Most
populous hill station in the world - Darjeeling
Space constraint, lack of employment opportunities and
promises of a better living are luring more and more people away
from the tea gardens to the town. The estates, believe environmentalists,
are largely responsible for making Darjeeling the most populous
hill station in the world. Though Darjeeling is still not bursting
at its seems, the inflow of people has triggered a debate on whether
a satellite township should be built to ease the pressure on the
queen of hill stations. The hills have around 87 gardens, each
with earmarked areas for the labourers. "The excess people
in these gardens have no place to go and with decreasing job opportunities,
most are flocking to Darjeeling", said Bharat Prakash Rai,
Secretary, Federation of Society for Environmental Protection.
With the present generation keen on pursuing studies, the elders
are waking up to the idea of earning by catering to the needs
of the scores of tourists that the town draws. The population
explosion has not only disrupted civic amenities, but has also
depleted the forest cover in the surrounding areas. With the floating
population growing in leaps and bounds, myopic real estates development
has led to rapid dwindling of the forest cover in the surrounding
areas. Architects feel a sibling township is the only solution
to the population problem, pointing out that the inflow of people
would put a lot of burden on the hill station's infrastructure.
GS Yonzone, a scientist, however, warned against further unplanned
development and instead proposed the setting up of a Darjeeling
Hill Development Authority - withing the framework of DGHC to
develop the region. Stressing on the need to develop a blueprint
before plunging headlong into building another township, Yonzone
said a team comprising members of the Planning Commission, DGHC
and state representatives should be set up to discuss the modalities
of setting up such an authority.
Polytechnic College
without teachers for two years
The Computer Science and Technology department in Darjeeling Polytechnic
College has been doing without permanent teachers since its's
inception two years ago. In March this year, students of the department
went to Calcutta to apprise the concerned authorities of the situation.
But no action has been taken yet. Computer Science and Technology
was introduced in the Hill's sole polytechnic college in 2000.
In first year, the topics being relatively "general in nature",
they were taught by the existing teachers of the college. In the
second year, a teacher (Kesang Bhutia, B.E.) was deputed from
the Siliguri Women's Polytechnic College. But that was for just
thrice a week. Just prior to the final examinations, in March-April
this year, two teachers from Calcutta taught for a total of 15
days, students said. Now the 33 students promoted to third year
have no teachers and lab assistants who can handle this year's
curriculum.
"There are eight months left for our final exams. Our future
will be doomed if they don't appoint teachers immediately",
a student said. In desperation, some students have applied to
other colleges. While the girls have opted for Siliguri Women's
Polytechnic College, boys have opted for colleges in Calcutta.
However, not all students can afford to study away from their
homes. These students have urged the state government for financial
aid. Describing the situation as "hopeless", Mr MS Giri,
principal of Darjeeling Polytechnic College, said four teachers
and two lab assistants were required to run the course. Mr Giri
said he had discussed the matter with the director of technical
education and training and the state higher education minister.
He wondered why teachers were not being appointed "despite
all the formalities having been completed". Mr Giri said
the college has been running without an accountant for the last
seven years.
NH repair work promised
after blockade
Residents of Judge Bazar brought traffic to a halt on
19 July, blocking National Highway 55, protesting against the
poor condition of the road. The residents refused to budge until
the Executive engineer arrived from Siliguri and promised in writing
to take up repairs by October end. The four km stretch from Dali
Petrol Pump and Darjeeling Bazar motor stand is in extremely bad
shape, worsened by the monsoons. Responding to complaints, the
National Highway Department ordered that the potholes be filled.
Local residents said three truckloads of soil, including garbage
and night soil were dumped on a 250 m stretch at Judge Bazar on
18 July in order to cover the potholes. Residents said the stench
had made several residents ill. Municipal councillors and leaders
of the district GNLF joined the residents in the protest. They
asked officials of the NH authority to give an explanation on
the issue. Assistant Engineer Gopinath Rai, Sub Assistant Engineer
Uttam Pradhan and Head Clerk Jayanta Chakraborty were gheroad.
Residents refused to release the officials until the Executive
Engineer, NH Division 9, tendered a written statement that repairs
would be taken up in earnest instead of the patchwork operations.
Things took an ugly turn when the mob ransacked the NH office,
destroying furniture, office equipment and files. The protest
gained momentum as shops downed shutters and blockades were put
up on all motorable roads in Darjeeling. Commuters from nearby
areas were stranded. Executive Engineer, CK Das arrived from Siliguri
at 3.30 pm and held a meeting with GNLF leaders, municipal councillors,
the administration and the police. Das gave a written assurance
to the Darjeeling Municipality Chairman that work on the permanent
resoration of the four km stretch under the Darjeeling Municipal
area would start by the end of October. Residents expect a positive
response to the promise made by CK Das.
SAI sees football hope in Hills
The Sports Authority of India (SAI) believes the future of the
country's football lies in Darjeeling. There is a vast football
talent lying untapped in the Hills, Prasun Banerjee, footballer
and member of the SAI Advisory Board, said. The SAI selected 68
boys for football and five for archery at two training camps held
at Siliguri and Darjeeling between July 12 and July 14. About
600 boys had come for the selection tests. SAI is particularly
concerned about archery and football in the country and officials
believe the answer lies in the hills of Darjeeling and the North
East.
"I protest the State Government's neglect of Darjeeling in
sports. I will take all grievances made to me by the Darjeeling
Gorkha Hill Sports' Association to the Centre," Banerjee
said. Banerjee and former Olympian Nitish Nandy were talking to
the Press. The boys selected for football coaching at SAI centres
have been divided into two groups - one in the age group of 14
to 17 years and the other from 17 to 20 years. They will be trained
at the Lebong stadium, with their boarding at the SAI hostel in
Darjeeling. The trainees will receive a daily stipend of Rs 80.
The SAI had opened its Darjeeling Chapter in 1993 amid much hope
that the new unit would tap the sports talent in the Hills. However,
due to administrative hitches, it never got off the block. Infact,
it was on the threshold of becoming redundant.
The SAI has set its mind to reviving this institution. SAI has
sanctioned Rs 75 lakh for the renovation of the hostel, Banerjee
said. Noted footballer Keshav Pradhan has been selected to coach
the young footballers. Banerjee said more tounaments like the
erstwhile Brigade Gorkha's Cup should be organised to give more
exposure to Hill Talents. The real problem with Indian sports
was that most of the coaches didn't think of the country, and
were rather preoccupied with their own State or region, Banerjee
said. "We should shed this attitude and inculcate a nationalist
feeling among sportsmen from a young age," he said. "If
Japan and Korea can do it, why can't we", he asked.
