The Hindu : National : No plan to set up SRC: Pranab

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No plan to set up SRC: Pranab

Special Correspondent

KOLKATA: The Centre has no immediate plans of setting up a second State Reorganisation Commission (SRC), External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said here on Sunday.

The reports of such a move were creating confusion in various circles, and were all “in the imagination.” “ No such move is being contemplated by the Centre”, he added.

Mr. Mukherjee’s comments came days after celebrations in the Darjeeling hills by those demanding a separate State of Gorkhaland who claimed that a second State Reorganisation Commission is on the verge of being constituted.

The Centre had “never” spoken about setting up a second SRC, Mr. Mukherjee said after a meeting with leaders of different political parties. No Trinamool Congress member was present.

“The earlier government [at the Centre] too had opposed in writing the setting up of a second Commission,” he said.

He spoke of the Centre’s move to grant Sixth Schedule status to the Darjeeling hills, adding that Bills seeking the necessary amendments to legislation relating to the Sixth Schedule that will pave the way for the setting up of a new hill council in the region had been placed for endorsement by Parliament in the winter session.

The Sixth Schedule status will pave the way for the setting up of a new hill council in the region.

The Bills had been referred to a parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs , and “as soon as a report is made available by the committee, we will take a decision,” Mr. Mukherjee said.

“Relief not adequate”

On the re-opening of tea gardens in north Bengal, he said though relief was being provided to the workers of 14 estates in the region by both the State and Central governments, “this is not adequate.”

“There is a need to re-open these units, and the Indian Tea Board has submitted a package for their revival,” he added.

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