Development in Darjeeling will never be compromised, says Mamata Banerjee

Kolkata: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday announced of providing compensation to those who lost their lives during the unrest in Darjeeling.

Ms Banerjee also said that the development in the Darjeeling Hills would never be “compromised” and the state government would work together with the local parties and people for its prosperity.

“We want peace. We want progress. We want the hills to prosper and develop. People in the plains and the hills will work together for development,” she said at Pintail village.

She informed of involving the industrialists in the developments in the hills at an industry meet during a tourism festival.

After the all-party meeting at Pintail village, Ms Banerjee said, “Rs 2 lakhs will be paid to the families of those who were killed with no criminal cases against them during the movement in Darjeeling. All had requested us for the compesation. Besides jobs in group D will be also provided to a member of their families.”

She elaborated, “Those who were injured due to the agitation will be offered Rs 50000 as compensation.”

The chief minister congratulated people of the Hills for restoration of normalcy. “Peace has returned to the hills. We are overwhelmed by the positive response from the people,” she said.

Ms Banerjee also directed the teachers to complete the syllabus within time at the schools which were closed due to the unrest. She urged them to hold classes on holidays also.

“A proposal to make Darjeeling a centre for WBCS examinations is also being looked into.”

On the development of tourism in the region, the chief minister said a festival would be organised by the GTA in Darjeeling in the last week of December or early January. “We have asked the GTA to draw up a comprehensive development plan for Kurseong and Kalimpong. They will also renovate the tourism centres in Mirik. We are building a 100- bed hospital in Mirik,” she said. The popular Darjeeling Gold Cup football tournament will also be revived.

The sports and youth affairs department will organise the Vivek festival to commemorate the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.