छापामारी अभियानमा एघारजना बालश्रमिकहरु उद्धार

17 मार्च (कालेबुङ):- कालेबुङको एउटा गैरसरकारी संगठन बाल सुरक्षा अभियानले आज शहरमा छापामारी अभियान चलाएर एघारजना बालश्रमिकहरु उद्धार गरेको छ। संगठनका कार्यकर्ताहरुले कालेबुङ पुलिसको सहयोगमा यहाँका दर्जन अधिक चियापसल र होटलहरुमा छापा मारेर बालश्रमका शिकार यी नानीहरुको उद्धार गरेको हो। संगठनले नेशनल चाइल्ड लेबर प्रोजेक्टअन्तर्गत बालश्रमिकहरुको निम्ति पठन पाठनको व्यवस्था गरेको भए पनि दोकानका मालिकहरुले यी नानीहरुलाई यस विशेष स्कूलमा पठाउन चासो नदेखाएपछि संगठनले आज कार्वाही गर्दै छापामारी अभियान चलाएको हो। यस अघि असहाय अनि बालमजदूरहरुको कल्यानको निम्ति गठित चाइल्ड लाइनका कार्यकर्ताहरुले शहरमा एउटा सर्वेक्षण गरेर दोकानका मालिकहरुलाई आफ्ना दोकानका बाल कामगारहरुलाई नियमित रुपले शिक्षा आर्जंनको निम्ति पठाइ दिने आह्वान पनि गरेको थियो। तर दोकान मालिकहरुले यी नानीहरुलाई शिक्षाप्रति प्रोत्साहित गर्नको साटो श्रमशोषण गर्ने क्रम जारी राखेपछि आज संगठनले यो पहल गरेको हो। आज उद्धार गरिएका नानीहरुबारे कालेबुङ थानामा सुचित गरिएपछि बाल सुरक्षा अभियानले नानीहरुलाई सोमबारसम्मको निम्ति आफ्नो निगरानीमा राखेको छ। सरकारी प्रावधान अनुसार यी नानीहरुको अवस्थाबारे जिला प्रशासनद्वारा गठित बाल कल्याण समितिलाई जानकारी दिनेछ। सो समितिले उद्धार गरिएका नानीहरुको आयु सिमाबारे छानबीन गरी कार्वाही शुरु गर्नेछ। 14 बर्षभन्दा कम आयु वर्गका बालश्रमिकहरुको पुनर्वास र शिक्षा दीक्षाको व्यवस्था यसै समितिले गर्नेछ। कालेबुङका निजी अनि व्यापारिक प्रतिष्ठानहरुमा बालश्रमिकहरु लछेप्रै पाइन्छ। डूवर्स अनि समतलका गरिब परिवारका नानीहरुलाई घरेलु नोकरको रुपमा शोषण गर्ने गरेको प्रशस्त घटनाहरु कालेबुङमा देखा परिरहेको छ। कतिपय नानीहरु अभिभावकको सहमतिमा केही अर्थ उपार्जन गर्ने उद्देश्यले यहाँ पठाइएको छ भने केही बालतस्करीको शिकार भएर कालेबुङका होटलहरुमा नारकिय जीवन बिताउन बाध्य छन। बाल सुरक्षा अभियानले बालश्रमिहरुको उद्धार र कल्याणको दिशामा धेरै अघिदेखि काम गर्दै आइरहेको छ भने बाल तस्करीको सञ्जाललाई नियञ्त्रण अनि रोकथाम गर्ने दिशामा पनि प्रभावी काम गरिरहेको छ। यस संगठनका कार्यकर्ता तेजकुमार थापाले आजको अभियनबारे प्रकाश पारेका छन।

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seminar on business environment

RANGPO-17^TH MARCH12

Two days long seminar on business environment :emerging trends in north east was ended today .organised by department of management studies of SMIT Majhitar is sponsored by all India council for technical education (AICTE)Mr eurgen e karthok general manager and officer in charge of reserve bank of India Gangtok was present as a chief guest of the programme. in the inaugural session dr ajhay jha HOD management and studies,mr manjit singh faculty department of management studies ,dr neeta dhusia Sharma ,and dr amrita sen gupta convenor of the programme was specially present in the programme. According to the news the main aim of the two days long seminar is to update the academic communities with the curtest scenario in north east part of India in the field of eco tourism, border trade,sustailable development ,various incentives from the central and local government for promotion of business. More than hundred participants were participated in the seminar. resources from reserve bank of india.officers from government department ,universities and industries has presented the knowledge programme and other types of activities .the seminar will provide a platform to the acaadamians,Industrialist and students of various sector of management for interaction and exchange of ideas on recent trends in business environmental special reference to north eastern state.

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piglets distribution programme

RANGPO-17^TH MARCH12

Animal husbandry and veterinary service department south Sikkim has organised piglets distribution programme for the fifty beneficiaries of rtey pani Namthang constituency at phongla south Sikkim. Between the special presence of departmental deputy director (piggery). dr saharmaan rai,and several other staff and officers ,area Panchayat .local residents Mrs. tilu gurung area mla cum building and housing minister as a chief guest of the programme handed over the piglets 100 nos to the fifty benificiries.according to the news 20 from langaang,20 from phampok and 10 from passi ward was selected for the beneficiary list this year.

