Besides in Darjeeling district, quite a few trekking routes have been discovered in the Dooars region. Since many of these routes pass through regions under the State Forest Department, the Tourism Department is holding talks with it to open up the routes as early as possible.

Source: Ei Samay

Two leopards to arrive at Bengal Safari Park

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Bengal Safari Park near Siliguri, a popular tourist destination, is going to get two more guests – two leopards, lovingly named Sachin and Sourav. A leopard safari is beginning from the end of June at Bengal Safari Park.

The leopards will be brought from Khayerbari Tiger Rehabilitation Centre, which was set up in 2005 for rehabilitating royal Bengal tigers rescued from circuses. The two leopards were caught at Santali Tea Garden in Kalchini block five years ago. An area of 20 acres has been fenced for them.

Bengal Safari Park is full of animals of various kinds – tigers, black bears, deer, elephants, rhinoceroses, etc. – as well as birds of many species, the latter especially during the winter. It is gradually become one of the best tourist attractions in north Bengal.

Source: Aajkaal

Student-Youth Convention for North Bengal to be held today at Siliguri

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Trinamool Congress Chairperson Mamata Banerjee is going to address the party’s annual Student-Youth Convention for North Bengal at 3 pm today. It will take place at Kanchanjunga Stadium in Siliguri.

The annual convention has been divided from this year into two conventions – a North Bengal Convention and a South Bengal Convention.

Besides Mamata Banerjee, AITYC President Abhishek Banerjee, and senior leadership of the party will be present at the convention.

 

 

আজ শিলিগুড়িতে ছাত্র-যুব সম্মেলন, প্রধান বক্তা মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়

অন্যান্য বছরের মত এবছরও তৃণমূল কংগ্রেসের বার্ষিক ছাত্র-যুব সম্মেলন অনুষ্ঠিত হচ্ছে। এই বছর, উত্তর ও দক্ষিণবঙ্গে দুটি পৃথক সম্মেলন হচ্ছে।

উত্তর বঙ্গের সম্মেলনটি আজ আয়োজিত হবে শিলিগুড়ির কাঞ্চনজঙ্ঘা স্টেডিয়ামে দুপুর ১টায়।

এই সম্মেলনের প্রধান বক্তা তৃণমূল কংগ্রেসের সর্বভারতীয় সভানেত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়। উপস্থিত থাকবেন তৃণমূল যুব কংগ্রেসের সর্বভারতীয় সভাপতি অভিষেক বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়, দলের অন্যান্য নেতৃত্ববৃন্দ এবং অগণিত সমর্থক।

Radio collars for leopards in north Bengal

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Bengal Forest Department, in a first-of-its-kind experiment with leopards in the state, has radio-collared and released two of them in the wild. This will help officials and experts get crucial information about the animals’ behavior, and consequently, about the behavior of leopards in general, and thus, among other things, prevent human-leopard conflicts in north Bengal in the long run. It is a fact that leopards mostly attack humans in self-defence.

Earlier, the Bengal Government has successfully radio-collared tigers and elephants, gleaning crucial information about these animals.

According to a senior Forest Department official, this experiment is much more important as leopards stay closest to humans, with the territories of both often overlapping. At least 60-70 human injuries are reported every year in north Bengal because of leopard attacks.

Significantly, therefore, the two leopards (both males, with one being a sub-adult and the other, an adult) radio-collared, according to the chief wildlife warden of Bengal, are from two human-dominated areas near Jaldapara National Park and Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary. One of them was captured from a place close to Dalgaon tea estate near Jaldapara and the other from a private tea estate in Sukna, near Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary.

Officials want to track the cats’ movement and behavior, and the strategies they take to avoid direct contact with people when they sneak into human-dominated areas. The collars will also work as an early-warning system for man-animal conflict. Additionally, the animals’ movement pattern will help to form an idea about their habitats, which can later be scanned for scat samples; and analysis of these samples can reveal their food habits.

The chief wildlife warden has said they have plans to collar more leopards to get an idea about the leopard population.

