Himalayan Times (1952)

Six vTim.o July 0, 1952

DEVELOPMENT PROJECT AND THE DISTRICT OF DARJEELING

RUDRA MANI PRADHAN, Std I. C. S. (Hydroelec.)

The Prime Minister of India, Sri Nehrujeo,
during his last tour of this area, in the closing
of his public speech in Kahmpong meaningly
mentioned something about the Government of
India's Draft Five year plan, and he also men-
tioned that with the co-operation of the different
states, and of the Public something‘concrete would
be shaped out of the ‘Draft Plan* for the gene-
ral upliftment of India and her teaming millions.

In concurrence with this Draft Five Year
Plan and as the Government of West Bengal have
also tuken up certain projects in hand, and they
are preparing further plans and community-Projects
for execution with a view to develop the State
for the benefit of its people. In the recent address
to the Joint Session, our popular Governor H.E.
Dr. H. 0. Mookerjte surveyed the Development
Programme of tho Govt, of West Bengal in detail,
and revealed many interesting featmes on the work
ahead of the new Houses. It was interesting to
know about the creation of a new Development
Department which is to function as a Co-ordinal ing
agency for all development schemes and projects
in the State.

All responsible administrators, any student of
Planning and Development, any student of Economic
problems of a place would heartily support the
idea of further economic development of a place
in general, and of development of a place of
reasonable importance in particular. The District
of Darjeeling, faced with many such resonablo
important factors, and having a good deal of
potentialities need a well balanced development
plan and its eilicient and early implementation-
More careful and a little special handling of these
problems are necessary as the problems and then-
approaches are somewhat peculiar to this area.

Inspite of the fact that this District is consu-
ming proportionately a higher share of amount
from provincial Budget, the District does need
more and more of money for further and proper
development so that this vulnerable wedge is not
left a weak limb of entire body of State. It is
no denying tho fact that the Government is wide
awake to these problems, but it seems it is now
time that the people of the District and those of
the Upper Bengal should also come forward to
help tho Government carry out tjieir programmes
by helping the Government with concrete and

useful suggestions as to how best and economically
such Development Projects should be formulated
and implemented so that this District and the
Upper Bengal could also march ahead balancedly
with the rest of the State where works on
Development Projects have already been or are
being carried out.

Both Basie and composite types of community
projects are necossery in the District of Darjeeling
but in view of the difficulties that exist in tho
Hill Area more of Basic Type of community-
projects would be useful and necessary in tho
District. There is however, a scope and urgent
necessity for ono composite Type of community
Project in Siliguri Sub-Division and the existing
congested and ill-planned town of Siliguri is a
very promising site for such a Composite Type
of Community Proj»et in L’ppci Bengal. There
are already eight such community projects in West
Bengal mostlv in t he lower regions of West
Bengal.

Tho several advantages and benefits of such projects
need not be enumerated here. The District of
Darjeeling, and specially the Sub-Division of
Kalimpong needs more and more of zeepable roads ;
more stress in Environmental Sanitation is neces-
sary so that instead of tackling the curative side
of the ailments we could go to tho very root of
ailments—the preventive side.

For rll these projects, ofcourse finance is neces-
sary. India is proposing to add up a good many
crore of rupees to the fund that has been received
from the U. S. A. in the Indo-American Technical
Aid Agreemnet. The Ford Foundation of America
is also proposing to help India with a good amount
of finance and technical help. All the States are
being alloted proportionate fund and, it is hoped
that out of this fund some share will be allocated
to this side of the State also.

The District and tho vecinity including the
Eastern Dooars now already under useful tea and
other Industries, will require about 1,00,000 KW oi
electric energy and there is a scope of obtaining
this requirement from rain-fed and glacial-rivers
of the District. ‘ The future economic development
of the District will depend much on what hydro-
electric power production can bo undertaken. There
can be no doubt that a forward policy of hydro-
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