. rt HIGH POWER COMMITTEE FOR DETERMINATION OF TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION OF GTA REPORT 8™ JUNE 2012 ELLA LLfide Pride std LETT TSA PREFACE Siliguri Terai being foot-hills of Himalayas and Dooars known as ‘Door to Bhutan’ have always attracted from ancient days sages, saints, philosophers and poets and also common people including tourists from different parts of the world. Forests, hills, rivers and waterfalls create a totally different ambience. A thing of beauty is a joy forever though out of sight it is never lost. | was also attracted by beauty of nature and its serene atmosphere of Siliguri Terai and Dooars on different occasions. | fondly cherish happy memories of my visits to the aforesaid area. This time, however, duty assigned to me kept myself busy with records, documents, maps, papers and files involving work of different type though serious in nature. | am happy that it has become possible for me to complete the work assigned to me as requested by parties i.e. Government of West Bengal and Gorkha Janmukti Morcha within early June, 2012 which is prior to due time. Before proceeding with the formalities of submission of report on behalf of the High Power Committee that has been constituted to look into the question of identification of additional areas in Siliguri Terai and Dooars that may be transferred to GTA, | must record my deep sense of appreciation and gratitude to Government of India, Government of West Bengal, all official members representing Government of West Bengal, Government of India and the representatives of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha in the High Power Committee and to all who appeared on different occasions before Chairman and HPC for their co-operation and assistance, but for which it would have been difficult to complete the report much earlier than the time schedule. It may be mentioned in this connection that Dr. R.C. Sethi, Addl. Registrar General, Census has taken initiative and endeavour to assist HPC by preparing coloured maps preparing mouza level data which was strictly confidential and was meant only for the purpose of identification of Mouzas. | must acknowledge deep sense of appreciation for the very useful services rendered by officials and staff of my office. Shyamal Kumar SenPEELE LEE EEL LE On 18" July, 2011 a Tripartite Agreement (hereinafter referred to as the ‘said agreement’) was signed and executed between the Government of India, Government of West Bengal and Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (hereinafter referred to GJM). It was, inter alia, provided in the said agreement that an autonomous body by the name of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (hereinafter referred to as the ‘New Body’) be constituted for administration of the areas referred to in the said agreement and whereas it was further provided in the said agreement that a High Power Committee (hereinafter referred to as HPC) for determination of territorial area of New Body) would be formed comprising four representatives of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM). three representatives of the State Government (one from the Home Department; the District Magistrate, Darjeeling; the District Magistrate, Jalpaiguri); the Director of Census Operations representing Government of India, apart from the Chairman of the Committee to be appointed by the State Government. The Chairperson of the Board of Administrators, DGHC will be the convenor of this Committee. The Committee would look into the question of identification of additional areas in Siliguri Terai and Dooars that may be transferred to the New Body, having regard to their compactness, contiguity, homogeneity, ground level situation and other relevant factors. The Committee would be expected to give its recommendations within a short period, preferably within six months of its constitution. A copy of the aforesaid Agreement is annexed hereto and marked ‘A’,