Mamta Banerjee resolves Darjeeling dispute
Breaking News Online Team: In a significant development, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee claimed that she resolved the Darjeeling dispute after signing a pack with the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM).
Mamata also said that she has already informed the Union Home Ministry about the agreement. According to Mamata, West Bengal Chief Secretary Samar Ghosh would talk to the Centre in this regard.
A meeting of the Centre, West Bengal government and the GJM may be held in Darjeeling shortly to formalise the agreement.
The agreement signed between Mamata Banerjee and GJM does not talk about a separate state of Gorkhaland, which has been the main demand of the GJM for long.
A new autonomous body will be set up which will be powered with more financial, executive and administrative powers. It will have more powers than then Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council Act. The bill to set up the new autonomous body will be passed in the next assembly session.
A committee will be formed with the representatives from the West Bengal government, GJM and the Centre that will decide which Gorkha-dominated areas will be the part of the autonomous body.
Gorkhaland issue solved claims Mamta
IANS, Kolkata, June 7 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Tuesday claimed that the over two-decade-old contentious issue of a separate Gorkhaland in the state’s northern part has been resolved and an agreement signed.
The Gorkha Janamukti Morcha, spearheading the demand, however said it has not gone back on its demand.
“I want to inform you that Darjeeling problem has been solved. We are very happy. You all know that official level talks were going on. An agreement has been signed,” Banerjee told media persons here after the talks between West Bengal government officials and Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM), which was spearheading the Gorkhaland movement
Congratulating the people of Darjeeling for their long struggle, the chief minister said she has already informed union Home Minister P. Chidambaram about the development and will visit Darjeeling “very soon” for a tripartite meeting where the final agreement will be inked.
“Darjeeling matter has been settled today. I congratulate the people of Darjeeling for their long movement. I have also informed union Home Minister P. Chidambaram that the Darjeeling matter has been solved and I have also told him that the agreement has been signed. It has been decided at the official level. Rest of the details will be given to you soon,” said Banerjee, with GJM leaders including its secretary general Roshan Giri by her side.
“We will visit Darjeeling very soon. We want the tripartite meeting involving the central government, state government and people of Darjeeling (GJM) to be held in Darjeeling only. As soon as possible as we want to do the final agreement on the soil of Darjeeling only,” she said.
The chief minister said the central government has been requested to make arrangements for the tri-partite meeting in Darjeeling.
“It was not one-side traffic, it was both-side traffic. We from the core of our heart wanted to solve the Darjeeling matter and we have solved it. Everything has been done keeping in mind the interests of both sides,” said Banerjee when asked to spell out the magic formula that brought about the breakthrough.
“Today’s meeting has resolved some matters regarding the issues such as territory of Dooars and Terai, reserved forest, issues of casual employees of DGHC (Darjeeling Gorkha Hill council). Overall we are happy,” Giri told reporters.
However, GJM legislator and party spokesman Harka Bahadur Chhettri said his party has not gone back on its demand for Gorkhaland.
The demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland covering parts of northern Bengal gained momentum during the 1980s under the leadership of Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) supremo Subash Ghising. But the reins of the movement were later taken over by the Bimal Gurung-led GJM which forced Ghising out of the hills.
Darjeeling issue resolved, claims Mamata
PTI, Kolkata:West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said that the 15-year-old Darjeeling issue was “settled” but the GJM was mum on whether there was any decision on its original demand for a Gorkhaland state.
“Today is a historic day. The Darjeeling issue which has been lingering for a long period is settled at the official-level talks. I have informed Union Home Minister P Chidambaram,” Ms. Banerjee told reporters at the Writers’ Buildings.
Asked about the ‘magic formula’ that clinched the agreement, Ms. Banerjee, who had earlier stated that she would solve the Darjeeling problem within three months, said, “It is our heart and good intention. The magic formula for reaching this agreement is development.”
Noting that Chief Secretary Samar Ghosh would announce details of the nitty gritties, she said, “I have asked him to talk to the Centre so that the agreement can be formalised at Darjeeling where I will be present.”
Asked if a financial package will be given to Darjeeling, she retorted, “Shall I attend a wedding without a gift? We love the people of Darjeeling.”
Later GJM general secretary Roshan Giri told reporters that transfer of ‘tauji’ or the right over tea gardens and resolution of the problem of casual employees of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council were reached at the meeting.
Asked about the GJM’s original demand for Gorkhaland, Mr. Giri declined to comment.
Today was the second day of the official-level talks in which Giri, four GJM MLAs, the chief secretary and Home Secretary G D Gautama, were present.
While the demand for Gorkhaland was kept “on record”, it was not deliberated upon at the two-day official level meeting.
Miss Banerjee, who had pledged to resolve the Gorkhaland issue within three months after coming to power, later said that she had spoken to Union home minister Mr P Chidambaram about the settlement of the problem in Darjeeling and has suggested that the signing of the tripartite agreement should take place in the Hills.
“The Darjeeling problem stands settled. It is a historic day. We have come to an agreement. We want the agreement to be signed in Darjeeling,” a gushing chief minister declared before the media, holding aloft the minutes of the meeting.
GJMM also agreed to maintain peace and normality in the Hills and Mr Roshan Giri, a signatory to the minutes, said: “We are happy.”
The GJMM during the Left Front regime had opposed the formation of the new body through elections while the state government had been categorically against any expansion of the territory beyond the jurisdiction of the present DGAHC. However, during the talks today, the government was able to convince GJMM that the new body should be formed through elections.
A Bill would be shortly introduced in the Legislative Assembly paving the way for the formation of the new body which will have administrative, executive and financial powers over the subjects that would be transferred to them enabling it to function in an autonomous manner. Although the legislative powers cannot be transferred to the new body it will have powers to frame rules and regulations under State Acts.
The state government today conceded somewhat the demand of the GJMM for inclusion of Gorkha-majority areas in Siliguri, Terai and the Dooars by agreeing to set up a high-powered committee comprising four GJMM members, the district magistrates of Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri, a home department official and director of census to look into GJMM's demand for new areas. The chairman of the committee would be appointed by the state and the administrator of the DGAHC would be the convener of the committee which will submit its report within six months.
The committee will look into the question of “identification of additional areas in Siliguri Terai and the Dooars that may be transferred to the new body, having regard to their compactness, contiguity, homogeneity, ground level situation and other relevant factors.”
However, the process of election to the new body will continue simultaneously with the above exercise though the empowering statute will have the provision of inclusion of the new areas. Meanwhile, a board of administrators comprising the three GJMM MLAs, DM, Darjeeling and DGAHC administrator will be empowered to run development work in Hills. Asked about a financial package Miss Banerjee said: “How can I go to a wedding without a gift?”
