Darjeeling, Sept. 8 -- A day after an Administrator was appointed to the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari released Rs 254 crore from the disaster management fund for mitigation, relief and rehabilitation in the Darjeeling and Kalimpong hills. The government also distributed Rs 3 lakh each to 73 families affected by the Teesta flash floods in October 2023.
The Chief Minister on a visit to North Bengal, on Tuesday, was scheduled to visit Kalimpong to hold an administrative meeting and to review the disaster preparedness in the Hills. However, owing to dense fog and low visibility, the Chief Minister's helicopter could not land in Kalimpong.
The Chief Minister then returned to Siliguri and held a virtual meeting with the Kalimpong administration and others from Uttarkanya, the mini-secretariat of the state government in Siliguri. "I will again visit Kalimpong on October 6," assured Adhikari.
"We all know that the GTA Chief Executive, along with several Sabhasads, have resigned. Though the emphasis for the present BJP government is a permanent political solution for the Hills, till it is in place, the GTA has to run. We have already appointed Smrutiranjan Mohanty, Principal Secretary, GTA, as the Administrator of the GTA for carrying out official activities. We have doubled the budget of the GTA. I am also officially releasing Rs. 254 crore to the GTA for disaster management in the GTA area," declared Adhikari. He further stated that the MPs, MLAs, along with Sabhasads who have not resigned, will assist the Administrator to run the GTA.
The Gazette Notification (appointing Mohanty as the Administrator was published on September 7, 2026.
Mohanty was present in the administrative meeting on Tuesday.
"With what has happened in neighbouring Nepal, we have to exercise added caution in the Himalayan belt," stated Adhikari, instructing the Disaster Management department to actively do the needful.
Stating that graft would be rooted out from the GTA, the Chief Minister iterated that those involved in institutional corruption in the GTA and the eleven Development Boards will not be spared. "An inquiry committee has been constituted. Once we get the reports on all this, including teachers' recruitment and drinking water schemes, FIRs will be lodged. No one will be spared," stated Adhikari.
"It is the job of the government to keep the Hills safe and secure. We will emphasise health, education, drinking water and employment in the Hills. A Medical college will come up soon in Kalimpong. We will recruit 1000 youths, including 300 women, in the Eastern Frontier Rifles soon," added the Chief Minister.
He also added that the Labour department will keep a close tab on whether the annual bonus at 20 per cent is being distributed in tea gardens bu October 5.
"We will also implement the Cha Shramik Yojna of 2021 at a cost of Rs 330 crore for the benefit of tea garden workers. The previous Government had not allowed its implementation then," added the Chief Minister. Adhikari stated that in the next 6 months 8352 new houses under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna will be distributed for Kalimpong only for all those who have land but have not been able to build a house on it.
This meeting was followed by another meeting after which the Chief Minister departed for Kolkata from Bagdogra Airport.
"It was basically a follow-up review meeting where the Chief Minister stressed the need for coordination between State and Central departments," stated Tourism minister Shanker Ghosh.
Meanwhile, tension erupted outside the helipad at Fulbari near Siliguri where Adhikari's chopper had landed on Tuesday afternoon after returning from Kalimpong. The tension began following an argument between BJP workers and police personnel. BJP supporters had gathered near the helipad to see the Chief Minister, as they were expecting that he would return to Kolkata by chopper from the helipad.
The BJP workers objected to a car entering the restricted helipad area. Police subsequently removed the vehicle, following which BJP workers allegedly smashed its rear windshield.
When police approached them regarding the incident, a heated argument ensued. BJP workers alleged that the vehicle belonged to a TMC leader's son. A large police contingent was deployed to control the situation. However, the CM did not go to the helipad and returned via Bagdogra Airport.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.