Tarul, anyone?

Grand display of Sankranti shopping options at Lall Bazaar, Gangtok [fotos Sagar Chhetri]

Fire breaks out in building near Lall Bazaar flyover

GANGTOK, 19 Nov: Prompt action by neighbours and the Gangtok Fire Station team helped avert a major disaster in the capital this morning. A fire broke out on the first floor of an RCC building situated some distance below the Lall Bazaar fly-over across NH 31A this morning at around 11 AM.
This flat, on the first floor of a four-storied building, belongs to one Tenzing Yangchen and fortunately no one was present in the house when the incident occurred.  It is informed that those residing on the upper floors and nearby neighbours noticed smoke coming out of the flat and proceeded to break the lock on the main door and take out an LPG cylinder from the house and tried to control the fire.
In the meantime, a Gangtok Fire Station team led by Fire Station Officer, Subash Subba reached the spot with one fire tender and 2 AFT backpacks and immediately started firefighting operations and later the operation was also joined by Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Gangtok Fire Station, Prakash Rai. After an hour long effort, the fire was totally brought under control.
DCFO, Mr Rai informed that the fire destroyed the belongings in the kitchen and bedroom, however, it was brought under control before it could spread to other rooms on the floor. He added that the fire could have turned into a major disaster if it was not controlled in time.
Mr Rai urged people especially of the urban areas to be alert and follow fire safety measures to avoid such incidents. He pointed out that there are many congested narrow stairs and passages in many buildings in the capital and in such case residents should ensure proper management to minimize risks.

Left out hawkers demand stalls at Lall Bazaar

ALL SIKKIM HAWKERS ASSOC PLACES 3-POINT DEMAND WITH UD&HD
GANGTOK, 28 May: The All Sikkim Hawkers Association [ASHA] today marched in strength to the Urban Development and Housing Department [UD&HD], their numbers making a veritable gherao, demanding allotment of stalls to the left out hawkers totaling around 125 at the Kanchanjunga Shopping Complex [erstwhile Lall Bazaar].
Addressing the media, the ASHA vice president, Lakpa Sherpa, informed that in the year 2006, the hawkers and traders of old Lall Bazaar were promised a stall each at the new complex by the department, but after completion of the construction work only 262 hawkers and 225 traders were allotted stalls while 125 hawkers were left without any allotment.
These 125 hawkers possess trade licenses but are operating at Lall Bazaar without any proper stalls. The association representatives, in their meeting with UD&HD officials placed a three-point charter of demands seeking stall allotment orders for the left out within a week, 2002 to be made the cut-off year for the allotment of space or stalls in the complex and the conditions placed by the Gangtok Municipal Corporation or UD&HD on allotments to hawkers be lifted.
Mr. Sherpa iterated that the department, in the year 2006, had promised that stalls would be allotted to the left out hawkers and stressed that until and unless the problem is solved, it will keep creeping up in regular intervals.
At today’s meeting, the UD&HD is informed to have asked the protesting hawkers for the document in which the department had assured allotment to the left out, as claimed by the hawkers.
The association on the other hand has also expressed gratitude towards the GMC Mayor for setting up the vegetable market at Lall Bazaar, which according to them, the GMC accomplished in a span of four days, a task that the UD&HD could not do in the past six years.

Fire razes shop near Lall Bazaar

GANGTOK, 15 Mar: A major disaster was averted here today when a fire in a closed shop near Lall Bazaar was doused in time. The shop is situated opposite the Lall Bazaar Shopping Complex.
Today being a Thursday, shops in and around the Lall Bazaar were closed for the day. It was only when neighbours saw smoke coming out from the shop in question, that they immediately alerted the Fire and Emergency Services.
Upon receiving the information, the Gangtok Fire Station crew rushed to the spot with one fire tender and one AFT and started the operations. The firemen brought the flames under control within 25 minutes and stopped the blaze from spreading further. The entire firefighting exercise however took longer and it was only after an hour that the fire was completely put out.
“We received the call at around 1 P.M. and immediately sent three Fire teams to douse the fire,” informed Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Prakash Rai, while speaking to the media later. The shop had old wiring which caught fire due to a short circuit, he said.
“Because we received the call in time the fire personnel were able to reach in time and douse the fire,” he said, adding that by the time the fire personnel arrived, local people were also doing their bit in putting out the fire.
“It is propitious that nothing major happened and there was no loss to life. The fire personnel have done a good job by responding immediately and putting out the fire in time,” commented SDPO [East], DSP Ongmu Bhutia, while speaking to the media.
The building belongs to Purna Bahadur Rai, while the shop which caught fire was being run by Nanda Kishore Prasad for the past 25-30 years. The shop was not occupied at the time and was being used as a godown. A room at the back was under renovation to be appointed as a sweets shop soon. A tailoring shop adjacent to the shop was lucky not to catch fire.
A desktop computer [the CPU was completely burnt], home theatre, gym equipment a wooden alimarh, important papers were some of the items lost in the fire. Sikkim Police personnel and neighbours also helped in the firefighting operation.