सबैलाई थाहा छ कि आधिकारिकरूपले वार्ता चलिरहेको छ। एग्रिमेन्ट साइन गरिएको छ। मुख्य मन्त्रीले जनाए अनुसार अब दागोपाप खारेज गरिने छ अनि त्यसको साटो नयॉंरूपको स्वायत्त प्रशासनिक परिषद्(अटोनमस एडमिनिष्ट्रेटिभ काउन्सिल) राज्य कै अधिनमा स्थापित गरिने छ। यसैको निम्ति मोर्चासित सम्झौतापत्रमा हस्ताक्षर भएको छ। काउन्सिल प्रशासनिक, कानूनी अनि आर्थिकरूपले क्षमतावान हुने छ। मोर्चाले माग गरे अनुसार गठन हुने भनिएको नयॉं व्यवस्थाको सीमाङ्कनको निम्ति संयुक्त समिति बनाउन राज्य सरकार राजी भएको छ। जसको निम्ति दुइ दिन भित्रमा संयुक्त समिति बनिनेछ अनि यस समितिले सीमाङ्कनको रिपोर्ट 6 महीनाभित्रमा बुझाउनुपर्ने छ।
ममता व्यानर्जीले सरकार गठन भएको तीन महीनामा नै पहाड़को समस्या समाधान गर्ने भनिसकेकी थिइन्, जसलाई स्मरण गराउँदै आज तिनले हर्षित मुद्रामा भनिन्, म सरकारमा आएको 18 दिनभित्रमा नै गोर्खाल्याण्ड मुद्दा स्थायीरूपमा समाधान गरिदिएँ। यो ऐतिहासिक क्षण हो। तिनले दीर्घ दिनदेखि चलिरहेको गोर्खाल्याण्डको आवाजलाई धेरै नजिकबाट हेरेको बताउँदै गोर्खा-बङ्गाली नै बङ्गालका असल नागरिक रहेको बताइन्। सबैलाई समान व्यवहार हुनुपर्ने कुरामा आफू गम्भीर रहेको जनाउँदै भनिन्, म शीघ्र नै दार्जीलिङ जाने छु। तिनले गोर्खाल्याण्डको साटो आज गोजमुमोसित स्वायत्त प्रशासनिक परिषद्को निम्ति भएको सम्झौताबारे भारतको गृहमन्त्री पी. चिदम्बरमलाई अवगत गराइएको पनि जनाइन्।
तिनले सम्पूर्णरूपले व्यवस्था लागू गर्नको निम्ति केन्द्र सरकारको सहमति चाहिने बताउँदै भनिन्, केन्द्र सरकार राजी भयो भने 10 दिनभित्रमा दार्जीलिङमा नै त्रिपक्षीय वार्ता हुने छ। जहॉं सम्पूर्ण कुराको छलफल अनि त्रिपक्षीय सम्झौतामा पूर्ण हस्ताक्षर हुने छ। यता आज सम्झौता पत्रमा हस्ताक्षर गर्ने रोशन गिरीले चियाबगानको समस्या पनि समाधान भएको अनि तौजी विभागको निम्ति समिति गठन गरिने, जसमा पूर्व आईएस अफिसर एल.बी परियारलाई मोर्चाको पक्षबाट सामेल गरिने जनाएका छन्। तिनले रिजर्ब फरेष्ट सम्बन्धमा राज्य सरकारले केन्द्रलाई कुरा राख्ने अनि केन्द्र राजी भए त्समा पनि सहमति हुने जनाए। तिनले भने, हामी खुशी छौं,किन भने हामीले दाबी गरेको सबै कुरा राज्य सरकारले स्वीकार गर्यो।
तिनले स्वायत्त प्रशासनिक व्यवस्थामा आउने सीमानाको निम्ति तराई र डुवर्सको अन्तरभुक्ति सम्बन्धमा पनि केही हद सहमति बनेको पनि जनाएका छन्। यता सूत्रले जनाए अनुसार दोगापाप खारेजपछि अस्थायी कर्मचारीहरूको भविष्य संकटमा पर्ने कुरालाई अघि राख्दै कुनै विशेष सहुलियतद्वारा यसको समाधान गरिने भएको छ। जसले 10 वर्षदेखि अस्थायी काम गरिरहेका छन्, उनीहरूलाई स्थायी गरिने कार्य प्रथम चरणमा हुने छ। मोर्चा प्रवक्ता तथा विधायक डा.हर्कबहादुर छेत्रीले वार्ताबारे अवगत गराउँदै भने, राज्य सरकारले केन्द्र सरकारसित कुरा मिलेको खण्डमा 10 दिनभित्रमा नै दार्जीलिङमा साइनिङ सेरोमनि हुने छ। सीमानाको निम्ति गठन गरिने समितिमा मोर्चाका चार सदस्य रहने छन् अनि अन्य सरकारी सदस्य रहने छन्।
डा.छेत्रीको बयान अनुसार प्राधिकरणको निम्ति बुझाएको प्रस्तावमाथि नै कुराकानी हुनुपर्थ्यो, जो हिजो र आज गरी भयो। सीमाना, ताउजी विभाग, स्थायीकरण, बन विभाग तथा अन्य केही विषयमा सम्झौता भयो। डा.छेत्रीले भनेजस्तो सॉंच्ची नै मोर्चाले अन्तरिम प्राधिकरणको कुरा त गरेन तर मदन तामङले शुरूमा नै लगाएको आरोपलाई भने सत्य प्रमाणित गरिदियो। आज त्यही दागोपापलाई नै मोर पावर र मोर मनि थपेर चलाइने सम्बन्धमा सम्झौता भयो, सम्झौतामा रोशन गिरीले गरे हस्ताक्षर।
अब प्रस्न उठ्छ, त्यही दागोपाप थाप्ने हो भने आन्दोलन किन? यसको जवाब मोर्चाले देओस् नदेओस्, तर समय र जनताले भने दिने छ। जब गोजमुमो अध्यक्ष विमल गुरूङ 28 न.समष्टीमा साङ्गाठानिक कार्यक्रम गर्न गएका थिए तब गोर्खालीग नेता मदन तामङले भनेका थिए, गोजमुमो दागोपापलाई नै केही कुरा थपेर ल्याउने तरखर गरिरहेको छ। त्यसैबेला त त्यो व्यवस्था देखापरेन तर मदन तामङको हत्यापछि आज भने तामङको आरोप सॉंचो बन्न पुगेको छ। ठीक मदन तामङले लगाएको आरोप झैं मोर्चाले दागोपापलाई नै अलिकति बढाएर थापिरहेको छ, जसको नयॉं कुरा भनेको सीमाना बाहेक अन्य रहने छैन। वामफ्रण्टसित चुनाउको कारण भारत सरकार र बङ्गाल सरकारले त्यसअवधी कुनै पनि विषयमा कुराकानी गर्न नसक्ने बाध्यतालाई अघि राखेर अन्तरिम प्राधिकरणको परिचय गराइएको थियो। चुनाउ अघि नै प्राधिकरणमा हस्ताक्षर गरिने कुराकानी पनि चल्यो तर चुक कहॉं भयो हस्ताक्षर हुन सकेन। कुरा त्यहीँ टुङ्गियो।
मोर्चाले प्राधिकरणलाई जम्मा तीनपल्ट आधिकारिकरूपले खारेज गर्यो। चुनाउभरि नै केवल गोर्खाल्याण्डको कुरा हुने यदि गोर्खाल्याण्डको कुरा भएन भने राजिनामा समेत दिने बताए पछि मोर्चाले रेकर्ड भोटले चुनाउ जित्यो। ममताले सरकार गठन गरेपछि पहिलोपल्ट आधिकारिक बैठक भयो, तर त्यो पुरानै बैठकहरूको क्रमिकरूप भयो। मोर्चाले मोठ सातवटा प्रस्ताव राखेको कुरा अघि आयो तर त्यो पनि दागोपापको निम्ति।&
अब गोर्खाल्याण्ड हुँदैन भनेर मोर्चा र राज्य सरकारले पहाड़का जनतालाई स्पष्ट सन्देश दिइसकेको छ। गोर्खाल्याण्डको साटो काउन्सिल नै आइरहेको छ। किन भने आज ममताले भनिन्, मैले गोर्खाल्याण्डको मुद्दालाई सधैँको निम्ति समाधान गरिदिएँ। तिनको यसै वयानले स्पष्ट पार्छ कि मोर्चाले नयॉं बोतलमा पुरानै रक्सी भरेर ल्याएको छ। त्यो रक्सीलाई लाटा जनताले त स्वीकार्लान् तर बाठा र मोर्चाले ठग्न सक्ने जनाताले भने त्यसको यो धोकाको जवाब कसरी दिने हुन्, भविष्यले नै बताउने छ।
Darjeeling ice-breaker - Deal signed, territory a worry
MEGHDEEP BHATTACHARYYA AND VIVEK CHHETRI, TT, June 7: The Mamata Banerjee government and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today signed an agreement that stirred hopes of a solution to the Darjeeling dispute through accommodation and flexibility.
The deal has settled some of the differences on setting up a new administrative set-up to govern the region. The more contentious issues, especially the sensitive territorial limits of the administrative authority, will be examined jointly.
“You will all be very happy to know that the Darjeeling problem has been solved,” announced a euphoric chief minister Mamata Banerjee this afternoon after a four-hour meeting between the Morcha delegation led by general secretary Roshan Giri and state government officials headed by chief secretary Samar Ghosh.
“I just called up P. Chidambaram (the Union home minister) and told him that an agreement has been signed at the official level. The chief secretary would request Chidambaram for his presence during the tripartite talks to be held in Darjeeling, preferably in a week’s time, to ink the final deal,” Mamata said.
The Morcha was less effusive, probably because it has to first reassure its constituency that its territorial concerns will be addressed.
However, both sides displayed flexibility. The Morcha gave up its insistence on the members of the administrative set-up being nominated and agreed to elections. It did not bring up the issue of a separate state or tag the word “interim” to the new set-up.
The state government reciprocated by promising to absorb casual workers of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC), under administrator rule as polls have not been held since 1999. It was agreed today to include the three hill MLAs in the DGHC board till the new body is formed.
The government agreed to set up a joint committee to examine if the tauzi department, which deals with tea garden land, can be transferred to the new authority.
But the “turning point”, according to the Morcha leadership, was the government’s decision to form a joint committee to recommend if the Gorkha-dominated areas of the Dooars, Terai and Siliguri could be included in the new set-up.
“That was our biggest demand which had repeatedly been turned down by the previous government,” said Morcha spokesperson Harka Bahadur Chhetri. “There is a huge difference between the previous government and this government. Miss Mamata Banerjee has shown courage by agreeing to set up a committee on territory and a beginning has been made.”
Chief secretary Ghosh said the process of enacting a law to initiate the election process for the new authority would begin in the next session of the Assembly.
Mamata, who had promised to solve the problem within three months of coming to power, said she would go to Darjeeling and make an announcement after the tripartite talks. “Financial packages will be given to the hills. Should I go to a wedding empty-handed? I have to take a gift,” she added.
But challenges lie ahead. The Morcha is only too aware of the political backlash Mamata will have to face if she has to part with land in the plains, especially since its leadership has stressed that the signing of today’s agreement “does not dilute the demand for Gorkhaland”. The Morcha has staked its credibility on ensuring that the Gorkha-dominated areas in the plains form part of the new set-up.
