We came, we saw and we acquired!

Is GJM Power still in the High?

GJM to stop NHPC projects in Darjeeling

Siliguri (WB), May 28 (PTI) In a move to pressurise the state and the central governments to concede its demand for separate Gorkhaland state, the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) has decided to stop working of two ongoing power projects in Darjeeling hills worth over Rs 1830 crore from June seven.

Working of Teesta Low Dam projects III and IV would not be allowed to continue and all offices of the National Hydel Power Corporation (NHPC) in the hills would be forced to close down from that day, GJM General Secretary Roshan Giri told PTI over phone.

The Rs 768.92 crore Teesta Low Dam Project III was to be completed by the year end to produce 111 mw of power. The Project IV, costing Rs 1061.38 crore, was scheduled to be completed by September next year and it would have the capacity to produce 132 mw of power, Giri said.

Though these projects were being set up using resources of the hills, they would supply power to the plain areas of the state, he claimed.

NHPC officials could not not be contacted for comment.

During a meeting with a GJM delegation in Kolkata, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on May 22 rejected the demand for a separate Gorkhaland state but gave them an assurance of considering giving furher autonomy to the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC). GJM president Bimal Gurung, however, rejected the proposal and stuck to the statehood demand.

The GJM convenced its central committee meeting tomorrow where Bimal Gurung’s announcement of dissolving the DGHC would be endorsed, Giri said.

The issue of job loss of 1900 DGHC workers would also be discussed, he said.

[PTI UBR SK NN DD 05281319 K 05281323 DEL]

Stalemate in Darjeeling

The two sides agreed to disagree at Thursday’s meeting between the Chief Minister and a delegation of the Darjeeling Gorkha Janamukti Morcha. By all indications, attitudes have hardened and the stalemate shall persist. That Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee would turn down the demand for statehood was only to be expected. But the Chief Minister would do well to assess the mood of hill people, and the extent of support for the GJMM, before reaching peremptory conclusions. Of course, the decision has eventually to be taken by the Centre, but for so long Mr Bhattacharjee continues to rely on inputs from his Urban Development minister he will have only one side of the picture. Does the Chief Minister have an alternative to break the impasse? Quite apparently he doesn’t. Without mentioning the Sixth Schedule specifically, he has expressed a willingness to accord increased autonomy to the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council, now under a government administrator and wilting in the political wilderness after having avoided democratic elections since its inception. Into this political vacuum have stepped in the GJMM and the Gorkha ex-servicemen’s morcha. The Chief Minister’s offer on increased autonomy precisely involves bringing Darjeeling under the Sixth Schedule, a proposal that is now before the parliamentary standing committee, but one that restive agitators have spurned. It is a safe guess that neither the Centre nor the state nor for that matter the present Lok Sabha will risk a decision before the next parliamentary elections. So possible legislation shall be in abeyance for some time yet. With no attempt either by the Centre or the state to work towards an agreeable arrangement, the hills will continue to fester. Waters can only get murkier still if Cooch Behar’s Kamtapuri agitators also throw their hat into the ring. Both the Centre and especially the state have allowed matters to drift. Worse, the hills tell a sad story of neglect, one orchestrated by Kolkata and compounded by continued bumbling as in the matter of allowing protests earlier this month at Siliguri. The portents are more sinister than what the government had to contend with in Nandigram. [The Statesman Editorial]

Today’s Beacon Online Exclusive Wallpaper

Small library in India binds present with the past

By Geeta Sharma-Jensen

Darjeeling, India – It was the time of day when Indians have their late afternoon tea and Americans anticipate cocktails. Below the historic Planters’ Club, where a friend had found us a double room earlier this month, the main road winding through the Himalayan hill town of Darjeeling was loud with shoppers, roadside Romeos and Bollywood pop from someone’s radio.

For an entire evening I’d eyed the glass doors of a small library at the end of a long veranda running the length of the club. Finally, as my cousin simultaneously ordered masala tea and a corkscrew for the bottle of wine in our luggage, I wrapped myself in a shawl and hurried along the faded red jute carpeting of the veranda toward the library.

Creepers twined up the wooden pillars of the porch just as they must have when the club was founded in 1868 for British tea planters and their wives. Mountain mists obscured the tops of peaks, hiding the snowy Kanchenjungha across the way. But in the lowing dark, lights were beginning to twinkle, spilling down the slopes and dimly lighting my way.

