SDM inspects Dikchu Hydel Project site

...DIRECTS PROJECT DEVELOPERS TO UNDERTAKE PROTECTIVE MEASURES IMMEDIATELY
DIKCHU, 27 Dec:  Following public complaints against excessive blasting at the 96 MW Dikchu Hydel Project work site here which was damaging houses and private land holdings, SDM Gangtok, Dr AB Karki, inspected the affected area on 26 and 27 December. The Dikchu HEP is being developed by Sneha Kinetic Power Project Ltd
The inspection team also had BB Gurung [Panchayat President], representatives from SKPPL headed by TR Sharma, Sr. Manager HR and other officials, affected people and area youth.
The affected people here had complained that the project developer had not undertaken any protective measures for the houses and lands despite engaging in heavy blasting.  
The SDM inspected all the affected houses which have developed several major and minor cracks due to the blasting works which has also damaged private land holdings at Lower Rakdong, a village situated directly above the project site.
Inspection was also carried out at Chipley Khola area, 12th Mile, Sokpay, Raidang and Dikchu the affected villages which fall under Lower Rakdong ward in East Sikkim.
The SDM directed the project developer to immediately set up protective walls along the entire slide zone before the onset of monsoons so that no further damage is incurred. He further directed the project developer not to dump excavated soil on the slopes.
The project developer has agreed to construct protective walls in the slide zone within two months and an RCC protective wall from Dikchu Bridge to the crusher plant on the left bank of the river.
Apart from this, the affected people also requested for other contract works to be awarded to the affected people whose houses have been damaged and other transport work also to be given to them.
The SDM, while speaking to NOW! later, informed that the administration will also conduct a joint survey engaging the project developer and the state government in order to access the damages.

Heavy rain damages houses at Phongla

NAMCHI, 31 Aug: Heavy overnight downpour has affected the residents of Phongla under Chuba Phong Gram Panchayat Unit (GPU) in South Sikkim. Due to the downpour, one kutcha house has been completely damaged, while two other houses in the same locality have also been severely damaged. Officials of the Disaster Risk Management Cell South District visited the spot today and with the help of the concerned panchayat the affected families were shifted to safer places.

Section of Ravangla-Zarong road washed away, traffic temporarily restored

NAMCHI, 12 July: Last night’s torrential rainfall in the Ravangla belt of South Sikkim washed away the the Ravangla-Zarong road formation at 10th KM. 
Following prompt action by the concerned department, traffic has been restored temporarily and immediate restoration work has also begun. Meanwhile, RM&DD Ravangla Sub-Division has engaged an excavator and casual labourers for clearing slips at various PMGSY roads like 9th mile turning, Sanganath, Tingmo, Ravangla, Deythang.
On the other hand, the house of one Tika Ram Limbu of Namphok ward under Sripatam-Gagyong Gram Panchayat Unit has been severely damaged by a slide. No casualties have been reported and the occupants have been shifted to a safer place as per information provided by BDO, Yangang.
Meanwhile, the Bhaley Khola foot bridge was made operational on 10 July.

Committee formed to examine earthquake damage to religious and heritage sites

GANGTOK, 18 Nov [IPR]: The State Government, vide Gazette Notification no. 83/Home/2011 dated 14 November, has constituted a committee chaired by the Chief Secretary to examine the damages caused to monasteries, other religious institutions and heritage sites of Sikkim by the earthquake of 18 September 2011.

Wild animals encroach upon human territory in the Kitam Bird Sanctuary area

AFFECTED FARMERS COMMITTEE FORMED TO ADDRESS CONCERNS
NAMCHI, 07 Nov: The farmers residing in the areas adjacent to the Kitam Bird Sanctuary met at Kitam haat-shed yesterday to discuss the damages caused in the area due to the intrusion of wild animals in the area.

Officials visit Namchi Prison to assess earthquake damage

NAMCHI, 03 Nov [IPR]: Addl Secretary, Home Department, CM Sharma along with Director Mines and Geology Department, BN Sharma, ADC South, SL Rai and officials from the Buildings department visited the District Prison Namchi, South Sikkim to inspect the extent of damage caused by the 18 September earthquake.

Ging Gumpa in Darjeeling under Sikkim govt also damaged by the earthquake

GANGTOK, 03 Nov: Around 193 years old, the Sangchhen Thong Delling Gompa, also known as Ging gumpa  in Darjeeling has reportedly sustained damages due to the 18 September earthquake. However, the department of Ecclesiastical Affairs has not received any damage reports from the monastery management so far. 

