Road to Lachung to be restored within 12 days

MANGAN, 24 Aug:  The road to Lachung [yes, there needs to be a road somewhere in the landslide shown above] will be restored within the next 12 days informed Chief Engineer BRO, Rajiv Sawney while speaking to NOW! today.
Around 150 metres of road formation a few kilometres short of Lachung has been washed away by a landslide and undertaking restoration work has been very difficult, the CE said.
BRO is carrying out restoration with the deployment of more excavators and JCBs at the spot to reconstruct the road formation.  The road here at Khedum was blocked by new landslides that occurred here on 06 August this month due to heavy rain.
The people of Lachung have to undertake transhipment at this spot with a one-hour walk on foot above the slide and there are further difficulties in transhipment of essential commodities, informed the Pipon of Lachung, Karma Lachungpa.
It may be mentioned here that around 500 metres of road here was damaged by a slide triggered by last year’s earthquake and this year the road has been blocked by a new slide that has occurred next to the previous slide.
Meanwhile, the people of Lachung have demanded the construction of an alternate road towards the left bank of the river.

Power Minister tours still cut-off Bey-Pentong in Dzongu

EXPRESSES DISSATISFACTION WITH SLOW PACE OF ROAD RESTORATION WORKS
MANGAN, 18 April: During his two-day tour of the isolated areas of Upper Dzongu especially Bey and Pentong villages under Sakyong-Pentong GPU, the area MLA, Power Minister Sonam Gyatso Lepcha, expressed dissatisfaction over the slow progress of road restoration works by the PWD. The villages of Bey and Pentong remain cut-off even after seven months since the September earthquake.
This shows the slackness and negligence on the part of the PWD department, the Minister said.
Several villages of Sakyong-Pentong GPU have been cut off denying access to even basic facilities ever since the earthquake brought along a wave of destruction to this area. The restoration of roads is still underway at Lingzya where there are several slides which need to be cleared and new road formations cut out. The road between Lingzya and Bey which is barely 4kms was severely damaged in last year’s earthquake.
On being asked about the course of action that will follow his visit, the Minister said that he will submit the overall report to the Chief Minister and take other necessary steps.
Also part of the entourage till Bey village were SDM Mangan, PW Lepcha, Zilla member, Sakyong-Pentong, Toknam Lepcha, Panchayat Secretary, Nima Lepcha, representatives of Confederation of Indian Industry headed by Laxmi Limbu Kaushal and Khurshid Dar, Head CII. The entourage walked on foot from 12th Mile till Pentong village which took two days to cover.
The Minister also took stock of the status of under construction projects of the Chief Minister’s Rural Housing Mission in the area and urged every beneficiary to carry out the work focusing on quality and quantity as well. He also met senior citizens of the village in order to learn about their problems. The Minister also enquired whether relief money had been handed over to the affected families.
A short function was held at Gram Prasashan Kendra, Pentong where he held a meeting with local panchayat and the general public. The Zilla member, Toknam Lepcha placed a demand petition of the GPU on behalf of the people regarding up gradation of the ropeway and restoration of road till Bey at the earliest.
While addressing the villagers here, the Minister said that the panchayat being the representative of the village should play an important role in the development of the village and for the proper utilisation of the programmes and policies of the government. He further added that CRHM houses constructed in the area should be earthquake resistant.
As the Bey village is located amidst ample greenery, the Minister urged the villagers to opt for eco-tourism and home stays which can be a permanent source of income in the area. He also directed the concerned panchayat and the health staff to organize some health awareness programme in the village.
While highlighting the issue of panchayat election, the Minister said that there would be 50% reservation for women in the upcoming panchayat election and also said that people should not disturb the peaceful environment of the village on the issue of panchayat election.
The Minister also visited the Ringpi Bridge between 12th Mile and Pentong which was in a dilapidated condition and announced that the reconstruction of the bridge has already been sanctioned. He also announced that four houses damaged by the earthquake at Pentong village will be covered under the Prime Minister’s relief fund.

