GTA project list sent to Centre - Rs 183cr for tourism, roads, education

Darjeeling, Sept. 3: The GTA has sent a list of projects to the Centre that would require an investment of Rs 183 crore, focusing on traffic management, education and tourism.

The funds from the Centre, which has agreed to give Rs 600 crore in the next three years as a special package for the GTA, would be pumped into these projects.The GTA has set three years as the deadline for the completion of the projects.

A GTA official said a circular road would be built in Darjeeling from 3rd Mile to 18 Lebong Cart Road. Another circular road has been mooted for Kalimpong (see chart).

Darjeeling has been witnessing massive traffic jams almost every day during the peak tourist season and the circular road is expected to ease congestion in the town. “There are also plans to set up two parking lots in Darjeeling, and one each in Kurseong and Kalimpong. The total cost of all the projects is likely to be Rs 183 crore,” the GTA official said.

The GTA has also finalised the details of a medical college in Kurseong.

“The GTA will approve the project in the next three-four days,” said Binay Tamang, a GTA executive member.

The Bimal Gurung-headed GTA administration has given attention to tourism also.

Two ropeways, one in Darjeeling and another in Kalimpong, and three water parks are among the projects to boost tourism.

“The amusement parks are being set up near rivers. Consultations have already started with experts in Mumbai and an architect for the water projects. They will soon come up with detailed project reports,” Tamang said.

The funds from the Centre will also be used to construct buildings for colleges in Mirik and Bijanbari. “The GTA has given its nod for more than 18 projects. We are planning to complete most of the projects in the next three years and have taken a policy decision to make labourers work in three shifts,” Tamang said.

The three-shift proposal was mooted to meet the deadline for completion of work. The work will be carried out round-the-clock with each shift having eight hours.

The state government is also executing various projects across the hills.

Bengal fire services minister Javed Ahmed Khan today visited Mirik where the government plans to set up a fire station.

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Two die of Japanese Encephalitis - Twin infections stalk north Bengal districts

Siliguri, Sept. 3: Two persons suffering from Japanese Encephalitis died in the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital today, a hospital source said.

The hospital official said 35 patients ailing from Japanese Encephalitis had been admitted to the hospital in the past two months.

A health department source in Siliguri said the death certificates of both patients mentioned Japanese Encephalitis as the cause of death.

“There are two deaths from acute Japanese Encephalitis that were reported in the hospital today. One of them is Shaguftara Khatun, a 15-year-old girl from Islampur, and the other is Pascal Oraon, a 45-year-old man from Malbazar,” the NBMCH official said. The two deaths are in addition to three deaths in August.

“On August 31, Sukumar Barman, 31, from Rajganj in Jalpaiguri district, died of the disease,” the hospital official said. The two others who died in August are Jyotsna Mondal, 33, from Haldibari and Kuleja Roy, 75, of Chalsa.

“I am yet to receive the medical report of the two patients who have died today and cannot comment on the issue at the moment,” said Sabyasachi Das, the superintendent of NBMCH.

“We can’t also say whether any new patient suffering from Japanese Encephalitis has been admitted in NBMCH,” Das said.

Das said he had reported to the state health department about all the patients admitted for treatment with symptoms believed to be of the disease.

“We report to the state health department on a regular basis on the number of admissions and deaths of patients suffering from Japanese Encephalitis. The health department will in turn inform the administrative officials of the respective districts to start awareness and precautionary measures to prevent an outbreak,” he said.

“Pigs and wild birds are sources of the virus causing Japanese Encephalitis. A type of mosquito called Culex is a transmitter of the disease. The symptoms are high fever, convulsions and rigidity around the neck. There is no prescribed treatment for the disease, we just treat the patients for the symptoms. Once the symptoms subside and their immunity improves, the patients start recovering,” the superintendent said.

Hospital officials said the majority of patients were admitted from Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar districts.

