Study must for master plan: Sen - official wants tech colleges in battle against landslides Ardhendu Sen inspects a landslide-hit portion of East Main Road at Chinna Dara in Kalimpong on Thursday. Picture by Chinlop Fudong Lepcha TT, Kalimpong, Aug. 27: Home secretary Ardhendu Sen today said a thorough study would have to be conducted in the hills before a master plan was worked out to battle landslides. The need to prepare the master plan for the Kalimpong subdivision was mooted at a meeting attended by the home secretary and a local NGO. After attending a series of meetings at Deolo, about 5km from here today, Sen said: “We will have to identify an agency which can do the job and take the help of engineering colleges and universities.” People cross a makeshift bamboo bridge after a culvert was washed away by a landslide at Chinna Dara. Picture by Chinlop Fudong Lepcha Save The Hills (STH), the NGO actively engaged in espousing the landslide issue, gave a power-point presentation on the damage caused by the mudslips in and around the town. Apart from Sen, principal secretary of disaster management M. L. Meena, Darjeeling district magistrate Surendra Gupta and Kalimpong subdivisional officer Amyas Tshering were also present at the meeting. STH president Praful Rao, who made the presentation along with colleague Upendra Mani Pradhan, said the master plan should be prepared after thoroughly studying the hill topography, land use pattern, building plans and drainage system. “A comprehensive master plan is a must for a long term solution, although we must realise it will not be possible to stop landslides from occurring completely. It is also important to have a proper disaster management programme in place,” he added. The home secretary said the subdivision had suffered a loss of Rs 80 crore in the recent landslides and 400 houses had been fully damaged. The subdivisional officer and district magistrate, he said, would prepare a report on the basis of which Rs 25,000 would be given to each family whose houses had been completely damaged in landslides last week. Two other immediate measures that the administration would take are diversion of streams to save houses and villages and construction of temporary pathways in places where bridges and culverts have been completely damaged. “For the long-term restoration, we are making an estimate,” said Sen. On NH31A, the home secretary said the Darjeeling DM will meet the NHPC in a day or two to impress upon it the need to expedite the restoration of the road above its dam site at 27 Mile, about 25km from here. The landslide at that spot is the worst on the highway that connects Siliguri to Kalimpong and Gangtok. The home secretary was in Darjeeling yesterday where he agreed to the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha’s proposal to add 1400 houses to the list of house owners who will be compensated for the havoc wreaked by Cyclone Aila in May. Home secy visits Aila-ravaged Kalimpong SNS, SILIGURI, 27 AUG: The state home secretary, Mr Ardhendu Sen has been camping in Kalimpong since yesterday, taking stock of the restoration and rehabilitation work regarding the damage wrought by the recent cyclonic storm Aila. He came to the Darjeeling hills on 25 May on a four-day visit to assess the progress in the direction of providing relief to the victims of the rain-triggered landslides, which officially claimed over 37 lives in the three sub-divisions of the Hills. He visited Kurseong and Darjeeling and now is in Kalimpong on the last leg of the current visit. He is scheduled to return to Kolkata via Bagdogra tomorrow. Though the visit is primarily meant to make an on spot assessment of the Aila- ravaged hills, he might talk with the district and the police administrations over the law and situation in the strife-stricken hills tomorrow. “He might discuss the law and order situation with us before emplaning for Kolkata tomorrow. Nothing is fixed though. If he asks anything pertaining to the overall situation in the Hills in the aftermath of the third round of tripartite dialogue held in New Delhi earlier this month, we would inform him accordingly,” the IGP, north Bengal Mr KL Tamta said. The GJMM seemed satisfied with the talks its leadership had with the home secretary in Darjeeling yesterday. Peace nudge from Jaswant VIVEK CHHETRI Jaswant Singh TT, Darjeeling, Aug. 27: Jaswant Singh has advised the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leadership to “move beyond agitation” and concentrate on development while maintaining “peaceful activism”. The Darjeeling MP’s appeal came in response to a questionnaire from The Telegraph. In his reply, Jaswant said he remained dedicated to the Gorkhaland demand, fielding a question on the impact of his expulsion from the BJP (excerpts below). The Morcha on its part has partially endorsed Singh’s advice but maintained that it might have to go back to the masses if the state and the Centre do not sincerely look into the statehood issue. Harka Bahadur Chhetri, the Morcha’s publicity secretary, said: “Of late, we have taken the path of peaceful activism. We made this point even during the tripartite meeting but if the state and the Centre start coming up with counter strategies to derail our movement we will have to fall back on the masses. We are trying our best to solve the problem through negotiations across the table.” As matters stand now, the Morcha has withdrawn its agitation programme after the August 11 talks with representatives of the Centre and the state government where it was agreed