1st cabinet meeting in Darjeeling after 45 yrs

After 45 years the West Bengal State cabinet met at the Raj Bhawan in Darjeeling. From starting a new Secretariat in Darjeeling along with starting a police commissioner ate in Chandannagar many important resolutions were passed at the meeting.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee along with the cabinet members met at the Banquet Hall in the Raj Bhawan in Darjeeling at 2pm on Thursday. Later addressing media persons Banerjee dubbed it a historic day. In 1972 the State Cabinet of the Siddhartha Shanker Ray Government had met in the Durbar Hall of the Darjeeling Raj Bhawan.

"A secretariat will come in Darjeeling in the existing PWD building next to the Circuit House in Darjeeling. It will be named Tenzing Norgay Bhawan after the legendary mountaineer. The next time a cabinet meeting takes place in Darjeeling it will be held here" stated the CM.

Every year 2 cabinet meetings will be held in Darjeeling and 2 in Jungle Mahal the CM said. "Chandannagar in the Hoogly district will become the 6th police commissionerate in West Bengal" stated Banerjee.

The Government has decided to create West Bengal Higher Civil Service (Executive) from amongst talented and meritorious officers of the WBCS to take up higher responsibilities in the Government. "1717 new posts have been created as part of employment generation" stated the CM.

A Chief Electrical branch office will be opened up at Uttarkanya- the secretariat in Jalpaiguri. The CM announced that 8 new State Transport buses will ply between Darjeeling and Mirik.

"A Skill Development Centre will come up in Mirik which will generate employment opportunities for nearly 3,500 youths in the area. There will be campus interviews also from this Centre" stated Banerjee.

When questioned on whether Bengali language will be made compulsory in the Hills, the CM reiterated "Bengali will not be made compulsory in the Hills."