Melli teesta bank to be developed with water fountains, street lights & fishing points

Namchi,October11:Melli, an important yet neglected entry point to South and West Sikkim, is set for a revamp with Chief Minister Pawan Chamling announcing a slew of tourism, beautification and urbanization integrated packages for this sleeping town during his tour yesterday.
Speaking about his intentions to usher in new age development for Melli so that this old town of the State catches up with the rapidly developing other urban areas of the State especially its Rangpo counterpart, the Chief Minister said that Melli figures prominently in the beautification plays of the State government.

The Chief Minister had reached Melli after completing a recce of Ranipool, Singtam and Rangpo to explore the tourism, industry and beautification potential of these areas.
Keeping in line with the Gangtok beautification drive, Mr. Chamling announced a similar drive for Melli while giving the directions to the accompanying ministers and bureaucrats to prepare DPRs. He also directed the authorities for setting up an eco-friendly footpath along the Teesta river bank below Melli bazaar. Street lights, recreation centre and water fountain should be set up along the footpath to boost tourism of Melli and Sikkim, he said. He also issued directions for setting up fishing points at various points of the eco-friendly footpath running along the Teesta river below the bazaar area.
For Melli residents, Mr. Chamling announced that a fire station will be set up in the bazaar along with a multi-purpose community centre. A horticulture packaging centre will also come up here, he said during his tour.
The Chief Minister also passed directions for road widening works from Melli check post to bazaar area and erecting a welcome gate before the bazaar area. He also announced that the sewerage system of Melli bazaar will be revamped and modernized. He also promised to restore the Shiva Mandir in the area which had been established in 1933.

Mr. Chamling promised to provide all modern facilities to the Melli secondary school and directed the officials to process the necessary paperwork.
During his interaction with the local people, the Chief Minister underlined the need to maintain the image of Sikkim as a peaceful State. We must shed our personal interests and work for the holistic development of Sikkim, he said appealing all to come forward and commit themselves to the vision and programmes of the State government.
The Chief Minister completed his three hour long tour of Melli after giving a patient hearing to the grievances of the local people.\\

South Sikkim Gram Sabha approves schemes and demands

Namchi,October3 : Marking the ‘Gram Sabha Year 2009- 2010’, 50th year of Panchayati Raj in India, a Gram Sabha was held on Friday, October 2, here at Maniram Bhanzyang Panchayat Bhawan for the public of 27- Maniram- Singithang Gram Panchayat Unit (GPU) in South Sikkim. The Sabha was presided by the Panchayat President of the GPU Topda Bhutia and attended by the officials from different departments and a good number of villagers. The meeting discussed the various schemes and the demands which the Sabha passed with a majority approval.
Addressing the meeting the Panchayat President Mr. Bhutia informed that the Panchayat of the GPU has decided to provide an Identity Card with the limited validity period to the mini businesspersons who visit the village for business purpose from outside the state. This arrangement, according to him, was done for the safety of the area people.
He said that it has been found in past that the traders from outside the state who often visited the remote areas for business have misbehaved with the innocent people of such remote places, especially with the ladies. “Following such complaints we have decided to provide identity cards to each and every trader, laborer and carpenter from outside the state entering the GPU”, he said.
Mr. Bhutia urged the people of the GPU to ask such persons for the I-card from the Panchayat, for which such traders and laborers will have to register them with the office of Panchayat at Panchayat Bhawan, he added. He further said that now the panchayat will take care of the local people. The I-card holders will also be provided with security from some anti social elements during their stay in the GPU, he said.
He mentioned that to look after the different developmental sections, the panchayat has formed a Standing Committee which will look after the various maters like water Supply, electricity, complaints and grievances, education, health and environment conservation. The meeting was also addressed by Beena Gajmer Vice President, Ramesh Rai, Panchayat Secretary and members Dinesh Pradhan, Hem Kumari Manger, Doma Tamang, Sita Kumari Rai and Ganga Psd. Gajmer who placed the demands of the people of their respective wards. Earlier the meeting was also addressed by the DDO, South LP Chettri and CDPO Namchi who apprised the people of schemes of their respective departments.

