The development of Darjeeling Town under the financial assistance of WORLD BANK – What Happened to It?
Posted by barunroy on July 3, 2008
BEACON ONLINE EXPOSÉ (THE HIMALAYAN BEACON)
MUST READ!
By Barun Roy
Darjeeling Town, one of the oldest towns in India, situated at altitudes varying between 2,000 meters and 2,3000 meters was established in the year 1850, one of the first municipalities in the British Empire, when the population of this town was not even more than 10,000. Darjeeling was then famous for its scenic beauty and used to be a place for health resort for tourists from other parts of the world. Darjeeling was and is still known as “Queen of the Hill Stations” thus earning a place in the “Tourist Map” of the world.
With the passing of 158 years, today, there has been tremendous growth in the population of the town. (More than 10.7 times as you can see on the data sheet below). While this growth has been exponential the growth of the town to accommodate this growing population has been in a most unplanned manner. The unplanned growth of the town has further led to severe resource hemorrhage due to the influx of tourists in the town. A flicker of 10 to 100 tourists during the first days of the town has now increased to more than 500,000, with the cumulative population of the town exploding to more than 7 lakhs every tourist season
The consequences of this unplanned growth of the town and the pressure of the massive population has adversely affected the basic amenities to the people of Darjeeling which includes portable drinking water, sanitation (Disposal of solid and liquid waste) roads and roadside drainage, storm water disposal drainage (Jhora), fire hydrants, bus terminuses, terminuses for goods carriers, transportations, parks and gardens, roadside shelter sheds, crematoriums, slaughter house, market complexes etc. Even the stability of the town itself is threatened periodically by major landslides caused by the damaged Jhoras at the lower regions of the town. Due to the lack of the facilities there has been rapid degradation in environment and the living standard of the people of Darjeeling and the popular concern on the degrading administrative and infrastructural resources in the town, Darjeeling Municipality and other Governmental Agencies made concentrated effort to remedy the problem and initiate an Integrated Development Scheme. A project of 89 Crores was thus made in 1998, of which the World Bank funded the majority in 2002. Funds were to be made available to the Darjeeling Municipality and other Government Agencies. The Integrated Development Scheme included the following schemes in priority basis:
- Renovation and improvement of Existing Municipal Roads including roadside drain and railing. Project worth: Rs. 4.25 Crores
Status of the Project today: UNKNOWN.
The renovation and improvement of the roads are the prerogative of the Public Works Department and the Darjeeling Municipality. The two departments have their own sections; however, no data exists of road under Darjeeling Municipality being laid.
- Restoration, reconstruction and training existing Jhoras (torrential streams). Project worth: Rs. 18.13 Crores
Status of the Project today: UNKNOWN!
The Municipality area has numerous Jhoras, however no records exist of restoration, reconstruction and training of the existing Jhoras.
- Renovation of existing sewer line
Status of the Project today: UNKNOWN!
No renovation of existing sewer line has so far been undertaken.
- Development of existing dilapidated Municipal Building within Market area as market and commercial complexes for the purpose of creating revenue and development of slum. Project worth: Rs. 7.48 Crores. [SEE CHART]
Status of the Project: UNKNOWN!
No development of existing dilapidated Municipal Buildings within Market are as market and commercial complexes have been undertaken. Some Portions of Municipality are in the verge of collapse.
SEE CHART
- Augmentation of Darjeeling Town water supply
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- Renovation and improvement of existing installation including catchments arrestors, piloting channels, masonry conduit and conduit bridges for a length of about 8.5 km. North and South Lake of Senchal filtration plant, pumping installation of Khangkhola pumping House and Jorebunglow Filter House Tank water pipe line measuring about 35 km including pipe line bridges. Project worth: Rs. 2 Crores.
Status of the Project today: UNKNOWN!
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- Thorough renovation of Darjeeling Town Water distribution system for Rockville and St. Paul’s main distribution water tank and other smaller Zonal distribution system whenever necessary replacing old worn out pipe, mending damaged road surface, existing distribution main towards uncovered area with provision of smaller Zonal distribution and extension of public Water Hydrants. Project worth: Rs. 5 Crores.