Raju Pradhan, the assistant secretary of the Morcha, said: “While we are happy that a committee has been formed, we are very clear that the new arrangement cannot be made functional till the territory issue is fairly resolved.”
A bulk of the tribals, the majority in the Dooars and the Terai, is opposed to being included in the new set-up. Bifurcation of the region can open a new flank of unrest.
Opposition cry betrayal over West Bengal-GJM deal
Amitava Banerjee, HT, Darjeeling, June 08: As Mamata Banerjee’s “Switzerland” (development) scored over Bimal Gurung’s “Gorkhaland,” (separate state) with both the state government and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) lauding it, the hill opposition parties cried betrayal and vowed to continue with the agitation for “Gorkhaland.”
A triumphant chief minister Mamata Banerjee, addressing media persons in Kolkata stated “Our brothers and sisters in Darjeeling have been agitating. Now the crisis has ended. We will work together to make the Hills into Switzerland.”
A deal was signed on Tuesday between the state government and the GJM, with both working out the modalities for a new administrative setup for the Darjeeling Hills in North Bengal.
Even the GJM, spearheading a separate state agitation since 2007, lauded the efforts of the chief minister stating “The present state government has shown immense political will to ensure peace and development. We will extend our full cooperation to the new government”
However the hill opposition parties, raising the ante, have cried “betrayal.” “What our leader Madan Tamang had stated three years ago has now been vindicated. He had stated that Bimal Gurung is a counter leader propped by the Government to strangle the demand for Gorkhaland.
"The GJM murdered Madan Tamang and the Government compelled the GJM to compromise on Gorkhaland using the CBI, at present investigating the Madan Tamang murder case in which key GJM leaders have been implicated” alleged Pratap Khati, All India Gorkha League (AIGL) leader.
The AIGL is the oldest political outfit of the Gorkhas in the country.
“Let Mamata Banerjee understand that the Gorkha issue does not stand resolved. We want separation from Bengal. Just by buying off Bimal Gurung and the GJM, the demand for Gorkhaland, which is the aspiration of all the Gorkhas residing in the country cannot be strangled” retorted Khati.
“The Gorkhas have been betrayed once again. It is a rerun of Subash Ghising’s Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) deal. We have always been saying that the GJM are not sincere. Their main objective has been the DGHC and that is what they have proved. The new administrative setup does not have a constitutional guarantee also. However both the Government and the GJM should realize that the people in the Hills gave the mandate for Gorkhaland in this Assembly election. Gurung and the GJM cannot rule for ever. The true voice for Gorkhaland will re emerge” warned Govind Chettri, spokesperson, Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxist (CPRM.)
Asok Bhattacharjee, CPIM leader for North Bengal demanded that CM Mamata Banerjee should spell out in details as to what she means by “Gorkha impasse resolved.”
“When we were in the Government we had proposed a powerful autonomy for the Hills. The Nepali speaking populace had gone against us dubbing us anti-Gorkhaland then. The same arrangement is now being dished out to them. However we do not see a permanent solution as there will always be dissident groups trying to spark a fresh agitation. Thus we had demanded that all Hill parties be taken into confidence while working out an arrangement for the Hills.”
Interestingly, the Subash Ghising led Gorkha National Liberation Front had led a 28 month violent agitation for a separate state in the 1980s which finally paved way for the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) in 1988.
Bimal Gurung, a dissident GNLF leader broke away from the party folds in 2007 floating the GJM. The GJM finally ousted the GNLF and Ghising, launching a new agitation for Gorkhaland
HT inputs: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Tuesday that the state government has managed to clinch a deal with the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha delegation that would end the ongoing Gorkha crisis. A triumphant Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, waving an “agreement copy” in front of media persons in Kolkata declared “The Darjeeling impasse stands resolved. We have already signed a deal at the Secretary level with the GJM. The final agreement will be inked in a political level tripartite talk between the Centre, state and the GJM, preferably in Darjeeling. This has been communicated to the union home minister.”
Darjeeling issue resolved, claims Mamata
PTI, Kolkata:West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said that the 15-year-old Darjeeling issue was “settled” but the GJM was mum on whether there was any decision on its original demand for a Gorkhaland state.
“Today is a historic day. The Darjeeling issue which has been lingering for a long period is settled at the official-level talks. I have informed Union Home Minister P Chidambaram,” Ms. Banerjee told reporters at the Writers’ Buildings.
Asked about the ‘magic formula’ that clinched the agreement, Ms. Banerjee, who had earlier stated that she would solve the Darjeeling problem within three months, said, “It is our heart and good intention. The magic formula for reaching this agreement is development.”
Noting that Chief Secretary Samar Ghosh would announce details of the nitty gritties, she said, “I have asked him to talk to the Centre so that the agreement can be formalised at Darjeeling where I will be present.”
Asked if a financial package will be given to Darjeeling, she retorted, “Shall I attend a wedding without a gift? We love the people of Darjeeling.”
Later GJM general secretary Roshan Giri told reporters that transfer of ‘tauji’ or the right over tea gardens and resolution of the problem of casual employees of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council were reached at the meeting.
Asked about the GJM’s original demand for Gorkhaland, Mr. Giri declined to comment.
Today was the second day of the official-level talks in which Giri, four GJM MLAs, the chief secretary and Home Secretary G D Gautama, were present.
Mamata, GJMM reach agreement on Hills issue
SNS, KOLKATA, 7 JUNE: Within three weeks of assuming power, chief minister Miss Mamata Banerjee today declared that the problem in the Hills stood “resolved” following an agreement between the state government and the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) which saw both sides conceding ground to arrive at an amicable solution, including formation of a new body through elections to replace the existing Darjeeling Gorkha Autonomous Hill Council (DGAHC) and the possibility of expansion of territorial jurisdiction. While the demand for Gorkhaland was kept “on record”, it was not deliberated upon at the two-day official level meeting.
Miss Banerjee, who had pledged to resolve the Gorkhaland issue within three months after coming to power, later said that she had spoken to Union home minister Mr P Chidambaram about the settlement of the problem in Darjeeling and has suggested that the signing of the tripartite agreement should take place in the Hills.
“The Darjeeling problem stands settled. It is a historic day. We have come to an agreement. We want the agreement to be signed in Darjeeling,” a gushing chief minister declared before the media, holding aloft the minutes of the meeting.
GJMM also agreed to maintain peace and normality in the Hills and Mr Roshan Giri, a signatory to the minutes, said: “We are happy.”
The GJMM during the Left Front regime had opposed the formation of the new body through elections while the state government had been categorically against any expansion of the territory beyond the jurisdiction of the present DGAHC. However, during the talks today, the government was able to convince GJMM that the new body should be formed through elections.
A Bill would be shortly introduced in the Legislative Assembly paving the way for the formation of the new body which will have administrative, executive and financial powers over the subjects that would be transferred to them enabling it to function in an autonomous manner. Although the legislative powers cannot be transferred to the new body it will have powers to frame rules and regulations under State Acts.
The state government today conceded somewhat the demand of the GJMM for inclusion of Gorkha-majority areas in Siliguri, Terai and the Dooars by agreeing to set up a high-powered committee comprising four GJMM members, the district magistrates of Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri, a home department official and director of census to look into GJMM's demand for new areas. The chairman of the committee would be appointed by the state and the administrator of the DGAHC would be the convener of the committee which will submit its report within six months.
The committee will look into the question of “identification of additional areas in Siliguri Terai and the Dooars that may be transferred to the new body, having regard to their compactness, contiguity, homogeneity, ground level situation and other relevant factors.”
However, the process of election to the new body will continue simultaneously with the above exercise though the empowering statute will have the provision of inclusion of the new areas. Meanwhile, a board of administrators comprising the three GJMM MLAs, DM, Darjeeling and DGAHC administrator will be empowered to run development work in Hills. Asked about a financial package Miss Banerjee said: “How can I go to a wedding without a gift?”