BGP constitues committees in South & West Sikkim

GANGTOK, September 13: Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh (BGP) working president CK Shrestha has said that Gorkhas of Sikkim must work in the overall interests of Sikkim as the development of the community is intrinsically linked with the development of a State.
The Gorkhas spread in different corners of the nation should give priority to the development of their States which will automatically be in the interests of the Gorkhas, said the BGP working president yesterday during a district level meeting of BGP at Geyzing in West Sikkim.
During the meeting, Mr. Shrestha briefed the gathering about the principles, programmes and objectives of the umbrella body of the Indian Gorkha community. He stressed that the programmes of BGP is not limited to interests of Gorkha community but also to transform the potential of the community in the development of respective States and the nation. BGP is an initiative to bring up Gorkha community at par with other developed communities of the country, he said.
Mr. Shrestha said that BGP is for the development of the Gorkha community and asserted that setting up the unit of BGP in the State should not be read in political lines.
During the meeting attended by BGP State Committee patron Dr. Kamal Gurung, advisor Raj K Shrestha, general secretary S Pandey and media cell head Prabin Khaling, a district level committee for West Sikkim were formed with the participation of the local people.
A 21 member executive committee of BGP West Sikkim unit was also formed on the occasion. The executive members are BB Rai (advisor), HB Pradhan (president), working president (PB Hingmang), Surat Gurung, Passang Kinga Chodar Sherpa and Narendra Rai (vice presidents), Gopal Tamang (general secretry), Purna Khatiwada, Lakshmi Prasad Gurung, Madhu Sharma and Sundar Pradhan (joint secretaries) and Madhusudhan Gurung (treasurer).
The other remaining executive members are PT Moktan, DR Khadka, PL Sharma, Rudra Kaushik, KN Subba and Saroj Gurung.
Similarly, an interim body of BGP district committee for South Sikkim was also formed today during a meeting at Namchi. The interim body consists of local people of South Sikkim.
The members of the interim committee are Lopsang Lama (patron), KB Rai (advisor), GS Sharma, Champadivash Rai (president), SM Basnet (working president), BS Subba and Naresh Gurung (vice presidents) and Balaram Dhamal as publicity secretary. The interim committee will be formally inducted during the State level meeting of BGP at Ranipool on September 20.

South Sikkim Arms licences suspended before bypoll

Gangtok,August24: The licences of all arms in South district of Sikkim were suspened under the provisions of Arms Act, 1959, till the end of bye-poll for Namchi-Singhithang assembly seat, an official order said today.

The owners of firearms have been directed to deposit their arms licences, arms and ammunition to the nearest police station, it said.

The arms licences issued to the banks in South Sikkim have been kept out of the purview of this directive, the order said

Mrs.Gurung inaugurates a library in South Sikkim

Gangtok,August23: Mrs. Tilu Gurung, Minister of Building and Housing, inaugurated a public library, set up by local educated youths of Karek, South Sikkim, under Namthang-Rateypani Constituency on the occasion of 17th Nepali Language Recognition Day (Bhasa Manyata Diwas, August 20). The library consists of various literary books in Nepali language of different time.
Speaking at the function, chief guest Mrs. Gurung said, every individual and every community is known through their language. “The prosperity of a community is shown by the richness of its mother tongue”, she added. Praising the efforts of local youths, she urged that every Sikkimese should have the thought to work for the state.
She said, culture, language and tradition comprise the identity of any state and because of the richness of Nepali culture and tradition in Sikkim, the state has got its identification among others. As the principal language of Sikkim, Nepali language should be well served and every speaker of it should work for its development, she stressed. She further said, “We have got right leadership of Chief Minister Dr. Pawan Chamling in Sikkim who has the dream to make our state richest among others”.
Two books namely ‘Lakshyahin Pahilaharu’ by Kul Prasad Chettri and ‘Bhav Tarang’ by Namthang Sahitya Samiti’ were released on the occasion by the Minister.

West & South Sikkim Landslides disturb power lines, link roads

NAMCHI, August 20: Following heavy rains and subsequent series of landslides, the 11 KV power lines of Rohtak near Jorethang in South Sikkim has become faulty disrupting power supply in some places of Namchi, Chisopani, Jorethang and Melli this morning.
Minor landslides have also occurred at Melli Chalisey where one kachha house belonging to Khem Bahadur Ghataney has been affected. According to the residents, the house belonging to Khem Bahadur, which has been tilting is likely to affect other nearby houses if the rain continues in the same pace and gravity. “There is a possibility that another house belonging to P Biswakarma located in the same area will be damaged in the same manner,” the locals said.
Later today, the Officer-Incharge of Melli had directed the residents of the area to evacuate the place. However, no casualties have been reported from the incident.
The torrential rains have also affected several roads linking to villages. Some of the damaged roads were cleared within the stipulated time while some roads are under the process of clearance.
As per information received from the office of Disaster Risk Management, the affected roads were Melli to Phong at kilometre 1, kilometre 2, kilometre 6 and kilometre 9.
Similarly Phongla to Mamring road, commonly known as Narak Jhora was also blocked at kilometre 21.
All the road blocks are expected to be cleared by this evening, it is informed.
The Phongla to Bermiok road which was blocked due to huge slide a couple of days back is expected to be cleared by August 24. It is further informed that the road from Melli to Chitrey has been blocked at various stretches and is expected to be cleared by this evening.