“Of the 35 patients (who have shown symptoms of Japanese Encephalitis), 25 are from Jalpaiguri, six from Cooch Behar, three from Siliguri and one from Assam,” another hospital official said.

In Balurghat of South Dinajpur, Kajal Kumar Mandal, the chief medical officer of health , said he had come to know “from sources at the NBMCH that one person in the district was confirmed to have with Japanese Encephalitis”.

Yesterday, Mokseda Bibi, a 46-year-old housewife from Ulipara village in South Dinajpur died.

Most of the reports of fever are from Kumarganj block, where Mokseda also lived.

Her family said doctors could not diagnose what caused her death. CMOH Mandal has said he will send a team to the village to speak to the family.

South Dinajpur district health officials said two children — Munna Ajij Sakrar, 6, and Jahid Mandal, 9 — died of Japanese Encephalitis.

NBMCH superintendent Das said in Siliguri that a workshop on Japanese Encephalitis was conducted by a state health department team from Calcutta in the first week of August.

“The doctors and paramedical staff were trained to treat the patients suffering from Japanese Encephalitis. The team also took stock of the preparedness of the hospital to deal with the outbreak,” the official added.(TT)

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Raid in Sikkim private varsity

Gangtok, Sept. 3: South Sikkim police seized documents and computers from the Eastern Institute for Integrated Learning in Management University’s office at Jorethang yesterday following a complaint alleging cheating, forgery and other allegations.

Although regular classes are being held, the university’s office has been sealed.

Raids have also been conducted in the institution’s branch at Budang in West Sikkim and several papers seized.

The university, established in 2006, is allowed to operate only in the state and offer courses approved by the University Grants Commission.

“But it is running centres in Punjab, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Kerala, Karnataka, Jharkhand and also in Mauritius violating all norms. It is also offering 20 degree and postgraduate (distance) courses that have not been approved by UGC,” said a police officer.

The varsity is also accused of issuing pass certificates to unsuccessful students.

“We have registered a case against the university (in Jorethang),” said a police officer. The probe started after the police got a complaint from a Sikkim resident, he said.

University director Amita Bhandari said: “Some people are issuing fake pass certificates to unsuccessful candidates. Since the last semester, we have started putting holograms on the results to stop these practices.” She added that there were 340 regular students in the BBA, MBA, BCA, computer applications and engineering courses. “There are more than 500 students in the distance learning programme which is being offered according to the rules.”

Registrar Col Alok Bhandari said: “The centres in other states carry out admissions and counselling. Classes are held only in the two centres in Sikkim.”(TT)

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Short Assembly session from Sept 21

Calcutta, Sept. 3: A short session of the Bengal Assembly will start from September 21, Speaker Biman Banerjee said today.

He said the Presidency University Amendment Bill and the College Service Commission Bill would be tabled.

“I have convened an all-party meeting on September 19 to discuss the details of the proceedings for the ensuing session,” said the Speaker.

He added that the session could be extended beyond September 27 by a day or two if necessary.

Leader of Opposition Surjya Kanta Mishra said he would meet the Left Front legislators to discuss their strategy after the all-party meeting.

“I was verbally told by the Speaker about the short Assembly session beginning September 21. We shall fix our agenda only after the all-party meeting.”

Writers’ Buildings sources said the session has been convened because some key bills could not be introduced in the budget session that was cut short by a week.

The House that was supposed to continue till July 13 was adjourned sine die on July 6 because of the then presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee’s visit.

“The government will table the Presidency University Amendment Bill scrapping the provision for two policy-making bodies that the former Left Front government had included in the Presidency University Act in 2010,” an education department official said.

Talking about the proposed amendments to the West Bengal College Service Commission Bill, an official said: “Once the Bill is passed, the College Service Commission will recruit teachers from a single panel instead of the zone-wise panels.”

