DARJEELING, 21 AUG: The soft-approach of the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) towards the Mamata Banerjee-led government seems to be fast fading with the GJMM president, Mr Bimal Gurung, declaring that it may take up the demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland again if development funds for the Hills are not released soon.

While attending the 19th Nepali language recognition day and the Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhawana Diwas function in Darjeeling yesterday, Mr Gurung said: "When the GTA agreement was signed on 18 July, both the Centre and the state government leaders had asked us to work towards the development of the Hills. But, it is becoming difficult to carry out development as the state government has not released the funds. We have no option left, other then renewing our statehood demand.”
Until the new council is implemented in the Hills all the developmental works are being looked after by the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC). At present the old council is being run by the DGHC administrator, Mr Anil Verma, Darjeeling district magistrate Mr Mohan Gandhi and three MLAs from the Hills.
“We want to beautify the Hills and the Dooars-Terai regions. Bringing in development here requires huge effort, time and financial support. We have already panned for a slew of developmental projects for the Hills but those have not gone on the floor yet due to the fund crunch,” said Mr Gurung.

He said the state government was not providing adequate funds for the DGHC to carry out its work. “The implementation of GTA will take some time and in the face of acute funds crunch, the DGHC, which is empowered to carry out development works, cannot function properly,” said Mr Gurung. The state government provides Rs 22 crore annually to the DGHC for development.
The chief minister, Miss Mamata Banerjee, had inducted the three Hills MLAs into the Board of Administrators of DGHC. It can be mentioned here that the MLAs had rejected the action plan budget for 2011-2012 prepared by the chairman of DGHC in the first meeting between the MLAs and the DGHC board on 3 June.

In the first ever backlash to the present state government, the Morcha president said the reluctant attitude of the government was also hampering its party's image. “The GTA is a test for us. We have to carry our task efficiently to please everyone particularly the Opposition parties,” said Mr Gurung. To promote tourism in the Hills, he said that Rs 5 crore would be needed to renovate the Mirik Lake in Mirik.

The Statesman

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