दागोपाप खारेज, नयॉं स्वायत्त प्रशासनिक परिषद् लागू गरिने - भएन वार्तामा गोर्खाल्याण्डको कुरा
मनोज वोगटी, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ, 7 जून। गोर्खाल्याण्ड होइन अब पहाड़मा काउन्सिल नै लागू गरिने भएको छ। ममता व्यानर्जीले आज मोर्चासितको बैठकपछि यस्तो घोषणा गरेकी छन्।मुख्यमन्त्री ममता व्यानर्जीले दाबी गरे अनुसार गोर्खाल्याण्डको मुद्दा स्थायीरूपमा समाधान भयो। वार्तापछि राइटर्स भवनमा पत्रकारहरूसित कुराकानी गर्दै ममता व्यनर्जीले भनिन्, म सबैलाई यो सूचित गर्न चहान्छु कि दार्जीलिङको मुद्दा अब स्थायीरूपमा समाधान भयो। हामी धेरै खुशी छौं।सबैलाई थाहा छ कि आधिकारिकरूपले वार्ता चलिरहेको छ। एग्रिमेन्ट साइन गरिएको छ। मुख्य मन्त्रीले जनाए अनुसार अब दागोपाप खारेज गरिने छ अनि त्यसको साटो नयॉंरूपको स्वायत्त प्रशासनिक परिषद्(अटोनमस एडमिनिष्ट्रेटिभ काउन्सिल) राज्य कै अधिनमा स्थापित गरिने छ। यसैको निम्ति मोर्चासित सम्झौतापत्रमा हस्ताक्षर भएको छ। काउन्सिल प्रशासनिक, कानूनी अनि आर्थिकरूपले क्षमतावान हुने छ। मोर्चाले माग गरे अनुसार गठन हुने भनिएको नयॉं व्यवस्थाको सीमाङ्कनको निम्ति संयुक्त समिति बनाउन राज्य सरकार राजी भएको छ। जसको निम्ति दुइ दिन भित्रमा संयुक्त समिति बनिनेछ अनि यस समितिले सीमाङ्कनको रिपोर्ट 6 महीनाभित्रमा बुझाउनुपर्ने छ।
ममता व्यानर्जीले सरकार गठन भएको तीन महीनामा नै पहाड़को समस्या समाधान गर्ने भनिसकेकी थिइन्, जसलाई स्मरण गराउँदै आज तिनले हर्षित मुद्रामा भनिन्, म सरकारमा आएको 18 दिनभित्रमा नै गोर्खाल्याण्ड मुद्दा स्थायीरूपमा समाधान गरिदिएँ। यो ऐतिहासिक क्षण हो। तिनले दीर्घ दिनदेखि चलिरहेको गोर्खाल्याण्डको आवाजलाई धेरै नजिकबाट हेरेको बताउँदै गोर्खा-बङ्गाली नै बङ्गालका असल नागरिक रहेको बताइन्। सबैलाई समान व्यवहार हुनुपर्ने कुरामा आफू गम्भीर रहेको जनाउँदै भनिन्, म शीघ्र नै दार्जीलिङ जाने छु। तिनले गोर्खाल्याण्डको साटो आज गोजमुमोसित स्वायत्त प्रशासनिक परिषद्को निम्ति भएको सम्झौताबारे भारतको गृहमन्त्री पी. चिदम्बरमलाई अवगत गराइएको पनि जनाइन्।
तिनले सम्पूर्णरूपले व्यवस्था लागू गर्नको निम्ति केन्द्र सरकारको सहमति चाहिने बताउँदै भनिन्, केन्द्र सरकार राजी भयो भने 10 दिनभित्रमा दार्जीलिङमा नै त्रिपक्षीय वार्ता हुने छ। जहॉं सम्पूर्ण कुराको छलफल अनि त्रिपक्षीय सम्झौतामा पूर्ण हस्ताक्षर हुने छ। यता आज सम्झौता पत्रमा हस्ताक्षर गर्ने रोशन गिरीले चियाबगानको समस्या पनि समाधान भएको अनि तौजी विभागको निम्ति समिति गठन गरिने, जसमा पूर्व आईएस अफिसर एल.बी परियारलाई मोर्चाको पक्षबाट सामेल गरिने जनाएका छन्। तिनले रिजर्ब फरेष्ट सम्बन्धमा राज्य सरकारले केन्द्रलाई कुरा राख्ने अनि केन्द्र राजी भए त्समा पनि सहमति हुने जनाए। तिनले भने, हामी खुशी छौं,किन भने हामीले दाबी गरेको सबै कुरा राज्य सरकारले स्वीकार गर्यो।
तिनले स्वायत्त प्रशासनिक व्यवस्थामा आउने सीमानाको निम्ति तराई र डुवर्सको अन्तरभुक्ति सम्बन्धमा पनि केही हद सहमति बनेको पनि जनाएका छन्। यता सूत्रले जनाए अनुसार दोगापाप खारेजपछि अस्थायी कर्मचारीहरूको भविष्य संकटमा पर्ने कुरालाई अघि राख्दै कुनै विशेष सहुलियतद्वारा यसको समाधान गरिने भएको छ। जसले 10 वर्षदेखि अस्थायी काम गरिरहेका छन्, उनीहरूलाई स्थायी गरिने कार्य प्रथम चरणमा हुने छ। मोर्चा प्रवक्ता तथा विधायक डा.हर्कबहादुर छेत्रीले वार्ताबारे अवगत गराउँदै भने, राज्य सरकारले केन्द्र सरकारसित कुरा मिलेको खण्डमा 10 दिनभित्रमा नै दार्जीलिङमा साइनिङ सेरोमनि हुने छ। सीमानाको निम्ति गठन गरिने समितिमा मोर्चाका चार सदस्य रहने छन् अनि अन्य सरकारी सदस्य रहने छन्।
फेरि पनि नयॉं बोतलमा पुरानै रक्सी
मनोज वोगटी, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ, 7 जून। चुनाउको बेला कालेबुङको एक च्यानलले डा.हर्कबहादुर छेत्रीसित सोधेको एक प्रश्नको उत्तरमा तिनले अन्तरिम प्राधिकरणको निम्ति बुझाएको प्रस्तावलाई नै अर्को शीर्षक हालेर ल्याउन सकिने बताएका थिए। आजको द्विपक्षीय सम्झौताले तिनको कुरालाई पुष्टि गरिदिएको छ। किन भने प्राधिकरण होइन केही ठूलो दागोपाप नै अस्थायीरूपले चलाइने कुरामा आज राज्य सरकार र मोर्चाबीच सम्झौता भएको छ जसमा मोर्चा सचिव रोशन गिरीले हस्ताक्षर गरेका छन्।गोर्खाल्याण्ड होइन अव पहाड़मा स्वायत्त प्रशासनिक व्यवस्थालाई लागू गरिने छ भने दागोपाप खारेज बुने छ।डा.छेत्रीको बयान अनुसार प्राधिकरणको निम्ति बुझाएको प्रस्तावमाथि नै कुराकानी हुनुपर्थ्यो, जो हिजो र आज गरी भयो। सीमाना, ताउजी विभाग, स्थायीकरण, बन विभाग तथा अन्य केही विषयमा सम्झौता भयो। डा.छेत्रीले भनेजस्तो सॉंच्ची नै मोर्चाले अन्तरिम प्राधिकरणको कुरा त गरेन तर मदन तामङले शुरूमा नै लगाएको आरोपलाई भने सत्य प्रमाणित गरिदियो। आज त्यही दागोपापलाई नै मोर पावर र मोर मनि थपेर चलाइने सम्बन्धमा सम्झौता भयो, सम्झौतामा रोशन गिरीले गरे हस्ताक्षर।
अब प्रस्न उठ्छ, त्यही दागोपाप थाप्ने हो भने आन्दोलन किन? यसको जवाब मोर्चाले देओस् नदेओस्, तर समय र जनताले भने दिने छ। जब गोजमुमो अध्यक्ष विमल गुरूङ 28 न.समष्टीमा साङ्गाठानिक कार्यक्रम गर्न गएका थिए तब गोर्खालीग नेता मदन तामङले भनेका थिए, गोजमुमो दागोपापलाई नै केही कुरा थपेर ल्याउने तरखर गरिरहेको छ। त्यसैबेला त त्यो व्यवस्था देखापरेन तर मदन तामङको हत्यापछि आज भने तामङको आरोप सॉंचो बन्न पुगेको छ। ठीक मदन तामङले लगाएको आरोप झैं मोर्चाले दागोपापलाई नै अलिकति बढाएर थापिरहेको छ, जसको नयॉं कुरा भनेको सीमाना बाहेक अन्य रहने छैन। वामफ्रण्टसित चुनाउको कारण भारत सरकार र बङ्गाल सरकारले त्यसअवधी कुनै पनि विषयमा कुराकानी गर्न नसक्ने बाध्यतालाई अघि राखेर अन्तरिम प्राधिकरणको परिचय गराइएको थियो। चुनाउ अघि नै प्राधिकरणमा हस्ताक्षर गरिने कुराकानी पनि चल्यो तर चुक कहॉं भयो हस्ताक्षर हुन सकेन। कुरा त्यहीँ टुङ्गियो।
मोर्चाले प्राधिकरणलाई जम्मा तीनपल्ट आधिकारिकरूपले खारेज गर्यो। चुनाउभरि नै केवल गोर्खाल्याण्डको कुरा हुने यदि गोर्खाल्याण्डको कुरा भएन भने राजिनामा समेत दिने बताए पछि मोर्चाले रेकर्ड भोटले चुनाउ जित्यो। ममताले सरकार गठन गरेपछि पहिलोपल्ट आधिकारिक बैठक भयो, तर त्यो पुरानै बैठकहरूको क्रमिकरूप भयो। मोर्चाले मोठ सातवटा प्रस्ताव राखेको कुरा अघि आयो तर त्यो पनि दागोपापको निम्ति।&
अब गोर्खाल्याण्ड हुँदैन भनेर मोर्चा र राज्य सरकारले पहाड़का जनतालाई स्पष्ट सन्देश दिइसकेको छ। गोर्खाल्याण्डको साटो काउन्सिल नै आइरहेको छ। किन भने आज ममताले भनिन्, मैले गोर्खाल्याण्डको मुद्दालाई सधैँको निम्ति समाधान गरिदिएँ। तिनको यसै वयानले स्पष्ट पार्छ कि मोर्चाले नयॉं बोतलमा पुरानै रक्सी भरेर ल्याएको छ। त्यो रक्सीलाई लाटा जनताले त स्वीकार्लान् तर बाठा र मोर्चाले ठग्न सक्ने जनाताले भने त्यसको यो धोकाको जवाब कसरी दिने हुन्, भविष्यले नै बताउने छ।
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Darjeeling ice-breaker - Deal signed, territory a worry
MEGHDEEP BHATTACHARYYA AND VIVEK CHHETRI, TT, June 7: The Mamata Banerjee government and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today signed an agreement that stirred hopes of a solution to the Darjeeling dispute through accommodation and flexibility.