that the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council would be disbanded and the Sixth Schedule bill scrapped. However, it has still not told hill residents to start paying telephone and power bills and taxes to the state government. The next round of talks will be in Darjeeling on December 21. The Telegraph: Do you think your disassociation with the BJP is a setback for the Gorkhaland demand as the Morcha has hinted that it would need both you and the BJP to achieve its demand? Jaswant Singh: No, I don’t. I made a commitment to the issue, I was elected on the issue and I remain dedicated to the issue. As for the BJP, they included the issue in their election manifesto and I see no reason for them to backtrack. TT: If at any time the BJP pressures the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha to sever ties with you, would you think of resigning as the Member of Parliament from Darjeeling? JS: My position is clear. I remain a representative of Darjeeling because the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha showed faith in me and asked me to continue. TT: How do you plan to mobilise support for the demand in the wake of the recent developments? JS: I will actively continue to engage members across party lines to generate support and awareness among my colleagues on the Gorkhaland issue, as I have done over the past months. TT: What would be your advice to sthe Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, vis-à-vis the agitation and the recent political developments? JS: We have to move beyond agitation and concentrate on the development of the region while maintaining peaceful activism. Drinking water project for tea workers SNS, JALPAIGURI, 27 AUG: The Tea Board has introduced a sanitation and drinking water supply project for the tea workers. Informing this, the assistant director, tea development, Tea Board of India and the implementing authority of the project, Mr Samaresh Mondal said that the project has been named as ‘Sanitation and Drinking Water Facilities to the Tea Garden Labourers. “After conducting a survey in different tea plantations and discussing with different plantation managements, the Tea Board has found that the labourers of most plantations suffered from severe drinking water and sanitary problems. The Tea Board decided to address the two issues and introduced the step,” Mr Mondal said. The official also added that the tea plantations of the Dooars, Terai and Darjeeling hills would be included in the project. The Tea Board has sanctioned one sanitation unit for per 200 labourers and one drinking water supply point per 100 labourers. “We have not received detailed information of the project status but the tea associations have directed its member plantations to implement the project within 31 March 2012,” Mr Mondal stated. Balidan Diwas observed in Kalimpong Balidan Diwas observed in Sikkim and Delhi Sacrifices of Gorkha martyrs and freedom fighters remembered BGP Media Cell : The branches of Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh (BGP) a national umbrella organization of the Indian Gorkhas observed Balidaan Diwas on 25th August in their respective places. On the occasion the sacrifice made by Major Durga Malla and other martyrs and freedom fighters were remembered. On the occasion a function was organized by the BGP, Kalimpong unit at Dukha Niwarak Hall on the day where political thinker P.R. Pradhan, ex-Zilla Sabhapati was present as the chief guest. He expressed concern over the attitude of India Govt. for branding the Gorkhas as foreigners despite their selfless sacrifice towards the cause of the freedom of this country. He also claimed that the installation of the statue of martyr Durga Malla in the parliament precinct amply proves the Indianness of the Gorkhas. The occasion was also graced by Smt. Yuden Bhutia (Jethi Aama) and I.P. Pradhan, both patrons of the BGP, Kalimpong and C. L. Pradhan, advisor. Earlier the representatives assembled from different social organizations like Dukha Niwarak Sammelan, Kalimpong Press Club, Swatantra Naari Sangathan, All Minority Community and political organizations like CPRM and Hill Youth Congress and BGP members paid tribute to the martyr by offering flowers and khadas at the bust of Major Malla. The function presided over by C.K. Pradhan (Retd. Dy. S.P), President, Kalimpong branch was addressed by political leaders Dilip Pradhan and Suden Pradhan as representatives from Youth Congress and CPRM. Both the leaders appreciated the efforts being made by the BGP at national level for networking the Gorkhas spread throughout the country by way of organizing different fruitful programmes. They also claimed that without the efforts of this umbrella organization of the Gorkhas, which enjoys the support of the Gorkhas of over twenty two states in the country, the long cherished dream of creation of Gorkhaland state is not possible. The representative of minority community L.S. Namchu congratulated the BGP for making Gorkhas aware of their national strength and hoped that the minority communities are continued to be protected by the majority Gorkhas. Most of the local educational institutions read out the Sankalpa Patra circulated by the BGP in their morning assembly session where the students reiterated their pledge to continue to work for the cause of sovereignty and integration of this country like their forefathers. Balidan Diwas observed for the first time in Pune The new members of BGP observed Balidan Diwas in Pune on 25th August with great zeal and enthusiasm. On the