The Governor's office faxed an order to the GTA and the Darjeeling district administration apprising the state government's decision to upgrade the post of the Chief Executive of the GTA to the rank of a minister in the West Bengal government, the source said.
The government has also upgraded the post of GTA deputy chief executive Col (retd) Ramesh Allay to the rank of a West Bengal minister of state and that of the GTA Sabha chairman Pradeep Pradhan to the rank of a deputy minister of the state government, the source said.
Fourteen executive members of the GTA have also been upgraded and given the rank of secretaries to the state government.
"It is a protocol status that has been given to us by the state government as we did not have any so far in spite of being GTA members. This is a welcome decision," said one of the executive members of GTA on condition of anonymity.
"The GTA was formed in July 18, 2011. However, the GTA members including the chief executive were sworn in by Bengal chief minister Mamata Benerjee in August this year in a ceremony in Darjeeling.
Presently, there are 50 members in the GTA of which 45 are elected, while five have been nominated by the Governor.