Re-assessment team verifies complaints of Bara Samdong people as genuine

15 HOUSES RE-CLASSIFIED UNDER SEVERLY DAMAGED CATEGORY
GANGTOK, 02 Nov: Following news reports of lapses published in NOW!, on the part of the West district administration in the assessment of house damages and following complaints made by the public of Bara Samdong GPU in West district the district administration has acknowledged that there has been some discrepancy in assessing house damages and the subsequent disbursement of compensation amount to the public.

Rs. 3000 for totally damaged houses and double cheques, public of Bara Samdong allege lapses in relief disbursement

A house damaged by the18 Sept earthquake at Bara Samdong

GANGTOK, 01 Nov: Discrepancies in the relief disbursement process (of compensation to earthquake affected) and callousness on the part of officials dealing with the public at the ground level on this particular matter keeps coming to light in the form of complaints made by the affected public.

Affected Chungthang residents demand compensation from Teesta Urja for loss of life and property to the Earthquake

GANGTOK, 01 Nov: Now that much of the confusion, uncertainty and apprehension surrounding the earthquake, its damages and subsequent assessment have settled down and with things appearing to be returning to their normal course the focus of the people who faced the brunt and brute force of the 18 September earthquake, particularly in Chungthang, has turned towards its possible causes and their earlier ire against the 1200 MW Teesta Urja Hydel project being developed at Chungthang.

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.

Earthquake marooned Saffo disappointed by delay in road repairs

MANGAN, 21 Oct: The 18 September Earthquake delivered extensive damage across Sikkim and exacted a severe toll in the North district. Now, more than a month since the earthquake, most places are reclaiming normalcy, but there still remain several pockets which continue suffer in the hands of devastation caused by the temblor. Saffo village under Saffo-Passingdang GPU of Dzongu in North Sikkim is one such village.

North District administration inspects Dikchu

MANGAN, 19 Oct:  A joint inspection was conducted today of Dikchu New Market, North Sikkim by a team headed by SDM Mangan, BK Lama, NHPC representatives headed by Sr Manager [Dam], Rajappan K, and the affected people of New Market and Pheedang, Lower Dzongu, North Sikkim.

Industries Minister inspects earthquake damages at govt undertakings

GANGTOK, 19 Oct [IPR]: Minister for Commerce & Industries, Neeru Sewa, visited various government industries and district industries centers yesterday and inspected the damages caused by the 18 September earthquake. The Minister was accompanied by Secretary Industries, KN Bhutia, and other officials from the Industries Department.

PNGS resolves to tide over earthquake setback

GANGTOK, 19 Oct: Schools across the state have suffered damage due to the 18 Sept earthquake and the Paljor Namgyal Girls Senior Secondary School in the capital was not spared either. The Science block and Principal’s quarters have sustained major damages and have since been vacated.

The earthquake and after, an update

GANGTOK, 18 Oct [IPR]: The earthquake which hit the State on 18 September has severely damaged the infrastructures of the state.

State Govt pegs immediate repair and rehabilitation budget at Rs. 3,500 cr

GANGTOK, 17 Oct: The State government has submitted a memorandum to the Central government detailing its earthquake damage estimates and rebuilding costs. Officials however inform that the memorandum is not a comprehensive estimate of the total damages incurred by Sikkim, but an estimate of the immediate and short term measures of repair and rehabilitation as required by the Central government.

Lack of IRDA-certified surveyors makes damage assessment tedious

GANGTOK, 16 Oct: The exercise of assessing earthquake damages by insurance companies has revealed the disconcerting lack of independent earthquake surveyors in Sikkim. For a State which sits on seismic zone-IV of the earthquake-prone areas and where house-owners pay among the highest premiums in the country, this is indeed a startling lack of accredited experts.

All schools reopen post Dasain, barring six hosting relief camps in North Sikkim

105 SCHOOL BUILDINGS LOST TO 18 SEPT EARTHQUAKEGANGTOK, 14 Oct: The Chief Minister had directed that all damaged schools be repaired and alternate accommodation arranged for schools that had collapsed before the Dasain holidays ended so that children could start going to school on the scheduled reopening from 10 October. Almost all the schools reopened after the holidays barring a few in North Sikkim.

DC petitioned to depute security and urgent relief to Dubdi Monastery

Images of the damage suffered by Dubdi Monastery due to the 18 September Earthquake. [fotos: ST GYATSO]

GANGTOK, 13 Oct: The Duchi Committee of Dubdi Monastery, Yuksam, in a letter addressed to the District Collector, West, appraising his office of the extent of damage suffered by the monastery, has requested for immediate measures to be taken at the site.