The deal has settled some of the differences on setting up a new administrative set-up to govern the region. The more contentious issues, especially the sensitive territorial limits of the administrative authority, will be examined jointly.
“You will all be very happy to know that the Darjeeling problem has been solved,” announced a euphoric chief minister Mamata Banerjee this afternoon after a four-hour meeting between the Morcha delegation led by general secretary Roshan Giri and state government officials headed by chief secretary Samar Ghosh.
“I just called up P. Chidambaram (the Union home minister) and told him that an agreement has been signed at the official level. The chief secretary would request Chidambaram for his presence during the tripartite talks to be held in Darjeeling, preferably in a week’s time, to ink the final deal,” Mamata said.
The Morcha was less effusive, probably because it has to first reassure its constituency that its territorial concerns will be addressed.
However, both sides displayed flexibility. The Morcha gave up its insistence on the members of the administrative set-up being nominated and agreed to elections. It did not bring up the issue of a separate state or tag the word “interim” to the new set-up.
The state government reciprocated by promising to absorb casual workers of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC), under administrator rule as polls have not been held since 1999. It was agreed today to include the three hill MLAs in the DGHC board till the new body is formed.
The government agreed to set up a joint committee to examine if the tauzi department, which deals with tea garden land, can be transferred to the new authority.
But the “turning point”, according to the Morcha leadership, was the government’s decision to form a joint committee to recommend if the Gorkha-dominated areas of the Dooars, Terai and Siliguri could be included in the new set-up.
“That was our biggest demand which had repeatedly been turned down by the previous government,” said Morcha spokesperson Harka Bahadur Chhetri. “There is a huge difference between the previous government and this government. Miss Mamata Banerjee has shown courage by agreeing to set up a committee on territory and a beginning has been made.”
Chief secretary Ghosh said the process of enacting a law to initiate the election process for the new authority would begin in the next session of the Assembly.
Mamata, who had promised to solve the problem within three months of coming to power, said she would go to Darjeeling and make an announcement after the tripartite talks. “Financial packages will be given to the hills. Should I go to a wedding empty-handed? I have to take a gift,” she added.
But challenges lie ahead. The Morcha is only too aware of the political backlash Mamata will have to face if she has to part with land in the plains, especially since its leadership has stressed that the signing of today’s agreement “does not dilute the demand for Gorkhaland”. The Morcha has staked its credibility on ensuring that the Gorkha-dominated areas in the plains form part of the new set-up.
Raju Pradhan, the assistant secretary of the Morcha, said: “While we are happy that a committee has been formed, we are very clear that the new arrangement cannot be made functional till the territory issue is fairly resolved.”
A bulk of the tribals, the majority in the Dooars and the Terai, is opposed to being included in the new set-up. Bifurcation of the region can open a new flank of unrest.
Opposition cry betrayal over West Bengal-GJM deal
Amitava Banerjee, HT, Darjeeling, June 08: As Mamata Banerjee’s “Switzerland” (development) scored over Bimal Gurung’s “Gorkhaland,” (separate state) with both the state government and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) lauding it, the hill opposition parties cried betrayal and vowed to continue with the agitation for “Gorkhaland.”
A triumphant chief minister Mamata Banerjee, addressing media persons in Kolkata stated “Our brothers and sisters in Darjeeling have been agitating. Now the crisis has ended. We will work together to make the Hills into Switzerland.”
A deal was signed on Tuesday between the state government and the GJM, with both working out the modalities for a new administrative setup for the Darjeeling Hills in North Bengal.
Even the GJM, spearheading a separate state agitation since 2007, lauded the efforts of the chief minister stating “The present state government has shown immense political will to ensure peace and development. We will extend our full cooperation to the new government”
However the hill opposition parties, raising the ante, have cried “betrayal.” “What our leader Madan Tamang had stated three years ago has now been vindicated. He had stated that Bimal Gurung is a counter leader propped by the Government to strangle the demand for Gorkhaland.
"The GJM murdered Madan Tamang and the Government compelled the GJM to compromise on Gorkhaland using the CBI, at present investigating the Madan Tamang murder case in which key GJM leaders have been implicated” alleged Pratap Khati, All India Gorkha League (AIGL) leader.
The AIGL is the oldest political outfit of the Gorkhas in the country.
“Let Mamata Banerjee understand that the Gorkha issue does not stand resolved. We want separation from Bengal. Just by buying off Bimal Gurung and the GJM, the demand for Gorkhaland, which is the aspiration of all the Gorkhas residing in the country cannot be strangled” retorted Khati.
“The Gorkhas have been betrayed once again. It is a rerun of Subash Ghising’s Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) deal. We have always been saying that the GJM are not sincere. Their main objective has been the DGHC and that is what they have proved. The new administrative setup does not have a constitutional guarantee also. However both the Government and the GJM should realize that the people in the Hills gave the mandate for Gorkhaland in this Assembly election. Gurung and the GJM cannot rule for ever. The true voice for Gorkhaland will re emerge” warned Govind Chettri, spokesperson, Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxist (CPRM.)
Asok Bhattacharjee, CPIM leader for North Bengal demanded that CM Mamata Banerjee should spell out in details as to what she means by “Gorkha impasse resolved.”
“When we were in the Government we had proposed a powerful autonomy for the Hills. The Nepali speaking populace had gone against us dubbing us anti-Gorkhaland then. The same arrangement is now being dished out to them. However we do not see a permanent solution as there will always be dissident groups trying to spark a fresh agitation. Thus we had demanded that all Hill parties be taken into confidence while working out an arrangement for the Hills.”
Interestingly, the Subash Ghising led Gorkha National Liberation Front had led a 28 month violent agitation for a separate state in the 1980s which finally paved way for the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) in 1988.
Bimal Gurung, a dissident GNLF leader broke away from the party folds in 2007 floating the GJM. The GJM finally ousted the GNLF and Ghising, launching a new agitation for Gorkhaland
HT inputs: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Tuesday that the state government has managed to clinch a deal with the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha delegation that would end the ongoing Gorkha crisis. A triumphant Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, waving an “agreement copy” in front of media persons in Kolkata declared “The Darjeeling impasse stands resolved. We have already signed a deal at the Secretary level with the GJM. The final agreement will be inked in a political level tripartite talk between the Centre, state and the GJM, preferably in Darjeeling. This has been communicated to the union home minister.”
It was more of a Veni Vidi Vici for Banerjee who had assured of resolving the Gorkha crisis within three months of coming into power but managed to do it within 17 days of being sworn in as the chief minister of West Bengal.
After two rounds of bipartite talks on Monday and Tuesday, it was agreed upon by the state government and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) that the new administrative arrangement would be run by an elected body. A bill would be passed to this effect in the state assembly following which elections to the new administrative arrangement would take place.
Regarding territory to be incorporated in the new administrative setup a high power committee has been constituted comprising of the Minister land and Land Reforms, Government of West Bengal; District Magistrates of Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts; Administrator Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) and 5 GJM representatives as members.
>While the Government has remained steadfast in the three hill subdivisions to be included in the new administrative setup, the GJM has demanded the inclusion of 230 “Gorkha dominated” mouzas of Dooars in the Jalapiguri district and 195 mouzas of Siliguri and Terai region in the plains
“The verification team will hand in their report within six months. After the territory issue is resolved, the new administrative setup be implemented, replacing the DGHC. In the six months the DGHC will continue functioning. The DGHC will be run by a Board comprising of the 3 Hill MLAs, the District Magistrate Darjeeling as the Chief Principal Secretary and the Administrator DGHC” remarked Binay Tamang, Assistant General Secretary, GJM. talking to news person in Darjeeling.
The State has also agreed to hand over the Tauzi department (Department which is in charge of the land leased out by the State Government including Tea Estate land) to the new administrative setup.
Regarding the regularization of more than 6000 adhoc DGHC employees, it has been decided that all adhoc workers who have served for 10 years will be regularized with all existing Government benefits. For the remaining it will be a wage hike.
Tamang stated that the new administrative setup would have legislative, executive and financial powers. “The TMC- Congress led State Government has shown immense political will to resolve the issue and to establish peace and development. They have conceded to most of our demands. We will extend all our cooperation to the Government” remarked Raju Pradhan, Assistant Secretary, GJM.
Even GJM Supremo Bimal Gurung has lauded the outcome of the bipartite talks.
