Darjeeling tripartite pact on Gorkha demands signed

Darjeeling, July 18 (ANI): The Centre, West Bengal government and Gorkha Janmukti Morcha on Monday signed the tripartite agreement paving way for creation of autonomous elected hill council, the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA).

The agreement signed in the presence of Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

The agreement will create an elected autonomous body for the administration for the three hill sub-divisions of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong.

The GTA will be armed with more powers compared to the older Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council, formed in 1988.

The GTA will have full control over Tourism, Agriculture and Public Health. It will also have full control over the school and college teachers' commissions which deal with appointments.

The GTA will get a special financial package of Rs. 600 crore from the Centre over three years for development of hill regions.

Earlier, Mamata Banerjee hoped the signing of the pact would usher in peace in the hills and said a few vested interests were spreading a false campaign to disrupt the process.

A renewed demand for a separate Gorkhaland region, which would include Darjeeling and some contiguous areas of Jalpaiguri District, has created fresh turmoil over the past few months.

The Gorkha population in West Bengal estimated to be around a million has been demanding a separate state. (ANI)