CM inspects infrastructure development work at SGC Tadong

DIRECTS DEPARTMENT TO PREPARE DPR ON THOUROUGHFARE PROBLEM, ANNOUNCES 2 NEW BUSES FOR THE COLLEGE
SAGAR CHHETRI
GANGTOK, 14 Mar: Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, accompanied by the HRDD Minister, NK Pradhan, UDHD Minister, DB Thapa who is also the area MLA, and Chief Secretary Karma Gyatso, visited the Sikkim Government College, Tadong today.
The objective of the visit was to inspect the ongoing infrastructure development works in the campus and to resolve the long pending problem of the thoroughfare faced by the people living in the periphery of the college. The people living in this area have been facing the problem of thoroughfare as the road they use passes through the campus. The people have hence been demanding an alternative road towards the colony in the periphery of the college.
The Chief Minister, after listening to the problem, directed the concerned department to take a holistic approach and prepare a comprehensive project report to solve the problem once and for all. Sanctity and security of the college should not be a compromise while preparing the project report, the Chief Minister stressed.
Further, college being a public property illegal interference and encroachment of college land should be dealt with very seriously, he directed. In this regard, he also urged the people to take the responsibility of maintaining the sanctity of the educational institution.
“The government is trying its best to give world class educational facility to the students but the responsibility has to be borne by the people as well. It is very much important that the mindset of the people changes,” the Chief Minister added.
While going through the details of the ongoing construction work and advising the engineers and the contractors on quality issues, the Chief Minister directed the Human Resource Development Department for up-gradation, carpeting and proper drainage system of the existing road inside the college premises. Stating that quality should not be compromised at any cost he added, “We are trying to make our state a model in every aspect and people from every walk of life should give their cooperation for this job. The students should take the social responsibility and voice their grievances on issues of quality”.
Later, in his interaction with lecturers and students, the Chief Minister stated that the present work, projects and schemes of the government were aimed towards ensuring a better future for the people of Sikkim. On the same, he stressed that equal contribution and participation by the students and people of the state would help the government reach its mission to make Sikkim a model state.
Speaking on saturation of government jobs, the CM stated that if the people accepted this reality, then half of the problems would be solved because ample opportunities had been created in other sectors. The State is trying to move in the direction of developed countries and the students should reset their mindsets accordingly and aim big and not get misguided by negative and irresponsible elements, said the CM.
The CM also encouraged the students to contribute to the government’s effort towards ensuring quality education and to be responsible towards the state by guiding and supervising it towards prosperity.
Responding to the college’s demands, the CM announced 2 new buses and one bus each to other government colleges across the state except the Gyalshing Degree College. He also directed the PHE Department to set up drinking water facilities for the students in the college campus. He assured to provide audio-visual facility and computers to the college and to work on every other demand placed by the college.
Directing the heads of different departments to prepare a comprehensive DPR to work on the needs of the college he said that all fund provisions will be considered under the Vote of Accounts.
The College Principal, Dr MP Kharel highlighted the various requirements of the college and urged the concerned departments to complete the ongoing works within the scheduled time. Likewise, lecturers and students also spoke on the various needs of the students and the college.
The Chief Minister was also accompanied by his Political Advisor, KN Rai, District Collector [East], D Anandan, SDM Gangtok, Dr AB Karki, Councilors, heads of various government departments and local gentries.

BBF aids infrastructure development at Singhik

MANGAN, 27 Jan: Among the infrastructural developments taken up by Bhavishya Bharat Foundation (BBF) with the support of hydel developer Teesta Urja Ltd, a Gumpa kitchen was constructed at Singhik.
This kitchen was handed over to the Singhik Gumpa Management Committee on 24 January, inaugurated by Panchayat President, Singhik-Kazor GPU, Achung Lepcha. The Panchayat President in his address thanked Bhavishya Bharat Foundation for supporting infrastructure development, livelihood, education and health care.
State Coordinator (BBF), Nawraj Gurung in his address, detailed the activities undertaken by BBF in the project villages. He requested for the community’s participation in the “Amoa Atil” (Mother’s Enterprise) program being initiated by the BBF in the project villages.
He also stressed that developmental intervention by external development agencies does produce sustainable impact provided the local community comes forward and participates in the development process.
Panchayat President, Panchayat Secretary, Panchayat Member of Kazor and Singhik, Gumpa Committee, Teesta Urja Ltd representative, BBF official and villagers were present at the inaugural function.

