GTA meeting for monsoon emergency

REZA PRADHAN

DARJEELING,: Amid ongoing uncertainty over who will run the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), a meeting of the body washeld on Friday to prioritize emergency preparations for the monsoon seasonand potential natural calamities that can be caused by it.

The meeting, which was held at Lalkothi, the GTA headquarters hadofficials of the GTA along with the State Minister for Home and HillAffairs Bishal Lama and the Kurseong and Darjeeling MLAs present in itamong others.

“One month back we had a meeting regarding the GTA at UttarKanya inSiliguri where the Bengal Chief Minister was also present. In the Hills there havebeen many landslides in the past and we do not want it to repeatbecause work needs to be done. Today in the meeting we discussed withthe various departments what works were being done regarding disastermanagement. We wanted to know what steps were being taken to fulfillthe directions given by our CM along with discussing emergency worksthat are going on presently,” said the State minister.

When asked about how the GTA would function, with many elected membersresigning from it recently, he said, “Works are being carried out bythe various departments with some work also being done though theNorth Bengal Development Department. In the coming days, we will seewhat can be done about some Sabhasads having resigned. However, theprincipal secretary of the GTA is there, and emergency works willcontinue.”

“The budget of the GTA has also been increased by the CM to Rs 360 croreswhich is double the amount of funds they used to get. Apart from thatwork will also be done through other ministries like the NBDD whichalone will do development work of about Rs 250 crore in the Hills tobring about a solution to different problems here. The Tourismministry will also work separately to work towards making Darjeeling a global destination,” said the State minister.

On the other hand, Kurseong MLA Sonam Lama said, “Due to the ongoingmonsoons people are facing a lot of problems especially with noelected body functioning in the municipalities of Kurseong, Kalimpongand Mirik. Due to this emergency work should not be stopped. There arealso some projects under the PNRD which must be planned andimplemented from September-October and we cannot wait for the GTA. Inthe meeting we also discussed it.”