occasion at the initiative of Bholanath Dahal, Life Member of BGP, a simple function was held in presence of Tanaji Narayan Zende, Social Worker and Founder Chairman of Indraprabha Society and Executive President of Indraprabha Mitra Mandal. Dahal highlighted the supreme sacrifice made by martyr Durga Malla during the pre-independence freedom movement under the leadership of Netaji Subash Chandra Bose. He also remembered those Gorkha martyrs and freedom fighters who have laid their lives from pre-independence to post-independence period. The function was attended by Narendra Bhattarai, Baren Pradhan, Raju Limbu, Mohan Kumar Newpaney, Mrs. Babita Bhattarai and Ashok Chinnamally. Kamal Bhattarai thanked all the guests for sparing their valuable time to pay tribute to the Gorkha martyr Malla. Malla remembered in Mumbai The local Gorkha residents of Mumbai under the banner of newly formed ad-hoc unit of Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh also could manage to spare time to observe the Balidan Diwas at a very short notice served by central committee. It was the efforts of a young chap Bikash Dutraj, a social activist of Mumbai who informed the local Gorkhas about the instructions received from central committee of the national organization and invited all available members to attend the simple function held at Belapur (New Mumbai) with C. B. Chhetri, Convenor, Ad-hoc committee in the chair. The function was graced by about twenty Gorkha social activists gathered from different parts of Mumbai and New Mumbai. After lighting the light in front of the portrait of Malla by social activist Kedar Nath Sharma the members of BGP offered floral tribute. They also held discussion on the role and contribution of Indian Gorkhas towards the achievement of freedom from the British regime. The BGP members also held discussion about the formation of organisation’s unit in Mumbai on 9th August. Most of the speakers welcomed the formation of a unit of national organization in Mumbai and promised to extend all out support to the mission and vision of this body. Dhruba Pradhan, a prominent social activist, offered constructive advice to the newly formed body of BGP in Mumbai. He also appreciated the role of BGP in installing the statue of Major Durga Malla at the precinct of the Indian Parliament and hoped similar memorable work on the part of this organization in future too. The programme was also addressed by C. B. Chhetri (Real Estate) who viewed the formation of BGP’s unit in Mumbai as a need of the hour. In his speech, C. B. Chhetri (Life Insurance), Convenor, Ad-hoc committee thanked the central leadership of BGP for organizing a grand meeting on 9th August at Wilson College. He also expressed his thankfulness to Bikash Dutraj for his tireless service to take initiative to organize such function in a short notice. In the programme young and dynamic Gorkha youths like Bishal Chhetri, Roshni Rai, Mohan Chhetri, Pravin Subba, Punam Lama, Jaya Chhetri took part with great zeal and enthusiasm. The news of similar functions held at Kokrajhar (Bodoland), Odalguri, N.C. Hills, Karbi Anglang, Pathankot, Dooars, Darjeeling, Sikkim, Mirik, Siliguri, Manipur, Shillong, etc. are coming to the BGP Media Cell. Locals look for rogue cop, the poster way Mohan Prasad, SNS, KURSEONG, 27 AUG: The days, they are a-changing. Earlier, it used to be just the arm of the law that stuck posters of wanted persons to seek information from public, at times against rewards. In a reversed role, the public is now sticking posters of “wanted” and “absconding” policemen, or that is what it seems to be in Kurseong. Residents of Naya Bazaar in Kurseong and family members of the deceased Barun Sharma, who had died in an inadvertent police firing on the night of 27 July in Kurseong, came out with large posters in different places of the Darjeeling hills seeking information about an absconding sub-inspector of the Kurseong police, Tejendra Ghalay, the prime accused in the incident. Barun Sharma (27), a daily wage earner and a resident of Naya Bazaar was shot dead by policemen in the victim's cousin's residence on 27July night in the presence of a group of cops. While the Kurseong police succeeded in arresting four out of the five policemen present during the shooting incident, they have not been able to nab the fifth Mr Ghalay. All the five accused policemen were on duty during the incident. Protesting against the incident and demanding the arrest of Mr Ghalay, the Naya Bazaar residents had organised several protest programmes including a candle rally and had gheraoed the Kurseong police station and held roadblocks earlier. When none of their programmes succeeded in fetching the desired result, they chose to come up with the “wanted” poster idea. Responding to the posters, the Kurseong SDPO, Mr Rakesh Singh said the public has taken a healthy stance and the case has already been forwarded to the CID. “Police have been looking for Mr Ghalay everywhere including Nepal and other neighboring countries. He would be arrested,” he said Tata Tea estate to re-open today - Deadlock in Nowera Nuddy garden ends, workers to lose wages for closure period, action hangs over doctor attackers