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Mrs. jas Maya Rai retired from her duty

RANGPO-17^TH MARHC12

After providing 38 years service in education sector in the state of Sikkim Mrs. jas Maya Rai teacher of kumrek primary school under east Sikkim retired from her duty .joined on 8^th September 1978 she has done his duty in several parts of the state and from 2^nd April 1984 she was serving her duty at kumrek primary school .mother of tika bhai prominent writer she has provide education to thousands of student in this 28 years tenure in kumrek.today the farewells programme was organised at school complex was attended by teachers students and headmasters Mr. d p sharmaa.farwell programme conducted by miss Buddha Subba was ended with thanks speech by sushma deokota.

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CM rejects GTA poll delay plea

March 16: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee today turned down the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha’s plea to hold the elections to the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration only after the issue of the added areas from the plains was resolved.

“The government wants to conduct the polls now, in accordance with the tripartite agreement and the GTA Act. But we, as a party, have certain compulsions,” said Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri after meeting Mamata and chief secretary Samar Ghosh separately this afternoon. “We told the chief minister about our stand. She told us the government’s point of view.”

The Morcha has called a meeting of the party’s central committee on Sunday to discuss the future course of action. The party has been insisting that the elections to the GTA be held only after the Justice Shyamal Sen committee, which is looking into the Morcha demand to include parts of the Dooars and Terai in the GTA, submits its recommendations to the government.

After the meeting with the Morcha delegation led by Giri, chief secretary Samar Ghosh said: “They told us what they had to. We told them that the agreement and the Act must be followed in letter and spirit. They were a party to the agreement and the framing of the Act. It wasn’t a rushed job. A lot of thought, discussions and deliberations went into the process before every aspect was agreed upon and finalised. There cannot be considerations to the contrary now.”

The territory committee, which also met today, decided to do a field survey of the areas demanded by the Morcha to find out if they are Gorkha-dominated.

L.B. Pariyar, one of the Morcha representatives on the committee, said: “One of the positive aspects is that a consensus has been reached to conduct a field survey to independently verify our claims to the mouzas which are dominated by the Gorkha-speaking population.”

But the district magistrate of Darjeeling Saumitra Mohan said it was not yet clear how the survey would be done. “The government will work out the modalities.”

The Morcha was also “disappointed” that the chief minister had turned down the request of ensuring one seat for the party in the Rajya Sabha.(Telegraph)

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Kalimpong angling spots await tourism push

RAJEEV RAVIDAS

Anglers at Tribeni. Picture by Chinlop Fudong Lepcha Kalimpong, March 16: Sport fishing in the rivers flowing through Kalimpong has the potential of attracting loads of anglers from outside, but the tourism map of the Darjeeling hills doesn’t feature any angling spot along the Teesta, Relli, Rishi and the Mah. Experts believe if Kalimpong is promoted as an angling destination, it would give a huge fillip to tourism. Among the most sought after angling spots are the places where the Teesta meets other rivers. Anglers have said the best spot among the lot is Tribeni, which is the confluence of the Teesta and the Rangeet near Teesta Bazar, 18km downhill from Kalimpong. The confluence of the Teesta and the Ravi Jhora, 4km downstream from Tribeni, and Doban at 27Mile, where the Relli empties into the Teesta, are also the haunts of the anglers. Doban is 10km downstream from Tribeni. Rapden Foning, an avid angler and joint director of the department of fisheries in Calcutta, said a proper policy had to be formulated to tap the tremendous potential that the rivers flowing through the sub-division had on offer for the sport fishing. “There are no arrangements for the angling in the rivers in Kalimpong. The rivers in the hills, including the stretch of the Teesta from Sevoke to Rangpo, are looked after by the fisheries department of the DGHC. They need to formulate a policy for angling. The DGHC can issue licenses to NGOs or local youths to conduct angling tours, and also spell out a clear do’s and don’ts for the sport,” he said over the phone from Calcutta. Foning said the Karnataka government had issued licenses to NGOs to conduct angling tours along the Cauvery and the river had become a huge draw for anglers from across the globe. “What I would suggest is set up lodges for anglers at popular fishing spots like Tribeni,” he added. Sarthak Pradhan, fishery extension officer, Jalpaiguri, said a number of proposals had been sent to the DGHC to promote angling, but all of them had fallen on deaf ears. “Angling is so much a part of Kalimpong’s culture. It needs to preserved and promoted,” he added. The officer had done research on the riverine life in the Teesta and was posted in Kalimpong once. Pradhan said the Teesta was potentially one of the best rivers for angling in the world. “Golden mahseer and katli are the most important catches in the river for anglers,” he said. Contacted, Subrato Haldar, the fisheries officer of the DGHC, said he did not want to make any comment now since he was tied up with work ahead of the financial year’s end. Pradhan, however, feared that the damming of the river at different places could adversely affect the angling spots. “The use of pesticides in upstream villages can also pose a threat to the riverine life, especially at Reang which is a breeding spot for fish” he said. Other hazard, local anglers said, is the continuing dumping of garbage in the Teesta by the Kalimpong municipality.(Telehraph)

