Mamata govt forms BoA to handle development of Darjeeling hills

The West Bengal government has formed an eight-member Board of Administrators (BoA) to ensure the smooth functioning of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) with immediate effect.

The GTA is a semi-autonomous administrative body for the Darjeeling and Kalimpong hills.

According to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, expelled Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) leaders Binay Tamang and Anit Thapa will head the board as chairman and vice-chairman respectively.

“We have set up a Board of Administrators to ensure smooth functioning of the GTA,” she told newspersons at the State Secretariat here on Wednesday.

On June 23, the 45 elected members of GTA, including its chief executive Bimal Gurung, resigned from the administrative body. The members belonged to the GJM, which has been in control of the GTA since 2012.

Following the resignation of GTA members from the administrative body, the State made Barun Roy, an IAS officer, the administrator of GTA.

“We did not ask them to resign, they resigned on their own. If they had not resigned, they could have remained in the body till an election was held,” Mamata said. She added that the BoA will continue to function till an election is held.

“We do not want to stall the development in the hills. The new board will undertake development works in the hills from now onwards. The board has been formed with representatives from Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong and Mirik,” she said.

The hills have been under total shutdown since the GJM called an indefinite bandh on June 15 demanding a separate statehood. Internet services continue to remain suspended for nearly 90 days now, since June 20.

The situation in the hills was not currently conducive to conduct a fresh election, Mamata said, adding: “Whenever the situation arises for an election, we will conduct it.”

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