SLYA urges Govt to reconsider site proposed for Kali statue

GANGTOK, 21 Jan: Sikkim Lepcha Youth Association [SLYA] has expressed reservations over the site proposed for the construction of a statue of goddess Kali at the Pandim Garhi in Central Pendam, East Sikkim by the state government.
A press release from the association informs that an SLYA team undertook a reconnaissance tour of the area on 20 January and has placed its report with the State government urging it to reconsider the location selected for the proposed construction.
The release mentions that the present site lies within the Pandim Garhi compound considered a heritage site by the Lepchas and “might undermine the sanctity of the centuries old heritage structure and greatly hurt the cultural ethos of the Lepcha people”.
The association has further expressed that in view of the dearth of verifiable chronicles of the Lepcha community that has hampered the reconstruction of the prehistory of Sikkim, such structures as the Pandim Garhi must be preserved.
The release further states that “while acknowledging the unprecedented developments brought about by the present government and its relentless endeavour in transforming Sikkim into one the most popular tourist destinations of India, the organisation vehemently believes that the present government will take a holistic view of the situation and shall come up with new approach that might be devoid of compromising the sanctity of the heritage site”.