The Last King of the Prithivi Narayan Shah Dynasty will be the last King of Nepal

The Last King of Nepal

15 PSs promoted

GANGTOK, May 27: Fifteen Private Secretaries of the State Home Department have been promoted to the post of senior Private Secretary in the scale of Rs. 9000-300-13800 under Sikkim State General Service in an officiating capacity with immediate effect. Their promotion on officiating capacity is subjected to the condition that the officiating promotion shall not confer any right 1′01′ regular promotion and shall not be counted towards seniority. The regular promotion will be made on the recommendation of the Sikkim Public Service Commission.

The 15 PSs are Jit Pd Rai, PKRai, Pempo T Pulger, GP Sharma, S Tenzing Bhutia, PBYonzon, Bharat Rai, SK Pradhan, Prakash Rana, Sherab Chopel Katuk, Devika R Gurung, Dhiraj Pradhan, Pramod Sharma, Tshering Palphun Yongda and MN Dahal.

Khangchendzonga International Trekking concludes

GANGTOK, May 27: A valedictory function of Khangchendzonga International Trekking was held at Soreng Power Guest House yesterday with Minister for the State Tourism Department, RB Subba as the chief guest. Congratulating the department for successfully organising the trekking, the State Tourism Minister informed that tourism has become one of the pivotal money making sectors in the State. More than five lakh tourists came to Sikkim only in the month of May, a healthy comparison to previous years, he added. The minister also urged the people of the districts to focus themselves in tapping both domestic and international visitors in their respective areas.

The ten-day long trekking kicked off on May 3 to May 26 in which 53 international, 102 domestic and 45 guides successfully completed it. The last to complete was the third group of the trekkers comprising of nine members from Arunachal Pradesh. The trekking route started from Soreng as a base camp followed by Barsey, Singalila, Kalijhar, Chewabhanjyang, Uttarey, Dentam and Hee-Bermoik. Impressed with the biodiversity of the State, the secretary of Arunachal Pradesh, Bandana Deori appreciated the new trekking route and added that lot more can be done to explore the new trekking routes in Sikkim.  She too urged the concerned department to make the trekking an annual feature.  Mohamed Ali, one of the trekkers from Canada while addressing the gathering told that the department should concentrate more on publicity worldwide.  Also present were the Zillah Adakshya (West) Chandrakala Subba, Secretary Tourism SBS Bhadauria and others. [Sikkim Express]

Another Limboo youth body formed

GANGTOK, May 27: A new Limboo youth body, Sikkim Limboo Krantikari Sangh’ was formed in a meeting held at Limboo Bhawan here today. A press release of the newly formed body states that the move was prompted following lack of proper youth-oriented ideologies and welfare programmes within the Limboo Youth Association. Stating that the body like the Krantikari Sangh is the need of the hour, the release informs that division within the youth association is a matter of concern. [Sikkim Express]

Is it irresponsible tourism? Tourists complain of fleecing by hoteliers, travel agencies, cabbies

By SAIMON PAUL RAI

GANGTOK, May 25: With tourists coming in hordes to Sikkim at present, travel operators, hoteliers and taxi drivers have been reportedly engaged in charging exorbitant rates. There have been regular complaints from the tourists with regards to tours and travels operators, hotels and taxi drivers charging the former with high rates during the course of their stay in the capital and while going for sight seeing in and around Gangtok.

As per sources, the tourists are charged as high as Rs 7,000 to Rs 8,000 just to visit three points – Tsomgo Lake, Baba Harbhajan Mandir and Nathula.  In addition, the tourists are caught up in a massive traffic jam along the Jawaharlal Nehru Marg at 3rd Mile Police Check Post when the taxi drivers and their vehicles are required to show the requisite road permit to the deployed police personnel in order to visit these places of tourist interest.

Speaking to Police Inspector at 3rd Mile Police Checkpost, Ongmu Bhutia, she stated that the Jawaharlal Nehru Marg has been witnessing a huge traffic jam for the last fortnight. Vehicles plying to Tsomgo Lake and Nathula will have to register at the Checkpost, which opens at 7am till 11am in the morning. However, there have been no complaints from the tourists in terms of ill-disciplined outlook of the taxi drivers.  The PI also said that majority of private vehicles are being used for commercial purpose, plying to Tsomgo and Nathula at regular intervals. “These private chauffeurs often disguise the tourists as family friends or relatives when asked by the concerned authorities at the Checkpost,” it is informed.

Rs 13.22 crore as central assistance to Sikkim under NREGA 2006-08

GANGTOK, May 27: The Ministry of Rural Development has earmarked Rs 6.30 crores in 2007-08 as Central assistance to Sikkim under National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA). In 2006-07, Rs 6.92 was given as Central assistance. Under NREGA, works relating to soil and water conservation, drought proofing, land development, flood protection, rural connectivity and individual sustainable employment are taken up. Upto December, 2007, Rs 9.47 crore had been spent for works under NREGA in the state. 452 works had been taken up in which 154 had been completed and 298 was in progress.