After two rounds of bipartite talks on Monday and Tuesday, it was agreed upon by the state government and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) that the new administrative arrangement would be run by an elected body. A bill would be passed to this effect in the state assembly following which elections to the new administrative arrangement would take place.
Regarding territory to be incorporated in the new administrative setup a high power committee has been constituted comprising of the Minister land and Land Reforms, Government of West Bengal; District Magistrates of Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts; Administrator Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) and 5 GJM representatives as members.
>While the Government has remained steadfast in the three hill subdivisions to be included in the new administrative setup, the GJM has demanded the inclusion of 230 “Gorkha dominated” mouzas of Dooars in the Jalapiguri district and 195 mouzas of Siliguri and Terai region in the plains
“The verification team will hand in their report within six months. After the territory issue is resolved, the new administrative setup be implemented, replacing the DGHC. In the six months the DGHC will continue functioning. The DGHC will be run by a Board comprising of the 3 Hill MLAs, the District Magistrate Darjeeling as the Chief Principal Secretary and the Administrator DGHC” remarked Binay Tamang, Assistant General Secretary, GJM. talking to news person in Darjeeling.
The State has also agreed to hand over the Tauzi department (Department which is in charge of the land leased out by the State Government including Tea Estate land) to the new administrative setup.
Regarding the regularization of more than 6000 adhoc DGHC employees, it has been decided that all adhoc workers who have served for 10 years will be regularized with all existing Government benefits. For the remaining it will be a wage hike.
Tamang stated that the new administrative setup would have legislative, executive and financial powers. “The TMC- Congress led State Government has shown immense political will to resolve the issue and to establish peace and development. They have conceded to most of our demands. We will extend all our cooperation to the Government” remarked Raju Pradhan, Assistant Secretary, GJM.
Even GJM Supremo Bimal Gurung has lauded the outcome of the bipartite talks.
Cleanliness drive around the Gurudongmar Lake and Lachen village
Prabin Khaling, KalimNews,7th June:Gurudongmar Lake situated at the 17,100 ft is one of the most sacred high altitude wetlands of Sikkim। Though located in an isolated corner of the state, the wetland receives a large number of domestic tourists estimated at around 15,000 every year, and with Sikkim establishing itself on the tourism map of the country, this number is on the rise. Apart from tourists, Gurudongmar Lake is also visited by locals going on pilgrimage.
While tourism offers incentives to the communities, the threats that it poses to these fragile landscape also cannot be ignored.
WWF-India Khangchendzonga Landscape Programme, as part of its High Altitude Wetlands conservation Project in Sikkim has been working with the local youths of the village of Lachen formed under the banner of Lachen Tourism Development Committee since early 2011 on sensitizing the community on conservation issues. Awareness programmes have been organized for students, taxi drivers as well as tourists.
As part of the same initiative, to mark the celebration of world environment day WWF –India in collaboration with LTDC organized a two- day event on 5th and 6th June at Gurudongmar Lake and Lachen. A 29 member team comprising of members of Lachen Dzumsa, LTDC, WWF – India and media representative organized a cleanliness drive around the Gurudongmar Lake. While at first glance the area around the lake looked clean and garbage free, on closer inspection the team found that over the years there had been quite an incredible accumulation of garbage. The team divided into groups to tackle different areas of the lake and armed with sacks and gloves collected all the waste lying in these areas. Mr. Phensum Lachenpa, President LTDC later remarked – “Never had we imagined that thirty big sacks we were carrying would be filled with the garbage from Gurudongmar Lake”.
Pipon II from Lachen, Mr Tenzing Choyang Lachenpa, who was also part of the team, encouraged them by participating in the cleanliness drive himself. He said that it was a great initiative taken up by the youths of Lachen, which had to be continued and supported. During the cleanliness drive it was found that most of the garbage had accumulated towards the outlet of the lake. The team also got support from the Army based there, and 20 jawans also helped in collection of the garbage.
During the occasion, signage providing useful information on Gurudongmar Lake and a Code of Conduct to be followed by visitors were put up near the holy lake. A separate site for offerings was also designated near the lake side, so as to regulate the practice of making offerings inside the lake.
All the waste material was collected in large sacks and brought back to Lachen, where the team again spent the evening segregating the waste into recyclables consisting of tins, plastic and glass bottles. Clothes, cardboards and paper were also segregated into different sacks. It was found that while a large part of the collected garbage consisted of tins and plastic bottles that could be sent for recycling, there was also a large quantity of plastic wrappers that could not be recycled and would have to be dumped. But the segregation of the recyclables at least did reduce the amount of garbage to a considerable extent.
On the second day of the campaign 6th June, the team targeted the Lachen Village for the cleanliness drive. The Chief Guest for the day was MLA – Lachen Mangan Mr. T.W Lepcha, who addressed the gathering prior to the cleanliness drive. He appreciated the efforts made by the youths of Lachen and congratulated them for cleaning up the sacred lake of Gurudongmar. As a word of caution, he also mentioned that youths had to look beyond the scope of contracts and build their capacities and skills for entrepreneurship.
A rally was also organized to flag off the cleanliness drive in which students from Lachen School actively participated and also assisted in clean up of the village. Members of LTDC targeted the local dumping site of Lachen to retrieve all the plastic bottles, tins and glass bottles that had been dumped to send for recycling. A total of 35 sacks of recyclable items were retrieved from the dumping site.
The Army posted at Chaten offered support for transport of the waste to the dumping site near 32 no. The materials segregated will be sold off for recycling. Mr. Chewang Lachenpa, General Secretary of LTDC thanked the Army for lending their support to the cause and hoped for their cooperation also in the future.On the occasion Landscape Coordinator of WWF- India Priyadarshinee Shrestha and Senior Project officer Laktsheden Theengh also participate at clean drive programme.
Prabin Khaling, KalimNews,7th June:Gurudongmar Lake situated at the 17,100 ft is one of the most sacred high altitude wetlands of Sikkim। Though located in an isolated corner of the state, the wetland receives a large number of domestic tourists estimated at around 15,000 every year, and with Sikkim establishing itself on the tourism map of the country, this number is on the rise. Apart from tourists, Gurudongmar Lake is also visited by locals going on pilgrimage.
While tourism offers incentives to the communities, the threats that it poses to these fragile landscape also cannot be ignored.
WWF-India Khangchendzonga Landscape Programme, as part of its High Altitude Wetlands conservation Project in Sikkim has been working with the local youths of the village of Lachen formed under the banner of Lachen Tourism Development Committee since early 2011 on sensitizing the community on conservation issues. Awareness programmes have been organized for students, taxi drivers as well as tourists.
As part of the same initiative, to mark the celebration of world environment day WWF –India in collaboration with LTDC organized a two- day event on 5th and 6th June at Gurudongmar Lake and Lachen. A 29 member team comprising of members of Lachen Dzumsa, LTDC, WWF – India and media representative organized a cleanliness drive around the Gurudongmar Lake. While at first glance the area around the lake looked clean and garbage free, on closer inspection the team found that over the years there had been quite an incredible accumulation of garbage. The team divided into groups to tackle different areas of the lake and armed with sacks and gloves collected all the waste lying in these areas. Mr. Phensum Lachenpa, President LTDC later remarked – “Never had we imagined that thirty big sacks we were carrying would be filled with the garbage from Gurudongmar Lake”.
Pipon II from Lachen, Mr Tenzing Choyang Lachenpa, who was also part of the team, encouraged them by participating in the cleanliness drive himself. He said that it was a great initiative taken up by the youths of Lachen, which had to be continued and supported. During the cleanliness drive it was found that most of the garbage had accumulated towards the outlet of the lake. The team also got support from the Army based there, and 20 jawans also helped in collection of the garbage.
During the occasion, signage providing useful information on Gurudongmar Lake and a Code of Conduct to be followed by visitors were put up near the holy lake. A separate site for offerings was also designated near the lake side, so as to regulate the practice of making offerings inside the lake.
All the waste material was collected in large sacks and brought back to Lachen, where the team again spent the evening segregating the waste into recyclables consisting of tins, plastic and glass bottles. Clothes, cardboards and paper were also segregated into different sacks. It was found that while a large part of the collected garbage consisted of tins and plastic bottles that could be sent for recycling, there was also a large quantity of plastic wrappers that could not be recycled and would have to be dumped. But the segregation of the recyclables at least did reduce the amount of garbage to a considerable extent.
On the second day of the campaign 6th June, the team targeted the Lachen Village for the cleanliness drive. The Chief Guest for the day was MLA – Lachen Mangan Mr. T.W Lepcha, who addressed the gathering prior to the cleanliness drive. He appreciated the efforts made by the youths of Lachen and congratulated them for cleaning up the sacred lake of Gurudongmar. As a word of caution, he also mentioned that youths had to look beyond the scope of contracts and build their capacities and skills for entrepreneurship.
A rally was also organized to flag off the cleanliness drive in which students from Lachen School actively participated and also assisted in clean up of the village. Members of LTDC targeted the local dumping site of Lachen to retrieve all the plastic bottles, tins and glass bottles that had been dumped to send for recycling. A total of 35 sacks of recyclable items were retrieved from the dumping site.