Status of the Project today: UNKNOWN
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- Lighting of Water for perennial Balasan River having yield of more than 15 Lakh gallon per day during dry period of the year. Project worth: Rs. 33.64 Crores.
Project started last month – In Progress after a gap of more than a decade.
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- Comprehensive scheme for the fire fighting arrangement through dedicated water main in Darjeeling Town. Project worth: Rs. 81 Lakhs
A hundred years ago 230 water Hydrants existed…today none!
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- Laying of independent Water main from Filter House to Darjeeling Town Water distribution reservoirs by passing landslide from are of Aloobari Rs. 94 Crores
Status of the Project today: Unknown
- Renovation of existing public latrine (109 Nos @ Rs. 1.5 lakhs each). Total Project Worth Rs. 1.635
Status of the Project today: Unknown
- Renovation of existing Septic Tank 5 Nos @ Rs. 8 Lakhs. Total Project Worth Rs. 40 lakhs
Status of the Project today: Unknown
- Proposed construction of new 3000 users capacity central septic tanks at 12 different places (@ Rs. 8 Lakhs each) Rs. 96 Lakhs
Status of the Project today: Unknown
- Improvement of existing slaughter House 3 Nos @ (Rs. 7 lakhs each) Rs. 96 Lakhs
Status of the Project today: Unknown
- Construction of over bridges for pedestrians at different places 4 Nos. @ (Rs. 7.5 Lakh each). Rs. 30 Lakhs
Status of the Project today: Unknown
Not a single over bridge so far exists in Darjeeling
- Improvement of Garbage disposal system by
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- Reinstalling conservancy Ropeway from existing yard of dumping chute to the old conservancy Ropeway turmines (Presently Abandoned) Rs. 30 Lakhs.
- Setting up of new garbage dumping complex at two places Rs. 15 Lakhs each. Rs. 30 Lakhs in total
Status of the Project today: Unknown
- Gardening and fencing of Senchal Lake Rs. 25 Lakhs
Status of the Project today: Unknown
- Laying 200 to 250 mm diameter sewer pipe line network. Rs. 4 Crores
Status of the Project today: Unknown
- Electric Crematorium 1 No. Rs. 2 Crores
Status of the Project today: Unknown
- Installing new street light with sodium vapour lamp set including transformer at few places 300 nos Rs. 20,000 each Rs. 60 lakhs
Status of the Project today: Unknown
- Construction of shelter sheds for Tourists and pedestrians 20 Numbers Rs. 50,000 each @Rs 40 Lakhs
Status of the Project today: Unknown
- Major Land slide Restoration work:
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- Between Botanical and Hospital Jhora Rs. 40 Lakhs
- Between Botanical Garden and Jail Compound Rs. 20 Lakhs
- Between Siva Gram and Loreto Compound Rs. 60 Lakhs
- Between I. D. Hospital Jhora and Pamphawati Gurungni Road Rs. 20 Lakhs
Status of the Project today: Unknown
Grand Total: Rs. 88.88 Crores (Approx Rupees 89 Crores)
No record exists of how much money was received and how much money spent.
The simplest of all questions:
What happened?
A decade of questions with no answers!
However what did happened in the last one decade!
A Part of the Historic Eden Sanatorium converted into a ghost house. Photo by Barun Roy
A Part of the Historic Eden Sanatorium now covered by foilage and deserted. Photo by Barun Roy
Pot hole ridden road leading to District Hospital. Photo by Barun Roy
An ambulance rotting before the District Hospital Darjeeling. Photo by Barun Roy
The once state of art ambulance! Photo by Barun Roy
The decaying ambulance…who is to be blamed! Photo by Barun Roy
The quest for water. Photo by Barun Roy
Garbage disposal in Darjeeling near Victoria Hospital. Photo by Barun Roy
One of the most busiest road in the middle of Darjeeling Town. Photo by Barun Roy
July 3, 2008 at 12:52 pm
Good work Barun,are you wondering where the money went…Subhas Ghising and his cronies ofcourse,any dumb ass would say that and it’s true.