The Act which provides a legal guarantee of 100 days of unskilled wage employment in a year to every rural household is aimed to enhance livelihood and social security to rural people. Enacted in September, 2005 the Act, which was launched in 200 select districts in the country including North District in Sikkim, has been extended to all districts from April this year.

The Act aims at creating durable assets, infrastructure and strengthening the livelihood resource based for rural poor. (A Press Release by Press Information Bureau, Government of Sikkim)

All Sikkim Tamu Buddhist Association forms new central executive committee

GANGTOK, May 27: A new Central Executive Committee of the All Sikkim Gurung (Tamu) Buddhist Association was formed in a meeting held at Sikkim Government College Auditorium on May 25. A press release issued by the general secretary of the association, TB Gurung informs that the committee is constituted by majority for a term of three years with effect from May 25, this year. Binod Gurung from Namchi has been elected the president of the newly-formed committee. The 17-member committee has Sonam Uden Gurung of Dodok as vice president (Women Wing) and Wangchuk Gurung (Lama) and HB Gurung as vice president I and vice president II respectively.

TB Gurung of Sichey is the new general secretary while KB Gurung of Yuksom has been elected the joint secretary of the executive body. Other executive members are Nakul Gurung as treasurer, Santi Gurung as assistant treasurer, Ram Kumar Gurung as language secretary, Mani Kumar Gurung as cultural secretary-I, Sanju Gurung as cultural secretary-II, Subash Gurung as cultural secretary-III, Mohan Gurung as publicity secretary-I, Monika Gurung as publicity secretary-II, Umesh Gurung/Advocate as legal advisor-I, DP Gurung/Advocate as legal Advisor-II and Sabina Gurung/Advocate as legal advisor-III.

Gangtok included in 20 mega destinations by Ministry of Tourism

GANGTOK, May 27: Gangtok has been identified as one of the 20 mega destinations for infrastructure development by the Ministry of Tourism. Under this new initiatives, the Ministry of Tourism will provide financial assistance upto Rs 25 crore for development of a mega destination and Rs 50 crore for a mega circuit. The Ministry of Tourism has taken a policy decision to develop the tourist destinations/circuits of national importance in a holistic and integrated manner. The objective is to ensure that the infrastructure of this mega destination/circuit is developed so that it can cater to future tourist inflows.

For those identified destinations/circuits covered by the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission which include Gangtok, conversion of resources is being ensured so that tourism related infrastructure and urban civic infrastructure compliment each other. Foreign tourist inflows touched the five million mark in 2007 in the country with also a rise in domestic tourism.

The 20 destinations/circuits of national importance have been identified in consultation with the state governments on the basis of data indicating foot falls and potential arrivals. [ A News Release by Press Information Bureau. Government of Sikkim]

Kirat Khambu Rais celebrate Sakewa – Sakewa festival brings together all Sikkimese communities

By SUREN MOHRA

NAMCHI, May 27: The Speaker of the State Legislative Assembly DN Thakarpa today said that Sakewa is not only the festival of the Kirat Khambu Rai but also of all the people living in hilly regions who worship Mother Nature in their day to day life. He was addressing the Sakewa festival as the chief guest here today.
The Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, who was supposed to be present at the festival as the chief guest could not attend as he was in New Delhi.

“In a way, Sakewa has revealed our faith in Nature and our simplicity in life style and food habits,” the Speaker said adding “we should not take this festival as mere enjoyment but should learn to cope with the changing time.”

While stating that the attack on one’s culture, language and tradition can diminish the identity of a community, Mr. Thakarpa maintained that the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) has been tirelessly working to preserve and conserve the tradition and custom of each and every community in the State. He further said that SDF has recognized the local languages which were in the verge of extinction from the Sikkimese society and that the same have been taught in schools.

The Minister of the State Urban Development and Housing Department, DD Bhutia, who was present as the special guest said that Sakewa is the manifestation of the rich culture and the tradition of Sikkim and that one should contribute from the individual level to conserve it for posterity. “We should try and learn from the beauty of this festival as one of the aspects to make Sikkim an exemplary State in the county and world. Since the Government cannot make house to house visits, it is pertinent that educated youth join their hands with us towards the development of the State, he added.

Beating off the heat!

