North Bengal Gets Major Development Push as CM Suvendu Adhikari Chairs First High-Level Review Meeting

Siliguri, May 20: Hon’ble Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday chaired the first high-level administrative review meeting for the five districts of North Bengal — Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar and Cooch Behar — signalling a major governance and development push for the region. The meeting, held at Uttarkanya in Siliguri, was attended by the Hon’ble Speaker of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, State Cabinet Ministers, Members of Parliament, Members of the Legislative Assembly, the Chief Secretary, Director General of Police, District Magistrates, senior police officials and other top administrative officers. During the meeting, the Chief Minister stressed the need to restore the rule of law and ensure a “fear-free atmosphere” across North Bengal. He directed the administration to strengthen coordination between civil administration, police authorities and elected representatives to ensure responsive and accountable governance. In a major announcement focused on women’s welfare, the Chief Minister said the state government will launch the Annapurna Yojana from next month, under which women beneficiaries will receive ₹3,000 per month along with free bus travel facilities. The Chief Minister also instructed officials to prioritise improvements in healthcare infrastructure, strengthen the education sector and accelerate development in border areas. He further announced that several welfare initiatives, including the 125-day guaranteed rural employment programme under the G-RAM-G scheme, will soon be implemented in North Bengal. A detailed review of pending No Objection Certificates (NOCs) related to Centrally Funded Projects was also ordered during the meeting. The Chief Minister alleged that several public welfare projects were delayed under the previous administration due to pending clearances. The state government will additionally undertake a comprehensive review of the tea industry in North Bengal, including ownership patterns of tea gardens and alleged irregularities in schemes such as the “Cha Shramik Yojana.” Protecting the rights of tea garden workers and reviving the tea sector were identified as key priorities of the BJP-led government. The meeting also discussed alleged corruption in the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration and several municipalities in the region, including the Siliguri Municipal Corporation. The Chief Minister stated that these allegations would be thoroughly investigated. Among other major decisions, priority will be given to expediting border fencing projects and promoting the language, culture and traditions of different communities residing in North Bengal. To ensure regular monitoring of development work, the Chief Minister directed that the North Bengal Development Department will conduct weekly review meetings at Uttarkanya. He also announced that he will personally visit North Bengal every month to oversee progress and administrative coordination. The meeting concluded with the BJP government reaffirming its commitment towards the development and transformation of the Darjeeling Hills, Terai, Dooars and the entire North Bengal region.

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