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RTI activities from paalitam south Sikkim under rateyapni Namthang constituency has complained an FIR against the BDO Namthang

RANGPO-3RD SEPTEMBER 12
RTI activities from paalitam south Sikkim under rateyapni Namthang constituency has complained an FIR against the BDO Namthang ,Panchayat ,contractors and concerned authorities alleging foul play regarding the indra aawas yojna sanctioned for deaf cum expired persons and passing of bill without completing the repair work of phamphok –katyang road .according to mr madan tamang FIR copy he has filed an RTI Regarding the fund senctioned and work done for the deef and expired person Mr. Buddha Singh tamang of nalam ward under maneydanda gram Panchayat scheme .in RTI it was clearly written in 2010 the 38500 rs amount was sanctioned by BAC Namthang under Indira awas yojna in the year 2010 .but still work is not started .according to Mr. tamang the structure was partially damaged but in the name of repair total structure was vandalised but not constructed .regarding the matter he has demanded to take legal action against the concerned authority and FIR was lodged against BDO Namthang Mr. robin sewa ,ward Panchayat member Mrs. bishnu maya tamang .assistant engineer Mr. ashok chhetri and junior engineer Mr. nirjal chhetri .in other side another FIR was lodged against the BDO Namthang Mr. robin sewa , RDA Mr Mahindra timsina ,nagi phamphok gram Panchayat samiti president miss tiwari lohar , engineer Mr. ashok Chettri and junior engineer mr nirjal chhetri against passing of bill of work without work being done for the repair of rural road from phamphok to katyang which was passed in 2010 by BAC Namthang at an cost of two lakhs twenty thousand .according to Mr. tamang he has received the copy of MB book and all related documents regarding the said work in the MB MOOK it is clearly mentioned that eighty begs cement ,2200 CFT stone ,1400 CFT Stone chips and 600 CFT sand .but in the field inspection not a single work was done and complete work was done in paper only .Mr. tamang feels its a totally a part of corruption and has lodged an FIR against the officers ,staff and Panchayat to take strict legal action against culprits .according to Mr. tamang he has lodged an FIR with the authentic proof and RTI copy

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Sikkim democratic labour front seen unsatisfied

RANGPO-3RD SEPTEMBER 12
All Sikkim democratic labour front seen unsatisfied with the compensation amount announced by the management of sun pharma for the five deceased and one injured persons met with an accident three days before .according to the news three days before the wall collapsed at the sun pharma setipull claims five labours injured and one injured .the management yesterday has announced the compensation rs two lakh to the nearest keen of the deceased and rs twenty thousand for the injured .Mr. hari Chettri general secretary of ASDLF talking with this correspondent over the issue clearly asked that death of five young workers of sun pharma construction area cannot be compromised with rs two lakhs each so ASDLF has decided to approach with the appropriate authority for compensation under employees compensation act after the proper enquiry.

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The meeting of indrakil prayag puja committee

RANGPO-3RD SEPTEMBER 12
The meeting of indrakil prayag puja committee was organised today at rangpo .after the completion of 11 days long sri mad shiv mahapuran mahayagya the unique spiritual programme at Rangpo indrakil prayag this ead the first meeting organised specially to discuss the cash accounts and purposal for thanks programme .between the presence of samiti president mr swaminath Prasad ,general secretary mr bikash Prasad ,cashier Mr. raju Pradhan ,vice president Mr. k p subedi ,mr lila maan khawas and Mr. rumlaal khatiwada ,joint secretary Mr. pinku Prasad along with several other degineteries the accounts discussion and thanks giving programme was organised .providing accounts it was declared that total 23 lakhs 34 thousand 345 rs was collected and out of this 21 lakh,18 thousand 130 rs was expense so till today there is two lakhs 16 thousand twenty nine rs is remaining deposited in the account . the meeting further passed the resolution for giving thanks to al the contributor and persons who has helped to support the programme a grand success and historical .

