Speculation over CM’s Darjeeling visit

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s North Bengal visit scheduled from December 26 to December 29 has sparked off anticipation whether she would be visiting Darjeeling.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s North Bengal visit scheduled from December 26 to December 29 has sparked off anticipation whether she would be visiting Darjeeling.

HT Image

Though there is no official confirmation, there are strong chances of the chief minister inaugurating the tourist spot at Lamahatta and also taking part in the ongoing Darjeeling Tea and Tourism Festival.

When contacted, district magistrate Saumitra Mohan said, “I have not received any communication from the CM’s office yet regarding her visit to the Hills.”

Sources at Writers’ Buildings said the chief minister will be leaving Kolkata on Wednesday and after attending two important functions at Pundibari in Cooch Behar and another at Nagrakata in the Jalpaiguri District, she may arrive in Darjeeling on December 27 night or 28 morning and depart for Kolkata on December 29.

Mamata during one of her earlier visits, had stopped by Lamahatta, 20km from Darjeeling town and had expressed desire to develop this picturesque hamlet into a tourist destination. Accordingly the tourist department along with the forest department had built cottages and put up tents here. A watchtower, park and a walking trail is also being developed as part of the project.

The tourist spot was to be inaugurated on November 9 in presence of tourism minister Rachpal Singh, forest minister Hiten Barman and North Bengal development minister Gautam Deb.