Siliguri, May 30: Implementation of civic schemes in the hills — and not the dissolution of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) — tops the Bengal government’s priority list.

After a meeting with representatives of the three municipalities of Kurseong, Kalimpong and Mirik at the circuit house here this afternoon, urban development minister Asok Bhattacharya said: “We are not contemplating dissolving the DGHC or tabling the Sixth Schedule bill in Parliament. Right now, our focus is on completing the pending schemes and implementing some new ones that can improve civic facilities in hill towns.”

Representatives of the Darjeeling Municipality had, however, stayed away from the meeting because of by-elections in three wards on June 13. Bhattacharya said he would meet civic officials of the hill town after the polls.

On the outcome of the meeting, the minister said: “There is a stalemate in the Kalimpong Municipality. Because of this, all civic services stopped. An administrative inquiry has been ordered by the district magistrate to look into the charges of corruption brought against the board. We will take steps if these charges are proved and, if necessary, the director of local bodies could be sent for investigation. The board, however, cannot be dissolved right now.”

The department will take up drinking water schemes for Kalimpong, Mirik and Kurseong civic bodies by spending Rs 3 crore, Rs 1.5 crore and Rs 55 crore respectively.

“For the drinking water scheme at Mirik, the funds were released to the DGHC. Today, we have decided to take back the money from them and ask the municipal engineering directorate to execute the project,” Bhattacharya said.

“The Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority will do the beautification of Mirik Lake entirely, instead of the earlier arrangement of sharing the work with the DGHC. The work of de-silting the water body has already begun,” Bhattacharya said.

On solid waste management, the state government has disbursed Rs 18 lakh out of the Rs 55 lakh sanctioned for Mirik. The minister said Rs 12 crore would be given to the Kurseong Municipality for a comprehensive sewerage system, which was damaged by landslides. “A proposal to build an indoor stadium in Kurseong on a plot of land of the state food and supplies department will be taken up with officials in Calcutta.”

Asked about the ongoing movement of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, the minister said: “The chairmen and officials of the municipalities have assured me of all help to execute the projects.”