Children take bath in River Rangpo as they seek relief from the scorching heat

Darjeeling civic polls

DARJEELING, May 27: The Darjeeling Municipality by-elections for councillors to ward numbers 18, 16 and 31 will be conducted on 29 June as informed by Mrs Tenzi Bhutia, officer-in-charge, elections. “The official notification for the same will be issued on 29 May and the elections will follow on 29 June,” stated Mrs Bhutia today.

The post of the councillors had remained vacant after Mr Pranay Rai of ward number 18 resigned after being elected as the MLA last year. Mr Passang Bhutia of ward number 31 resigned at the same time while ward number 18 councillor, Mr BB Dewan expired on 1 January this year leaving the post vacant. All three councillors were affiliated to the GNLF.

Nominations are to be filed till 5 June and the date of withdrawal has been fixed on 9 June. [The Statesman]

Madhyamik results

KOLKATA, May 27: It is the last night of tension for the 7,46,194 examinees as the results of this year’s Madhyamik examinations will be finally announced tomorrow after an inordinate delay. Marksheets and certificates have already reached the various camp offices and schools can pick them up after 10 a.m.

No breakthrough in student murder yet

SILIGURI, May 27: After three-days since the abducted Siliguri call centre executive Abhishek Chachan (19) was found dead on 24 May, the police in Siliguri today claimed that they were close to cracking the murder mystery.

The four-member investigative team headed by the DSP Siliguri, Mr Pradeep Dutta, has interrogated at least 10 individuals in the past three days, extracting some vital clues about the murder. According to the SP Darjeeling, Mr Rahul Srivastava: “The police are now looking for two youths, including a female, who are still at large. Both of them are residents of Siliguri,” he said.  The SP, who put off the idea of a formal Press conference on the case today after his juniors opined otherwise, also said, “no professional criminal was involved in the murder,” and “it was the result of an internal feud within the group (of companions)” that Abhishek belonged to. The investigative team, however, is yet to establish the motive behind the crime.

GJMM calls indefinite strike from 7 June

DARJEELING, May 27: The Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha will impose an indefinite strike on the NHPC offices and construction sites in the Darjeeling hills starting 7 June. “We have convened the indefinite strike in view of the negligence of the government in these sites,” said Mr Roshan Giri, general-secretary of the GJMM. As part of the agitation for Gorkhaland, the GJMM had imposed indefinite strike on the payment departments of the telephone exchange and the electricity board, which is still on, depriving the state government and the Centre of crores of Rupees.  “The governments earn a lot of revenue from this region but do not deliver anything. The condition at Twentynine Mile, Twentyseven Mile and Gale Khola where the NHPC sites are located are deplorable,” alleged Mr Giri.

Among the main projects of the NHPC, the Teesta Low Dam Stage III and Stage IV are located along the National Highway 31C. Many inhabitants were evicted from their land to accommodate the projects. “It has been so many years since the project started yet nothing has been done to rehabilitate the people who were evicted,” Mr Giri said. [The Telegraph]

An evening in Darjeeling with music

DARJEELING, May 27: Evenings for tourists in Darjeeling are no longer lonely affairs ever since the hotel owners and the local civic body decided to organise cultural programmes to revive tourism in the hill town. “The tour packages are limited to just taking the tourists around for sight seeing which gets over early and the tourists are left with little to do in the evenings. The programme is meant to entertain them after that,” Mr Sangay Bhutia, president of the Darjeeling Hotel Owners’ Association, said.  People in the Darjeeling hills wind up early and the town goes to sleep with the night still young leaving the place isolated. This season though, the Mall resplendent with lights and buzzing with dance and music has certainly brought to life the otherwise silent evenings of Darjeeling. The Mall (chowrasta) is now seen teeming with tourists deep into the evenings enjoying a variety of cultural dances and songs performed by local artistes. “In addition to the traditional dances of different communities we have the local bands and dancers performing both Nepali and Hindi numbers. The once-in-a-while performances by Prakriti Giri, Karma Sherpa are special treats for all,” Mr Bhutia said.  Moreover the tourists, who refuse to be passive audience, are also seen dancing on the stage, which makes it all the more lively. “This is a refreshing experience as we not only enjoy but also get a glimpse of the Nepali culture,” Shubhra Tandon, a tourist from Delhi, said. For the local residents though, the experience reminds them of the annual carnival in Darjeeling. “It’s been a while since we had such programmes after the carnival. It has brought back the charm of the carnival days,” Darshana Subba, a local resident said.  The political turmoil in the hills had earned the region a lot of negative publicity. “The tourist inflow has certainly increased since the programme was started. The agitation has nothing to do with tourism and the situation is completely peaceful,” Mr Bhutia said. [The Statesman]

