Chauridara declared as a Green Village in Sikkim

Gangtok: The village to village South Sikkim tour of the Chief Minister along with the state administration concluded on Saturday, June 4. Last day of the village to village tour of South district started from government Senior Secondary School Lingmoo and concluded at Paiyong JHS visiting Suntaley and Lingee Secondary School in between and addressing the public of Neh, Mangzing, Lingmoo, tokdey, kau, Paiyong and adjoining areas.
On the eleventh day the Chief Minister laid the foundation stone of Kabir Math at Lingmoo, South Sikkim, which is being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs.94,16,111.00. Stressing on the various aspects of tourism and its potentialities in the state the Chief Minister said that the State of Sikkim has tremendous potential of being a repeated cliental destination for tourists. The state government has been working very hard and honestly and creating infrastructure to promote Sikkim as a pilgrimage tourist destination. But at the same time, he added, the fruits of these infrastructures can only be achieved if the people of state change their profession towards tourism, hospitality and allied sectors. People have to think for an alternative profession, he added.
Declaring Chauridara as a Green village, which was the demand of the villagers the Chief Minister said that public participation is a must for preparing and promoting the village as a Green village. The government will do what is to be done but the people should take up allied activities for promoting the village as a Green village. The people should love forest and wildlife, ban hunting in the village – then only the demand of the villagers will be cherished in reality. Various ways and means have to be sought to promote tourism in the state. This will definitely boost tourism in the state, he added.
On the demand of eco-friendly garden, the Chief Minister said that the government is thinking in this line of creating such types of gardens in all the four district of the state and directed the concerned department to visit the spot at Chauridara and see the feasibility of garden at the proposed spot and submit the proposal to the government. The Chief Minister also talked about the government’s proposal of Ekanta Bas to promote tourism in the state.
The Chief Minister further said that because of the policies, programmes and activities of the government, the people of the state have found that we are good servants and gave the mandate to serve the state for four consecutive terms. We have served the state for last 17 years and are running in the 18th year but the stake holders have remained mere spectators and recipients. But development is a two way process, he said. Urging the youths of the state to take up economic activities he said that today’s educated youth have become confused towards their career. They have taken life as a burden, but life is a challenge and they have to face it, he said.
Citing the example of Tendulkar and Tenzing Norgay and other successful people to the students, Dr. Chamling asked the students to be more competitive and act as per the demand of the time. Successful people do not remain the citizen of their village or the state. They become universal and are acknowledged throughout the country and become citizen of the entire world, he said.
The Chief Minister was felicitated on the day by the Akhil Sikkim Kabir Sant Samiti at Lingmoo, South Sikkim. (With IPR input)

Chipko Movement leader lauds Sikkim’s green mission

GANGTOK, November 13: Applauding the efforts of the State Government in pioneering innovative steps with the launch of the State Green Mission and the recently concluded ten minutes to greenery programme, renowned environmentalist and recipient of Padma Vibhushan Sunder Lal Bhauguna said the experiment of Sikkim in regard to forestry and environment conservation should be brought in the notice of all the hilly regions including the Government of India so that they can understand the importance of forest and frame the policy likewise in protection and preservation of forest.
Mr. Bahuguna was here for a two-day visit to the State as part of the ‘Save Himalayan Campaign’ to create environmental awareness and emphasize on the need for more humane and ecologically sensitive development plans for the Himalayan region.
Addressing the State Forest officials during a programme held at the Forest conference hall here today, the Chipko Movement leader said, Sikkim can play a lead role among the States in the Himalayan belt in terms of environment protection. “Today protection and safeguarding of forest has become an essential fact as even the scarcity of water is felt everywhere,” he pointed out while calling for more forestation drive.
He added that the drafting of the new environmental policy would enhance the spirit in saving the environment further more.
On the occasion, C Lachungpa, Chief Conservator of Forest, (Landuse) also made a power point presentation on the green initiatives taken by the State.
Earlier, the State Forest Minister Bhim Dhungel felicitated Mr. Bhahuguna, who was accompanied by his wife Bhimla Bahuguna, his son Rajiv Bahuguna, and Dr. Kishore Upadhya.
India’s renowned scientist also visited Himalayan Zoological Park at Bulbuley and planted Rhododendron saplings in the vicinity of the Governor’s House, few kilometres above Gangtok town.
Later in the day, the Save Himalayan team interacted with the members of the Voluntary Health Association of Sikkim (VHAS) wherein Bahuguna called for more participation from the local NGOs in giving momentum towards tree farming, which he added was the only way to save the Mother Nature.
A delegation of eminent citizens led by renowned environmentalist Sunderlal Bhauguna who have undertaken the Save Himalaya campaign on September 30 to sensitize people on the fragile ecology of Hiamlayan States of India stressed on the point that the framing and the regulation of proper environmental policy is the need of the hour to tackle the issues related with the Himalayas.
Kishore Upadhaya, the convenor of the mission said, the campaign will now head towards north east holding interactive meetings with maximum involvement of the youth.
'Dr Doma Bhutia, the legal consultant of Human Rights Law Network, Sikkim Chapter earlier placed a brief introduction of Mr. Bhaugana and his success story on the successful campaign of the world famous ' Chipko' Movement.

