No tourist vehicle after 11 a.m to Tsomgo and Nathula allowed

GANGTOK, 05 May: The unreliability of the Jawaharlal Nehru Road [JNR] to Tsomgo and Nathula has proved a major setback for everyone involved in the tourism sector here. Frequent breakdowns in the connectivity status has led to stranded tourists requiring elaborate, and often dangerous, evacuation efforts. Now, the tourism stakeholders and BRO officials have agreed on a timing regime to streamline traffic on this axis to ensure better monitoring for everyone’s convenience.

Vehicles headed for Tsomgo and Nathula are now required to be on their way up by 11 a.m., after which no tourist vehicle will be allowed through the check-post above Gangtok. These vehicles will now have to start the return journey from Tsomgo latest by 3 p.m.
With JN Road blocked at two major trouble spots at 9th Mile and 13th Mile, the road has remained closed for the past three days. With 112 vehicles packed with tourists stranded on the wrong side of the slides on 2 May eventually evacuated, a meeting between all concerned authorities and stakeholders has thought it necessary to streamline responses to such situations.

Even earlier, on the night of 30 April around 90 vehicles packed with tourists had to be rescued, which explains the necessity to amend timings and let the BRO who have been entrusted the job of double- laning, expedite back-cutting works on a “faster-pace”.
At present, an average of 240 tourist vehicles ply from Gangtok to Tsomgo Baba Mandir and another 75 vehicles upto Nathula which is expected to rise to more than 500 vehicles by mid- May, when “season” sets in it is learnt.
All vehicles plying tourists to these most sort-after tourist destinations will be moving along JN Road as per a new time schedule starting tomorrow, Friday.
All tourist and private vehicles will be required to cross over to the destinations by 11am which shall be manned by the security personnel posted at 3 Mile police check-post [the first entry point towards Nathula] and will have to leave Tsomgo Lake at 3pm.
The new rule was decided today at a meeting held between various tourism stake-holders in Gangtok- the Travel Agents Association of Sikkim, JN Road Taxi drivers association, officials of the Border Roads Organisation [BRO] and officials of the police check-posts.
The meeting was attended by the outgoing tourism Secretary, SBS Bhadauria, the new Secretary N.Yethenpa, the Chief Engineer of the BRO’s Project Swastik Brigadier Rajeev Sahani and the TAAS president Lukendra Rasaily.

According to the TAAS President, the “high level” meeting, which is the first of its kind to be organized here informed that the new timings will not only streamline the movement of the tourist vehicles on this road but will also allow the BRO to deploy more manpower and machines to facilitate convenient vehicular traffic, predominantly during the monsoon season which brings landslides along JN Road.

The TAAS president added that a strict adherence to the new time schedule will prevent incidents of the tourists getting stranded due to inclement weather to a large extent.

“A rescue operation orchestrated by additional director, Tourism, Nima Choden, PI. Checkposts, Savatri Pradhan and SI.check-posts, Choley Bhutia on the night of 30 April which evacuated 90 vehicles filled with tourists was commendable and thus we needed to discuss these problems since the road is very unpredictable because of the inclement weather”, informed the TAAS president .

It may be informed that the BRO Chief Engineer after hearing the tribulations during the meeting directed that JCB Excavators will be stationed at three locations between 7th and 17th Mile along the road for immediate clearance of passage. The CE also directed that manpower/ road-gangs along the road will be increased keeping in view the change in timings for entry and exit into JN Road.

The BRO CE, assured that different areas along the road which have now become difficult, for drivers to negotiate because of the heavy slush caused by back cutting works shall also be cleared within six days.

It was also decided that all tourism stakeholders including travel and tour operators strictly adhere to the timings. Vehicles won’t be allowed passage after the specified timings. Further, it was also urged that the operators ensure sensitizing tourists about the change in timings to avoid unforeseen inconveniences.

Representatives of the Police check-posts while sharing their views on the change in timings said that the development would prove to be beneficial during evacuation times since vehicles will move while there was daylight which would help in mobilizing efficient operations. It was also decided that the check-post shall provide permits through advance bookings as well.

The meeting also emphasized on regular and enhanced coordination between all agencies involved for effective rescue operations.

