Hemlata Pradhan – emerging luminary

FROM BOTANICAL ART

Hemlata Pradhan is a gifted Botanical Illustrator, who paints Orchids and other plants and immortalizes them on paper. She was born on 3 December 1974, in Kalimpong, Darjeeling District, West Bengal into a family already renowned in the horticultural circles nationally and internationally. After her schooling at St. Joseph’s Covent and then later on at Dr. Graham’s Homes, Kalimpong, she went on to pursue her dreams in the world of painting, completing her B.Fine Arts (Hons) Graphics, from Kala Bhavan, Viswa Bharati, Shantiniketan,
West Bengal in 1998.

She then did her Diploma in Botanical Illustration with distinction from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, England through scholarship from the Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation, Canada. In the year 2000, she was sponsored by the Association of Commonwealth Universities, London, U.K. to do her Master’s in Natural History Illustration and Ecological Studies from the Royal College of Art, London, U.K. She is the winner of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Gold Medal as well as the 18th world Orchid Conference Gold Medal for her paintings of Indian Jewel Orchids and the Indian Wild Orchids in habitat.
Most of her works are housed at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, England.

Hemlata’s commissions have included painting a set of 6 postage stamps for the country of Bhutan to celebrate the ‘International Year of the Mountains’ and the Third Meeting of the Indian sub-Continent Regional Orchid Specialist Group-IUCN/SSC, and illustrations for numerous botanists, including cover illustrations for books like the ‘Orchids of Bhutan’ by Dr. Phillip J. Cribb and Dr. Nicholas Pearce, Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, UK and line illustrations for”Hundred Beautiful Himalayan Orchids and How to grow them” by Mr. Udai C. Pradhan and Satyam C. Pradhan, Kalimpong, Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council, West Bengal, India.
Hemlata is currently working as a Freelance Botanical Illustrator.

She is passionate about the conservation of endangered Orchids and other Indian plants.

At present, she is deeply involved in setting up a Natural History Art Institute in Kalimpong, District Darjeeling, West Bengal, and getting Natural History Illustration recognition as a Fine Art subject in India. She is the First Honorary Secretary and Member of the ISROSG- Indian Sub-Continent Regional Orchid Specialist Group of the IUCN-International Union for conservation of Nature and Natural Resources/SSC-Species Survival Commission and the Trustee President of the Himalayan Trust for Natural History Art, Kalimpong, Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council, West Bengal, India.  She has also been recently chosen as member of the Education Committee of the Orchid Specialist Group-IUCN/SSC.

“My aim is to highlight India’s Wild Orchids and other plants in Nature to bring about
an awareness of what we are unwittingly loosing so that it can compliment and enhance
the crusade to save these wonderful heritage of our planet.”

ARMY LETS WOMEN BE SOLDIERS FOR LIFE

FROM HINDUSTAN TIMES

BY RAHUL SINGH

WOMEN are all set to turn career soldiers.

INDIAN WOMEN are all set to turn career soldiers. Breaking a 300-year-old tradition, the armed forces have agreed “in principle” to secure their careers by granting them permanent commission – but without combat duties.

The move comes after HT carried a series of reports highlight- ing the gender bias in the forces and triggered a de- bate. It will finally give women offi- cers their rightful place in a male- dominated military culture, some 15 years after they were allowed into the armed forces

The move comes after HT carried a series of reports highlighting the gender bias in the forces and triggered a debate. It will finally give women officers their rightful place in a maledominated military culture, some 15 years after they were allowed into the armed forces.

Air Marshal Sumit Mukerji, Air Officer-in-charge Personnel, said on Tuesda “The COSC (chiefs of staff committee) is fine-tuning modalities and identifying the non combat arms taht women officers could be assigned to.”

Permanent commission will allow lady officers to climb command echelons and assume higher responsibilities, a priveklege that did not come with their limited tenure ranging from 5 to 14 years (outside the Army Medical Corp).

With this, the National Defence Academy and other service-specific training in stitutions will no longer be the exclusive domain of male cadets. Mukerji did not rule out the possibility of the NDA, the crad1e of military leadership, churning out an all-women batch if they outperform the boys in the entrance exam and interviews.

The Financial Express Editorial

The uglier-by-the-day identity politics around the issue of land transfer to the Amarnath Shrine Board is a challenging enough job for the political class, which meets today in an all-party meeting.