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Three friends held for booze party murder

Darjeeling, Sept. 2: Police have taken into custody three persons in connection with the murder of their friend Wangdi Bhutia during a farewell bash here on Friday night.

The interrogation of the accused showed that a four-year-old fight that had been sorted out resurfaced at the party, leading to the murder of the 29-year-old construction worker.

Wangdi was beaten to death with iron rods allegedly by four of his friends and the body dumped in a stream at Lower Bhotay busty in Darjeeling on Friday night.

Darjeeling police arrested the main accused, 24-year-old Aditya Rai, from the Siliguri bus terminus last night, while Arvind Pariyar, also 24, surrendered at Bhaktinagar police station early this morning.


Another accused, Sandip Chhetri, 24, was arrested yesterday, hours after Wangdi’s body was found. The fourth friend, Simon Limbu Subba, is at large.

According to the police, Aditya confessed to his involvement in the murder. He reportedly told the police that talk of a four-year-old fight between him and Wangdi cropped up at the party, leading to the murder.

L.T. Bhutia, the inspector in charge of Darjeeling Sadar police station, said: “Aditya was to leave for Kuwait yesterday and before his departure, he decided to treat his four friends, including Wangdi, at his own house (where Aditya was living alone). During a drinking session, old issues resurfaced, leading to an altercation and then the murder.”

According to police sources, Wangdi had beaten up Aditya four years back over some minor issue but both soon patched up.

Bhutia said the friends had dragged Wangdi’s body from Aditya’s house and dumped it in a nearby stream. “A rod smeared with blood was found near the body,” he added.

The accused had also burnt a mattress in an effort to conceal the crime. The police are trying to recover another iron rod.

Police sources said Wangdi’s father, Sonam Tshering Bhutia, was aware that his son had gone to Aditya’s place. “All the five lived in the same locality. When the villagers found Wangdi’s body, they went to Aditya’s house and found blood stains,” said another police officer.

While Sandip had decided to stay back home, Aditya and Arvind had left for Calcutta yesterday early morning.

“We found out that they had train tickets reserved for Calcutta. We had sent one team to the NJP railway station but we were sure that they wouldn’t board the train. Keeping this in mind, we sent another team to the Siliguri bus terminus where they were about to leave for Calcutta,” the inspector in-charge said.

While the police managed to catch Aditya, Arvind fled as it was difficult to catch him given the crowd at the terminus.

He, however, surrendered at Bhaktinagar police station early this morning.

The arrested trio have been remanded in police custody for five days. “The next date of hearing is September 7,” said Pankaj Prasad, assistant public prosecutor.(TT)

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Five die in Sikkim mudslide

NIRMAL MANGAR
Gangtok, Sept. 2: Four members of a family and their guest were buried alive on Saturday night after a mudslide triggered by heavy rainfall, swept away their house at Mangchek village in South Sikkim.

The deceased are Chandra Bahadur Chettri, 62, his 50-year-old wife, daughters Duka Devi, 13 and Tika Devi, 7. The fifth victim was identified as Lal Bahadur Rai, 15, a friend of Chandra Bahadur’s son Devi Lal who was staying with the family.

Devi Lal, 15, is the only survivor. He was extracted from the slush by rescue workers this morning and rushed to Namchi district hospital.

The eldest and youngest sons were not at home yesterday night.

Mangchek village falls under the Ravangla subdivision, and is 40km from the south district headquarters of Namchi.

The bodies of the five victims were dug out from the debris by rescue workers and later cremated in the presence of local villagers and officials. Ravangla subdivisional magistrate P.K. Rai said a team from the subdivision, the Namchi disaster management cell, police and IRB jawans had been pressed into the rescue and recovery operation with the help of local villagers.

Rai informed that the landslides damaged several houses in Ralong, including the local secondary school. Many families have been shifted to the houses of relatives, he said. Locals have informed that slides have also broken out at Dalam, Namlung, Lingding and other places in Lower Ralong.