 

জলদাপাড়ায় চিতাবাঘের গলায় পরানো হচ্ছে রেডিও কলার

চিতাবাঘের গলায় রেডিও কলার পরানোর সিদ্ধান্ত নিল জলদাপাড়া জাতীয় উদ্যান কর্তৃপক্ষ। চিতাবাঘের গতিবিধি জানতে পরানো হবে এই রেডিও কলার। বারবার জঙ্গল থেকে বাঘ বেরিয়ে আসার কারণেই এই সিদ্ধান্ত নেওয়া হয়েছে।

কয়েক সপ্তাহ আগে জলদাপাড়ার জঙ্গল থেকে ফালাকাটার ডালিমপুর গ্রামে ঢুকে পড়েছিল একটি চিতাবাঘ। বাড়ির উঠোনে চিতাবাঘ দেখে খাবারের থালা ফেলে প্রাণে বাঁচে মামা, ভাগ্নে। পরে বনবিভাগের কর্মীরা এসে চিতাবাঘটিকে ঘুমপাড়ানি গুলি করে কাবু করে। পরে চিতাবাঘটিকে সুস্থ করে রেডিও কলার পরিয়ে জলদাপাড়া জঙ্গলে ছেড়ে দেওয়া হয়।

বনবিভাগ সূত্রে খবর, জলদাপাড়া জাতীয় উদ্যানে প্রায় ২০০ চিতাবাঘ রয়েছে। প্রাথমিকভাবে ফালাকাটার ডালিমপুর গ্রামে বেরিয়ে পড়া চিতাবাঘের গলায় রেডিও কলার লাগিয়ে জঙ্গলে ছাড়া হয়েছে। ধাপে ধাপে আরও বেশ কয়েকটি চিতাবাঘকে একই কায়দায় রেডিও কলার পরিয়ে জঙ্গলে ছাড়া হবে।

Source: The Times of India

Mega tourism push for north Bengal

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As part of the Destination East tourism conference, being jointly organised by the Bengal Tourism Department and the CII North Bengal Zonal Council, all the 52 foreign delegates from 30 countries will be taken on familiarisation trips to Darjeeling, and the Terai and Dooars regions.

The visits will start from January 21, and are also being organised by the Tourism Department and CII (Confederation of Indian Industry). They are meant to get the delegates acquainted with these places and get a first-hand experience, so that they can promote them in their respective countries.

Destination East is being organised from January 18 to 25 at Biswa Bangla Convention Centre in Kolkata. One hundred and two delegates from the travel industry, including from India and 30 other countries, will be attending the summit.

First they will be taken to ‘Bhorer Alo’, the eco-tourism destination developed at Gajoldoba in Jalpaiguri district, in the Dooars region, by the Bengal Government. At Bhorer Alo, various activities for tourists like forest safaris, boating, cycling trails, orchid park walks, angling, elephant rides, scenic walkways, tethered hot air balloons are being developed, along with an eco-park, an amphitheatre, a 10-bed tourist health clinic, a mini fire station, a tourist police station, a helipad, resorts and a youth hostel.

After Gajoldoba, the foreign delegates will be divided into groups. Eleven will be visiting the Bengal Himalaya Circuit (Kalimpong and Darjeeling), 19 will be visiting the Hills and Forests Circuit (Darjeeling and the Dooars), eight will be visiting the Darjeeling Heritage Circuit, six will be visiting the Tea Heritage Circuit (Darjeeling and Glenburn Tea Estate) and eight will be visiting the Hills and Lakes Circuit (Darjeeling and Mirik).

Similar familiarisation trips are also being organised for south Bengal too, where the delegates will be taken along circuits like Sunderbans, Purulia, Beaches of Bengal and Kolkata Heritage.

 

এবার পাহাড়ে হবে শিল্প সম্মেলন

আগামী ২১ জানুয়ারি ৩০ দেশের ৫২ জনের বাণিজ্য প্রতিনিধি দল উত্তরবঙ্গে আসছে। গন্তব্যস্থল মুখ্যমন্ত্রীর স্বপ্নের প্রকল্প গাজলডোবা মেগা ট্যুরিজম হাব। সেখান থেকে ৫২ জনের প্রতিনিধি দল ৫টি ভাগে ভাগ হয়ে উত্তরবঙ্গের বিভিন্ন পর্যটনস্থল পরিদর্শন করতে যাবে। সেখানকার সম্ভাবনা দেখবেন। তার ওপরে ভিত্তি করেই উত্তরবঙ্গের পর্যটনে আসবে বিদেশি বিনিয়োগ।

যে ৩০টি দেশ থেকে প্রতিনিধিরা আসছেন তার মধ্যে আছে অস্ট্রেলিয়া, আমেরিকা, থাইল্যান্ড, শ্রীলঙ্কা, ভুটান, নেদারল্যান্ড, কলম্বিয়া ইত্যাদি। যে ৫টি সার্কিটে প্রতিনিধি দল ভাগ করা হয়েছে তা হল বেঙ্গল হিমালয়া, হিল অ্যান্ড ফরেস্ট, দার্জিলিং হেরিটেজ, দার্জিলিং টি এবং দার্জিলিং, মিরিক লেক।

