Siliguri, 20 May (H.S.): Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday announced that he and members of his cabinet would visit North Bengal every month to directly monitor development work and administrative functioning in the region.
Making his first visit to North Bengal after assuming office, the Chief Minister arrived at Bagdogra Airport and greeted residents of the region, thanking them for supporting the Bharatiya Janata Party in the recent Assembly elections.
Addressing the media after landing, Adhikari said the government was committed to maintaining a constant administrative presence in North Bengal. “From now on, the Chief Minister and the cabinet will visit North Bengal every month. We will not come here for tourism, but to work,” he said.
He further announced that North Bengal Development Minister Nisith Pramanik would hold weekly administrative sessions at Uttarkanya, the state’s branch secretariat in Siliguri, to review development projects and hear public grievances.
The Chief Minister later proceeded to Uttarkanya to chair a high-level administrative meeting with MLAs, police officials and senior administrators from five North Bengal districts. According to official sources, the meeting is expected to focus heavily on monsoon preparedness, including flood control, flash floods, landslides and river erosion management.
Discussions are also likely to cover road connectivity, law and order, healthcare infrastructure, issues affecting tea gardens, illegal construction activities and alleged operations of land, sand and stone mafias. The new administration has reportedly adopted a “zero tolerance” policy on organised illegal activities in the region.
A large number of BJP supporters and local residents gathered outside Bagdogra Airport and along the route to welcome the Chief Minister. He was accompanied by Darjeeling MP Raju Bista and North Bengal Development Minister Nisith Pramanik during the visit.
The visit is being viewed as a significant political and administrative outreach initiative by the newly formed state government towards the strategically important North Bengal region.
Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh