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vaccination campaign

RANGPO- 17TH MARCH12
AH, LF&VS Department, West District organized a day long vaccination campaign against Canine Distemper ( Parainfluenza-Parvo virus Vaccine, Modified Live virus Leptospira canicola, Ictero haemorrhagiae Bacterin). This vaccine protects dogs against four viral diseases as mentioned above and cost of single dose is Rs.800. The main objective behind the program was to stop the further sparkle of the disease in the locality by inoculate of live & attenuated virus. So this type of ring vaccination may provoke the immune system of vaccinated dog by forming antibody with high intensity to fight against the disease invitro in future, provided booster dose every year has to be done to maintain immunity in such dogs. The program was started in the morning from District veterinary Hospital Gyalshing. A team of Veterinarian headed by Dr D.S Tewari Joint Director West, associated by Dr S P Bhutia , Dr Kishor Thapa V.O Gyalshing Sonam Wangdi Bhutia &Loknath from VH Gyezing,Mrs Shiva Subedi & Lall Bdr Chhetri from Pelling s/m centre.From Public & Panchayat, Chopel Pintcho Bhutia Councilor Gyezing Nagar Panchayt ward,,Navin Agrawal Tresurer, Chamber of Commerce Gyezing Bazer.,Tshering Nedup Bhutia RDA Syangang Chumbung GPU,Tshering Wangdi Bhutia Pelling Tourism Development Association President with Miss Tashi Doma Bhutia Dog aficionado from Pelling along with local public , for active co-operation.

On the occasion Central Veterinary Store at head quarter at Gangtok of AH Deptt. Had provided only 200 doses of Vaccine. From this stock, on 14^th March only 52 dogs were vaccinated & on 15^th March 2012 sixty dogs were vaccinated. Now the demand of vaccine is so high that we immediately need 500 doses of vaccine of this kind.

Later on in the evening there was a meeting for making strategy as regards to future course of action to counteract such viral disease of extremely infectious nature. On the very out set of the session Dr D.S Tewari drew the attention of the people by explaining about the epidemiological aspect of viral diseases. All viral diseases are highly infectious & contagious also. Human being, Utensils, vehicle & even air, water & soil may transmit such diseases & Canine distemper now is the smoldering example in the vicinity. So isolation of dogs, keeping them in strict captivity, intensive care, maintenance of Hygiene & sanitation of the dog house along with restriction of movement of populace to & from infected zone along with regular vaccination of all prevalent diseases is only the way to contain such disease. Supporting these points Dr. S.P Bhutia informed the house regarding the out break of this disease in the area of tourist importance like Pelling, Yaksom, and Dentam & Rabangla in South Sikkim. He suggested the entire dog’s owner to wash hands by strong antiseptic solution before touching their pets. He also drew the attention of the Department, regarding require to supply vaccine as per needs & present stock is very poor. After this Dr Kishor Suggested to all dogs owner to bring their dogs to DVH Gyezing for vaccination. He also informed about the urgent needs of Mobile Van (Vehicle) in Gyezing Hospital to counteract such Situation. After this Councilor Chopel Pincho Bhutia appreciated the initiative taken by AH Department West District & he assure to suggest the entire fellow citizen to take their dogs to the nearest Veterinary Centre. He spoke on the needs of future strategy to control stray dogs.Tshering Wangdi Bhutia President PTDA highlighted on the needs of ecofriendly environment for developing Ecotourism. He suggested all the public to take tenure if some dogs is staying at their home & should keep in captive till we observe that the disease is fully contained

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टिस्टामा मैला फ्याँक्न बन्द गर –क्रामाकपा