TT, Siliguri, Aug. 27: The closed Nowera Nuddy Tea Estate of Tata Tea will re-open tomorrow after the workers condemned the assault on a doctor in the garden and agreed to the management’s right to take disciplinary action against the accused. The issue was resolved at a meeting convened by the deputy labour commissioner of Jalpaiguri today. The management had declared a lockout in the garden on August 11 after some workers attacked Dr R.K. Ratan Singh who had refused maternity leave to a woman labourer. Soon after the closure, the labour department and the Jalpaiguri district administration intervened and sought to end the deadlock. The dispute remained unresolved as the management and trade unions stuck to their stands at three meetings the district administration had convened earlier. While the management insisted on the need to take action against the workers, the trade unions opposed any such move. “During the talks, trade union leaders condemned the assault and confinement of the medical officer and the ransacking of his office,” said Prabir Bhattacharjee, the secretary of the Dooars Branch of the Indian Tea Association, of which Tata Tea is a member. “The workers agreed that the management could take disciplinary action against their errant colleagues according to the rules laid down by the state labour department. No wage or ration will be provided for the closure period and the estate will reopen tomorrow,” said Bhattacharjee. Trade union leaders of the Citu-affiliated Cha Bagan Mazdoor Union and the Hind Mazdoor Sabha-affiliated West Bengal Cha Mazdoor Sabha were present at the meeting, along with some labourers. Chanu Dey, a Citu leader and CPM zonal committee secretary of Malbazar, said there would be no cut in the accumulated dues like provident fund and gratuity for the days during which the garden was closed. “During the two-hour-long discussion, it was decided that the management could act only within the purview of the state labour department rules,” said Dey. Sources said the attack on the garden doctor had been a handiwork of some workers, who were allegiant to the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad — an outfit that claims to represent the Adivasis and is desperate to establish base in the Dooars and the Terai. After the lockout, the Parishad set up road blockades and held demonstrations. A meeting called yesterday by the Malbazar subdivisional officer, Nilkamal Biswas, to end the stalemate in the garden failed because of the absence of the management representatives. The estate is located around 55km from Siliguri and is in Malbazar subdivision. Nowera Nuddy is one of the four gardens owned by Tata Tea in the Dooars. The lockout of Nowera Nuddy was the first such instance in any of the Tata gardens in the Dooars in 10 years. The district labour department officials, who convened the meeting on the instruction of the district magistrate, sounded relieved that the deadlock had finally ended. “We are happy that today’s talks were successful,” said Rajat Pal, the deputy labour commissioner of Jalpaiguri. “Both the management and the workers’ unions reached a consensus. The management is likely to conduct an inquiry into the assault on the doctor and the ransacking of his chamber before deciding on any action against the workers,” said Pal. Jaigaon bandh in school demand Miles to go TT, Alipurduar, Aug. 27: Life was paralysed in Jaigaon following a 12-hour strike called by students to demand the setting up of Bengali and Hindi medium high schools in the border town. Around 1,000 students have to travel more than 15km to go to a high school. The nearest high school is in Hasimara, 16km from Jaigaon. Some students also have to go to Madarihat, 28km away and Kalchini, 25km from Jaigaon. Most of these students are from Classes V to XII and are in Bengali medium schools. Those from Hindi medium are from Classes IX to XII. Jaigaon, 60km from here, has only one Bengali medium school, which teaches till Class IV, and a junior Hindi school that has classes till VIII. A number of English-medium schools are also there in the border town, but they are expensive. Nearly 500 protesters, under the banner of the Jaigaon Students’ Organisation, started the agitation at 6am. As a result, businessmen did not open their shops and vehicles were off the roads. The communication between Bhutan and India via Jaigaon was disrupted, officials said. “The bandh was peaceful and there was no untoward incident,” said S.R. Sundas, the block development officer of Kalchini under which Jaigaon falls. Additional superintendent of police of Alipurduar S.R. Mishra said no one had been arrested. Attendance in offices was also thin. The students’ ordeal does not end with the lack of schools. Private bus drivers do not allow them to board their vehicles as the operators are keen on taking long-distance passengers rather than the students who travel short distances and pay concessionary fare. The students reach schools late most of the days. Hamid Mia, the secretary of the organisation, said: “Nearly half of the population in Jaigaon are Bengalis but unfortunately there is no Bengali medium high school. Similarly, there is no high school with Hindi as medium of instruction. We demand two Higher Secondary schools in Jaigaon before the next session.” Till the schools are set up, the administration should instruct bus operators to allow students to board their buses or arrange vehicles for the students, Mia said. “We have knocked the doors of the administration several times but in vain. We had announced today’s strike three days ago and everybody has supported our agitation.” Manohar Tirkey, the Lok Sabha member from Alipurduar, has supported the students’ demand. “The demand is justified. I will talk to the administration to take necessary action and instruct the bus employees to allow students to board their vehicles during school hour,” Tirkey said.