There’s a sub-story, however, that demands attention as well-the notion among agitationists of any variety that national highways are just political playthings, and the government’s evident incapacity to do anything about it. News reports suggest that businesses in J&K have already suffered losses of over Rs 2,840 crore following the blockade of the Jammu-Srinagar highway, the main road connecting the Kashmir valley with the rest of India.

More specifically, much damage has been done to trade in perishable agricultural/horticultural goods-business in fruits and flowers is the largest after tourism in Kashmir and is the mainstay of a significant part of the population. The road blockade, far from forcing a solution to the political problem, also affects the state’s economy.

***Protestors demanding a separate Gorkhaland had recently blockaded the main Siliguri-Darjeeling-Gangtok highway, cutting off Darjeeling and Sikkim from the rest of the country.

Foreign flavour upsets Indians

FROM HINDUSTAN TIMES

By Abhijeet Kulkarni

Hyderabad: INDIA COACH Bob Houghton made no qualms about the fact that he would have liked to play skipper Bhaichung Bhutia as less as possible in the group stage to keep him fresh for the knockout games of the AFC Challenge Cup.

The Englishman kept the veteran out of the starting XI against Tajikistan in the second group game and brought in Sushil Kumar Singh. But with the Mahindra United player unable to make inroads, the coach had to fall back on his most trusted lieutenant.

While Sushil came in for a lot of flak in the post-match media briefing, Houghton defended the 23-year-old, saying it was lack of exposure that was hurting the player. “Apart from Bhaichung and (Sunil) Chhetri there is no Indian striker who gets a regular start in any of the clubs.

“We have Sushil and Abhishek (Yaday) in the squad who hardly get to play for their clubs. The other boy, Tarif (Ahmed), whom we had to send back, has the same problem,” said the coach.

Sushil and Tarif played for Mahindra United last season while Yaday was part of second division side Mumbai FC. Apart from Bhutia and Chhetri, the only Indian striker to get a regular start in the inaugural edition of the I-League was Samson Singh of Air India.

It was precisely for this reason that former India coach Stephen Constantine had advocated a ban on foreign players in the National Football League.

Yaday, who used to team up with Bhutia under Constantine, said the lack of matches affects confidence, no matter how hard one trains. “My best performance for India came when David Booth was the coach of Mahindra United. I got many starts and once in an AFC Cup game when we were down to 10 men, he went to the extent of substituting the foreign recruit, keeping me on,” said Yaday. The tall striker points out that every team has about four strikers in the squad and when two of them are foreigners, there is very little chance for Indians.

“When you get a chance after a long time you are afraid to experiment and your growth stops,” Yaday added.

Sushil echoed the point saying that against Tajikistan, he was struggling for rhythm.

Identical Bridges built by George Patrick Robertson

Photos by Ally McGurk

A bridge built by George Patrick Robertson over the Victoria Falls in Darjeeling

An identical bridge built by Robertson at another ‘unknown’ location

The Robertsons and Darjeeling – A photo feature by Miss Ally McGurk

ALL PHOTOS BY ALLY MCGURK

ALL MCGURK IS THE ONLY GRANDCHILD OF GEORGE PATRICK ROBERTSON

SHE ALONG WITH HER SONS ARE THE ONLY LIVING DESCENDANTS OF GEORGE PATRICK ROBERSTON, ONE OF THE FOUNDING FATHERS OF DARJEELING HILLS. IT IS AN HONOUR FOR THE HIMALAYAN BEACON TO HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO HAVE ALLY MCGURK ON OUR FORUM

George Patrick Robertson [Undated]

Struan Lodge as seen from Mount Pleasant Road [Mount Pleasant Road is now known as H.D. Lama Road]

Photo dated 1940

George Patrick Robertson during his early days in Darjeeling [Undated]

Allison Robertson was George’s first child. [Undated]

Ally writes, “A delightful little girl named after her mother, she was always lovingly known as ‘Llison. Sadly, she was never a strong child, and died of diphtheria at the age of about 5. My grandmother [George Patrick Roberson] was heartbroken and put all the little girl’s toys and other memorabilia away in a box, known for 3 generations of the family simply as ‘Llison’s Box. No-one was allowed to open it. Eventually, of course, I did, and found tiny china cups and saucers carefully wrapped in tissue paper, and various other delicate little toys and playthings. There are very few photos of the unfortunate child, but the one above, wearing a solar topee and being conveyed by a rather fine driver in a very posh carriage is very wonderful.”

Struan Lodge was built by George Patrick Robertson. George was then the Municipal Engineer in Darjeeling and it was his responsibility to design and building the infrastructure in the Hills.

This photo dated around 1910 during the winters show heavy snowfall. Darjeeling in those days used to have very heavy and regular snowfalls.

The Scot’s Church in Darjeeling. Photo around 1914

George Patrick Robertson’s wife, Allison and his two daughters Margaret Struan Robertson and Margaret Struan Robertson. [Undated]

George Patrick Robertson during his early days in Darjeeling with his distinctive Gorkha styled Coat.

George Patrick Robertson during his school days. He is seen standing second right in the back row

George Patrick Robertson as apprentice at Bertram’s Engineering Works, Sciennes, Edinburgh. George is standing far right in the back row.

ALL PHOTOS BY ALLY MCGURK (COPYRIGHTED)

Chuba Parwing in Sikkim leads in vegetable production

Chuba Parwing cultivates more than 15,000 quintals of cabbages in one season. It also cultivates more than 750 metric tonnes of potatoes making it the highest vegetable producer in the state. Photo by Ambar Gurung, Himalaya Darpan

One dead and two injured in a street accident at Kurseong

BY BARUN ROY

Kurseong: One individual died and two were injured in an accident that took place at Sudhapa Tol below Tourist Lodge in Kurseong. The accident occurred at around 8:30 am in the morning. Pasima Sherpa (35) was chatting with Lhamu Sherpa (46) and Mani Kumar Tamang (48 ) at the side of a road when a Maruti Van with a vehicle registration number WB 74 E 3659 came from nowhere and plowed over them. Pasima Sherpa who was the resident of Sherpa Village died on the spot, while Lhamu Sherpa, resident Sherpa Village and Mani Kumar Tamang, resident Sudhapa Tol were injured. Both of them are now recuperating at the Kurseong Subdivisional Hospital. The police has confiscated the papers of the vehicle and arrested the driver. It has been found from confirmed sources that the driver had taken the car to learn how to drive. The authorities are investigating the fact as to why had a learner been offered the car and allowed to drive unattended. [Inset: People inspecting the vehicle which was involved in the accident. Photo by Himalaya Darpan]

A bridge linking Champasari and Gulma Tea Estate

CLICK ON THE PHOTO TO ENLARGE

Photo by Sanjit Nandi [Himalaya Darpan]

Former prince snubbed in Singapore discotheque

FROM GULF TIMES

KATHMANDU: Once known for firing his gun and picking up fights in night clubs with impunity, Nepal’s former crown prince Paras has now fallen on harder times with a discotheque in the strict island nation of Singapore refusing him admission.

A Nepali website has posted photographs of the former playboy prince, who left home last month to seek greener pastures in Singapore, and alleged that the headstrong 37-year-old has not changed despite the abolition of monarchy in Nepal and the royals becoming ordinary citizens overnight.

Mysansar.com said it had been sent the photographs as well as details about Paras’ new tantrums by a Nepali residing in Singapore. According to the report, last month Paras went to a disco wearing sneakers, jeans and a T-shirt. He was also sporting a pony tail and dark glasses. However, the man who could get away with murder in Nepal, was refused admission by the gatekeeper.

Swallowing the snub, the quick-tempered former prince left the disco only to return wearing a suit. He was allowed to go inside this time but decided to leave after a couple of drinks, the report said. At the car park, Paras, unused to not having the right of way any longer, picked up a fight with a fellow motorist. As luck would have it, he was noticed by a Nepali who began taking photographs of the quarrelling former crown prince.

Maoists miss deadline to form govt

FROM GULF TIMES

KATHMANDU: Nepal’s former Maoist guerrillas yesterday failed to meet the seven-day presidential deadline given to them to form a new government, raising grave doubts about the possibility of a government under their stewardship.

The former rebels, who managed a stunning victory in the election four months ago, will now ask President Ram Baran Yadav to extend the deadline by three more days. The president had last Tuesday given them a week to prove their strength in the caretaker parliament and form the new government.

One week later, last-minute frantic negotiations between the Maoists and the other three top parties – caretaker Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala’s Nepali Congress (NC), the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) and Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) – failed to break the deepening deadlock over power-sharing.

The four parties finally agreed to form a committee that will draft a new common minimum programme after an earlier 50-point document tabled by the Maoists was rejected by the other three. There could be a new twist to the ongoing political drama with Koirala calling a surprise meeting of the leaders of the four parties at his residence yesterday evening.

The caretaker prime minister returned to Kathmandu from New Delhi on Monday night after consultations with Indian leaders, including Indian Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Indian opposition BJP’s leader L K Advani. Nepal’s Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat, who had accompanied Koirala, told the media that the Indian leaders lauded Koirala’s leadership and urged for a consensus government in Nepal.

Prachanda meets Indian envoy, UNMIN Chief

FROM INDIA GAZETTE

Kathmandu, July 5 : CPN-Maoist chairman Puspa Kamal Dahal’Prachanda met India’s Ambassador to Nepal Rakesh Sood and United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) chief Ian Martin separately today.

At the meeting with Indian envoy Sood, Prachanda discussed attempts being made to form a new Government in Nepal.

Sood is said to have told Prachanda to consider forming a new Government in Nepal through national consensus.

Prachanda and Martin discussed the peace process and UNMIN’s working procedure in Nepal

Martin also met President Dr Ram Baran Yadav today.

World Bank comes to Nepal Maoist guerrilla army’s aid

FROM IANS

By Sudeshna Sarkar

KATHMANDU: The World Bank has come to the aid of Nepal’s endangered peace process, offering a bounty of Nepali Rs.3.350 billion for the upkeep of the Maoists’ once dreaded guerrilla army as well as the rehabilitation of the thousands of people affected by the 10-year communist uprising. Nepal’s peace and reconstruction ministry Tuesday said the World Bank aid would be utilised for the nearly 19,000-strong People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of the Maoists, who this month threatened to revolt if the government did not immediately release funds for them.

A part of the aid would also be used to pay Rs.100,000 each to the families who lost their kin during the ‘People’s War’ or were maimed or forced to flee their home.

The PLA, whose might helped the Maoists win their war against Nepal’s powerful king, have been in dire straits since the signing of a peace pact two years ago that saw them confined to 28 makeshift cantonments.

“The PLA is up to its neck in debt,” Maoist lawmaker and PLA deputy commander Janardan Sharma “Prabhakar” told IANS. “For 13 months, the government did not pay them the monthly salary of Rs.3,000 it had promised. Even the daily food allowance of Rs.60 is worthless today, given the mounting price rise.”

Human rights protesters gather at Parliament

FROM THE NATIONAL BUSINESS REVIEW

Human rights activists and students from a South Island school joined forces at Parliament today to protest against China’s treatment of Tibet and its record on rights.

The Olympics open in China on Saturday and Green MP Keith Locke said the Chinese government had not lived up to its promises to improve its human rights record and had continued a crackdown on Tibet.

Police in Nepal said today they had detained at least 300 Tibetan protesters outside the Chinese embassy in Kathmandu — a city that has seen almost daily anti-China protests since unrest erupted in the remote Himalayan region in March.

Today’s protest on Parliament’s lawn highlighted the case of Ni Yulan, arrested over protesting against homes being demolished for shopping centres around the Olympic sites.

Mr Locke said now was the time to put pressure on China.

“Our government has a role to challenge quite openly the lack of human rights.”

He said China continued suppression despite promises it made to improve when it sought to be the host.

Environment pledges had not been met either.

Two protesters wore breathing masks and carried a sign saying “Better human rights — don’t hold your breath”.

A group of students from Hanmer Springs Primary School in North Canterbury participated in the protest and Mr Locke mentioned them in his speech.

Tendong Lho Rum Faat Celebration Committee chalks out programme for the festival

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

GANGTOK, August 04: The follow up meeting of the Tendong Lho Rum Faat Celebration Committee 2008 decided to include a number of programmes in the celebration on August 7 and 8, 2008. Apart from the puja by a Bongthing, there will be a programme on Lepcha language and literature followed by Lepcha folk dance competition and exhibition cum sale of Lepcha traditional food, informs a press release.