GREEN BONUS’ FOR SIKKIM

13th Finance Commission to decide quantum of Green Bonus: Jairam Ramesh
GANGTOK, November01 : Sikkim joined the exclusive list of five Himalayan States which will be getting ‘green bonus’ from next fiscal for conserving forests that act as carbon sinks.
The Centre plans to release green dividends and a green bonus to the Himalayan states from the next financial year as a compensatory measure for protecting their ecology, Union Environment & Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh said yesterday on the concluding day of the two day meet at Shimla on the environment of the five Himalayan States – Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarkhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.
ML Arrawatia, Science & Technology department had represented Sikkim in the meet.
Green bonus was one of the points raised by the hilly States during the meet requesting the Centre to provide sufficient funds to the State Governments for protection measures of the Himalayan environment, said Arrawatia over phone from New Delhi to SIKKIM EXPRESS.
According to news reports, the Union Environment & Forest Minister Ramesh said that the 13th Finance Commission will be deciding the amount of the ‘green bonus’ for the Himalayan States including Sikkim.
The commission is expected to submit its report by December and it would be left to the States to distribute the ‘green bonus’ to the stakeholders.
“We may start with a small amount to begin with,” Ramesh said while announcing the ‘green bonus’. “My concept is that the states which are conserving ecology... should be compensated”, he added.
The Sikkim Science & Technology secretary said that the initiatives taken by the Sikkim government for protection of environment was well appreciated by the participants during the conclave.
In his presentation during the meet, Arrawatia pointed out to the delegates that Sikkim has already set up a glacier study and climate change commission and research work is already in progress. A climate change council under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister has already been set up in Sikkim.
Arrawatia also informed about the implementation of environment cess in Sikkim and State Green Mission besides highlighting about the ‘10 Minutes to Greenary’ initiative taken by Sikkim government early this year to commemorate Earth Day.
The initiatives taken by Sikkim government were very well appreciated and the environment protection model of Sikkim found good response, told Arrawatia over phone.
The Environment Ministry in August had estimated that forests, which cover 25 per cent of the country’s area, could absorb up to 11 per cent of India’s green house gas emissions that contribute to climate change.
The ‘green bonus’ is also expected to strengthen India’s proposal of seeking funds from the rich countries for conserving forests under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) at the Copenhagen climate change conference in December.
Till now, the mechanism enables developing countries to get fund for offsetting green house gas emissions through use of cleaner technologies.
Mr. Ramesh further said that the Centre was also considering taking the snow-covered areas above 4,000 metres altitude out of the definition of forest land, which would benefit all the 12 Himalayan states.
On the conclusion of the meet yesterday, a Shimla Declaration was signed by five Himalayan states which was released by Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal who said the Himalayan states had resolved to jointly face the challenge of climate change and sustainable development.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokharyal said: 'Out of 9,000 glaciers in the Himalayas, as many as 1,439 are in our state. Global warming is melting glaciers speedily, threatening flora and fauna of the Himalayas. There is a need for change in lifestyle of the people, reduce emission of greenhouse gases and increase green cover to compensate the damages.'
Jammu and Kashmir's Environment and Forests Minister Mian Altaf Ahmed expressed concern over the climate change, which was adversely affecting the horticulture in his state.
Sunita Narain, director of the Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi, said that the environment had emerged as global political issue, which needed to be taken in right spirit for the benefit of all