‘No impact of recent polls on municipal corporation election’

SILIGURI, May 27:Mr Bikash Ghosh, the mayor, Siliguri municipal corporation, ruled out any impact of the just-concluded panchayat poll on the outcome of the Siliguri Municipal Corporation election slated next year.  In view of the BJP-Trinamul Congress’s good show in the rural polls in Rajgunj block in Jalpaiguri district close to Siliguri, the Opposition predicted a similar drubbing for the Left Front, particularly for the CPI-M, in the coming Siliguri Municipal Corporation elections. Brushing away the Opposition’s claim the Siliguri mayor, said that the Opposition would even find it difficult to manage a foothold in the coming SMC election. “Contrary to its expectations the Left Front would win the election with a thumping majority. The Opposition perhaps does not know how much isolated it is from the common people of Siliguri,” Mr Ghosh affirmed. He further said that the role of the Opposition in the development of the Corporation area was nothing. “The huge development projects being undertaken under the present SMC regime would, of course, pay us rich dividends in electoral terms in next year’s SMC election. The common people are satisfied with our performance and would return us with a huge majority,” he said. [The Statesman]

Hashis out of a courier consignment

SILIGURI, May 27: The Siliguri preventive unit of the Customs department confiscated 3.2 kilograms of hashish from a courier consignment meant for Japan.  The recovery was made last night from the Siliguri branch office of an internationally reputed courier company, located at Sevoke Road in the town.  According to Mr HN Meena, assistant commissioner of the Siliguri Customs preventive unit, the consignment was booked at a cost of Rs 13,000 from Banarhat in the Dooars and was to be delivered to a businessman in Japan. “To deceive the customs/security checks, the banned drug was concealed in between thin metal strips and also in a rectangular container that looks like some Buddhist manuscript. Those were wrapped in cloth and plastic,” Mr Meena said.  No one has been arrested in connection with the incident so far. [The Telegraph]

Sikkim ‘Finger Point’ survey on: Army Chief

NEW DELHI/GANGTOK, May 27: In the backdrop of China laying claim over a tiny border area in Sikkim, India is conducting a survey in the region as part of efforts to revalidate New Delhi’s position. While confirming this, Army Chief Gen Deepak Kapoor today sought to downplay the survey, saying there was nothing unusual about it as “we are carrying out such exercises in other places”.

He said there is no problem between “us and the other side (China)” in the area, called “Finger Point” in north Sikkim. “Within our territory, we can do survey and patrolling as we have been doing it for years,” he told reporters on the sidelines of a seminar on “Technology and Anti-technology Challenges before Defence Forces” organised by the CII.

His comments come days after reports that the government has asked the Survey of India to carry out a fresh survey of the northern plateau in Sikkim using latest methods to validate India’s position.
In exchanges with Beijing, New Delhi has been relying on the 1924 survey of India map of the area. China also claims 2.1 square km area which is referred as “Finger Area”. “Surveys are normal exercises. Surveys along the border are continuing at a lot of places,” Kapoor said.

HIV families in farm class

Siliguri, May 27: In a bid to help HIV positive persons and their families get a steady supply of nutritious food, a four-day workshop on how to raise and maintain a kitchen garden began at Bagdogra today.

In all, 20 HIV positive families are taking part in the workshop, 10 of whom have come from the three hill subdivisions of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong. The training has been organised by the Siliguri branch of the West Bengal Voluntary Health Association with the support of Mennonite Central Committee, an NGO.

“The kitchen garden project will not only provide a steady supply of wholesome and fresh vegetables to the families throughout the year but will also help them generate a surplus that can be sold in the markets. It is a very good scheme,” said Gopal Lama, deputy director of tourism, north Bengal, while inaugurating the workshop.

Dues held up in civic row

By RAJEEV RAVIDAS

Kalimpong, May 27: Contractors and suppliers have become unwitting victims of the impasse in the Kalimpong Municipality over GNLF leader C.K. Kumai’s decision to continue as the chairman.

Yesterday, the civic body was supposed to clear the long-standing dues of the contractors and suppliers, some of whom had taken loans or mortgaged jewellery to complete their projects. However, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, which wants Kumai to step down as chairman, laid siege to the municipality building and did not allow the contractors to collect their payments.

Given the politically sensitive nature of the impasse, no contractor is ready to go on record, except for Raju Chhetri, whose bill has been pending since 2000. “I had taken up lane and drainage construction projects costing Rs 76,000. In the past eight years, I have only been paid about 60 per cent of the amount, that too in instalments,” Chhetri said.