Area MLA takes Department Heads on spot visit to Bey-Pentong in Upper Dzongu WANGCHUK BHUTIA

DIKCHU, 27 Oct: The Power Minister cum MLA Dzongu, Sonam Gyatso Lepcha along with the heads of departments comprising of Secretary RMDD, DR Nepal, Secretary Tourism, C Zangpo, S/E Road & Bridges N/E Chetraj Mishra, officials from various departments, Gram Vikash Adhikari Dzongu, panchayat and zilla members trekked to Bey, Pentong villages in Upper Dzongu, North Sikkim on 26 and 27 October. This is the first visit by departmental heads to the area.
On the first day of the tour, the team visited the transit point near Namprikdang and at Kurnut where the Power Minister suggested that bungee jumping prospects be explored for adventure tourism development. Responding to this, the Tourism Secretary informed that for bungee jumping, a bridge has to be constructed first.
The entourage also visited the Lingzya waterfalls where it was pointed out that upgradation work would have to be undertaken by the Tourism Department.
The team further visited Bey village, where the department decided that car parking facility and other facilities could be developed since it falls on the way to Tholung monastery.
In the evening, a short function was held at Pentong among the local people and the panchayat where panchayat secretary, Namdup Lepcha delivered the welcome speech. The function started with a traditional puja performed by a Bongthing (Lepcha priest).
In his address, the SE Road and Bridges, Chetraj Mishra informed that the Department hopes to complete the new Bey-Pentong road and that Rs. 8 crore has been estimated for the widening and protection work of Lingzya-Bey road for which the DPR has already been completed.
Likewise, the Secretary Tourism, C Zangpo informed that many spots for rural tourism have been identified but some of the works may not be taken up immediately due to road connectivity problems. Facilities like car parking and waste management would be developed at Bey since it fall on the way to Tholung monastery, he further informed. He added that Rs 130 lakh will be utilised for construction of footpath, car parking, public toilet at Tholung, etc. Construction of public toilet facility at Tholung will be started in the next two days, it was added.
The ward panchayat, Dup Tshering Lepcha requested for the provision of additional funds for cost incurred in carrying construction material for REDRH and CMRHM schemes to areas which are inaccessible by road.
Secretary RMDD, DR Nepal informed that the construction of CMRHM and REDRH has been delayed due to the delay in supply of materials and added that the department has now asked beneficiaries who are yet to start construction to purchase construction material themselves. The Secretary said that the people of Sakyong-Pentong will be given priority when they visit the department’s office at Gangtok for any official work in view of the time and trouble it takes for them to travel.
The Power Minister while addressing the function informed that since the Sakyong-Pentong GPU is inaccessible, the government has given priority to the village and more houses under CMRHM and REDRH are being provided to the villagers along with several other developmental schemes. Many development projects in the area are also in the pipeline, he said and further appealed to the people to be more active.
On the second day, the team visited the Pentong Primary School and the ropeway area below Pentong for the construction of a suspension bridge.

Leek forest-fire under control

MANGAN, 09 Dec: The forest fire in the jungle above Leek village in Dzongu where a fighter jet had crashed last week is now under control, informed TW Lachungpa, Range Officer Forest, Territorial Division. The village, he informed is in no danger any more.

Forest fire sparked by jet crash continues, keeps Leek villagers worried

A NOW! file-foto of 01 December of the smoke billowing from the Jaguar Jet crash above Leek in North Sikkim. The crash has sparked a forest fire which continues to simmer on the slopes above Leek and has also damaged some cardamom plantations in the area.

MANGAN, 07 Dec: Residents of Leek village in Upper Dzongu are a worried lot - the fire that erupted in the forest above their village after an Indian Air Force Jet crashed there last week is still active and spreading. The fire has already damaged cardamom fields of some villagers, it is learnt.
Cardamom fields in the Chobum area belonging to Kolukchung Lepcha and Bahadur Lepcha have been damaged by the fire. Partial damage is also reported from the cardamom fields of Dichen Lepcha, Lha Tshering Lepcha and Sonam Gyatso Lepcha.
The villagers are worried that the fire could pose a threat to their village if it is allowed to continue unabated.  It is not possible to douse the fire as there are no water sources in the affected forest area and it is not possible to carry water from this village which is almost 6 kms away, informed ex-panchayat of Leek village, Nimtso Lepcha while speaking to NOW!.
From Passingdang village, it takes a two-hour trek to reach Leek, which comprises of around 20 houses under Safo-Passingdang GPU in Upper Dzongu.

JNU’s KCRR engages earthquake affected in post-disaster deliberations

MANGAN, 01 Mar:  The Khushi Centre for Rehabilitation & Research (KCRR) of the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, in coordination with the Sikkim Lepcha Youth Association, Sikkim University and support of the State Government, organized a special interactive programme for earthquake affected people of North Sikkim at Lingzya, Upper Dzongu on 29 Feb and at Mangan community hall on 01 March.
The programme here started with a welcome address by Panu Pazo, PhD Fellow, JNU.  The chief guest, DM (N), TN Kazi, in his address, focused on the 18 September earthquake and its impact on Sikkim with special focus on North district. He also took the opportunity to underline the importance of preparedness and also thanked all who helped in the extensive rescue, rehabilitation & restoration efforts after the earthquake.
Dr. Bimal Ghimire of Sikkim University spoke on post disaster management, while the Director, KCRR, Saket Mani, addressing the Relief & Rehabilitation session, stressed the need to understand and address the importance of health requirements, sharing of responsibilities and positive counselling for shock & trauma in a post-disaster scenario.
The programme concluded with an interaction session and signature campaign. The programme was also attended by Mangan Nagar Panchayat President, KJ Bhutia, Councillor PK Malu, teachers, Mangan Senior Secondary School students and members of SLYA & Sikkim Youth.