कालेबुङ 16 मार्च: कालेबुङ नगरपालिकाले शहरको फोहोर मैला टिस्टा नदीमा फ्याँक्ने गरेको घटना प्रति क्रामाकपाले कडा आपत्ती जनाउँदै यो कार्य अबिल्म्ब बन्द नगरिए आन्दोलन गर्ने चेतानी दिएको छ।क्रामाकपाको टिस्टा शाखाका प्रतिनिधिहरुले आज खण्ड-1 का बीडीओ अनन्दिता भौमिकलाई भेट गरी शहरको मैला टिस्टामा फ्याँक्ने क्रम जारी राखिएकोमा आफ्नो आपत्ती जाहेर गरेका छन।कालेबुङ नगरपालिकामा निर्वाचित वोर्ड गठन भए पछि पनि डम्पीङ ग्राउण्डको समस्या हल हुन नसकेकोमा यस दलले आचर्य प्रकट गरेको छ।कालेबुङ शहरको फोहोर मैला टिस्टामा फ्याँक्ने गरेको घटनाको विरोध क्रामाकपाले मात्र नभएर अन्य संघ संस्था र पर्यवरण सचेत मानिसहरुले पनि गर्दै आइरहेका छन।कालेबुङ नगरपालिकाले दीर्घ दिनदेखि यो अभ्यास जारी राखेको करण अहिले विशेष गरी टिस्टावासीहरुमा असन्तोस बढदै गैरहेको छ। टिस्टामा मैला फ्याँक्ने कार्यले क्षेत्रका मानिसहरुको धामिर्क भावनामा मात्र ठेस पुर्याएको छैन तर सम्पूर्ण पहाडी क्षेत्रको पर्यवरण र जैवविविधताको सन्तुलनमा पनि प्रभाव पारिरहेको विशेषज्ञहरुको भनाइ छ। मैलाको कारण टिस्टा नदी दिनप्रतिदिन प्रदुषित बन्दै गैरहेको छ।फलस्वरुप यहाँ पाइने जलिय प्राणीहरुको अस्तित्वमा पनि खतरा उत्पन्न भैरहेकोले पर्यवरण संरक्षणप्रति सचेत मानिसहरुले चिन्ता व्यक्त गरेका छन।टिस्टा नदीमा मैला फ्याँक्ने कार्य बन्द गराउन अन्य संघ संस्था र दलहरु खासै गम्भीर नदेखिए पनि क्रामाकपाले भने लगातार यस दिशामा आवज उठाइअरहेको छ।यसको दुरगामी प्रभावबारे चिन्ता प्रकट गर्दै क्रामाकपाले सम्बन्धित निकाय र प्रशासनका अधिकारीहरुलाई पत्राचार र ज्ञापन दिएर मैला फ्याँक्ल बन्द गरिनु पर्ने माग गर्दै आइरहेको छ। टिस्टा नदीको धामिर्क पवित्रता र भौगलिक महत्वलाई अक्षुण राख्न कालेबुङ नगरपालिकाले डम्पिङको बैकल्पिक व्य्वस्था ग्रहण गर्नु पर्ने क्रामाकपाको माग छ। पार्टीको टिस्टा जोनल स्मितिका अध्यक्ष सन्तोष प्रधानले मैला फ्याँक्ने कार्य यथाशीघ्र बन्द नगरिए सडकमा ओर्लेर आन्दोलन गर्ने चेताउनी दिएका छन।कालेबुङ नगरपालिकाको टिस्टा नदीमा मैला फ्याँक्ने घटनालाई लिएर आफ्नो दलले सम्बन्धित निकाय देखि लिएर मुख्य मन्त्री समेतलाई पत्राचार गर्ने उनले बताए।

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मिरिक पर्यटनमा पूर्वाधारहरुको समस्या

16 मार्च (कालेबुङ):- मिरिकमा पर्यटनका पूर्वाधारहरुको उचित रखरखाउ नभएकोले पर्यटन व्यवसाय फष्टाउन नसक्दा यस व्यावसायमाथि निर्भर मानिसहरु निराश बन्न थालेका छन। मिरिकलाई पर्य़टन दृष्टिकोणले विकसित बनाउन दागोपापले धेरैवटा योजनाहरु शुरु गरेको भए पनि यसले क्षेत्रको पर्य़टनविकासमा भएन कुनै फाइदा पुर्यानएको देखिँदैन।दागोपापले शुरु गरेको केही योजनाहरु आजसम्म पूरा भएको छैन भने यहाँ भएका पर्यटनका पूर्वाधारहरुको पनि उचित रख रखाउ र सञ्चालन हुन सकेको छैन।फलस्वरुप मिरिकको पर्यटन व्यवसाय बृद्धि हुनको साटो दिनप्रति दिन निराशाजनक बन्दै गैरहेको छ।मिरिकमा यस बर्षको पर्यटन सिजन बिस्तारै शुरु हुँदै गए पनि बिगतका बर्षहरुको तुलनामा अहिले पर्य़टकहरुको आगमन निराशाजनक रहेको यस व्यावसायसँग संलग्न मानिसहरुको भनाई छ।मिरिकमा भएका धेरैवटा पर्यटन पूर्वाधारहरुको अवस्था जीर्ण बनेको छ। मिरिकमा अहिले पर्यटकहरुको निम्ति मिरिक झील मात्र अवलोकनको एउटा साधन छ।झीलमा सञ्चालन गरिने बोटिङ र घुडसवारीको आनन्द लिएर सन्तोष मान्न पर्य़टकहरु बाध्य छन। यस अतिरिक्त एक्वारियम, ग्लास हाउस अनि टुरिष्ट लजको अवस्था बेहाल छ।दागोपापको पर्यटन विभागले साठी लाखको लागतमा शुरु गरेको एक्वारियमको निर्माण कार्य थाँतीमा रहेको छ।स्थानीय अनि अन्तर्राष्ट्रीय स्तरका दूर्लभ प्रजातिको माछाहरुको प्रदर्शनी गर्ने उद्देश्यले निर्माण शुरु गरुएको बृहत एक्वारियमको निर्माण कार्य पूरा नभई बन्द भएको छ। पहाडमा देखा परेको राजनैतिक अस्थिरताको कारण यसको निर्माण कार्य बन्द भएको बताइएको छ।यसबाहेक यस क्षेत्रमा पाइने दूर्लभ प्रजातिका फूलहरुको प्रदर्शनी गर्न निर्माण गरिएको ग्लास हाउस पनि अहिले अचल अवस्थामा छ।विभागीय पक्षको उदासिनताको कारण यसको सञ्चालन बन्द रहेको छ। यसै गरी पर्यटन विभागको रेखदेखमा चल्ने मिरिक टुरिष्ट लज पनि बन्द अवस्थामा छ। लजको अवस्था अत्यंतै जीर्ण र शोचनीय बनेको कारण यसलाई बन्द गरिएको हो।यस्ता धेरै पूर्वाधारहरुको अवस्था शोचनीय रहेको छ।फलस्वरुप मिरिकमा पर्य़टन व्यवसायले गति पक्रन सकेको छैन। पर्यटकहरुको मनोरञ्जन र सुबिधाको निम्ति समुचित व्यवस्था र साधनहरुको अभावमा मिरिक घुम्न आउने पर्यटकहरुको संख्यामा लगातार कमी आइरहेको छ। जसले गर्दा क्षेत्रको अर्थव्यवस्थामा पनि प्रभाव पारेको देखिन्छ। यस सन्दर्भमा मिरिकका होटल व्यवसायी प्रवीण राईले यस आशयको विचार व्यक्त गरेका छन।

