Special enquiry team to probe alleged GTA corruption

REZA PRADHAN

DARJEELING: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday said that a special enquiry team will be constituted to probe alleged corruption within the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), including irregularities in the AMRUT water project. He said the team has been asked to submit its findings within seven days.

Adhikari was speaking to the media after a meeting with Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leaders, MLAs and Darjeeling MP Raju Bista in Kolkata.

“The Morcha leaders raised issues of alleged corruption in the Rs 1,200 crore AMRUT project along with several other allegations against the GTA. A special enquiry team will be formed to investigate lapses in the GTA, and the Municipal Affairs Department has also been directed to probe the AMRUT project. They have been asked to submit a report within seven days,” said Adhikari.

He further stated that the Municipal Affairs department has been directed to blacklist the agency involved in the AMRUT project until the investigation is completed.

Referring to the alleged illegal appointment of teachers in the Hills by the GTA, Adhikari claimed that around 400 teachers had been appointed illegally and that the matter was currently pending before the Kolkata High Court.

“A CBI investigation had been directed in the matter, but the previous State government obtained a stay order from the Supreme Court. Our government will withdraw the case there so that the CBI can proceed with its investigation,” he said.

He added that action would be taken against those found guilty, in accordance with court directions.

During the press conference, the Chief Minister also said that Rs 180 crore had been sanctioned to the GTA for the financial year 2025-26. However, he alleged that no utilisation details had been provided, following which the proposed allocation of Rs 170 crore for 2026-27 was not approved due to the absence of an annual action plan.

The Chief Minister also spoke about the 100 houses damaged in a natural calamity, stating that most affected families were still residing in community halls.

“Although the district administration had identified land for rehabilitation, the previous State government did not take any initiative. Darjeeling MP Raju Bista has already initiated the construction of 10 houses through CSR funds, and we have now decided to provide Rs 3 lakh each for the remaining 90 houses,” he said.

Adhikari further informed that the deputy chairman of the Tea Board and the principal secretary of the Municipal Affairs department would visit the Hills on June 2 and 3 respectively to review issues related to tea gardens and civic bodies.

He also stated that the principal secretary of the Disaster Management department has been directed to prepare a quick response team for the Hills within ten days as part of monsoon preparedness measures.

On the larger political issue concerning the Hills, Adhikari said that the Central Government has appointed an interlocutor and that he would hold discussions with him, without elaborating further.

Sharing details of the meeting, Darjeeling MP Raju Bista shared on social media that the delegation highlighted the long-pending issues concerning the rights and dignity of our tea garden and cinchona garden workers.  Further we highlighted the urgent need to improve healthcare infrastructure, quality education, provision of safe drinking water to every household, and the need for massive improvement in roads and connectivity so that no village in the hills, Terai or Dooars remains isolated, he said.

The delegation, at the meeting with the Chief Minister, stressed on the urgent need for a thorough investigation into the deep-rooted corruption in the GTA and several other local bodies including Siliguri Municipal Corporation, Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad, Municipalities in the hill region, Development Boards and others.