Two youth missing; 1 dead in Upper Dzongu

GANGTOK, 01 Feb: In another incident 3 youth of Upper Dzongu have gone missing. A police search has recovered the body of one of the missing identified as Karma Lepcha. The body was found lying on the banks of the Rongong Chu in North Sikkim in Upper Dzongu. It was the sister of the deceased, Anzee Lepcha who had alerted the police after her brother failed to return home. The police were alerted on 29 January. The other two are Lhakpa Lepcha and Pemchung Lepcha. All three are informed to have gone towards Rongong Chu a few days ago. A police party led by SDPO [Mangan] left for Rongong Chu soon after the complaint was filed and found the body of Karma. Two days later the police team returned to Mangan and the body was forwarded to the Mangan hospital. There do not seem to be any external injuries on the body of the deceased and the police are on the hunt for the missing two persons as well.

Singhi Cham at Lingthem Monastery

LINGTHEM, 24 Jan:  A weeklong Singhi Cham concluded at the Rikzing Choephel Targayling, Monastery at Lingthem in Upper Dzongu on 23 January. Organized by the public and the gumpa committee, the rituals had begun on 17 January.
This auspicious Singhi Cham is held every three years at the monastery with the devout believing that it benefits all the people and propitiates the Gods for world peace. Despite the remoteness of the village, the monastery was packed with the devotees on the final day.
Around 70 monks of the monastery, including the Omje and Dorjee Lopen, recited the special prayers - gyaldep – through the seven days. Kawang was bestowed on the people on the final day.
On the penultimate day, the chyam was attended by the area MLA, Power Minister Sonam Gyatso Lepcha accompanied by the DC North, TN Kazi,  DDO Chewang Gyatso Bhutia, Chairman Milk Union, Choden Lepcha, former chairman Chumki Saring Lepcha, MNP councillor Pappu Kumar Mallu, Panchayat members, officials and the devotees.
Legden Lepcha, the Tsultrimpha of the monastery, while speaking to NOW! informed that the monastery was established in the year 1854 by Lama Zogchen Singrap Gyatso. Only the Tholung Monastery is of older vintage in Dzogu. He also informed that the main purpose for the Singhi Chyam was to eradicate bad karmas and seek world peace.

Upper Dzongu residents deplore lethargy in road construction work

WANGCHUK BHUTIA
MANGAN, 15 Jan: The public of Upper Dzongu have expressed dissatisfaction over the precarious condition of roads – especially the one starting from the CWC near Passingdang to Lingzya in Upper Dzongu. This stretch of road has been under construction - i.e. widening, back-cutting and black-topping - undertaken by contractor Rajesh Agarwal for the past two years.
The work, worth more than Rs. 16 crore, has only 9 to 10 labourers deputed on the site by the contractor, informed Samten Lepcha while speaking to NOW!. He further complained that although this casual approach has been brought to the notice of concerned authorities several times, no action has been taken and the condition of the road remains the same.
During the Chief Minister’s visit to Dzongu last year, the panchayats had raised this issue but the contractor’s assurances to increase the pace of work has still not materialised, the people add.
The condition of the road is such that even light vehicles and two wheelers find it difficult to manoeuvre through the sludge in the CWC area. The work is under the supervision of SPWD, the local public want to know what the authorities are doing in this regard.
Expressing their fears over the road conditions deteriorating in the monsoons, the public have appealed to the concerned department to look into the up-gradation of the roads at the earliest.

Upper Dzongu cancels this year’s Namsoong celebrations

MANGAN, 30 Nov: An executive body meeting of the Namprikdang Namsoong Celebration Committee was held at Passingdang in Upper Dzongu under the chairmanship of President Nezing Lepcha on 29 November.

Tholung Monastery treasures shifted to safer location, security posted

ECCLESIASTICAL AFFAIRS OFFICIALS REACH THOLUNG
GANGTOK, 22 Oct: A team of officials from the Ecclesiastical Affairs Department flew to Tholung Monastery in Upper Dzongu on 19 October and had the sacred relics and articles housed there shifted to a safer location. A detail of three police guards has also been posted at the monastery and the Department has assured that “our treasure is safely kept and guarded by police personnel”.

Ecclesiastical Deptt’s inability to assess damage or even visit the damaged Tholung Monastery peeves residents

MANGAN, 10 Oct: The much-revered Tholung monastery in Upper Dzongu, which houses relics belonging to Lhatsun Chenpo [including his hand-written autobiography], has sustained extensive damage due to the 18 September Earthquake and while this itself has the people concerned, they are also upset that despite the importance of the monastery and what it houses, no one from the Ecclesiastical Department has visited the monastery thus far to assess the damage or arrange proper safekeeping of its relics. 

Bear attack in Upper Dzongu

MANGAN, 28 Sept:  50-year-old Tika Tamang was mauled by a Himalayan Bear at Passingdang in Upper Dzongu today. As per available information, she was collecting fodder near the bridge between Passingdang and Leek villages at around 5.30 this morning when she chanced upon the bear and was attacked.
She was rushed to the District Hospital at Mangan from where the doctors referred her to STNM Hospital because of the critical injuries sustained by her.
Later, a Forest patrolling team led by DFO Territorial (North), Sugen Saring, DFO, KNP, Sangay Bhutia and Range Officer TW Lachung. The Range Officer, while speaking to NOW!, informed that the bear must have entered the Reserve Forest on the left bank of the river Kanaka and then strayed towards the bridge where the incident occurred. He informs that a Forest team with tranquilizer guns will be patrolling the area.