Yearlong International Rhododendron Festival concludes with special celebration at Uttarey

IRF reinforces Sikkim’s commitment to nature: Chamling
GANGTOK, 22 April: The year-long International Rhododendron Festival concluded yesterday at Uttarey Gumpa Dara complex under Maneybong-Dentam constituency, West Sikkim, with Chief Minister Pawan Chamling attending the function as the chief guest.
The Chief Minister, in his address, remarked that the festival, apart from attracting national and international tourists and media attention, also promoted an important message on the importance and value of rhododendrons. This festival, although specific to rhododendrons, underlined Sikkim’s commitment to its environment and biodiversity, he underlined.

The Chief Minister also informed the gathering about the government’s plans of setting aside Rs. 100 crore every year for the development of tourism and organizing such grand tourism festivals every year. This commitment of the State Government, he said, should be reciprocated with active people’s participation to deliver on the State’s potential as a tourist destination.
The youth, he stressed, need to grab opportunities created in tourism and the service industry to fashion lucrative and sustainable futures for themselves.
Also on the day, the Chief Minister directed the concerned departments and the contractors to complete all the sanctioned, but pending, projects in the area within 100 days.
On the still not incomplete road to Jhakri Dhunga, despite all sanctions having been made, he held the concerned department accountable and pulled them up for the delay. He warned that such delays resulting in avoidable inconvenience to the people would not be tolerated.
Stressing the importance of delivery, he urged the people to speak out if they were not satisfied with the kind of work being undertaken in their respective areas and assured that all genuine protests and complaints would be immediately looked into and resolved.
In this regard, he reprimanded the departments for the delay in constructing houses for the underprivileged and urged the people to speak out against such delays the moment they noticed them, stressing that his government would never condone bureaucratic indifference when it affected the people.
Addressing the students he said that they no longer curtail their dreams due to economic insecurity, informing them of the substantial scholarship and merit schemes instituted by the State Government to ensure that no deserving child was forced to give up on academic pursuits.
The Chief Minister also assured to fulfill all the demands placed by the area MLA, Chandra Maya Subba.
At the programme, the Forest Secretary, ST Lachungpa, gave detailed presentation on the year-long festival while the Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation chairman, NK Subba made a brief presentation on the festival.
Earlier, the Chief Minister took a round of the traditional stalls, tried his hand at the traditional rice beating machine, “dhiki”, and enjoyed a ride on a traditional Ferris Wheel as well.
The Chief Minister was also felicitated by the organizing committee.