Centre clears Rs. 1,269.15 cr for earthquake rehabilitation

MORE FUNDS TO COME FOR PROJECT SPECIFIC DPRs BY INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS FOR RESPECTIVE MINISTRIES
GANGTOK, 15 March: The State government has been sanctioned a total of Rs. 1,269.15 crore, as of now, by the central government as package for the rebuilding and restoration measures to be undertaken in the wake of the 18 September earthquake. This also includes the Rs. 1,000 crore package announced by the Prime Minister during his Sikkim visit after the earthquake. Of this sanction, the state has received Rs. 296 crore thus far, it is informed.  The remaining amount is expected to be released with the submission of detailed project reports by the respective departments.
It is informed that the DPRs of most of the line departments have been submitted. With this formality completed, it is expected that the remaining amount, along with further funds under different schemes, will now be released in the next financial year.
Apart from the Rs. 296 crore, the state has also received Rs. 227.51 crore from the National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF) which was sanctioned to the State to undertake immediate relief and restoration measures such as the restoration of power lines, road network, classrooms etc. Another Rs. 41.64 crore was released for restoring rural water supply infrastructure in the state.
The total amount so received as of now is against the DPR amounting to Rs. 1,471 crore put up by the state government. It is informed that departments such as PHE and others are also in the process of preparing special detailed project reports for submission to their relevant ministries in the central government for special sanction of funds. The total amount will depend on the final preparation of the DPRs and their evaluation by the central ministries.
Of the Rs. 1,000 crore sanctioned by the central government under the Prime Minister’s package and of which Rs. 96 crore has been received, Rs. 193 crore is for the rebuilding and reconstruction of the damaged Tashiling secretariat; Rs. 391 crore for rural housing woks; Rs. 216 crore for roads; Rs. 170 crore for reconstruction of damaged buildings including school and other government buildings and Rs. 30 crores for restoration and rehabilitation of drinking water supply in different areas in the state.

Governor apprised of State Government’s strategy to restore and rebuild earthquake damaged monasteries

GANGTOK, 14 Mar: A presentation on the State Government’s strategy to restore and rebuild the monasteries damaged during the 18th September 2011 earthquake was made before the Governor of Sikkim, BP Singh by the representatives of the Ecclesiastical Department, Cultural and Heritage Affairs Department and Building and Housing Department at Raj Bhavan Winter Camp today.
The representatives were led by the Additional Chief Secretary, R Ongmu and the presentation was made by Additional Town Planner, UDHD, Devika Chettri.
According to a press release issued by the Governor’s PRO, Mr Singh was informed that the Ecclesiastical Department had received reports of damages from 326 monasteries. Acting on the reports, the Ecclesiastical Department and the Building and Housing Department had undertaken a joint survey of monasteries. Following this, the Building and Housing Department has submitted detailed project reports for restoration, repair and minor retrofitting of 124 monasteries to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Government of India.
The Government of Sikkim has recognised 6 monasteries (Ringhim, Chawang,  Tashiding, Chungthang, Hungri and Tholung) as critically damaged and accordingly, DPRs for restoration works have been submitted to the Culture Ministry of the Central Government. The restoration process is being planned by involving the experts and also through design research, mapping and documentation, the release mentions.
The Governor emphasised that the monasteries in Sikkim lend a unique identity to it among the union of States. The State should do its best to ensure that the sanctity and beauty of the monasteries are maintained.
The release further informs that the Governor directed the Building and Housing Department to ensure that the restored and reconstructed monasteries, be made earthquake resistant. He also called for involvement of the local communities in the rebuilding process.
The Governor also expressed the need to create inventories of all the relics in the monasteries, the release adds.