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Hill call for spot study - Morcha: Survey will give panel idea of ground reality

VIVEK CHHETRI

Darjeeling, March 15: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha will push for a field survey of the plains areas that the party wants to be brought under the hill set-up during the territory committee meeting in Calcutta tomorrow.

The Morcha believes that the committee should not be stuck with merely discussing its demand since procedures like public submission and hearings (for and against adding plains territories to the hill set-up) are over.

The Morcha wants 196 mouzas from the Dooars, 199 from the Terai and three mouzas from the Raigunj block of Jalpaiguri district to be brought under the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration besides the existing DGHC areas.

L.B. Pariyar, one of the four Morcha representatives on the 10-member territory committee, today said: “We will be pressing for a survey of the areas, now that all other procedures have been completed. But it may not be possible to conduct a field survey of all the 398 mouzas. In that case, we want a sample field survey covering about 10-15 per cent of the area. This would give the committee a fairly good idea of the ground situation.”

Pariyar, however, did not reveal how the Morcha wants the survey to be conducted.

The committee headed by Justice (retd) Shyamal Sen was expected to submit its report by February end but the state government has extended its tenure by another six months.

While the territorial committee is scheduled to meet at 4pm, Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri will call on chief secretary Samar Ghosh at 2.30pm.

“After our discussion with the chief secretary, we will meet the chief minister later in the evening,” said Giri.

The Morcha delegation will convey to the government its decision to oppose the GTA elections till the territorial jurisdiction of the body is finalised.

As of now, the government wants to hold the elections to the GTA within the present DGHC area, a proposal which has been shot down by the Morcha that wants an interim arrangement with nominated members to run the body.

The Morcha has also decided to hold a meeting with the central committee members of the Terai and Dooars in Darjeeling on March 18.

“The meeting will be held with the central committee members of the Dooars and Terai and we will be discussing the way forward. We are determined against holding elections to the GTA unless the territory issue is finalised and during the central committee meeting, we will also be seeking feedback from our plains leaders on the way forward,” said Giri.(Telegraph)

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Fine print shows pittance

AVIJIT SINHA

A rally brought out by SFI and DYFI against the railway budget in Siliguri on Thursday. (Kundan Yolmo)

Siliguri, March 15: The fine print of the railway budget shows a meagre allocation of funds for the projects in north Bengal, inviting criticism from political parties as well as the common people.

The details of the funds allocation are included in the Pink Book 2012-13 published by the railway ministry. The book also contains the income and expenditure projected by the ministry for the ensuing fiscal.

The CPM said it would take decades to finish the construction of the rail route between Rangpo and Sevoke and the axle manufacturing factory at New Jalpaiguri as only a small fraction of the required funds had been earmarked in this budget.

“The budget is the classic example of the Trinamul Congress’s populism politics. We have learnt that in some projects, the allotments have been as low as Rs 1 crore or Rs 50 lakh, which means that the party and its leaders are making a fool of the people,” said former minister and CPM leader Asok Bhattacharya.

The Pink Book reveals that Rs 3,254.94 crore more is needed to complete the Sevoke-Rangpo railway route, while only Rs 38 crore (around one per cent of the required amount) has been sanctioned. The allocation for the axle unit at NJP is Rs 20 crore, that is around 10 per cent of the amount needed (Rs 244.11 crore).

A Siliguri resident said there would be a cash crunch in the next financial year to finish most of the projects announced during Mamata Banerjee’s term as the railway minister in the UPA 11 government.

“The only exception might be the laying of tracks along the New Mainaguri-Jogighopa, New Mal-Mainaguri Road and New Changrabandha-Changrabandha rail routes, for which Rs 225 crore has been earmarked. The project needs around Rs 215 crore more,” he said.