Tina Finlease Private Limited buy time again as depositors runs from pillars to post in Namchi & Mangan

NAMCHI, September 21: Tina Finlease Private Limited, a private financial company of Sikkim with its head office at Namchi is once again under the scanner of the local people and the depositors.
The company who during its establishment had promised to provide the depositors with the interest of 48 % annually has now tried to breach the terms by not paying their maturity amount since last December.
Agitated over the delay, the depositors lost their patience and cool when the Managing Director of the company, Bishnu Rai failed to turn at the office here today.
They had been assured by the MD during the meeting on August 9 that they would be paid dues from September 21 onwards.
However, after a long wait, office staffs barring the MD of the company, reached the office at about 1 pm. The staff informed the depositors that Bishnu Rai was at Soreng presently. They also said that he does not have money to pay the due amounts to the depositors. After hearing this, the gathered people started to demand for the immediate release of their money from the management.
When the Public Relation Officer of the company, Pabitra Singh was contacted she informed that the MD has filed an assurance letter at Soreng Police Station where he had stated that he will pay the entire due amounts of the depositors within one month and that he would be summoning a meeting of the agents, office bearers and the directors at Soreng on September 25. The same has been forwarded to the O/C Namchi Police Station by the O/C Soreng and following the same, Bishnu Rai was told by O/C Soreng not to leave Soreng till September 25.
The PRO further informed that the MD has assured to deposit Rs. 7 crore with the Police for the payment of the due amounts as well as gave the permission to sell the entire asset of the company for the rest payment which according to him was of worth Rs. 4 crores.
He has handed a written document to the board of director regarding the transfer of the asset in the name of the company which is in his name.

South Sikkim Affected by Landslides

Jorethang Sept14: The continuous downpour during the past few days has disrupted many places in the South District. According to information received from D.I.C South, the areas in between Jorethang and Melli have been affected by Landslides. In Gairigoan, Jorethang, four families from three houses have been shifted to the Building Department quarters and granted relief funds. Similarly, on 7th September in Mazi Gaon area of Melli, the breakage of a jhora created landslide due to which the S.N.T.office along with the House of Chowkidar have been affected and 12 houses have been damaged out of which 1 is completely damaged and rest are severely damaged. In another area of Melli, called Chalisey, 2 houses have been completely damaged and 14 others severely damaged. The OC of Melli Police Station has started a relief camp in the Melli Bazar where food and shelter are being provided to the affected families. In Melli Dara 5 houses have been fully damaged and 5 severely damaged. Again the daily downpour has affected areas in and around Sumbuk where 3 houses are fully damaged and 11 severely damaged.SDM, Namchi informed that all the affected families have been granted the NC fund according to the NC norms and they have been shifted to safe shelter.He further informed that the route from Damthang to Gangtok via Temi Tarku route from Namthang to Gangtok via Singtam and route to Rabongla via Damthang are open whereas the route from Jorethang to Gangtok via Melli has been disrupted in some places due to landslides. The concerned officials are touring the affected areas constantly and rescue operations are on. There has been no report of loss of lives or livestock or any injuries till now in the above mentioned areas.As in the case of North District, all the major roads connecting North District are open except the road connecting Singtam to Mangan is blocked at Kokaley, lower Tumin. Despite huge landslide at the road connecting Mangan to Chungthang at Lanthey, Lanthey Khola-Shinghik road is also open. All the rural roads within North District are in good condition. The bridge connecting Lachen to Thangu that was swept away by a flash flood last month is under construction. The District Administration North has been taking prompt action for clearance of any road blockage within the districts.

Solophok,South Sikkim : a tourist-cum-culture centre

Gangtok,Sept06: South Sikkim is gearing up for more activities to emerge as a hotspot for tourists. After installation of 135 feet tall statue of Guru Padma Sambhava, a statue of Lord Shiva 108 feet high is in the making opposite to the former at Solophok in South Sikkim. The planning which focuses on providing a comprehensive package of pilgrimage tourism for Hindus, also has in its fold an 18 feet tall statue of Kirateswar, the other nameof Lord Shiva, in the Southern direction.It is in the scheme of things to develop Solophok, which is five kilometer away from District Headquarter Namchi, as a replica of all important Char Dham for Hindus. The sanctum sanctorum of the project was laid in February 2005 by the Governor of Sikkim Mr. V Rama Rao.Over the last 2 years and 7 months since inception, construction of dozens of Jyotirlingam has been completed while Lord Shiva’s statue is being given a final touch. The stream of water (call ganges) to flow from Shiva’s head will be from Rangit river pumped up to the required height! After its completion in about 36 month, the site will be a composite replica of all the four Dhams – Sri Badrinath Dham (north), Sri Ramaswar Dham (south), Sri Jagannath Dham (east) and Sri Dwarka Dham (west).The 108 feet statue of Lord Shiva will be encircled and supported by a girdle of twelve Jyotirlingams. Besides attracting the tourists, the Char Dham spread over 25 acres of scenic and picturesque landscape, will also serve as a cultural centre. The project at an estimated cost of Rs. 34.7 crore is being executed by Hindustan Electrical Construction limited.