Meeting deliberates on rehab of landslide-hit people in Mirik

DARJEELING: The displaced villagers of Mirik, which bore the brunt of June 30 midnight landslide in Darjeeling Hills, would be rehabilited across tea gardens between August and December this year, a round-table meeting of GTA officials and five tea garden representatives decided.

"It has been decided that the displaced villagers will be rehabilitated across the gardens between August and December. We are in the process of identifying plain land within the estates for the settlements. Colonies will be constructed at the five tea gardens since all the 90 families cannot be accommodated at the same spot," GTA President from Soureni (under Mirik) Arun Sigchi said.

Representatives of five adjoining tea gardens -- Singbulli, Soureni, Phuguri, Ghayabari, and Tingling -- took part in the deliberations at the manager's bungalow yesterday,

The meeting further decided to facilitate allotment of land for the survivors and their transfer by the end of this year, Sigchi said.

He said while around two-three acres land will be earmarked in each of the five tea gardens, the funds will be borne by the Centre, state and GTA collectively.

The construction will begin after monsoon is over.

"The houses cannot be built till the September, However, we aim to complete the shift by December. The transfer would be done in three phases. First, those who have lost their homes would be accommodated at the new location," he said.

"Next, those whose homes have been partially damaged will be shifted. And in the third and final phase, the rest will move," the GTA official informed.