Plantation under Green Mission in Gangtok

Gangtok: Awareness programme on plantation under Green Mission to preserve forest for healthy and secure future held Sunday at Sikkim Government Drivers Association head office. The programme organized by All Sikkim Government Drivers Association was fully supported by other associations like SNT Drivers and Conductors Association, All Sikkim Government Work Charge & Muster Roll Employees Association, Sikkim Sub-Ordinate Accounts Services Association, All Sikkim Fourth Grade Employees Association and Sikkim United Teachers Welfare Association, among others. Mr. N.K. Pradhan, Minister Human Resource Development, Mr. Menlom Lepcha, MLA and Mr. S.T. Lachungpa, Secretary, Forest Department, were present. Mr. Pradhan said he considered drivers as “ambassadors of tourism industry in Sikkim”. Mr. Lepcha said environment friendly slogans should be written on vehicles. Mr. C.B. Rai, President SGDA and its general secretary also addressed the gathering.

Rotary Club of Gangtok South in Green Mission

Gangtok,Aug9: Rotary Club of Gangtok South organized a Plantation Drive cum Green Quiz contest at Ranka Senior Secondary School on 5th August 2009. The club is working towards fulfillment of vision of the Chief Minister for a Greener Sikkim. More than 50 (fifty) saplings of Chaanp and Guraans were planted in the vicinity of the school out of 120 provided by Forest Department. The remaining saplings will be planted within a few days. The Program was carried out in presence of Principal Rtn. Sunila Verma, teachers, staff and students of the school. The club has taken up plantation as a Regular project.
A Green Quiz was also a part of the program. The teachers and students participated in the quiz with great enthusiasm. The questions were based on environment and topics on Green Mission and other state programs.
The winners of the quiz contest were: 1st Ong Tshering; 2nd Ranu Rai and 3rd Samjhana Rai. The winners were presented trophies and certificates by President Rtn. Rakesh Somani and the Principal Mrs. Sunila Verma. The quiz was hosted by Rtn. Jashoda Chettri. The club has expressed its gratitude to the Forest Minister Mr. Bhim Dhungel and Forest Department and hopes to receive the same cooperation in the future too, says a press release by club secretary Jashoda Chettri.

Chief Minister Pawan Chamling appreciates the publication of State Green Mission

Sikkim CM happy over Forest Dept’s plan to record Green Mission initiatives
GANGTOK, August 3: Chief Minister Pawan Chamling has expressed happiness over the State Forest Department’s decision to come up with the publication of State Green Mission and its achievement marking completion of three years of successful implementation of the Green Mission in the State.

“This is a notable milestone in the progress made towards our larger goal to protect our Mother Earth,” Mr. Chamling said in his message today.

While stating that the State Government has firmly acted to pursue development programs with environmental sustainability as a core concern, he said the Government has so moduled the development activity that it may bring minimum effect on our environment with enough provision for regenerative effort in place. “The concept of Green Roads, Smriti Bans, conservation of water resources, utilization of vacant land for plantation of valuable species, ban on grazing, eviction of Goths in Highlands etc. are contributing towards healthy growth of our forest resources, recording over two percent increase in forest cover,” the Chief Minister said adding that the State Green Mission has an added value with huge effect in this line and has been able to unite the people for a common cause like never before.

Talking on global challenge of tackling climate change and global warming, Mr. Chamling said Sikkim recently created a historical record to successfully plant 6 lakhs and 10 thousands saplings across the State within 10 minutes under the especially dedicated green campaign. At the same time, he stressed on the collective effort to continue finding greater innovation in “our continued effort to conserve our environment” in the days to come.

The Chief Minister also congratulated the State Forest Secretary and all his team for the successful completion of hundred years of forestry in Sikkim. Also congratulating the State Green Mission implementation set up for their cooperation and hard work, he expressed confidence that the whole team shall gear up to further increase the momentum and tempo of this campaign and implement this concept of shared responsibility with greater enthusiasm and commitment.