As a relief from the daily dosage of ‘Breaking News’ about Darjeeling leaders touring the Hills and ‘interacting’ with locals, people changing parties again, and experts giving their opinion on everything, the last week has perhaps been one of the most productive week in politic. Here, we revisit some of these events:
Darjeeling Municipality Councillors take oath
March 15, 2022: Elected councillors in the recently municipality elections took their oath at Darjeeling Municipality. Watch the video here.
Another newly formed party, Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM), won nine seats and will be the main Opposition. Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) won 3 seats, while TMC party won two seats.
Darjeeling Lok Sabha MP raise demand for 3 Ropeway projects in the parliament
15, March, 2022: Darjeeling Lok Sabha MP, Raju Bista raised the demand for three ropeway projects in Darjeeling Hills under the newly announced ‘Parvatmala’ Scheme of the Central Government. The Central Government in its Union Budget 2022-23 has announced a National Ropeways Development Programme Scheme to be taken up under PPP model for ecologically sustainable alternative in place of conventional roads in difficult hilly areas.
In his demand, Bista raised ropeway projects in the following locations:
- Singmari to Singla
- Batasia to Rock garden, and
- Tungsung to Pandam
Darjeeling Rajya Sabha MP Shanta Chhetri raise Issue of Gorkha ST status
15, March, 2022: Rajya Sabha MP, Ms. Shanta Chhetri raised the ST issue for 11 left-out Gorkha communities and stated that West Bengal had already approved in 2014 and requested the House to seek an explanation from the Central government for the unreasonable delay in granting the ST status.
Darjeeling MLA seeks answer on Sainik School delay in Assembly
15, March, 2022: In the ongoing West Bengal Assembly session, Darjeeling MLA, Neeraj Zimba Tamang raised the matter regarding delay in the establishment of Sainik School in Darjeeling, The proposal for establishing a Sainik School in Darjeeling was given an ‘in-principle’ approval by the Ministry of Defence in 2012.
The MLA in his social media posts stated that “the State Government had proposed for the establishment of Sainik School in 2012. But following that the Ministry of Defence did not send any letter of approval or allotment of Sainik School to the State Government. He has assured that the State Government will take up the issue when they receive the Sainik School approval letter from the Defence Ministry.”
Kurseong MLA BP Bajgain raise Land Rights for Tea Garden Workers
11 March, 2022: In the ongoing West Bengall Assembly, Kurseong MLA Bishnu Prasad Sharma in his question to the Labour Minister regarding land rights for the workers.
In his question he cited, if land ownership can be provided to hotels like the Taj and Mayfair, why are the workers denied of their land rights. BP Sharma in his social media posts states that “यो प्रश्न ल्याण्ड डिपार्टमेन्टको प्रश्न भएकोले मैले ल्याण्ड डिपार्टमेन्टलाई नै सोध्नुपर्ने श्रम मन्त्रीले बताए। ल्याण्ड डिपार्टमेन्टलाई पनि सोध्छु नै”
That’s an amazing article