The Army posted at Chaten offered support for transport of the waste to the dumping site near 32 no. The materials segregated will be sold off for recycling. Mr. Chewang Lachenpa, General Secretary of LTDC thanked the Army for lending their support to the cause and hoped for their cooperation also in the future.On the occasion Landscape Coordinator of WWF- India Priyadarshinee Shrestha and Senior Project officer Laktsheden Theengh also participate at clean drive programme.
Morcha sticks to territory point - Deal future linked to Adivasi stand
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| An almost deserted Morcha office at Singamari on Tuesday. Picture by Suman Tamang |
Vivek Chhetri, TT, Darjeeling, June 7: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha seemed upbeat that “a solution” had been reached on the hill imbroglio, but hours after signing an agreement, the party made it clear that the new administrative arrangement could not be made functional until the territory issue was settled.
The Morcha’s stand is a clear indication that the party needs something concrete to show its supporters before the deal is finalised in totality.
The party was happy with the fact that a joint-verification committee would be formed to look into the demand to bring Gorkha-dominated areas in the Siliguri subdivision, the Terai and the Dooars under the new authority.
“The Left Front government had straightaway rejected our demand for a joint-verification committee. Territory is an important issue for us. While we are happy that the panel will be formed, the party is very clear that the new administrative arrangement cannot be made functional till the territory issue is solved,” said Raju Pradhan, the assistant secretary of the Morcha.
Pradhan said Morcha MLAs from Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong would be part of the board of administrators of the DGHC till the committee submitted its report in six months and the territory issue was solved.
Anil Verma, an IAS officer, is the present administrator of the council, while Mohan Gandhi, the district magistrate of Darjeeling, is the principal secretary.
While Mamata Banerjee has claimed that the hill problem had been solved, regional political compulsions and equations clearly show that many loose ends are yet to be tied and the territorial jurisdiction will not be a cakewalk.
“Territory is a very sensitive issue in the Dooars and Terai, especially because the Adivasis are united to fight tooth and nail any move that will end up in the transfer of even an inch of land in the plains to the hill body,” said an observer.
It is true that the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad lost the Assembly elections in the plains, but that was largely because of a split in the tribal votes. “In no way can the strength of the Adivasis be undermined or their stand (that an inch of land cannot be parted with) be taken lightly,” the observer added.
Another stumbling block to reaching an agreement on the territorial jurisdiction of the new body is the fact that there are hardly any contiguous areas which are dominated by the Nepali speaking people.
“It is true that the Gorkha population is in a majority in many places, especially in Kalchini block and in areas like Jaigoan. But linking it with one absolute Gorkha-dominated village would not be very easy,” said another observer.
Although the Morcha has kept the Gorkhaland issue out of the talks held in Calcutta today and yesterday, the party does not want to create an impression that the demand for the new state has been dropped for ever.
“The administrative set-up should neither be considered as an interim authority or an upgrade of the DGHC. It is a new administrative arrangement but a final settlement can only be reached when we get Gorkhaland,” said Binay Tamang, the assistant secretary (general affairs) of the Morcha.
Another challenge for the party will be to see whether it can get the tauzi department included in the new arrangement. The demand for the inclusion of the tauzi department was essentially to keep the tea garden populace in good humour.
The present DGHC does not have this department under its purview. Sources in the Morcha are, however, confident that the tauzi department will be included in the new body. Their confidence probably comes from their interaction with the Centre in the past.
Best time for both camps
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| (From left) Morcha office secretary Ganga Gurung, assistant secretaries Jyoty Kumar Rai, Binay Tamang and Raju Pradhan at the party office in Darjeeling on Tuesday. Picture by Suman Tamang |
TT, Darjeeling, June 7: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha could not have found a better time to settle for an agreement with the state government, since it had been left almost without any formidable rivals in the hills since the Assembly elections. For the rivals too, the time is ripe: they may now try to seize the Morcha’s seal-the-deal decision to make a comeback.
The Morcha had virtually demolished any opposition in the hills as all candidates contesting against the party in the Assembly polls had forfeited their deposits. The Morcha had won at margins between 90,000 and 1.5 lakh votes in Kurseong, Kalimpong and Darjeeling seats.
Following the defeat, the anti-Morcha camp was looking at ways to revive its political fortunes. The agreement today seems to have given them enough steam.
ABGL president Bharati Tamang, who had till the other day refused to comment on the Morcha’s meeting with the new chief minister, today said: “The aspiration of the Morcha has been fulfilled but they have forgotten to fulfill the people’s aspiration. They had won the Assembly elections on the Gorkhaland mandate but have failed to honour it.”
Bharati, whose husband Madan Tamang was killed allegedly by Morcha activists on May 21, 2010, also said: “I guess my husband was killed so that they could sign this agreement.”
The CPRM, too, did not lose an opportunity to lash out at the Morcha. “We have all along said their promise during the election to deliver Gorkhaland was false as they had not officially withdrawn their demand for an interim set-up. This has now turned out to be true. The body has just some powers but it has no constitutional guarantee. They talked about identity for the Gorkhas which can only be fulfilled by a statehood. The Morcha wanted power and Mamata wanted peace,” said Govind Chhetri, spokesperson for the CPRM.
The CPRM, however, warned that it would only be a matter of time before the people turned against Morcha. “With money power and administrative help they might be able to rule for sometime but the people’s aspiration for statehood will never die,” said Chhetri.
The GNLF which had been harping that the interim set-up was not even as powerful as the Sixth Schedule status that they had been demanding, however, refused comment. The party has been pushed on the back-foot ever since the president Subash Ghisigh sneaked out of the hills under the cover of darkness after the election results were declared. “I have not heard anything (about the agreement) and I do not want to comment,” said Palden Bhutia, president of the GNLF Kurseong Branch Committee.
The Morcha, too, is treading carefully. Party president Bimal Gurung sent across a message that he would speak only after discussing the issue with the party’s central committee members when they return from Calcutta.
Districts to host league matches- Plan for stadium upgrade to hone soccer skills
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| Mitra at the sports complex on Tuesday. (Biplab Basak) |
TT, Jalpaiguri, June 7: Selected matches of the Calcutta Football League (CFL) will be played in stadiums across the districts after the upgrade of the existing fields and infrastructure under the sports department, minister Madan Mitra said here today.
Mitra said the Mamata Banerjee-led government would make sports compulsory for students between classes IV and XII. He was inspecting the Jalpaiguri sports complex here after a felicitation. “We are determined to create sports persons who will shine in all fields,” sports minister Mitra said.
He said big soccer matches would be brought to the districts to strengthen football skills.
“We are currently looking at the state of the grounds and from next year we will arrange for teams like Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and other front-ranking teams to come and play some of their matches on these grounds. This will give the game a boost and an opportunity for the youth to watch the matches directly and not on television,” said Mitra, who was felicitated by the District Sports Association.
The minister was critical about the manner in which the sports department had been run by the Left Front.
“All over the state we will begin constructing stadiums and develop grounds that the Left Front had promised and left unfinished. There are people who have no interest in sports but have with them the keys to the playgrounds and stadiums. I appeal to them to hand them over to appropriate officials within a week,” Mitra said.
He was also critical of former municipal affairs minister Asok Bhattacharya for the state of the Kanchenjungha Stadium in Siliguri. “He has left many works unfinished and we will arrange for floodlights for the stadium,” he said.
The minister said a modernisation package would be soon announced for the sports complex here. He said Rs 1.4 crore had been sanctioned for a swimming pool and an indoor stadium in Cooch Behar.
“We will also renovate the virtually ruined stadium in Chanchal in Malda that has been lying in neglect for the past three decades,” he said.
Mitra said he would take two more weeks to complete the assessment of the sports infrastructure across the districts.
“After that I will sit with the chief minister and draw up a district-wise plan. As far as the Jalpaiguri sports complex is concerned, there is a need to lay a track for athletes. Dressing rooms, hostels and a press box are also lacking. We will approach the North Bengal Development Council for funds,” Mitra said.
North Bengal development minister Gautam Deb, who was also present at the felicitation, assured Mitra that funds would not be a problem.
Later, both the ministers visited Jalpaiguri Government Engineering College, where final year student, Monojit Roy, had died of a drug overdose on Saturday.
Mitra told college principal Jyotirmoy Jhampati to involve students in sports and other extra curricular activities.
“I have told him that this government will not tolerate consumption of liquor and drug on campus,” he told The Telegraph later over the phone.
Jalpaiguri police chief Anand Kumar said samples of Monojit’s blood and viscera would be sent to Calcutta for forensic examination.
“We have also sent the drugs found in Monojit’s room in the hostel to the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital to find out what he had consumed,” Kumar said.
Plan for Jaldapara rate slash
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| The Holong bungalow in Jaldapara wildlife sanctuary. The building has six rooms reserved for tourists. The forest department charges Rs 2,500 from tourists for a one night stay in a single room. File picture |
TT, Alipurduar, June 7: Tourists visiting the Jaldapara wildlife sanctuary have to shell out less money after September 15 as the forest minister has decided to slash the rates for various services in the forest.
