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| (From top) Mamata takes pictures of Lamahatta in 9th Mile on Thursday; the chief minister on her way to Ghoom monastery; and students of Dr Graham’s Homes perform for Mamata. Pictures by Amit Datta |
Kalimpong, March 1: Mamata Banerjee today scouted for niches which could be turned into tourist hotspots, clicking on her iPad quaint hill hamlets that she wants to develop as part of her project to turn Darjeeling into Switzerland.
During her three-hour journey from Darjeeling to Kalimpong with a convoy of 40 cars, Mamata stopped several times to inspect scenic spots and interact with the people. She told the officials of the tourism department that she would forward the pictures to them so that they found a place in the tourism project.
Government sources said Mamata was likely to hold a meeting with tourism officials accompanying her on this trip.
“She is exerting pressure on the tourism department to expedite the preparation of the master-plan to develop tourism in north Bengal. She has been taking the department’s officials with her so that they can also see what can be done,” said a senior official who was with her.
The chief minister was also accompanied by north Bengal development minister Gautam Deb, tourism secretary Raghavendra Singh and Darjeeling district magistrate Saumitra Mohan.
Mamata’s first stop today was the Ghum monastery. She had to skip the monastery tour yesterday because of heavy rain.
Making amends, Mamata today spent close to 10 minutes at the monastery exchanging greetings with the monks before the convoy headed towards Kalimpong. The chief minister took the Lopchu-Peshok Road to Teesta Bazar, skirting the route through Mungpoo, which has a museum on Rabindranath Tagore. The sky was overcast when Mamata left Darjeeling at 12.30pm.
At 9th Mile, before Teesta Bazar, Mamata asked the driver to stop.
Stepping out of the vehicle, she started taking pictures on her iPad. “Why don’t you build cottages here? This is such a beautiful place. Many people can come and stay here,” Mamata told the tourism secretary. “I have taken some pictures. I will send them to you. Please see what can be done here,” she said before taking her seat in the front beside the driver.
Yesterday, Mamata had told a gathering in Darjeeling that her master plan to convert the hills into Switzerland was underway. She had blamed the Centre for delaying the implementation of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration.
“Today, on her way to Kalimpong, she was looking for places that have the potential to be turned into tourist spots,” an official said.
At Teesta Bazar near the Coronation Bridge, school students and local people had assembled to meet her. The convoy moved slowly as Mamata stopped or got off her vehicle to greet students returning home.
The chief minister also spent around 30 minutes with the students and teachers of Dr. Graham’s Homes, one of the premier schools in Kalimpong that was badly hit by the September 18 earthquake. Kalimpong’s MLA Harka Bahadur Chhetri was present at the school.
In a message to the students, Mamata said: “All the best to all my boys and girls. Be bright, be brave, be good students and most of all be good human beings, that is the main quality.”
She was all praise for Kalimpong-based educational institutions. “There are so many good institutions here. All are number one,” she said.
Mamata also paid tribute to the founder of Dr. Graham’s Homes, Rev. John Anderson Graham.
The chief minister will stay at a guest house at Deolo Point near Kalimpong tonight. A delegation from the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha will meet her tomorrow afternoon.
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