Mamata Banerjee’s pet projects for the Darjeeling hills — composite brake block manufacture unit and the upgrade of hospital at Tindharia and a nursing institute in Kurseong — will also be short of funds.

Trivedi announced around Rs 1.5 crore for the three projects, while the actual amount needed for their completion crosses the Rs 30 crore mark.

The budget came under attack from Congress leaders in North Dinajpur as well. “It is surprising to see that small amounts have been sanctioned for the new routes in South and North Dinajpurs. We have no idea when these projects will be commissioned,” said Mohit Sengupta, the North Dinajpur district Congress president.

The minister allocated Rs 15 crore for the Kaliaganj-Buniadpur route in North Dinajpur against the required amount of Rs 161.66 crore. The allocation for the new route between Balurghat and Hili in South Dinajpur is Rs 14 crore.

The Pink Book shows that Rs 166.97 crore more is needed to finish the project.

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Track protest on added land

The blockade at the New Malbazar station in Jalpaiguri on Thursday. Picture by Biplab Basak

Siliguri, March 15: Supporters of more than 10 organisations blocked the railway tracks in the Dooars and Terai for half an hour today to protest Mamata Banerjee’s silence on the demand to bring Gorkha-dominated plains areas under the hill set-up.

Hundreds of supporters of the Dooars Terai Joint Action Committee resorted to rail roko at four locations in the Terai and Dooars to demand that the government reject outright the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha demand to bring plains mouzas under the Gorkha Territorial Administration, instead of appointing a panel to look into the demand.

The joint action committee, which consists of the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad, the Kamtapur Progressive Party and nine other organisations, was formed last week to oppose the Morcha demand.

“We find no logic behind the silence of the chief minister and her government on the issue. The formation of the territory panel was unnecessary. With its formation, it became clear that the Morcha would be pursuing the issue,” said the state president of the Parishad, Birsa Tirkey.

He said the Morcha leaders would not take it lightly if the panel recommended that no part of the Dooars and Terai could be included in the GTA.

“Now is the time for the government and the chief minister to speak out, to announce that the Morcha demand cannot be met to prevent fresh trouble and agitation in the region,” he said.

Tirkey said the adivasis, the Rajbangshis and the other communities that had been living here for centuries were opposed to the demand. “It is tough to understand why the chief minister is ignoring us and consistently holding talks with the Morcha and visiting the hills. There has not been any specific or major announcement for us or our areas,” he added.

The protesters squatted on the tracks at Rangapani and Naxalbari in the Terai and at Malbazar and Mainaguri in Jalpaiguri. Although the blockades were planned for two hours, they were withdrawn in all four places within 30 minutes because of police intervention.

The joint action committee has called a 48-hour north Bengal strike on April 6 and 7.

“If the state government remains silent, we will have no alternative but to launch an aggressive movement,” said Rajesh Lakra, the secretary of the Dooars-Terai regional unit of the Parishad.

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Negligence in Model House Construction

RANGPO-15^TH MARCH12Modal house scam is shown in the sakhu khani gram Panchayat unit ward no 2 of west Pandam constituency .from the couple of years the ruling government Sikkim democratic front deciding to make state the slum free state many new schemes and developmental works is started to make the slum free state. One scheme is CMRHM under which the modal house is constructing in every ward at a cost of five lakh each. But huge negligence and worst quality work is strongly condemned by Mr. jagdish cinturi west Pandam in charge of congress i.mr cinturi in his village visit found that the under construction of tankanath ghimerey is constructed with only five post. But according to the government norms every modal house must have nine post .by seeing the foundation quality Mr. cinturi strongly question over the quality works of the contractor and the responsibility authority. Some house was provided with old tin shed which is also against the norms said Mr. cinturi.after the quake occurred in 18^th September in the state the government and the concerned department is serious over the quality work of government and non government construction.but except giving nine post five post installation in one modal house is not the quality works and seriousness seen in the departmental work process.

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Hill pact wrongly read: Morcha - Hill party to meet CM on March 16