SBS opens its 29th branch at Kanchenjunga Shopping Complex

GANGTOK, 24 Feb: State Bank of Sikkim’s 29th branch in the state was inaugurated by the Human Resource Development Minister, NK Pradhan at the Kanchenjunga Shopping complex today. In his address, the HRD Minister stressed that SBS has a huge role to play in the overall development of the state and the bank is a partner in the development of the state.
He urged the businessmen of Kanchenjunga Shopping complex to support the branch by opening their accounts in the bank. He further urged the bank to help out small businessmen by providing loans with proper verification.
SBS Chairman, LM Lepcha informed that the bank was established by the Chogyal in 1968 and later was taken up by the State government in 1983. He informed that the bank now has a total of 29 branches across the state including the head office and 26 of its branches are fully computerized.
Earlier in his welcome address, SBS Managing Director, Vishal Chauhan said that SBS has witnessed an increase in the number of branches and customers in the last two years. He informed that the bank has opened its branches at Kabi BAC, Sang and Parakha and now this new branch at Kanchenjunga Shopping complex. He further informed that the bank is still working hard to increase the number of branches and customers.
The inaugural function concluded with the vote of thanks by SBS Chief General Manager, Karma Gyatso Bhutia.

Sikkim Bihari Jagaran Manch constitutes women’s wing

GANGTOK, 22 Feb: Sikkim Bihari Jagaran Manch, Lall Bazaar branch has constituted its women’s wing headed by Saroj Devi Prasad as the president, Poonam Devi Gupta as vice-president, Nibha Devi Jha as general secretary and Soni Devi Thakur as assistant general secretary.
This was announced at a press conference of the Manch, which was jointly addressed by its president, Suresh Prasad, vice-president, Bijay Kumar Kesari and general secretary, Ashwini Jha.
Likewise, the Lall Bazaar branch also conducted elections for the vacant posts of assistant general secretary and treasurer under the supervision of its central committee. M Thakur was chosen as the new assistant general secretary and Arbind Gupta as treasurer of the Lall Bazaar branch.
Today, the executive members of the Manch also congratulated the team members of Anzac Cricket Club of Lall Bazaar for winning the Late Dawa Namgyal Cricket Memorial Cup recently at Pangthang. The team defeated Tashi Namgyal Senior Secondary School team in the final match.

Gandhi Shilp Bazar opens at Kanchendzonga Shopping Complex

GANGTOK, 21 Feb [IPR]: Gandhi Shilp Bazar 2011-12 was inaugurated by the Zilla Panchayat Adhyaksha, East District Zilla Panchayat, Bimal Dawari here at the roof top of the Kanchendzonga Shopping Complex, Gangtok today.
The trade fair which show cases the handloom products of the country will have participants from all round the country and also representatives from the various Self Help Groups of the state with their handlooms and handicrafts products. The trade fair inaugurated on 21 February will conclude on 29 February 2012.
The fair has been sponsored by office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India and organized by the Sikkim Handicrafts & Handloom Development Corporation Ltd., Zero Point, Gangtok.

Lall Bazaar Fish Market to get a Rs. 45 lakh revamp

GANGTOK, 19 Jan: A more hygienic and modern Domestic Fish Market with all required facilities is slated to come up at the existing Fish Market at Lall Bazaar soon. Costing a total of Rs 45 lakh, of which 90% has been provided by the National Fisheries Development Board [NFDB] and the rest by the State, the project will be executed by the UD&HD.
Speaking to NOW! today, the Deputy Director, Directorate of Fisheries, RP Sharma, informed that this market will be a highly hygienic one with proper cold storage facilities and other required facilities.
He informed that the market will have a temperature control facility where fish can be kept for around 15 days in ‘fresh’ condition. The market will have eight stalls. He further added that the project will be executed by the UD&HD and the Fisheries Directorate has already transferred the funds to the UD&HD to start the project.
He also informed that experts from NFDB and other agencies have consulted with the UD&HD for the project.
Mr. Sharma stated that the department has been trying to encourage local fishermen by giving priority and facilities in different fields and through different programmes.
The Deputy Director also pointed out that fish has a huge market in the state with a demand of 1,100 metric tonnes per year, so it is a good option in income generation for locals here.
He also spoke on the different initiatives of the Directorate towards encouraging fisheries in the state. License is issued to fishermen at a nominal fee of Rs 100 for 12 months for Rod and Line and Rs 150 for 12 months for cast net.
To encourage such fishermen who have been continually renewing their licenses to earn their livelihood through fishing, the Directorate has identified 40 such progressive fishermen who will be provided with Rs. 50,000 each under the Fishermen Welfare Scheme for constructing their houses. The houses will cost Rs 1 Lakh each, wherein the remaining Rs 50,000 has to be contributed by the fisherman.
Another public-oriented scheme run by the State is the provision of financial assistance for constructing a fish pond of 100 sq mtr in area and 1 mtr in depth with 500 fish seedlings. This project costs Rs 60,000, in which the state provides Rs 30,000 while the rest of the amount has to be met by the beneficiary.
Mr. Sharma mentioned that this kind of project has high production levels, which produces at least 200 kg of fish per pond every year and it has been doing well in different parts of the state. It gives good returns to the beneficiaries at a low cost and involving less labour, he added.

Fire razes three stalls at Lall Bazaar

GANGTOK, 18 Dec: A fire broke out on the first floor of the Kanchenjunga Shopping Complex [Lall Bazaar] early morning on Saturday reducing three aloo-chewra shops to ashes. Thanks to prompt action by the Gangtok Fire Station, the fire was stopped from spreading to other shops on the first floor. As per preliminary investigation, a short circuit is being seen as the reason behind the fire.