JICA commits Rs 13 crore towards earthquake restoration

GANGTOK, 23 Jan: The State Forest Department has received formal approval from Japan International Cooperation Agency [JICA] for funds of Rs 13.12 crore to restore damage suffered by departmental infrastructure in the 18 September earthquake.
With JICA’s approval confirmed on 12 Jan, the Forest Department has pulled out its application seeking a similar fund from the Union Government for repairing earthquake damaged infrastructures, said Forest Secretary, ST Lachungpa in a press conference today.
Mr Lachungpa said that in the aftermath of the 18 September earthquake a detailed project report on restoration and renovation of departmental infrastructure damaged was prepared and submitted to JICA for funds. The restoration works are likely to commence by February, added Mr Lachungpa.
Additional PCCF and JICA assisted Sikkim Biodiversity and Forest Management Project Director, Anil Mainra informed that since major restoration works will be taken under JICA funding, the Union Government has expressed its willingness to fund the left over works under Integrated Forest Management System.
Two representatives of JICA will be visiting Sikkim on 30 Jan for a five-day trip during which they will assess the damages and funding estimated in our report, said Mr Mainra.
Mr Mainra further informed that the earthquake restoration fund of Rs 13.12 crore will come from the JICA project he explained that the JICA funding is done in the Japanese Yen which currently has a strong value in Indian currency. This fluctuation of rates in Yen and Indian Rupee and the profit derived through this has increased the total JICA funding for the project by 10-15%.

BRO to restore Old Rangchang Bridge for traffic

Repair work gets underway on the old Rangchang bridge

GANGTOK, 20 Dec: The top priority of the Border Roads Organisation, under which is the Garrison Reserve Engineering Force (GREF) falls, is to restore connectivity to North Sikkim though Singtam via Dikchu as it is a vital link for the locals as well as power developers and not least the army.

CM directs permanent restoration works to begin within a week

CHIEF MINISTER’S NORTH SIKKIM TOUR
GANGTOK, 30 Oct: The CM during his tour of the affected areas of North Sikkim stated that permanent restoration works would soon begin in the area. So far temporary restoration works were only being undertaken but now with the situation returning to normal the restoration works would be permanent. He further expressed that such work should start within one week’s time. 

Govt hopeful that supplementary assistance will be released soon

GANGTOK, 24 Oct: The State Government is hopeful that a good part of the demand for supplementary assistance sought from the Central government under the Natural Calamity Contingency Fund will be released by the Central government within the next few days.

Sikkim seeks Rs. 2,811 crore under NCCF for repairs and rehabilitation

GANGTOK, 24 Oct: Finally, and at long last, and after much confusion, the actual repair estimates [for immediate restoration and rehabilitation] for the damage suffered in 18 September Earthquake for the State have been ascertained and this figure is just under Rs. 3,000 crore. The estimate for immediate, short term repairs and rehabilitation is Rs. 2,811.99 crore.

STATUS REPORT ON OF ROADS AS ON 10 Oct

GANGTOK, 17 Oct: The massive earthquake that rocked the State on 18 September 2011 caused a number of major and minor damages to the road network. Many bridges were also affected and connectivity snapped to a great extent. The continuous rainfall thereafter further aggravated the situation and hampered relief and rescue operations as well.

Visiting architects brief officials on restoration work underway at Tsuklakhang monastery

GANGTOK: Restoration work is underway on the frescoes at Tsuklakhang Monastery situated in the palace premises here in the capital. The task is being carried out by two restoration architects who have worked on conservation of Tibetan architecture - Andre Alexander from Germany and Anca Nicolaescu from Paris on the invitation of the Tsuklakhang Trust.
The two architects Friday sat in an informal meet with officials from various state government departments, engineers, architects and officials from the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology. The architects made a power-point presentation on the conservation work underway at the Tsuklakhang Monastery.

Restoration brings shine back to frescoes at Tsuklakhang

AMEET OBEROI
GANGTOK: Restoration work is underway on the frescoes at the Tsuklakhang Monastery situated in the palace premises here in the capital. The restoration is being overseen by two respected architects who have worked extensively on conservation of Tibetan architecture - Andre Alexander from Germany and Anca Nicolaescu from Paris, who are in Sikkim on the invitation of the Tsuklakhang Trust.
“This is my first project in Sikkim, but I have worked eight years in Ladakh and another seven in Tibet and also head the Tibet Heritage Fund,” informed Andre, who has studied Tibetan Architecture in Lhasa and is a Conservationist Architect.