বেঙ্গল হিমালয়ার মধ্যে রাখা হয়েছে দার্জিলিং এবং কালিম্পঙের উল্লেখযোগ্য পর্যটন কেন্দ্রগুলি। সেখানে ১১ জন প্রতিনিধি পাঠানো হবে। হিল অ্যান্ড ফরেস্টের মধ্যে দার্জিলিং এবং ডুয়ার্স। সেখানে প্রতিনিধি যাচ্ছেন ১৯ জন। দার্জিলিঙের হেরিটেজ বাড়ি, মন্দির, হোটেল–‌সহ নানা বিষয় পরিদর্শন করবেন ৮ জন প্রতিনিধি। চা পর্যটনের সম্ভাবনা দেখবেন ৬ জন প্রতিনিধি। মিরিক লেক পরিদর্শনে থাকবেন ৮ প্রতিনিধি।

আরো বেশি বিদেশি পর্যটক এখানে আসতে আকৃষ্ট হবে কারণ, ওই প্রতিনিধি দলে বিনিয়োগকারীদের সঙ্গে থাকছেন বিভিন্ন দেশের ট্যুর অপারেটর এবং ভ্রমণ–‌লেখক।

এর ফলে গোটা বিশ্বের মানচিত্রে জায়গা করে নিতে পারবে উত্তরবঙ্গের পর্যটন।‘ডেস্টিনেশন ইস্ট ২০১৮’–র মাধ্যমে এভাবেই তুলে ধরার উদ্যোগ নিয়েছে রাজ্য সরকার। গাজলডোবাকে ঘিরে নতুন পর্যটন কেন্দ্র গড়ে তোলা হচ্ছে, যার রূপকার মুখ্যমন্ত্রী। উত্তরবঙ্গের পর্যটনকে নতুন করে প্রাণ দেবে। বাড়বে বিদেশি পর্যটকের সংখ্যা। বিশ্বের মানচিত্রে উত্তরবঙ্গ আরও বেশি করে পরিচিতি পাবে।
Source: Millennium Post

Investments in north Bengal worth Rs 2,345.82 Cr: Dr Amit Mitra

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The 5th North Bengal Conclave has turned out to be a big boost to industry in the region. Dr Amit Mitra, Bengal’s Finance and Industry & Commerce Minister, said at the day-long summit on December 5, which he had inaugurated, that the region has received investments worth Rs 2,345.82 crore over the last two years.

He explained the figure thus: Expressions of interest worth Rs 888 crore were signed at the conclave, and during the Agro Synergy in May 2017, it was approximately Rs 600 crore. Combining these with the work undertaken in 2015, and proposed investments and new projects, the figure comes to a staggering Rs 2,345.82 crore.

He also said that this is just an indicative figure, implying that more is to come adding that there is huge potential in north Bengal, and the State Government will do everything to attract investments in the region.

 

উত্তরবঙ্গে বিনিয়োগের ইচ্ছা প্রকাশ শিল্পপতিদের

শিল্প সম্মেলনের মধ্যে দিয়ে উত্তরবঙ্গে বিনিয়োগের ইচ্ছা প্রকাশ করলেন শিল্পপতিরা।

শিলিগুড়ির দার্জিলিং মোড় এলাকায় সিআইআই শিল্প সম্মেলনের আয়োজন করেছিল। বাংলাদেশ ও ভুটান থেকেও শিল্পপতিরাও এখানে আসেন। এ ছাড়া উত্তরবঙ্গের আট জেলার শিল্পপতিরাও অংশ নেন। বাংলাদেশের শিল্পপতিরা উত্তরবঙ্গের পর্যটন শিল্পে বিনিয়োগ করতে আগ্রহ প্রকাশ করেন। পাশাপাশি বাংলাদেশ আবেদন করে ভারতের শিল্পপতিদের বাংলাদেশে শিক্ষা ও স্বাস্থ্যে বিনিয়োগ করতে।

উত্তরবঙ্গে বিনিয়োগে অনেক সুযোগ, পাহাড় থেকে সমতলে সব জায়গায় বিনিয়োগ করা যায়। শিলিগুড়ি সংলগ্ন গাজোলদবায় ভোরের আলোতে পর্যটন হাব তৈরী হচ্ছে। সেখানেও বিনিয়োগ করা যায়।

মুখ্যমন্ত্রীর উদ্যোগে প্রতি জেলায় ল্যান্ড ব্যাঙ্ক তৈরী হয়েছে। শিল্পের সমস্ত প্রয়োজনে রাজ্য সরকার সাহায্য করে। বাগডোগরা থেকে বাংলাদেশ পর্যন্ত বিমান চালানোর চেষ্টা করা হচ্ছে। শিক্ষাক্ষেত্রে ১৭০ কোটি টাকার বিনিয়োগের প্রস্তাব এসেছে।

Source: Millennium Post