People of Ralong said the slides were caused because of heavy rainfall and a bad drainage system. Half a dozen houses have been damaged along with loss of cattle and crops, they added.

Continuous downpour has caused several landslides in the area and rescue and relief operations were carried throughout the day, said disaster management district project officer Pempa Norbu Sherpa.

The road connecting to Ralong is completely damaged and total extent of the natural calamity would be ascertained only after visiting all the affected areas, he said.

All essential supply lines are disrupted in the landslide affected areas of Ralong and heavy rains have also hampered rescue and restoration works, it was informed.

Area MLA Sonam Gyatso Bhutia visited Mangchek village with 30-40 volunteers from neighbouring villages to assist in the rescue and relief operations.(TT)

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“Linking Heart”. a national tourism camping

RANGPO-2ND SEPTEMBER12
Shipping Aviation Tourism Services (SATs) of Brahma Kumaris has organised a unique National Tourism campaign namely “Linking Heart”. From 1st September 12 from the conference hall of pakyong. Divine Sister BK Sonam on behalf of Sis. BK Sefali in charge of brahmakumaries Sikkim talking with the correspondent asked that on 1st September the programme was started at pakyong followed by 2nd Sept. 2012 at 2 PM to 4 PM at Forest Secretariat, Annexure I, Conference Hall, Deorali, Gangtok, . 4th Sept. 2012 at 11 AM to 1 PM at Community Hall, Namchi, South Sikkim

5th Sept. 2012 at Kalimpong Centre7th Sept. 2012 at Darjeeling Kala Mandir. 8th Sept. 2012 at Mirik Centre, 9th Sept. 2012 onwards to 12th September at Siliguri. Divine sister b k Sonam regarding the programme discussing with this correspondent asked that India is an ancient country with very rich treasure in culture, values, history etc. Which had attracted famous tourist like the Hue en Sang from china to Vasco de Gama from Portugal. The aim of this campaign is to revive the hidden treasures of values and help on creating world of brotherhood & peace. During campaign various program like seminar, talk shows, workshop etc.. Will be organised for the benefit of tourist and organisation connected with tourism sectors.

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SPC condemned the attack of congress leader

SANJAY AGARWAL –RANGPO-2ND SEPTEMBER 12
Sikkim Pradesh congress committee rateypaani Namthang constituency under south Sikkim has strongly condemned regarding the attack on congress leader Mr. j b darnal at his own home at bimbhong south Sikkim on the night of 11th august has demanded to take the matter strictly and to arrest the culprit immdeately .a letter in the name of superintendent of police was handed over to the deputy supritendent of police demanding to arrest the culprit immediately .the silent motion of the police is also under the scam said Mr. madan tamang congress ;leader of Namthang .in other side the meeting of congress party under the president ship of Mr. madan tamang was held at Namthang specially in the issue of Mr. darnal attack claims that this is not the first incident .many leaders and members of Sikkim are the victims of such type of anti social element .silent of police is condemned by Namthang rateypani Namthang demanding to arrest of the culprits .Mr. darnal was attacked on 11th august and suddenly namchi police has taken the injured person to the namchi district hospital and then was referred to CRH maanipal hospital .after three days she was referred to siliguri private nursing hospital and this time is in STNM Gangtok under treatment .

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Illegal parking and pollution by the commercial vehicles in Rongli market

SANJAY AGARWAL –RANGPO-2ND SEPTEMBER 12
Illegal parking and pollution by the commercial vehicles in Rongli market area is creating problem to the local residents, students and officers and staff of government and non government sectors. According to the news from several month the local residents, teachers and students was facing huge problems due to parking in the no parking zone area and blowing horn in no horn area .many times the residents has requested the drivers of the vehicles but no any response was came from the driver side and residents has to face abuse words from them .the vehicles coming from lingtaam and padhamchen area along with other parts also are in the same track. The residents have appealed the police administration to look into the matter please.

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