Hill Municipalities' issues: GTA's Anit Thapa meets Firhad Hakim

Darjeeling: The Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) on Tuesday approached the Bengal Government with issues pertaining to the Hill Municipalities.

Anit Thapa, Vice Chairman, GTA Board of Administrators is at present in Kolkata meeting various ministers over different Hill issues.

On Tuesday, Thapa met Municipal Affairs Minister Firhad Hakim in Kolkata and apprised him of the difficulties faced by the Hill Municipalities.

Incidentally, out of the 4 Hill municipalities, namely Darjeeling, Kurseong, Mirik and Kalimpong, except for the Mirik Municipality the other 3 are run by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha. The Mirik municipality had a Trinamool Congress board.

Thapa apprised the Municipal Affairs Minister of the acute water shortage faced by Kalimpong town.

"I have requested the Minister for an early and permanent solution to the water problem in Kalimpong" added Thapa.

Along with this Thapa stressed on the need for rain water harvesting projects for the Darjeeling town. "Rain water harvesting to a great extent can improve the water crisis situation in Darjeeling" added Thapa.

The GTA Vice Chairman requested for funds for the Darjeeling Municipality to carry out rain water harvesting projects.

Along with this developmental projects were discussed for all the four Hill Municipalities with stress areas being water and waste management (both solid and liquid).