July 3, 2008 at 12:54 pm
Iwitness, you are right, Ghishing and his cronies.
Wake up guys.
July 3, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Good questions. Where will one find the answers?
July 3, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Great Work Barun….
July 3, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Can’t blame Ghishing only. He was there for 20 years only. It’s a legacy left behind by the successive Bengal govts.
July 3, 2008 at 1:27 pm
@Barun
Hats off to you brother!
July 3, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Exemplary journalism. Congratulations to Barun for digging up the dirt. I have the same question that kpgguy has asked. Shouldn’t Barun himself try to find the answers which all of us, I’m sure, are eager to know?
July 5, 2008 at 3:47 pm
good work barun! will this be publish in any daily newspaper? if so make sure that they publish the pics too! but we must make sure that the money was really Received! or was it really manipulated?
July 5, 2008 at 3:54 pm
check this out
http://www.kalimpong.info/2008/07/03/documentary-on-gorkhaland-in-bengali/
July 5, 2008 at 8:40 pm
This Expose IS TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE
Now that the Gurkha Dictator GhiSingh has been deposed “fearless journalists” finally muster the courage to write about corruption, misappropriation over the last 2 decades
The QUESTION is do you have the GUTS to question the FASCISTIC methods of the CURRENT DICTATOR ? Before its too late ?
July 5, 2008 at 9:12 pm
RELAY - all the Bong very eager read… feed backs for your knowledge .
Demand for a separate state was initiated by the Britishers
Posted by barunroy on July 1, 2008
By P.P. Gurung, Joretang
On the 26th April, 2003, I came across a very important article in “The Statesman” under North Bengal and Sikkim Section which reads as follows-“Return of Mal Mateli in Darjeeling constituency demanded”. After reading the article I instantly felt that it as my moral duty as a citizen of the country to express my opinion and simultaneously to bring an awareness. I can sincerely say that I had made a detail survey of the area. Since I was sent as an observer from the AICC office at New Delhi to monitor the parliamentary and assembly elections in 1987 when Shri D.P. Roy (Mithu Bhai) was contesting for the Jalpaiguri Parliamentary Constituency as a NIC Candidate. After being briefed by the local congress leaders of the District I instantly took the initiative to go the Bakhrakot, where I interacted with the local businessman and the public. I was the advised to meet Shri Sukman Moktan who at the time was spearheading the agitation for Gorkhaland in the Dooars area. The said meting with the latter was not successful inspite of my waiting for him till 3 O’clock in the morning, his whereabouts was not known. But I was confident that my message had reached him in right earnest. Finally, later at 5 a.m. I met him on the appointed time and place desired by him. The meeting was short but not fruitful. [Inset: Ari Bahadur Gurung. Photo: Fallen Cicada - Unwritten History of Darjeeling Hills. Copyright Barun Roy]
During my entire tour of Jalpaiguri district even to the interior of Kalchini a S/T constituency which returned the Congress Candidate successful. I witnessed the misery not only of the general populace due to various economic disparities, but the pitiful condition of the children who were deprived of the basic amenities of education and health facilities was heart breaking. I also learnt that their grievances and reports of omission and commission had never reached Writers Building or New Delhi.
After the election I was directed by lat Shri Rajiv Gandhi the then President AICC to submit my report of the debacle to Shri Arjun Singh the then Vice-President, AICC at 24 Akbar Road, New ¬Delhi.In my report I elaborately described the miseries of these people, especially of the ethnic population of the area. I also added in my report the political dibacle which was the fall out due to the last minute withdrawal of the Congress Candidature Late Ray, Ex- Chief Minister of West Bengal for Darjeeling Parliamentary Constituency. Further this resulted to large scale resentment in North Bengal which further culminated to a split in the Darjeeling District Congress Party due to the non acceptance of the Official nominee.
It must also be mentioned here that the credit for the development of the Mirik Tourist Resort, North Bengal State Transport, North Bengal Medical College all goes to the personal initiative of the trusted Bhadralok1eader Late S.S. Ray Late Gajendra Gurung who was the then Minister in the S.S. Ray Cabinet. The frustration of the hill p