Decks have been cleared for the setting up of a Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) with the Union home ministry receiving the presidential assent to the GTA Bill on Wednesday. The home ministry has communicated the development to the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government which will now pave the way for the formation of a new hill council through a gazette notification.
The Centre’s missive came only a day after the Congress’ Assembly poll debacle, triggering speculation that now the UPA II was under compulsion to keep the second largest constituent in good humour.
Ms Banerjee must have felt elated at the development. However, her joy may prove to be shortlived because there still is a major stumbling block in the path of its implementation. Although the GJM welcomed the presidential assent, but it puts the onus of finding “the ways and means” of implementing it on the state government. Government sources said that the contentious issue of granting forest rights to the council has also been left to the discretion of the state government. The GJM has been pressing for inclusion of reserve forests in the GTA. Moreover, government sources on Wednesday said that the controversial issue of inclusion of “added territories” of Terai and Dooars in the GTA is being examined seperately by a high-level committee and any decision on it would come only later. GJM general secretary Roshan Giri, however, has made it clear that they would not participate in the election unless the state government evolved a mechanism.