Nathu La-Tsomgo Lake-Baba Mandir circuit fare revised

GANGTOK, August 30: In a bid to protect tourists from being fleeced by ‘jholey’ tour operators and streamline tourism traffic, the State Tourism department has notified the revised rates of package tours along the lucrative Nathu La-Tsomgo Lake-Baba Mandir circuit.
The revised rate of package tours to Tsomgo, Baba Mandir and Nathu La will stand enforced from Tuesday, September 1 as the tourism season for Sikkim approaches.
Most importantly, the revised rates of transportation and other expenses are chargeable by registered travel agents who are registered with the Tourism department which effectively delivers a KO to seasonal tour operators and taxi drivers fishing for tourists for the Nathu La-Tsomgo Lake-Baba Mandir circuit.
The total rate for a package tour to the above three destinations from Gangtok in a Mahindra Max or Sumo is Rs. 5,795 with provisions for 15 percent service charge for the concerned travel agent who has arranged the tour. These include environmental cess of Rs. 2000, transport fees of Rs. 2500 and remaining amount for contingencies.
Traveling in luxury vehicles of SK06 series, an extra Rs. 800 will be charged.
For tourists wishing to go only Kyangsola/Tsomgo Lake in Mahindra Max or Sumo, the travel agent can charge Rs. 2,300 as taxi fares and other expenses including 15 percent service charge on transport cost. For luxury vehicles, an extra Rs. 800 will be charged.
The rate for Baba Mandir tour has been revised to Rs. 2,737 in Mahindra Max with an additional Rs. 800 to be paid in case of luxury vehicles. For vans or cars, the total cost has been revised to Rs. 2117.
“This package rate should be followed strictly”, warns the Tourism department.
At the same time, it may be added here that the above rates are only for registered travel agents, the rates to above destinations for drivers is as per the Motor Vehicle department rates.
Expectedly, the new revised rates have greeted with kushi by local tour operators registered with the Tourism department as they are now entitled to service charges with respect. The rates will also bring discipline and streamline tourism sector, it is said.
Despite much talk about decongesting tourism traffic from Gangtok, the triumvirate of Nathu La-Tsomgo Lake-Baba Mandir still remains the ‘lifeline’ of Sikkim Tourism. Thousands of domestic tourists swarm to these tourism hotspots during peak season like salmons returning back to breed.
And the existence of grizzly bears feeding on the harvest is known when tourists complain of being fleeced or charged exorbitant rates which usually find much space in local media. Introspection of such cons reveals that the tourists had been taken for a ride by opportunistic drivers or fly by night tour operators.
Tourists used to be charged as much as Rs. 8000 for a ride to Tsomgo earlier. Even the collection by Pokheri Sangrakshan Samiti was felt as a burden for the overcharge tourists and it is not seen for what purpose the fees are being collected, it is claimed.
Now, with the much needed official rates for registered tour operators, such undesired incidents may come to a halt. The rates are expected to be displayed prominently in tourism office, tourist information centres and websites for the knowledge of tourists.
The registered tour operators and travel agents are also protected by the new rates from being dragged into unnecessary distractions, it was pointed out.

Tsongmo Lale near Gangtok faces threat of pollution

GANGTOK, 7 AUG: The State Pollution Control Board, Sikkim has warned the government against pollution and hazard to aquatic life in the Tsomgo Lake (Internet photograph) because of certain ongoing construction works in areas adjacent to the lake considered holy in the mountain state.
The SPCB conducted a survey of the lake on 23 July following reports of fish deaths. The SPCB, in its report to the state government mentioned that pollution was observed in the lake along with degradation of water quality. “There is an urgent need for corrective measures to check siltation in the lake caused by road excavation. Silt traps and check dams must be set up immediately,” the report states.
The JN Marg, which runs close to the lake and leads to Nathu La, is being widened. The SPCB has suggested plantation of suitable plants in the area and installation of silt monitoring stations to monitor extent of silt load periodically. The body also suggested study of water on a regular interval and monitoring of air quality and testing of vehicular emission at random during peak tourist season at the Tsogmo Lake. Besides being a major tourist attraction, Tsomgo is also a stopover for migratory birds.
The State PHE and Water Security department is considering the Tsomgo Lake as an alternative water supply source for Gangtok and adjoining areas