The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has decided to focus on ushering in development not only in the hills, but also in the areas of the plains that have been included in the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration.
To pursue this objective further, the GTA sabha today passed a resolution seeking formation of a Terai Dooars GTA Development Authority on the lines of the Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority.
"The basic aim is to bring development to those mouzas of the plains that have been transferred to us,” explained GTA sabha chairman Bhupendra Pradhan. “Although we had demanded more than 200 mouzas of the Siliguri and Dooars areas in the GTA looking at the density of the Nepali population in those areas, the state government has included only 18 of them. Out of these, five have been transferred."
The GJM had sought inclusion of 399 mouzas from the Terai and Dooars in the GTA. But the state government refused and instead set up a committee headed by retired justice Shyamal Sen to verify the demand’s feasibility. However, Sen recommended the inclusion of only five mouzas and the GJM opposed it, resulting in the state government forming a fact-finding committee, which is yet to submit its report.
The GJM has units in the plain areas of Siliguri and the Dooars, areas that also bore the brunt of the recent statehood agitation. The party is hard pressed to appease the people of those areas, especially those of the Nepali community.
"Today, we adopted a resolution for a SJDA-like board to develop the plains mouzas of the GTA smoothly. We will send the proposal to the state government at the earliest for a speedy approval," said Pradhan.
Other proposals include setting up a central university in any of the three places, namely Sonada, Mungpoo or Mungsong; establishment of a higher education cell in the GTA; and setting up a rural library in the GTA area, UBKV in Kalimpong and degree colleges in Longview, Pokhraybong, Sukhaypokhari and Mungpoo.
“We will write to the state government for release of funds for development projects to be undertaken in the hills," said the sabha chairman. "Two new colleges will come up at Gorubathan and Pedong in Kalimpong,” adding plans for a B. Ed training centre in Samthar is also on the cards.
The GTA has also sought funds from the state government for a medicinal plant research centre for work on diseases plaguing various cash crops. A fire station at Mirik will also become operational soon.
"Funds to the tune of Rs10 crore have already been sanctioned for a Gorkha Bhawan at the Saket area of Delhi and work will soon start. For the convenience of people visiting Vellore and SSKM hospitals, similar Bhawans will come up in those places too. We will ask the state government to sanction funds for these projects," said Pradhan, He also said a new hospital building at the Old Bus Terminus of Kurseong is being contemplated.
At the meeting, the participants also decided to set up infrastructure for manufacturing farming tools and handlooms at the Kutlery area of Kurseong.
"These are projects that will directly benefit the people and we are keen to take them up on an urgent basis," said Pradhan.
The GTA has also decided to provide each of its elected members an annual sum of Rs30 lakh on the lines of the MP and MLA funds for developing their respective constituencies. Besides, a resolution was also passed today to conduct winter and budget sessions of the GTA sabha.
Source : EOIC
To pursue this objective further, the GTA sabha today passed a resolution seeking formation of a Terai Dooars GTA Development Authority on the lines of the Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority.
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| GTA sabha took place in Gorkha Rangmanch Bhavan |
"The basic aim is to bring development to those mouzas of the plains that have been transferred to us,” explained GTA sabha chairman Bhupendra Pradhan. “Although we had demanded more than 200 mouzas of the Siliguri and Dooars areas in the GTA looking at the density of the Nepali population in those areas, the state government has included only 18 of them. Out of these, five have been transferred."
The GJM had sought inclusion of 399 mouzas from the Terai and Dooars in the GTA. But the state government refused and instead set up a committee headed by retired justice Shyamal Sen to verify the demand’s feasibility. However, Sen recommended the inclusion of only five mouzas and the GJM opposed it, resulting in the state government forming a fact-finding committee, which is yet to submit its report.
The GJM has units in the plain areas of Siliguri and the Dooars, areas that also bore the brunt of the recent statehood agitation. The party is hard pressed to appease the people of those areas, especially those of the Nepali community.
"Today, we adopted a resolution for a SJDA-like board to develop the plains mouzas of the GTA smoothly. We will send the proposal to the state government at the earliest for a speedy approval," said Pradhan.
Other proposals include setting up a central university in any of the three places, namely Sonada, Mungpoo or Mungsong; establishment of a higher education cell in the GTA; and setting up a rural library in the GTA area, UBKV in Kalimpong and degree colleges in Longview, Pokhraybong, Sukhaypokhari and Mungpoo.
“We will write to the state government for release of funds for development projects to be undertaken in the hills," said the sabha chairman. "Two new colleges will come up at Gorubathan and Pedong in Kalimpong,” adding plans for a B. Ed training centre in Samthar is also on the cards.
The GTA has also sought funds from the state government for a medicinal plant research centre for work on diseases plaguing various cash crops. A fire station at Mirik will also become operational soon.
"Funds to the tune of Rs10 crore have already been sanctioned for a Gorkha Bhawan at the Saket area of Delhi and work will soon start. For the convenience of people visiting Vellore and SSKM hospitals, similar Bhawans will come up in those places too. We will ask the state government to sanction funds for these projects," said Pradhan, He also said a new hospital building at the Old Bus Terminus of Kurseong is being contemplated.
At the meeting, the participants also decided to set up infrastructure for manufacturing farming tools and handlooms at the Kutlery area of Kurseong.
"These are projects that will directly benefit the people and we are keen to take them up on an urgent basis," said Pradhan.
The GTA has also decided to provide each of its elected members an annual sum of Rs30 lakh on the lines of the MP and MLA funds for developing their respective constituencies. Besides, a resolution was also passed today to conduct winter and budget sessions of the GTA sabha.
Source : EOIC
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