Tourism infrastructure to get a boost with slew of projects on the anvil

GOVT LOOKING AT ESTABLISHING ANOTHER IHM AS IT TAKES UP SEVERAL TOURISM INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS 
GANGTOK, 13 Jan: The State government is looking at starting another hotel management institute in the State, it is informed. A new Institute of Hotel Management is to come up in the Hathi-Dhunga block of West Sikkim, constructed by the Tourism Department.
The Department, it is learnt, has already begun the process of acquiring nearly 4 hectares of land in the area. If it does come up, this will be the second IHM in the State, the first being the one at Rumtek. In fact it is informed that more and more youth are being attracted to the hospitality industry and especially with Sikkim being a tourist state the government is promoting this particular sector so that more youth can find gainful employment.
Several projects have been initiated by the State government through the Tourism department for the promotion of tourism and tourism-related infrastructure here in the past couple of months, it is further learnt.
The government plans to develop a hot spring in Dzongu, with the Tourism Department having put up such a proposal to be taken up in Lingdem block of Upper Dzongu in North Sikkim for tourism promotion in the area.
For this purpose, the Department is in the process of acquiring land in the area.
The Tourism department, in its endeavour to promote tourism in Sikkim, is also in the process to develop tourism related infrastructure at Luing near Gangton in East Sikkim for which it is acquiring another 3 hectares of land.
In addition to this, the department is also acquiring another around 2.5 hectares for the development of a tourism project at Simick, East Sikkim.
A Heliport, car park along with an approach road is also being constructed by the department at Ringhem above Mangan in North Sikkim. A tourist resort is being constructed at Deu, South Sikkim on half a hectare plot and the construction of a car parking facility near Rumtek Gumpa is also being undertaken.
Other projects being undertaken by the department include the installation of a ropeway station at Namchi bazaar and Singithang, South Sikkim. A Tenzing Hillary Park is also being developed at Maneybong, Uttarey, West Sikkim for which 4 hectares land was recently acquired by the department.

Update on status of infrastructure and repairs

GANGTOK, 21 Sept: The Sunday temblor littered Sikkim with destroyed infrastructure and the assessment remains a work in progress, working simultaneously with the relief and rescue efforts. The Information & Public Relations Department, Govt of Sikkim, has released the following update:
Roads: There has been much damage inflicted on the road infrastructure. The National Highway 31-A which had been blocked by slides on Sunday night was opened the next day.
The road to North Sikkim has been restored up to the District headquarters, Mangan. The road from Mangan to Lingzya in Dzongu has been restored.

Pedestrian flyovers to keep walking safe

SUBASH RAI
GANGTOK, 15 April: The Urban Development & Housing Department has begun initiatives to avert accidents involving pedestrians along the National Highway, especially at junctions approaching schools areas.
Work on the long pending demand for a flyover at Deorali has begun; the project pegged at an estimated Rs. 6 crores.
“We are hopeful that this four-way pedestrian flyover will be ready for public use by August this year,” the UD&HD Minister, DB Thapa, informs.
He further informed that two more flyovers, one each at the Tashi Namgyal Academy gate and Tadong Senior Secondary School, will be initiated within this financial year itself.

Inconsiderate delay shunts kids at Sanganathan into tin-shed classrooms!

This 'stall' is class III at Sanganath Secondary School

A classroom of the primary section of Sanganath Secondary School

PURAN TAMANG
NAMCHI: When the primary sections students enrolled at the Government Secondary School, Sanganath, returned to school for a new academic session this year, they were directed to an establishment even more ramshackle than infrastructure imposed on students in rural Sikkim – a row of tin shed erected on the playground, much like the dusty stalls during a village fair. And it is sitting in these sheds that they continue to take their classes because an inconsiderate delay by the Human Resource Development Department has ensured that the primary section of the school, torn down because it had become unsafe, could not be constructed in time. The delay has still not been resolved, and one look at the stalls which pass off as classrooms here will send a shudder down one’s spine when one also factors in the monsoons which are on the anvil. Not only will this contraption be unsafe in the event of high winds and strong downpour, but the slush in the “classrooms” and the cacophony of rain battering on the GCI sheets will make even conversations between bench-mates impossible, provided, that is, that the structure can withstand the rain.
Quality education, if that is even a concern for the concerned authorities, escapes the school every day, sticking as irritating dust which the students return home covered in from school.