The release of Audio CDs and Book will also be featured.  Importantly, puja by Bongthing at Tendong, South Sikkim will be held on August 6 and 7.

The meeting attended by CT Lepcha, president, Sikkim Lepcha Association, Norzang Lepcha, MLA, Rakdong Tintek cum president of celebration committee and all members of Tendong Lho Rum Faat Celebration Committee also decided to felicitate the Chief Minister Pawan Chamling as well as to other prominent Lepcha personalities.

The celebration committee has also requested all the invites and well-wishers to be present during the celebration.

Rock Python sighted at Melli-Nayabazar Road

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

NAMCHI, August 04: A Rock Python measuring around 15 ft was sighted along the roadside of Melli-Nayabazar Road by some youth and the Forest Personals today. According to the Divisional Forest Officer (T), South Udai Gurung, the python was preying on one female barking deer weighing around 15 kg along the roadside near Champa Bridge, Melli Road. Due to the heavy traffic along the roadside, the python abandoned the prey and tried to flee from the spot, he said.

On sighting the snake, the youth present there and the forest personals trapped it and later released safely at Baguwa, which is believed as the natural and suitable place for the Rock Pythons. With the help of youth of Namchi, the Python was captured by RO (W/L), Nandu Lamichaney and BO (T), Akash Das Rai, the DFO informed. He further informed that the personals were also advised by him to dispose the prey which was already dead near the spot.

It may be mentioned here that similar Rock Python was sighted at Samardung, South Sikkim which was rescued at Bagwa. The continuous sighting of the Rock Python in Southern Sikkim at a time when such species are declining slowing, has brought good news for all the environment loving people. The public has also applauded the immediate action of the Forest Personals in saving and rescuing such rare species.

CM meets Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi; discuss LT seat reservation issue UPA leader accepts CM’s invitation to visit Sikkim

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

GANGTOK, August 04: The Chief Minister Pawan Chamling today met the UPA chairperson, Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi today and placed before her various issue concerning the State. Mr. Chamling also congratulated her for the decisive success in the trust vote secured by the UPA Government in the Parliament recently.

Ms Gandhi acknowledged Mr. Chamling’s greetings and praised the consistent and unflinching support of the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) at the Centre as an integral part of the UPA. During the interaction with the Congress leader, the Chief Minister highlighted the recent initiatives and achievements of the SDF Government which, he said, were aimed at meaningfully improving the socio-economic development of the State with a special reference to comprehensive improvement of rural infrastructure, quality education, status of minorities for fostering greater inclusiveness in the society, empowering women, SC/ST and weaker sections of the society and accelerated development of social and physical infrastructure.

Mr. Chamling also briefed Ms Gandhi on the urgent need to provide reservation of seats for the Limboo and Tamang communities in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly as currently there is no specific provision for reservation of assembly seats for STs in the Assembly and resultantly, the Limboo and Tamang communities, the notified ST communities were unable to get their constitutional dues and benefits as STs as far as the issue of representation in the State Assembly is concerned.

Press Club holds muhurat for “Andhaharu ko Ramkahani”

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

GANGTOK, August 04: The Mahurat of the play “Andhaharu ko Ramkahani” was today held at the Press Club of Sikkim with CK Shrestha, eminent theater personality cum journalist from Kalimpong as the chief guest. The programme kicked off by lighting the lamp in the presence of the chief guest, Chunilal Ghimirey, managing director of Channel Ace Production and DB Thatal, the president of Sikkim Kalakar Sangh.

The play is part of an initiative by the Press Club of Sikkim to raise funds for the recently set up Journalist Welfare fund. Scripted by CK Shrestha, the play will be directed by Hemant Giri, Editor of Naya Kanchandzonga with most of the artists in the play from the media fraternity.  While addressing the press, the chief guest expressed appreciation over the initiative of the Press Club. “It is not that journalists have to address the social issues only through writing but acting is also another form to send out the right message,” he said.

State ignores flashing GL number plates

FROM THE STATESMAN

DARJEELING, Aug 5: The DGHC vehicles have become the forerunners of the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha’s decision to sport GL number plates on government vehicles as per the party’s programme to establish “home rule” in all areas within the proposed territory of Gorkhaland.

Though the move to discard the WB for GL number plates on government vehicles by GJMM was scheduled to begin from 7 August, the Jana Mukti Asthai Karmachari Sanghathan (JAKS), an association of casualworkers under the DGHC and a frontal organisation of the GJMM took the initiative from 1 August itself.

“DGHC vehicles are running with GL plates since 1 August and every vehicle of the DGHC will have it by 7 August. Even though the DGHC authorities maintained that no DGHC officer would board vehicles with such plates, we as a frontal organisation of the GJMM will stick to our stand,” said JAKS president Mr Machendra Subba. With the state government ignoring their demand for regularisation of DGHC casual workers, the JAKS recently declared that it has given up the apolitical stand and is fully supportive of all programmes launched by GJMM for Gorkhaland. “The authorities asked the DGHC vehicle drivers to submit the keys which we will not do at any cost. They may be unwilling to board vehicles with GL number plates but that will make no difference to our stand,” Mr Subba said. No action has been taken against them so far, he confirmed.

The authorities have so far held only one two-wheeler sporting a GL number plate and that was of Mr Madhukar Thapa, a GJMM leader from the Dooars although the GJMM central committee members are using GL number plates on their vehicles from 7 July.

Reacting to the JAKS decision, the Jalpaiguri divisional commissioner and DGHC administrator Mr BL Meena maintained that he was “watching” the developments and thrust the responsibility of taking action upon the district administration. “If any action is to be taken the district administration will do so as per the Motor
Vehicles Act. Discussions are also going on to arrive at a solution on the issue,” Mr Meena stated.

Centre missive to GJMM

FROM THE STATESMAN

DARJEELING, Aug. 5: The Centre has sent a letter to the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha for tripartite talks on the Gorkhaland issue. The GJMM has received a letter from the Union Home Ministry in which, the Centre has expressed a desire to open dialogue with the GJMM on the separate state demand.

“We received a letter from the Union home ministry signed by Home secretary Mr Madhukar Gupta stating that the Centre is ready to hold a meeting with the GJMM on the Gorkhaland issue. We appreciate and welcome the Centre’s move,” said GJMM spokesperson Mr Benoy Tamang today.

According to the GJMM leadership, no specific date was mentioned in the letter for the proposed talks. “We are prepared to attend the tripartite meeting on Gorkhaland but no date has been mentioned in the letter from the Centre. Since the Gorkhaland demand is a political one we request that talks on the matter should be held at a political level,” Mr Tamang said.

Date or not, expectation levels have started soaring in the political circle of the Darjeeling hills ever since it became known that the Centre has sent a letter to the GJMM leadership expressing interest in the talks.

Co-operative mall to come up in Siliguri

FROM THE STATESMAN

SILIGURI, Aug 5: Amid controversies surrounding the corporate foray into retail business in the state, the West Bengal government has decided to set up a co-operative shopping mall in Siliguri as an alternative to the private ventures.

The state Co-operation Department, ministered by Mr Robindra Ghosh has identified a G+4 building at Burdwaman Road in Siliguri for the purpose and the co-operative shopping mall is expected to surface by December this year.  “We have decided to procure the 15,000 square feet building on ownership basis and set up the mega co-operative outlet there. This would be our reply to the increasing corporate penetration into the retail business,” Mr Ghosh said.

The minister happens to be a MLA from the Forward Bloc ~ a Left Front constituent vehemently opposed to allowing the corporate giants doing retail business in West Bengal.  As per the minister, the proposed co-operative shopping mall in Siliguri would be run by the state Consumers Co-operation Federation (Confed) and would sell all the items that a private shopping mall offers these days.

“We would also induct the items produced by the self-help groups, exquisite food grain varieties grown in north Bengal and sell them at a rationale price,” Mr Ghosh said.  The commercial building that the Co-operation Department has identified for the prospective co-operative shopping mall is located opposite to an existing private shopping mall on Burdwaman Road in Siliguri.

CM serious about Hills: Asok

FROM THE STATESMAN

SILIGURI, Aug 5: The state urban development minister Mr Asok Bhattacharya today said that chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharya has assured him of stern administrative actions to nip the growing cult of lawlessness in the Darjeeling hills. He also asked the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha leadership to help the state administration in restoring normalcy in the hills to facilitate the proposed tripartite dialogue to resolve the tangle.

Meanwhile, the Darjeeling district CPI-M secretary Mr SP Lepcha today condemned the reported move by an NGO to take over the party office at Upper Judge Bazaar in Darjeeling.  Expressing concern over the growing cult of lawlessness in the Darjeeling hills, the minister said that he had informed the chief minister of the developments in the hills and the CM has assured him of suitable actions to contain the situation. “The state government cannot help but feel concerned as the government writ is being flouted in many areas of the hills. Political opponents are being hounded out of the hills as a result of the vendetta politics being perpetrated by the GJMM. The state government cannot remain a mute spectator for long in this situation,” Mr Bhattacharya said.

“It is all the more frustrating as the date of the proposed tripartite dialogue to resolve the hill tangle is impending,” the minister complained.  Urging the GJMM leadership to exercise restraint at this critical hour, Mr Bhattacharya said that the vendetta politics being practised by the GJMM would unleash an atmosphere of hostility when the need of the hour was to help in creating an environment conducive for the impending dialogue. “The sooner the GJMM leadership understands this the better it is for the hills,” the minister commented.

Panel reviews hospital conduct

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Siliguri, Aug. 5: The Patient Welfare Committee of the Siliguri District Hospital today discussed issues ranging from interference of outsiders and improving services and staff behaviour to requisitioning of cots with railings.

Committee chairperson and Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad sabhadhipati Moni Thapa said at the meeting that certain organisations and groups of people had created commotion in some recent incidents, impeding work at the hospital.

“We seek the cooperation from the people in adhering to hospital rules, like maintaining the visiting hours and following the proper procedure for lodging complaints,” Thapa said. “There has been some negligence in rendering services and we have told the nursing superintendent and other employees to improve their behaviour with patients and their relatives.”

The meeting also took up measures to improve better communication with the public who avail of the hospital’s facilities. “During a surprise visit to the hospital recently, we found that the patients were bringing food from home, although meals are provided for the first three days after admission. The patients said they did not know of this provision,” Thapa said.

The hospital authorities were asked to put up boards in prominent places giving all relevant information to the public. An upgraded enquiry counter should also be set up where patients’ relatives would get all kinds of information relating to treatment. A public address system would be installed to call the patients’ relatives or a doctor when the need arose.

Teesta contractors on protest

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

The contractors outside the TIP office. (Kundan Yolmo)

Siliguri, Aug. 5: Contractors of the Teesta Irrigation Project (TIP) locked all its offices near Tinbatti More here for two hours today, demanding that their dues of Rs 20 crore be cleared immediately.

“Even though most of the works awarded to us had been completed by March this year, the department has not paid us a single penny,” said Asit Das, a member of the Teesta Barrage Contractors’ Association. “We had even faxed a memorandum to the Bengal irrigation minister.”

The contractors alleged that a section of officials in Calcutta were delaying the payment even though Rs 28 crore, received from the Centre, was lying with the irrigation department.

Admitting the delay in clearing the dues, Kaustabh Jyoti Pal, the executive engineer of Mahananda Barrage Division, a wing of the TIP, said: “Payments are usually made twice a year – in March and before Durga Puja. We had some funds in March but they were not sufficient to clear all dues. We are trying to clear the dues at the earliest.”

CPM warns Morcha

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Siliguri, Aug. 5: District CPM leaders today told the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha not to test their patience by trying to take over the party’s office in Darjeeling.

Yesterday, Morcha leader Dinesh Gurung had said he would write to the district administration for permission to convert the CPM office at Judge Bazar in Darjeeling into a relief shelter of an NGO formed last month.

“The Morcha leaders and supporters are trying to illegally occupy our district office in Darjeeling. But they must understand that the CPM, despite provocation and attacks, is being patient,” Jibitesh Sarkar, a state committee member of the CPM, told reporters at a newsmeet here this morning.

“They must not try to test our patience because there is a limits to it. We are still harping on an amicable solution to the hill issue and it is the Morcha leaders who are trying to aggravate the situation.”

Gurung had said the NGO he headed, and not the Morcha, wanted to take over the building because it had become a den of addicts and was hardly used by the CPM.

CPM district secretary S.P. Lepcha denied the charges today. “The allegation that our office has become a den of addicts is baseless. The claim that we do not use the office does not stand because we were not allowed to go there.”