Why Sandakphu has to be dropped - CM’s trip troubles: logistics, time shortage

VIVEK CHHETRI (From top) The road to Sandakphu; the Land Rover, the only vehicle that can negotiate the steep gradient; and cottages at Sandakphu. Pictures by Suman Tamang Darjeeling, Feb. 16: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s plan to set foot in Sandakphu, the highest point in Bengal, is likely to hit logistic and time hurdles and administrative sources said she might have to drop the idea of visiting it.Mamata had said in Siliguri on February...

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Sukna gets a taste of Barfee - Director back with Priyanka and Ranbir

MRINALINI SHARMA Priyanka Chopra shoots for Barfeeat a Sukna village, 12km from Siliguri, on Thursday; and Priyanka with Ranbir Kapoor during the shooting of a scene from the film. Pictures by Kundan Yolmo Siliguri, Feb. 16: Anurag Basu kept his promise and came back with Priyanka Chopra and Ranbir Kapoor to shoot in Sukna today.The Life in a Metro maker had said he would return with the entire Barfee team after...

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Police meet

Gangtok: The All India Police Science Congress began at Chintan Bhavan in Gangtok on Wednesday. Sikkim chief minister Pawan Chamling inaugurated the three-day event. Around 150 serving and retired officers of the state police forces, intelligence agencies, paramilitary forces and representatives of the ministry of home affairs are taking part in the me...

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3 die in hill car crash

Kalimpong, Feb. 15: Three persons were killed and three others were injured when a Maruti van rolled down a hill at Mahakaldara in Bada Bhalukhop around 6pm today. The vehicle overturned and rolled about 150 feet downhill.The van was going to Sangsey village.In a separate incident, seven persons were injured when a jeep overturned at 12th Mile around 3.30pm. Police sources said there were about 15 people in the jeep that was on the way to Samthar villa...

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Aamir’s TV shoot in Sikkim

BIJOY GURUNG Aamir Khan at Bulbuley on Wednesday. (Prabin Khaling) Gangtok, Feb. 15: Sikkim will feature in Aamir Khan’s upcoming television series with the actor spending the past two days in the Himalayan state shooting at different locations.“We have been touring different parts of the country for the television project. We are doing the tele-series on the celebrated thought of the country, Satyameva Jayate. We did some shooting here...

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Morcha ‘blocks’ CPRM members

VIVEK CHHETRI Youth members of the CPRM in front of the Kalimpong block 1 office on Wednesday. (CF Lepcha) Darjeeling, Feb. 15: The CPRM was today allegedly prevented from submitting a memorandum to a block development officer by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha supporters, sparking charges that the predominant party in the Darjeeling hills was once again stifling Opposition voices.“Members of our youth wing had gone to the Rongli-Rungleet block...

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Sikkim, Aamir’s valentine - Star hits snow-clad state

BIJOY GURUNG Aamir Khan at Burtuk helipad in Gangtok on Tuesday. Picture by Prabin Khaling Gangtok, Feb. 14: Sikkim had a date with actor Aamir Khan on Valentine’s Day. It was his maiden trip to Sikkim and the timing could not have been better as a two-week long festival took off today to lure tourists back to the state.“I have come to Sikkim just for sightseeing. I have never been here before but I have heard a lot about Sikkim. I heard...

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Nod to tea tourism without land lease

BIRESWAR BANERJEE AND AVIJIT SINHA Makaibari garden in Kurseong, which has introduced tea tourism Siliguri, Feb. 14: The government will support tea tourism based on infrastructure already existing in plantations but will not issue fresh lease for any portion of the garden land to be used for tourism.The government fears that issuing fresh lease would lead to rampant clearing of plantations for tourism, affecting the apex industry that employs...

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Rs 130cr package for north growth

Siliguri, Feb. 14: North Bengal development minister Gautam Deb announced over Rs 130 crore for several projects from his new office on Hill Cart Road where he started working today.Of the total, Rs 20 crore would be used for developing infrastructure in the hills, said the minister.“It has been decided that Rs 20 crore would be sanctioned for the hills to develop infrastructure like roads, drains and culverts. The funds would be paid from...

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Makeover takes off at Mall

VIVEK CHHETRI Darjeeling, Feb. 14: The DGHC has started revamping the Mall and the first phase of the Rs 9 crore project for Darjeeling’s famous promenade is expected to be completed in five months.Nearly Rs 2 crore has been sanctioned for the first phase which includes an amphitheatre and landscaping the park where it will come up. Dismantling the band stand or the “hawa ghar” for an unhindered view of the mountains will be part of the...

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Couple found dead

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Toyota & tourism plans in north

Siliguri, Feb. 12: Automobile majors Toyota and Maruti and four tourism entrepreneurs have expressed interest in investing in north Bengal, industries minister Partha Chatterjee said here today.“Toyota and Maruti have written to us, saying that they would like to set up logistic hubs in north Bengal. We are very glad at their intent. They want to set up spare parts manufacturing and other ancillary units in the region,” Chatterjee said.Although Chatterjee refused to divulge where the hubs would come up, Maruti Suzuki had announced during the Bengal...

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Dredge plan for Karala revival

Jalpaiguri, Feb. 12: A Rs 23 crore project that entails dredging and diversion of sewerage to clean up and revive the Karala has been prepared by the North Bengal Flood Control Commission.The chief minister is set to submit the project report personally to the Planning Commission during her upcoming trip to New Delhi and seek funds from the Centre.The pollution of the river that has virtually become a refuse dump came to the limelight when...

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Morcha oils street levers for GTA - Sunday protests kick off a day after Mamata visit

RAJEEV RAVIDAS Kalimpong, Feb. 12: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha took to the streets for a separate state for the first time today since the signing of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration agreement and a day after Mamata Banerjee’s visit to the hills.The move, party leaders admitted, was part of a two-pronged strategy to force the government for an early implementation of the pact and to counter rivals who have been trying to use the delay to drum up support in their favour.Rallies and public meetings were held across the hills...

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