VIVEK CHHETRI

Giri in Darjeeling on Wednesday. (Suman Tamang Darjeeling, March 14: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today accused the state government of wrongly “interpreting” the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration agreement, a day after the chief secretary said there was “no scope” for “considering" the demand to hold election only after the territory issue was settled. The GTA bill today became a law through a gazette notification. Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri, who is a signatory to the agreement on behalf of his party, said: “The Bengal government is wrongly interpreting the agreement that only says that the electoral process will run parallel to the high powered committee’s functioning. It does not say that elections would be held. The people will not accept an election without the finalisation of the territory and we will never accept anything that goes against public wishes.” The other two signatories to the agreement were the Bengal government and the Centre. The state government has appointed a 10-member committee headed by Justice (retired) Shymal Sen to look into the Morcha demand to bring Gorkha-dominated areas of the Terai and the Dooars under the GTA. Giri, along with other senior Morcha leaders will meet Mamata Banerjee and the chief secretary in Calcutta on March 16. “We will make our stand clear at the meeting. Elections are out of question without finalising the territory,” said Giri. The Shyamal Sen committee will also meet in Calcutta the same day. The Morcha wants the GTA election to be held only after the Shyamal Sen committee submits its report to the government. Its tenure has been extended for six months. “Until then, the election process like delimiting constituencies (the present DGHC has 28 constituencies while the GTA will have 45) can start. But holding election is a different issue altogether. Till the polls are held, an interim board with nominated members should be formed,” said Giri. Chief secretary Ghosh had yesterday said in Calcutta that there was “no scope” for “considering” the Morcha demand. “The tripartite agreement has been signed (by the Morcha as well). The agreement is exactly reflected in the law that will be notified tomorrow. It clearly states that the election process would be conducted by the state government even if the committee is yet to submit its report on the territorial matter,” Ghosh had said. “There is no scope now for such considerations. We will go ahead with the elections (in the present DGHC) area,” he had said. Countering Ghosh’s claim, Giri today said: “Clause 6 of the MoA reads ‘The work of this high-powered committee will run parallel to the electoral process which will be based on the existing delimited area (under the DGHC). However, the empowering statute will have a provision for the transfer of additional areas from Siliguri and the Terai and the Dooars that maybe agreed upon, based on the recommendation of the committee.’ I don’t think this means that election will have to take place parallel to the functioning of the high powered committee. The electoral process can definitely start.” CPRM fast The supporters of the Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxists will be on a 12-hour hunger strike in front of the Jantar Mantar in Delhi on March 20 in demand of Gorkhaland. “We will also submit a memorandum to the Prime Minister's Office on March 20,” said Shekar Chhetri, chief of the CPRM’s youth wing.(Telegraph)

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2 matches, 3 trophies for top golf tourney

AVIJIT SINHA

The army golf course in Bengdubi. File picture Siliguri, March 14: The only golf tournament in north Bengal will be held in two segments with three trophies on offer in the Dooars and the Terai this year. The Himalayan Endeavour Golf will be organised at Ranicherra in Jalpaiguri on March 17 and at Bengdubi near here the next day. Previously, only one trophy was given in the tournament that enters the 17th year in 2012. The Siliguri-based Himalayan Endeavour Group is the organiser of the tourney that is set to witness the participation of 100 amateurs from across north Bengal, Calcutta, Nepal, Sikkim and Bhutan. “This is the first time that we are holding the event in two segments with different trophies. The games will be played in the Dooars and the Terai. With the expansion of the cup, the number of players will also shoot up to 100 from around 60 in the previous years,” said Vinay Gurung, the administrative co-ordinator of the cup. The organisers said the first leg of the tournament would be held at the Western Dooars Golf Club at Ranicherra in Jalpaiguri on March 17 on Stableford 2/3 handicap system. Golfers are allocated a certain number of points on a hole depending on the net score of the player under this system. “The winner of the game on the first day will be awarded the Dooars Cup and a cash prize of Rs 20,000. The runner-up will take home Rs 10,000,” said Gurung. On the second day, players will vie for the Himalayan Endeavour Cup at the army golf course in Bengdubi, 20km from Siliguri. “The format of the game and the prizes would be the same like the Dooars Cup,” said another official. The highlight of the tournament this year is the North Bengal Open Cup to be awarded to the golfer who scores highest points. The score will be the aggregate of points in both the segments. The player who lifts the North Bengal Open Cup will receive Rs 25,000, while the first and second runners-up will be given Rs 15,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively.(Telegraph)

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Green train for ride through Dooars forests

