Individuals in Sikkim
seeking to own their
cherished vehicles will now
have to compulsory show a
parking space before their
vehicles are registered by
the Motor Vehicle Division (MVD)
of the State transport
department.
This is easier said than
done as the hilly terrain
and unplanned urbanization
have created a congested
urban Sikkim with the
capital Gangtok and major
towns screaming for lack of
breathing space, let alone a
parking space for vehicles.
Demand for private vehicles
has also shot up in Sikkim
with the increased
purchasing power of the
people here with almost 50
new vehicles hitting the
narrow roads...
Rejecting
the allegations of the opposition
political parties, the ruling Sikkim
Democratic Front (SDF) party has
asserted that the Pink Cards slated
to be distributed to the bonafide
Sikkimese people are ‘not a
replacement of the Sikkim Subject
certificates’.“Pink Card is not a replacement of
Sikkim Subject certificates. It is
like a smart card form of the Sikkim
Subject certificates containing
personal details of the holder”,
said SDF spokesperson Bhim Dahal to
reporters yesterday.
Defending the Pink Card drive of the
State government, Dahal pointed out
that even the Union government is..
Phumzay Lachungpa Memorial
Independence Day Football Tournament
today kicked off at Mangan public
ground. In the first match played
today between Rising Lachen Vs
Ringhem Red, the former team won the
match by four goals to one.
SDPO Mangan, K Tenzing was present
as the chief guest along with the
presence of North District Football
Association members.
Local tribal people, most of whom
live a nomadic life in the remote
high altitude areas of North Sikkim
join the Buddhists of the world to
celebrate Drukpa Tseshi, an
important date in the Buddhist
calendar and observed on July 15. As
seen in the picture taken by
freelance journalist Khagendra Mani
Pradhan, the tribal people, the
Lachengpas and Dokpas assemble in
their best traditional attire at a
local monastery built of stones at
Lhashar Valley in North Sikkim at an
altitude of 16,000 ft to celebrate
Drukpa Tseshi and pray to their
guardian deities residing in the
surrounding seven snow-capped peaks.
On this day, the tribal people
participate in the annual Yak race.
The yaks, as a mark of honour, are
given the finest decoration with a
saddle of Tibetan carpets and silk
scarves around their necks. Drukpa
Tseshi marks the event when Lord
Buddha first turned the ‘Wheel of
Dharma’ and His first preaching of
the four Noble Truths to His first
five disciples at a deer park in
Sarnath. Prayers and lighting of
butter lamps are held in all the
monasteries of Sikkim by the
Buddhists.
Fugitive Pranay Chettri who had
absconded from STNM hospital on July
12 during a medical treatment was
arrested yesterday at Rangpo by
police.
Chettri (24) is accused in six cases
including a burglary case at the
Palace premise here in Gangtok. He
had been arrested in the burglary
case and was...
A
55-year-old man died after he was
hit by a falling tree while he was
on his way to Rorathang Bazaar
yesterday.
Mohan Subba (55) of Kurseong, who
was presently staying at Reshi
Rorathang East Sikkim, was a quarry
labourer at Rorathang.
The increasing number of incidence of human
trafficking in the State is a cause for concern
and it is time the authorities woke up and took
notice. However, the trend is not just confined
to the State; India has the dubious distinction
of leading in human trafficking and this is
certainly we should be worried about.
India has been ranked as a “Tier II Watch List”
country – only one level better than
worst-performing Tier III countries such as
Saudi Arabia and Zimbabwe – in the 2010
Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP) compiled by
the Union government. Given the definition of
Tier II Watch List in the TIP, this implies that
India ranks among...
In
the wake of complaints received particularly
from the people of north Sikkim on the state of
roads managed by Border Roads Organization
(BRO), Brig. Rajiv Sawney, Chief Engineer, BRO,
made a power point presentation before Governor
BP Singh here at Raj Bhavan today.
The purpose of the power point presentation was
to update the Governor on the status of work
carried out by BRO. This was a follow-up of the
earlier presentation made on May 19, 2010.
According to a press release, Brig. Sawney in
his presentation spoke on the double laning of
NH31, alternate highway to Sikkim, upgradation
of Jawaharlal Nehru (JN) road and North Sikkim
Highway (NSH).
We are all aware of the fact that the numbers of
cars in the Capital have mushroomed over the
years, leading to a severe shortage of parking
space in and around the city. Vehicle owners are
now familiar with parking woes that we have to
endure.
Morning and evening traffic is a nuisance these
days. Everyday new cars are rolling out of the
showrooms while space is getting smaller and
smaller. The parking problem around the city is
a nightmare. Even if we go to Secretariat for
official purpose one has to leave his vehicle at
White Hall complex. If we talk about the heart
of the city, one has to be really lucky to get a
parking space..
One of the oldest
bazaars of Sikkim, Namthang in South District is
all set to undergo a major facelift.
The inauguration programme for Namthang bazaar
beautification and upgradation was held on July
26 which was attended by area MLA Tilu Gurung,
State UD&HD secretary Topjor Dorji, engineers
from UD&HD, BDO Namthang Robin Sewa, Zilla
Panchayat members, local Panchayats and senior
citizens of the area.
The total estimated cost of Namthang bazaar
beautification and upgradation is tagged at Rs
2.45 crore and the work will be carried out in
two phase. Initial works worth Rs 83 lakhs will
take place in the first phase which includes
approach road around the bazaar premises, haat
court, tiles flooring, haat stock and walkways.
No
response has come from the
administration even as the All India
Gorkha League (AIGL) members complete
their sixth day of relay hunger strike
here at Chowrastha demanding early
arrest of those persons accused of
murdering their leader Madan Tamang.
Similar protest is also being conducted
at Kalimpong by AIGL members including
party leaders Tribhuvan Rai and Pratap
Khati.
The AIGL leaders have strongly condemned
the anti-Madan Tamang statements given
by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM)
president Bimal Gurung yesterday during
the Sahid Diwas programme.
Friends
at Rachna organized the release of a
book on Sikkimese folks tales, ‘Legends
of the Lepchas’ by Yishey Doma on July
25 evening at The First Floor at Rachna
Books.
This collection of 22 folk tales of
Lepcha folk tales has been illustrated
by Pankaj Thapa.
Yishey Doma is an award winning
journalist, a poet and a published
writer. Her earlier book, ‘Sikkim - The
Hidden Fruitful Valley’ is a popular
richly informative coffee-table book.
Her essays have also appeared in
"Stranger's Notes and Other Essays".
Express Videos
QUEEN’S BATON
IN SIKKIM!
Queen’s Baton was ushered into the Himalayan
State through the Rangpo check post by the famed
Singhi (Snow Lion) and Yak dance while a full
fledged Naumauti Baja team played their
traditional music on the background.
Sikkim
at Glance
Area :
7096 Sq Km Capital : Gangtok
Altitude: 5,840 ft Population:
6.10 Lakhs Topography: Hilly terrain
elevation from 600 ft. to over 28,509 ft
above sea level Climate: Summer
Max- 21°C ; Min - 13°C Winter Max
-13°C ; Min - 0.48°C Rainfall : 325
cm per annum Language Spoken: Nepali,
Bhutia, Lepcha, Tibetan, English, Hindi