A BJP MLA has demanded the formation of Shivmandir and Bagdogra municipalities encompassing areas near Siliguri.
Anandamay Barman, the MLA of Matigara-Naxalbari, an Assembly constituency comprising the Matigara and Naxalbari blocks of the Siliguri subdivision, sent a letter to the effect to state urban development and municipal affairs minister Firhad Hakim
on Saturday.
The MLA said two civic bodies — Shivmandir and Bagdogra — needed to be formed to provide civic amenities to around eight lakh people.
“In the past two decades, the Matigara block and parts of Naxalbari block, especially Bagdogra and its surroundings, have undergone rapid urbanisation. Panchayats can’t provide civic amenities to the people. That is why we need two new civic bodies here and I hope the minister concerned will take necessary steps in this regard,” said Barman.
He said around five lakh people live in Matigara block, which is spread across around 100sqkm.
“We also want a municipality covering Bagdogra and its surroundings which are spread over 50sqkm. Around three lakh people live in these areas and do not get proper civic services, ranging from conservancy to water supply,” the MLA added.
Barman said in his letter that around 1,000 new buildings — residential apartments and commercial complexes — had come up in those areas over the past 15-20 years. Added to it, the Uttarayon, Uttora, Himachal Bihar and Utshodhara townships are in the area.
Residents have also lent support to the demand. “We have several hotels, shopping malls, the City Centre, automobile showrooms and clubs. The Matigara block also has establishments like North Bengal Medical College and Hospital, the Noth Bengal University and many other educational institutions,” said Rajendra Saha, a resident of Shivmandir.
Some others pointed out that in north Bengal, there are municipalities with
areas much smaller than the area for the proposed civic bodies. Also, the population in the Matigara block and parts of the Naxalbari block is much higher than these civic bodies.