AVIJIT SINHA

Workers clean the railway tracks in New Jalpaiguri station on Wednesday. Picture by Kundan Yolm Siliguri, March 14: The first “green” train in the country will be introduced in north Bengal, the railway minister said today while announcing five new express trains for the region. “A green train would run through the pristine forests of north Bengal,” minister Dinesh Trivedi said in his railway budget speech but did not provide any details on the route or frequency. The authorities of the Northeast Frontier Railway that is in charge of tracks passing through “pristine forests” — the Siliguri to Alipurduar Junction route which is flanked by three wildlife sanctuaries, a tiger reserve and fringes of a national park — said they were clueless about what a “green train” was. Trivedi, however, said a green train would have bio-toilets and would be pulled by a diesel engine which emits less smoke. In “bio-toilets”, the waste is not discharged on tracks but stored for disposal later. “Introduction of the ‘green train’ is definitely a unique announcement for north Bengal but very little was spoken on it. We expect the railway ministry to consider the prospects of tourism in the forest stretches of north Bengal and run trains accordingly. The trains must be able to ferry visitors to forest destinations on both sides of the Dooars rail track on the Siliguri Junction-Alipurduar route,” said Samrat Sanyal, president of the Eastern Himalaya Travel and Tour Operators’ Association. The association has also welcomed the introduction of a Shatabdi Express between New Jalpaiguri and Howrah and new trains to connect north Bengal with Mumbai and Gujarat. “It would have been better if the weekly express to Surat would had been introduced from New Jalpaiguri instead of Malda Town,” Sanyal said. Environmentalists on the other hand said they have reservations on a couple of projects. “Though we do not have much details on the green train but it is evident it would run through the Dooars route. The train might render eco-friendly services but any additional train on the track would have a negative impact on the bio-diversity,” said Animesh Bose, programme coordinator of the Siliguri-based Himalayan Nature and Adventure Foundation. “We had been demanding double tracks to the Northeast (the NJP-New Alipurduar track that goes via Jalpaiguri Road, Mainaguri, Dhupguri, Falakata and New Cooch Behar) to reduce the movement of trains on the Dooars route. But only a small stretch of the entire track has been included in the budget this year,” said Bose. Trivedi also said DEMU (diesel multiple unit powered by more than one engine) coaches would replace trains with one engine on the New Jalpaiguri-Bamanhat route. As of now, a pair of passenger trains runs on this route everyday. Residents of Changrabandha, a principal land customs station in Cooch Behar on the Bangladesh border, are satisfied with the announcement of daily DEMU services from Siliguri. “As of now, roads are the only mode of communication. We have to bank entirely on buses, with no train services in this area. If this service is introduced in the current year, it would largely help local people as well as Bangladeshis who visit north Bengal via Changrabandha,” said Panna Dutta, who stays in Changrabandha. “The train can also help ferry goods which are exported to Bangladesh.” The business community in Jalpaiguri was disappointed as no new trains had been announced for the district. “We had expected new trains from Haldibari and Jalpaiguri Road and stops of the other trains at the stations,” said Samarendra Prasad Biswas, the general secretary of North Bengal National Chambers of Commerce and Industries. “The only new announcement for us is the ‘green train’ but we have no clue what exactly the service would be like and it will probably cover only part of the district which is part of the Dooars.”(Telegraph)

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himal mahatshav in international level

RANGPO-14^TH MARCH12

Himalayan heritage research and development society a reputed ngo working since 2000 to promote and preserve the traditional folk culture and heritage of north eastern states of India is going to organise a two days long himal mahatshav in international level in bhurung central Pandam from 18^th to 19^th march 12.according to mr Kishore dahal programme officer on 18^th march several ngo ,orgsnisation,ngo ,clubs shall perform traditional folk dance and programme and on 19^th march the international seminar on preservation of traditional folk and culture is going to organise at bhurung and shall participate by the delegates from Nepal ,Bhutan, Burma and india.such type of himal mohatshav is organising from several years and this time by the participants of foreign the programme is more colourful and useful.

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साहित्यकार सम्पूर्णा राईको अन्तिम संस्कार

कालेबुङ 14 मार्च:कालेबुङ कन्य उच्च पाठशालाकी पूर्व उप-प्राचार्य अनि साहित्यकार सम्पूर्णा राईको अन्तिम संस्कार आज सम्पन्न भयो नेपाली साहित्यको क्षेत्रमा एकजना महिला लेखिकाका रुपमा आफ्नो शसक्त उपस्थिति दर्ता गर्न स्फल सम्पूर्णा राईको अन्तिम संस्कार आज राई जातिको परम्पराअनुसार भयो।इष्टमेन रोडस्थित निजीनिवसबाट आज अपरान्ह उनको शवयात्रा निकालिएको थियो।स्वा राईको शवयात्रामा आफन्तजनलगायत शिक्षा अनि साहित्य क्षेत्रसगँ सम्बन्धित मानिसहरु सहभागी थिए।राई जातिको परम्पराअनुसार उनको शव इष्टमेनरोडको छिनाडाडाँमा दफ्नाइयो।आजीवन शिक्ष्ण पेशामा संलग्न रहेर सेवा पुर्याउने सम्पूर्णा राईले नेपाली साहित्यको क्षेत्रमा पनि आफ्नो विशिष्ट स्थान बनाएकी छन।5अप्रेल 1948मा जन्मेकी स्वा राईले एम ए अनि बी एड तहको शिक्षा आर्जन गरेकी थिइन।कालेबुङ कन्य उच्चतर माध्यमिक पाठशालाको सहप्राचार्य तहसम्मको दीर्घकालिन सेवा पुर्याएर 2008मा अवकाश ग्रहण गरेकी थिइन।एकजना साहित्य सर्जकको रुपमा पनि उनले विशिष्ट पहिचान कायम गरेकी थिइन।विभिन्न साहित्यक पत्रिकाहरुमा द्र्जनौ लेख-रचनाहरु प्रकाशित गरी सकेकी सम्पूर्णा राईको दुइवटा कृतिहरु नाभो कथा सङ्ग्रह अनि मरुभूमिको नदी नामक कविता सङग्रह प्रकाशित छ।उनलाई साहित्य सृजनाको निम्ति सन 1995मा स्रष्टा पुरस्कार अनि सन 1999मा अरुगि पुरस्कारले सम्मानित्त गरिएको थियो।उनको शवयात्रमा सामेल साहित्यकार सीताराम काफ्लेले महिला लेखिकाहरुको फाटँमा स्वा राईको निधनले एउटा रिक्तता उत्पन्न भएको मन्तव्य प्रकट गरेका छन।

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