Alipurduar: CM Suvendu Adhikari on Friday announced development plans for Alipurduar, focusing on forests, tourism, tea workers and higher education, hours after the ceremonial release of Buxa’s first reintroduced tigress.“Natural resources were looted during the past regime. It won’t happen anymore. Buxa was a tiger reserve only on paper. But we brought back the tiger here. We will bring three more tigers in the next two months,” Adhikari said at Alipurduar Parade Ground.Adhikari said Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav had asked him to identify around 2,000 acres adjoining the Manas forests for development as a forest tourism destination. The move would help tap the region’s tourism potential and attract visitors from across the world, he said.Yadav later said the previous regime had misused the region’s trees, timber and tourism potential. “We will not let it happen anymore and make both Buxa and Alipurduar world-class tourism destinations,” he said.Adhikari also announced measures for tea workers, saying Rs 312 crore had been secured from the Centre on Thursday for their development.He said he had asked officials to ensure a 20% festival bonus for tea workers, up from 16%, and that Bengal’s tea workers would receive benefits under the Centre’s PM Cha Shramik Yojana for the first time.Linking the tiger reintroduction to tourism, Adhikari said the return of the big cat would boost the region’s economy. “Tigers will roar here during the tenure of Suvendu, Manoj Oraon, Bishal Lama and Shankar Ghosh,” he said.Recalling Alipurduar’s electoral support for BJP, Adhikari promised to develop the district by leveraging its forests, natural resources and cultural heritage. He said he would return on Nov 15 and hold an administrative review meeting soon.He also promised to turn Alipurduar University into a full-fledged university. He added that he will soon visit Totopara, the only village inhabited by members of the endangered Toto tribe.“As announced by our honourable Prime Minister on Sept 17, we will talk less, work more,” Adhikari said.Referring to minister of state Bishal Lama, who was present at the event, Adhikari said Lama had been given responsibility for matters relating to the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration.
