In a significant political development ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections, Kurseong’s ‘rebel’ BJP MLA Bishnu Prasad Sharma joined the Trinamul Congress on Thursday, marking a fresh shift in the political landscape of the Darjeeling hills.
In a significant boost to forest governance and environmental education, the Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM), an autonomous institution under the central government, is set to establish its second campus in West Bengal, at Kurseong in the Darjeeling hills.
Raising concerns over solid waste management in the Darjeeling hills, Terai and Dooars, Darjeeling MP Raju Bista questioned the Union government in Parliament during the ongoing session, seeking clarity on fund allocation and utilisation under the Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban (SBM-U).
A fresh wave of political expectation has swept through the Darjeeling Hills after the Centre appointed former deputy National Security Adviser and retired IPS officer Pankaj Kumar Singh as the interlocutor for the Darjeeling Hills, Terai, and Dooars region.
A high-level meeting was held in Siliguri on Sunday with leaders and representatives of various tea trade unions from the Darjeeling Hills, Terai, Dooars, and across North Bengal to deliberate on the worsening condition of tea and cinchona plantation workers.
A high-level meeting was held in Siliguri on Sunday with leaders and representatives of various tea trade unions from the Darjeeling Hills, Terai, Dooars, and across North Bengal to deliberate on the worsening condition of tea and cinchona plantation workers.
Amid ongoing protests by a section of tea workers in Darjeeling Hills, who have halted plucking of green leaves over pending bonus payments, labour minister Moloy Ghatak has stepped in to resolve the crisis. He has called for a meeting on 3 April in Siliguri to address the issue.
Emotions ran high in the Darjeeling Hills today as Ajoy Edwards, chief coordinator of the Indian Gorkha Janshakti Front (IGJF), appealed to the Hill people for support in demanding justice for his party leader, Prakash Gurung.
Darjeeling MP Raju Bista underscored the critical role of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) in safeguarding the Darjeeling Hills, Terai, and Dooars, which include the strategically significant “Chicken Neck” region of India.
At least 10 tea gardens in Darjeeling Hills have been completely shut down, with more closures likely if the ongoing agitation continues. Workers are demanding an additional 4 per cent bonus, despite the state government's advisory to pay a 16 per cent bonus.