The forest minister, Hiten Barman, also cancelled a Rs 21 lakh project to renovate the Holong bungalow inside the sanctuary and instead, decided to add more rooms to the building.
At present, each tourist pays Rs 40 for entry to the sanctuary and shells out Rs 125 for car safari, Rs 300 for elephant ride and Rs 50 for car parking. Apart from these, the forest department charges Rs 2,500 from the tourists for a night stay in a single room of the Holong bungalow.
The visitors have been complaining for long that the fees are high and demanded a slash in the rates. The new forest minister has paid heed to the tourists’ grievances and decided to make the Jaldapara visit economical.
“We will reduce the fees for different services as much as possible so that even tourists from the lower middle class can visit Jaldapara. I will soon sit with forest officers to finalise the new rates,” said Barman.
The minister said his focus would be on accommodating more tourists in the Holong bungalow rather than renovate the rooms at a cost of Rs 21 lakh.
“Tourists visit Jaldapara mainly to enjoy wildlife. If we can increase rooms in the bungalow, it will be of immense help for tourists as they find it difficult to find an accommodation in Jaldapara. So, I have decided to cancel the renovation of the bungalow,” he said.
The building, constructed in 1969, has always been the haunt of wildlife enthusiasts, especially because they can watch the one-horn rhino close-by. The late chief minister Jyoti Basu used to stay in the bungalow every summer. He had last visited Jaldapara in 2006.
The foresters keep a chunk of salt outside the bungalow to attract animals. Rhinos, elephants, sambars and bison come to the “saltlick” and the tourists can have a fair view of the animals from the safety of their rooms.
The bungalow has eight rooms, of which six are set aside for tourists. The other two rooms are used by forest officers. The West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation had sanctioned Rs 21 lakh to install air-conditioners and LCD televisions in each room, to change the furniture and to set up modern toilet facilities.
The authorities decided to increase the amenities at the bungalow as the room charge for a single night stay had been hiked to Rs 2,500 last year.
Raj Basu, the convener of the Eastern Himalayan Tour and Travel Operators’ Association, has welcomed the government’s decision to cancel the renovation project.
“Tourists stay in Holong bungalow to watch animals, not for comfort. They are happy that the forest department has given them an opportunity to spot wild animals from their rooms. The tourists have never complained about the facilities at the bungalow. Those who want modern amenities and comfort can easily stay in the Madarihat tourist lodge, located adjacent to the sanctuary,” said Basu.
Deer death probe
An inquiry has been ordered into the charges that three forest officers tried to hush up the death of a barking deer calf two days back.
The divisional forest officer of wildlife III, Om Praskash, came to know about the animal’s death from The Telegraph this morning, 48 hours after the incident had occurred.
According to a forest source, the barking deer, aged about one year, had entered the corn field of Budhua Oraon at Baluasari village under Jaldapara north range on June 3.
The animal ran around the field continuously and it was rescued at last by Oraon. The calf had breathing problems and he brought the animal to his house.
Oraon informed panchayat member Prem Kujur about the incident. Kujur called up foresters of north range and Azad Ali, a guard, took the deer to the range office. Ashoke Kumar Singh, a veterinary surgeon and Niranjita Mitra, the assistant wildlife warden, kept the calf inside a cage and started treating it. But on June 5 morning, the deer died and the foresters allegedly tried to conceal the incident.
“Nobody informed me about the incident. When I talked to Mitra, Deepak Bala (Jaldapara north range officer) and Singh this morning, they admitted that a deer had died in their custody. I have sought an explanation from the three officers,” said Om Prakash.
The Telegraph over the phone from Bankura that the chief wildlife warden had been asked to conduct a probe and take action if anybody was found responsible for the calf death.
NBU without student union
TT, Siliguri, June 7: The North Bengal University has been without a student union since March and the situation is likely to remain so for three more months given that the varsity will be busy conducting post-graduate examination and admission to the PG courses.
The forest minister, Hiten Barman, also cancelled a Rs 21 lakh project to renovate the Holong bungalow inside the sanctuary and instead, decided to add more rooms to the building.
At present, each tourist pays Rs 40 for entry to the sanctuary and shells out Rs 125 for car safari, Rs 300 for elephant ride and Rs 50 for car parking. Apart from these, the forest department charges Rs 2,500 from the tourists for a night stay in a single room of the Holong bungalow.
The visitors have been complaining for long that the fees are high and demanded a slash in the rates. The new forest minister has paid heed to the tourists’ grievances and decided to make the Jaldapara visit economical.
“We will reduce the fees for different services as much as possible so that even tourists from the lower middle class can visit Jaldapara. I will soon sit with forest officers to finalise the new rates,” said Barman.
The minister said his focus would be on accommodating more tourists in the Holong bungalow rather than renovate the rooms at a cost of Rs 21 lakh.
“Tourists visit Jaldapara mainly to enjoy wildlife. If we can increase rooms in the bungalow, it will be of immense help for tourists as they find it difficult to find an accommodation in Jaldapara. So, I have decided to cancel the renovation of the bungalow,” he said.
The building, constructed in 1969, has always been the haunt of wildlife enthusiasts, especially because they can watch the one-horn rhino close-by. The late chief minister Jyoti Basu used to stay in the bungalow every summer. He had last visited Jaldapara in 2006.
The foresters keep a chunk of salt outside the bungalow to attract animals. Rhinos, elephants, sambars and bison come to the “saltlick” and the tourists can have a fair view of the animals from the safety of their rooms.
The bungalow has eight rooms, of which six are set aside for tourists. The other two rooms are used by forest officers. The West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation had sanctioned Rs 21 lakh to install air-conditioners and LCD televisions in each room, to change the furniture and to set up modern toilet facilities.
The authorities decided to increase the amenities at the bungalow as the room charge for a single night stay had been hiked to Rs 2,500 last year.
Raj Basu, the convener of the Eastern Himalayan Tour and Travel Operators’ Association, has welcomed the government’s decision to cancel the renovation project.
“Tourists stay in Holong bungalow to watch animals, not for comfort. They are happy that the forest department has given them an opportunity to spot wild animals from their rooms. The tourists have never complained about the facilities at the bungalow. Those who want modern amenities and comfort can easily stay in the Madarihat tourist lodge, located adjacent to the sanctuary,” said Basu.
Deer death probe
An inquiry has been ordered into the charges that three forest officers tried to hush up the death of a barking deer calf two days back.
The divisional forest officer of wildlife III, Om Praskash, came to know about the animal’s death from The Telegraph this morning, 48 hours after the incident had occurred.
According to a forest source, the barking deer, aged about one year, had entered the corn field of Budhua Oraon at Baluasari village under Jaldapara north range on June 3.
The animal ran around the field continuously and it was rescued at last by Oraon. The calf had breathing problems and he brought the animal to his house.
Oraon informed panchayat member Prem Kujur about the incident. Kujur called up foresters of north range and Azad Ali, a guard, took the deer to the range office. Ashoke Kumar Singh, a veterinary surgeon and Niranjita Mitra, the assistant wildlife warden, kept the calf inside a cage and started treating it. But on June 5 morning, the deer died and the foresters allegedly tried to conceal the incident.
“Nobody informed me about the incident. When I talked to Mitra, Deepak Bala (Jaldapara north range officer) and Singh this morning, they admitted that a deer had died in their custody. I have sought an explanation from the three officers,” said Om Prakash.
The Telegraph over the phone from Bankura that the chief wildlife warden had been asked to conduct a probe and take action if anybody was found responsible for the calf death.
NBU without student union
TT, Siliguri, June 7: The North Bengal University has been without a student union since March and the situation is likely to remain so for three more months given that the varsity will be busy conducting post-graduate examination and admission to the PG courses.
The varsity had scheduled elections to the student union for March 30 and a notification was issued in the first week of March, declaring the dissolution of the existing union.
The distribution of nomination forms, too, began, but all election-related activities were suspended for an indefinite period when the model code of conduct came into force for the Assembly polls.
According to sources at the varsity, the union elections are less likely to be held before September. “The summer vacations started on June 1 and PG exams for Part I and Part II will start after the varsity reopens on July 3. The exams are scheduled for the whole of July and August will be devoted to the students’ admission to PG. So, it is impossible to hold the union poll during this period,” said a source.
“Moreover, a fresh electoral list with names of the PG first-year students will have to be prepared to hold polls to the student union. Considering all these factors, the union polls will be conducted after three months,” the source added.
The elections are to be held to 86 seats and the Chhattra Parishad, Trinamul Chhattra Parishad and the SFI as the main contenders.
The NBU has been an SFI stronghold for several years and the CPM student wing had won the elections to the last union also.
Previously, the union polls would be completed in March and the newly elected body was responsible for conducting events like socials, cultural function and games in April and May.
“The NBU holds three days of cultural function, two days of socials and 14 days of games every year. These events are conducted in April and May and the entire responsibility lies with the union. As the polls have been postponed for an indefinite period, the events could not be held. We had requested the authorities to take up the responsibility to organise the functions, but have got no response,” said a PG second year student.
NBU authorities refrained from making any comment.
NBU authorities refrained from making any comment.
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