Kolkata, 23 July (H.S.): North Bengal Development Minister Nishith Pramanik on Thursday alleged in the West Bengal Assembly that the North Bengal Development Department had become a hub of corruption during the previous Trinamool Congress (TMC) government. He said the present government has blacklisted 122 agencies for irregularities and warned that corruption would not be tolerated under any circumstances.

The minister said strict action had been taken against agencies involved in malpractice, with several firms being issued show-cause notices and many others blacklisted. He asserted that there would be no place for corrupt individuals or agencies in the department.

Announcing a series of development initiatives for North Bengal, Pramanik said development would no longer be confined to a few districts or Assembly constituencies but would be carried out uniformly across the region.

Among the major announcements, he said 100 tourist information centres would be established across North Bengal, equipped with food plazas, homestay facilities and tourist assistance services. The government also plans to develop multiple India-Bangladesh land ports and construct indoor stadiums in every district.

To ease traffic congestion in the hill regions, the minister announced the introduction of hydraulic vehicle parking systems, similar to those used in several foreign countries. He said the project would significantly improve convenience for tourists and local residents.

Pramanik also announced a single-window clearance system for film production houses seeking to shoot in North Bengal, making it easier to obtain necessary permissions.

Criticising the previous government, the minister alleged that less than one-third of the budget allocated for North Bengal's development was actually spent. He assured the House that the current government would fully utilise the entire budget earmarked for the region's development.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey