Poor response to East-West Corridor bandh call in Dooars

Siliguri, Oct 11 (UNI) The 24-hour Dooars bandh called by Dooars East-West Corridor Movement Committee (DEWCMC) demanding follow up of orginial route desinged by NHAI evoked little response in the region.

The DEWCMC was opposing the Centre's new alignment of East-West Corridor- from Silchar in Asom to Porbandar in Gujarat- avoiding core jungle areas of the Dooars after environmentalists vehemently protested the original route through this part of north Bengal.

While the DEWCMC was demanding the original alignment of NH 31 NH 31C (Siliguri, Sevok, Odlabari, Malbazar, Nagrakata, Banarhat, Birpara, Sisubari, Hasimara, Damanpur, Salsabari and Sankosh to Silchar in Asom. But the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) was compelled to put the project on hold following protests from environmentalists and many NGOs.

The naturalists say the original corridor, if implemented, would destroy major parts of some national parks, home of many endangered species, including the Royal Bengal tiger.

The NHAI was looking for an alternative route through Fulbari, Jalpaiguri, Dhupguri, Mainaguri, Fallakatta, Pundibari, Toofanjunge to Asom, which avoids core jungle areas.

Controversy over the route, over 100 kms, of East-West Corridor in this part of West Bengal has been affecting the mega project for some years now.

Barring some agitation and rally the DEWCMC sponsored bandh from Siliguri in Darjeeling district to Barovisa in Jalpaiguri district had hardly affected normal life in the region.

UNI XC PC VD KP1636