Tripartite talks positive

Darjeeling

21 Nov 2013

With the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha’s relations with the state government back to warm terms, things ahead are looking bright more so as today’s tripartite meeting in Kolkata concluded on a cordial and positive note.

Further, during the bipartite talks on Wednesday, the state government assured to extend all support to the GTA and also not to interfere in its affairs. The process for the release of more than 2,000 GJM leaders and activists behind bars has also started.

After the meeting, GJM general secretary Roshan Giri informed over phone most of the demands placed before the state and central governments were met with positive responses.

“The meeting went off in a positive note where a number of issues related to the Darjeeling hills were placed and discussed in detail. Both the state and centre have given positive assurances on our demands,” he said.

According to the GJM general secretary, a team from the Union ministry of environment and forest and a fact finding committee will visit the hills shortly to review the demand for placing reserved forests under the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration and inclusion of mouzas of the Dooars.

“Central government representatives have said a team of the environment and forest ministry will be sent to the hills to look in to our demand for putting the reserved forest under the GTA. Further, a fact finding committee on the issue of inclusion of more mouzas in the GTA will conduct a field visit,” said Giri.

On the question of placing the Darjeeling hills in the North East Council (NEC), Giri said the government would explore the possibilities, while the process of according Gorkha communities tribal status, except the schedule caste, would be expedited.

“A lot of progress has been made in terms of giving tribal status to all Gorkha communities barring the SC. The central government has assured to explore the possibility of putting Darjeeling in the NEC, which indicates the positive attitude of both the state and central governments,” said the GJM general secretary.

The day’s meeting in Nabanna, the new state secretariat in Howrah, also saw a decision being taken on the Centre consulting the Attorney General for implementing the three-tier panchayat system in the hills, besides approving the backward region fund.

“The Union government has assured us of holding consultations with the AG and the rural development department on the issues of the three-tier panchayat system and backward region fund to Darjeeling. We have been promised the home minister will personally take up the issue,” accordint to Giri.

The GJM also placed its demands of creating an alternative national highway and establishing a central university and a National Institute of Technology (NIT) before the state and central government representatives.

“We have been asked to identify land for a CU and NIT, which we have already done, and will notify the authorities. As for the alternative national highway estimated at Rs193 crore, a detailed project report will be prepared,” said Giri.

Discussions were also held on issues such as allocation of Rs553 crore for a new GTA secretariat and housing and offices for sabhasads, jobs for Gorkha youths in the paramilitary forces, special waiver on taxes and incentives and subsidies, among others. The GTA has been asked to send a proposal seeking a raise in compensatory allowance allotted to the hills.

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Leaders apathetic toward environment issues, says conservationist

Darjeeling

21 Nov 2013

Noted academician, environmentalist crusader and writer Ajay Singh Rawat has lamented the apathy of politicians in including environmental concerns in their political manifesto while citing rampant misuse of power in Uttarakhand.

Presently in town for the first Tenzing Norgay Memorial lectures on Himalayan issues organised by St. Paul’s School, Rawat said, “It is sad that in our country, environment issues have taken a back seat. Not a single political party has mention of environmental issues in its manifesto.”

He stressed on the need to preserve and conserve the environment, failing which it could create havoc in the near future. “Very soon, the third World War will be fought for water because of rampant deforestation of forest areas,” warned the environmentalist.

Delivering his key note address on the fragile Himalayan belt, Rawat pointed out its significance and importance. “Nearly 0.3 per cent of the world’s total plantation area is found in the Himalayan belt, but it harbours only 10 per cent of the world’s vegetation. In fact, the very concept of forest culture originated in the Himalayas. Deforestation is affecting global climate change and it is the Himalayan forests that are slowing the process,” he said.

Rawat was also of the view that a holistic approach should be adopted to preserve the Himalayas’ ecology. “Every plant found in the Himalayas has medicinal value and as such the region is a rich and abundant area to meet human needs. Therefore it becomes imperative we preserve the prized Himalayas,” the environmentalist told a gathering comprising students, teachers, and prominent dignitaries.

Rawat’s hour-long speech also touched on several incidents of environment violation in Uttarakhand by influence people and their legal implications, and he urged the residents of the Darjeeling hills to take recourse to Right to Information (RTI) and Public Interest Litigation (PIL).

“I took the help of RTI and filed many a PIL to stop illegal mining and haphazard construction of roads in Uttarakhand, which has eventually resulted to a decline in such activities,” informed Rawat. “Hills residents here can take preventive measures against such activities if there are any to stop destruction of the environment.”

St Paul’s principal Joy Haldar explained the necessity felt to hold the lecture on Himalayan issues. “The day’s lecture is not a one-off thing,” he said. “We will continue to have similar lectures going forward. The idea behind holding such lectures and activities is to make a meaningful impact to stakeholder across the country. Besides conducting lectures, we will also come up with newsletters to provide factual information to people.”

Responding to a question about the lecture being associated with Everester Tenzing Norgay, Haldar said, “We wanted the lecture to be conducted in the name of an icon from the hills. After a lot of brain storming we came to the conclusion that the legendary mountaineer was the ideal personality as his very name is synonymous with the Himalayas.”

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Teesta GP merger demand picks up pace

KALIMPONG

21 Nov 2013

The demand for merging six Gram Panchayat areas to form a Block Development Office in Teesta by residents in and around the Teesta GP area has started picking up momentum. Several political and apolitical groups have started pressurising the government over the demand. Residents with the support of local political bodies have already formed a New Block Formation Committee to place their demand before the government.

The CPRM Highway Block 1 Zonal Committee leadership today sent a deputation through fax to the chief secretary of the Rural Development Department. The Committee has supported the demand for a block formation in the Teesta claiming the area fulfills all criteria required. The CPRM unit claimed the present BDO office in Kalimpong is easier to access for the people of the area. Zonal committee president Santosh Pradhan said, “We agree with the GTA’s decision to form new blocks for the people, but we do not support the change of the Block Development Office from Kalimpong to Takdah for Teesta and its surrounding Gram Panchayats.”

He added the unit has submitted deputations to the general secretaries of the Rural Development Department and Panchayat demanding the merger of six GPs and they will meet the GTA chief secretary and submit a deputation on the issue.

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Civic society must for socio-political change: MP Lama

PRADIP LOHAGUN

KALIMPONG

20 Nov 2013

Noted academician Dr. Mahendra P Lama, who will contest the 2014 Lok Sabha polls as an independent candidate, says the hill society must step forward for political and social change. He said so today at an interactive programme in Shyamadevi Hall in Kalimpong organised by the Kalimpong chapter of his recently launched association, Darjeeling Dooars United Development Foundation.

The dais was also shared by Bharatia Gorkha Parisangh president Dr. Enos Das Pradhan. Interacting with the audience, Lama said instead of reaching Parliament via a political shortcut, he has chosen to work for social transformation in order. “The people of the hills are weak in many senses. This makes it easy for the government, administration and political parties to oppress them. Once civic society wakes up, any political and social change becomes possible. Our organisation is a representative of this society,” observed Lama.

He said owing to the absence of Gorkha representatives at the governmental, bureaucratic and administrative levels, the issues and demands of the community have not been able to see solutions.

Lama further said the DDUDF aims to generate sufficient human resources in the region in the long term. He said the demand for a separate state is the primary agenda of the foundation. “Our main aim is to raise the demand for a separate state at the correct places. Whatever the result of the polls, the foundation will keep fighting for the rights of the community.”

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