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Bengal

GNLF to form disaster management panel to deal with calamities

Darjeeling: The Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) has decided to devote their time to social issues more than politics. The political party has constituted a Disaster Management Committee (DMC) to help the district administration during calamities.

"Darjeeling is prone to landslides and earthquakes. It falls in the fourth seismic zone. Most of the landslides occur in rural far flung areas and tea gardens. In such times road communication gets badly affected. Our units will be from these areas and hence will be able to launch prompt relief and rescue operations. They will work in unison with the district administration and the local social organizations," stated Praveen Zimba, Convenor of the DMC.

The DMC will be approaching all political and social organizations to send in volunteers. "The volunteers will be trained in relief and rescue in a two day long workshop," added Zimba.

A 20-member team will be meeting the District Magistrate, Darjeeling on Wednesday to discuss as to how the DMC can aid the administration in times of emergency.

"We will also meet the Municipal authorities as the Block Development Officers. As of now the DMC will function in the Darjeeling sub division. Teams will be developed in all vulnerable areas like Rimbik- Lhodhama, Bijanbari," stated Zimba.

Tarpaulins are very important for monsoons in the Hills. "The MLA has a quota of 500 tarpaulins every year. The MLA can send in requisitions for more. Even the Municipalities and the Block Development Offices get their quota of tarpaulins to be distributed as relief," said Zimba.

The Convenor stated that in the past the relief clothes coming to the Hills were same as the plains and would not serve the purpose. "Sarees and dhotis are not of much use in the Hills. This time we have heard that track pants and sweaters will be sent as relief material," he added.

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