Kolkata, 08 September (H.S.) : The West Bengal government on Tuesday appointed Smritiranjan Mohanty as the administrator of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA). Mohanty was serving as the GTA secretary and will now oversee the functioning of the autonomous body responsible for civic and development affairs in the hill areas of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong.

According to a gazette notification issued by the state government, Mohanty will continue as the GTA administrator until elections to the autonomous body are held and a new elected board assumes office.

According to sources at the state secretariat Nabanna, the appointment follows the resignation of the previous GTA board, which was led by the Trinamool Congress-backed Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM). The board's key office-bearers resigned in June amid allegations of financial irregularities in its functioning.

BGPM founder Anit Thapa was the first to step down as the GTA Chief Executive. GTA chairperson Anjul Chauhan and vice-chairperson Rajesh Chauhan subsequently resigned from their respective posts.

Political activity in the hills had already intensified over allegations of financial irregularities in the GTA. At a public meeting in Kurseong in June, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari had raised allegations of corruption in the functioning of the autonomous body. He had particularly referred to alleged irregularities in the recruitment of teachers in schools run by the GTA.

The Chief Minister had said that his government would identify those responsible for the alleged irregularities and initiate legal action against them. Two days later, Thapa resigned as GTA Chief Executive.

More than two months after Thapa's resignation, the absence of a full-fledged elected leadership in the GTA had raised concerns over the administration of the hill areas and the delivery of civic services.

A state government official said the appointment of an administrator had been made in the public interest to ensure the smooth functioning of the GTA's administrative affairs and development activities until a newly elected board takes charge.

The appointment comes as Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari is scheduled to visit Kalimpong and Siliguri in north Bengal on Tuesday.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh