Sikkim Tourism Ropeway to connect Tsomgo lake at 12,600 ft height

Tsomgo (Sikkim), May 7 (PTI) Tourists in Sikkim would soon be able to enjoy the breathtaking view of Tsomgo lake at 12,600 feet above sea level by sitting atop a ropeway.
Sikkim Minister of Tourism Bhim Prasad Dhungel today laid the foundation stone of a Rs 6.25 crore ropeway project at Tsongmo -- the highest ever height of 12,600 feet in the country.
The 957 metre ropeway will start from the glacial Tsongmo lake and take the tourists to the surrounding hilltop, famed for its beautiful landscape, snow and yak rides, officials said.
The project will be completed within the next two years, Dhungel said.

Rs.1175 crores for 2010-11 Annual Plan of Sikkim

Gangtok,May06: The Annual Plan for Sikkim for the year 2010-11 was finalized here today at a meeting between Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission Shri Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Chief Minister of Sikkim, Shri Pawan Chamling. The Plan outlay was agreed at Rs.1175 crores. This includes special Plan assistance of Rs. 225 crores for projects of special importance to the State.
In his comments on the plan performance of the State, Mr Ahluwalia said the plan realization of the State is good. He said the human development indicators indicate balanced growth. He said the State has immense tourism potential but care should be taken to ensure that the growth is more in quality tourism. He said the State must give priority to improving connectivity.
He said that focus on self employment and capacity building initiatives are steps in the right direction. He also appreciated the efforts of the Government to ensure that growth is inclusive and in this regard specially lauded the efforts in empowering women and Panchayati raj institutions. Efforts to improve forest cover were appreciated but the State Government was advised to intensify efforts.
The State Minister Mr R.B. Subba drew attention of the Commission to efforts being made by the State Government to improve infrastructure and improve pace of growth with no compromise on inclusiveness of the development strategy. He said the green field airport at Pakyong will be operational by January 2012. He thanked the Union Government for agreeing to give rail-link to the State. He said in the first phase Rangpo will be linked to Sevok station.
He said the Government has taken up the programme to provide comprehensive annual/periodical check up for all citizens for appropriate intervention individually and collectively. He said out of 450 village blocks, so far 425 have been electrified under ongoing RGGVY scheme and 100 per cent electrification would be reached by the end of this year.

Sikkim Government help to families affected due to hailstorm @Gangtok

Gangtok, 4 May (PTI) The hailstorm that lashed Sikkim on April 27 has caused extensive damage to crops, especially kharif, affecting about 3,000 families, Horticulture and Cash Crops Development department said today.

The department held two consecutive meetings on April 29 and 30 to review the progress of various schemes and modify strategies for development programmes.
It has been decided to immediately provide vegetable seeds and other logistic support to salvage the situation, besides providing UV film to repair the damaged greenhouse (a structure in which temperature and humidity can be controlled for the cultivation or protection of plants), the department stated in a release.
The total damage includes standing bulbs which could have yielded up to Rs 50,000.
This storm has caused a major setback to the advancement of horticulture, which had emerged as the single most viable option for rural prosperity, it said.

Sikkim Girl Wins ‘The Statesman’ photogenic face of 2010

Gangtok,04 May: In continuation to prestigious developmental awards conferred to state of Sikkim by several national and international juries , yet another feather falls on the crown of Sikkim. Two of our daughters, Miss Puja Sharma student of Rangpo Sr Secondary School was conferred with Tilottamma Jury Special ‘The Statesman’ photogenic face of 2010 and Miss Tripty Diyal hailing from Namchi was conferred as 2nd Runners Up. The event competition was organised by AnandsBazaar Patrika , a reputed Hindi newspaper and ‘The Statesman’ at Uttar banga Marwari Bhawan at Siliguri. The competition was challenged by 12 contestants of North Bengal and Sikkim. The Siliguri Deputy Mayor Shri Nantu Paul was attending Chief Guest in the programme. Miss Puja Sharma , a daughter of Mr CP Sharma and Mrs Januka Pradhan marked her debut in a contest and she was conferred with most prettiest and youngest contestant in the event. Puja was also offered for role in a Hindi Movie which she refuted the offer/proposal since she is yet to finish her school. The huge rush of anxious people filled up the victory of Sikkim daughter in national limelight, a wishes after wishes and a congratulation from a people from all walks of life endorsed her at School in Rangpo today. Her parents also participated to comfy their daughter for winning a biggest award for the state. It is a proud moment for Sikkim people that Sikkim is continuously becoming a centre of excellence in a national and international stage since past few years.

Foreign delegates pat for green care in Sikkim

Gangtok, April 30: Foreign delegates who participated in an international seminar on Rhododendron Conservation and Sustainable Use held here yesterday lauded the Sikkim government for its efforts in protecting the state’s bio-diversity.

Experts from Germany, Holland, Sweden and Bhutan are here to participate in the Rhododenron Festival being organised by the state government this month.
“In Europe, we have rhododendrons cultivated for collections and parks but here in Sikkim, the plant’s various species are found in the wild and in their natural form,” Wolfgang Spethmann from Germany said. Spethmann is a researcher in woody plants like rhododendrons.
“It was a nice trip to Yumthang Valley. We saw more than a dozen species of the plant in bloom; the flowering was excellent and it was a wonderful sight. It is good to see that they are protected in the wild,” said Spethmann.
Lau Trass, who is a member of the Dutch Rhododendron Society, said it is always a wonderful experience for Europeans to see rhododendrons in bloom in their natural habitat.
“There is a special support from the Sikkim government for the conservation of rhododendrons and it makes the state one of the central places in the world where one can see and study different species of the rhododendron growing in their natural best,” said Trass.
Rebacca Pradhan from the Royal Society for Protection of Nature in Bhutan said bio-diversity conservation programmes in Sikkim would be successful, as the government itself was committed towards the environment.

Sikkim chief minister Pawan Chamling, while inaugurating the seminar yesterday, said the state had over 30 per cent of its total area protected under environment rules.

“I feel that the conservation of the rhododendron within the natural habitat is the best approach. The state government has been successful in maintaining the natural habitation of the floral species,” said Chamling.
The chief minister also pointed out that the Khangchenjungha Biosphere Reserve and seven other wildlife sanctuaries have rhododendrons in their pristine state.

Two of them, the Singba and the Barsey sanctuaries are fully devoted to the conservation of one of the most beautiful wild genetic resource, the rhododendron, he said.

“My endeavour has been to promote a balanced growth in Sikkim by duly preserving everything in nature and bringing in the best practices of modern development instruments available in the world. This also means bringing in a paradigm shift in people’s mindset and way of life to harness the natural resources in a sustainable manner,” said Chamling.