SIKKIM AT A GLANCE

Area :            7400 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

CM launches third phase of the State Green Mission; calls for greater public participation

NIRMAL MANGAR
GANGTOK, May 12: Chief Minister Pawan Chamling today said that the State Green Mission, “a mission of the masses” would be successful only if there is total dedication and support from the common people.
He said this during the formal launching ceremony of the third phase of the State Green Mission held at Chintan Bhawan here today.
The Chief Minister also expressed dissatisfaction over the slow progress of the Green Mission and said that it has not been as successful as it was expected at the time of its inception.
He also regretted the low-key participation of the people in the mission. “The green mission programme would be a matter of great pride to all the people of Sikkim if we are listed in the map of the world as the greenest State and serve as a role model for other states,” Mr. Chamling said.
While expressing his concern over the global environmental issues such as melting of glaciers, global warming, and bio-diversity conservation, he urged the people to go for mass forestation.
The Chief Minister also informed that Sikkim has become the first State in the country to set up a commission to study impact of global warming on glaciers. He further informed that a request has been made with the World Heritage Center, London to recognize Kabi Longtsok, Drubdi Monastery and Namgyal Institute of Tibetology in the list of heritage places.
Mr. Chamling also called on the employees of every Government department to render their tireless effort in making Sikkim the greenest state in India.
Organized by the State Forest Environment and Wildlife Department, the function was also chaired by the advisors to the Chief Minister, Sanchaman Limbo and BB Gooroong. Also present were the HODs of various Departments, officials from the Forest Department, Panchayats, NGOs and students.
The Minister of the State Forest, Wildlife and Environment Department SB said that the main objective of the programme is to create green belt and increase the aesthetic appeal of the surrounding areas so as to provide for the recreational needs of the people.
He also informed that it also focuses to make the state more appealing to the tourists and encourage the promotion of Green tourism.
ST Lachungpa, the secretary of the Forest Department informed that the mission has already completed its two years and this will be the final year, which needs more massive plantation.
According to Thomas Chandy, the Chief Conservator of Forest, around 10,12,515 saplings were planted last year. In his power point presentation, the chief conservator of forest informed that North District saw more plantations last year with 3, 34, 000 followed by West District with 2, 00,000.
The South and East recorded 2,00,000 and 1,99,000 plantations respectively.
Talking about the third phase, he said that the targeted area this year is 310km of avenue and 15 hectares of block plantation.
As per the departmental data, the survival percentage last year was recorded at 60 percent.
Later in the programme, the Chief Minister also released a video CD ‘Hamro van’ and other books on green mission.

Capacity building exercise cum workshop for the frontline staff concludes

Staff Reporter
GANGTOK, May 12: A week long Capacity Building Exercise cum workshop for the frontline staff, Economic Development and Joint Forest Management Committee concluded today here at the Advanced Training Center, Bardang.
The training enrolled 57 participants including the Assistant Conservator of Forest Officers, Range Officers, Block Officers, Head Forest Guards, Forest Guards, members of Eco Development and Joint Forest Management committee of Pangokhola, Fambonglho, Kyongnosola and Singba Rhododendron Wild life sanctuaries and Field staff of North and East territorial division also participated in the training.
The training was designed as such to sensitize and actively involve the public and grass root staffs in preparation of management plan and to ensure active peoples participation. During the weeklong programme, which started on May 5, subjects like flora, fauna, Global positioning system, map reading, wild life and forest acts, computer application, labor laws, arms forensic, eco tourism etc were deliberated upon by the experts, professionals from various sectors of the Forests, Environment and Wildlife Management Department, Sikkim Police Department, Labour Department, IPR, WWF India.
The resource persons from outside the state include the Director, Central Forensic Science Laboratory, Kolkata and Legal Luminaries of the Supreme Court of India.
A field trip to Gorumara National Park was conducted on May 10 and 11 for all the participants.
To develop sportsmanship and team spirit, a competitive sport was organized among the participants. Sanctuary wise teams were formed for volley ball match wherein Kyongnosla Alpine Sanctuary emerged as the winners. Yoga was also organized in the programme.
t the end of the programme, participants had to prepare Management plan for their respective sanctuary and draft management plan of all the sanctuaries of the East and North Wildlife Division. This will be tabled before the Government for approval.
The Valedictory function was attended by the Minister of the State Forests, Environment and Wildlife Management Department SB Subedi as the chief guest, who congratulated the participants and hoped the training would prove beneficial in future. He urged for collective effort and individual participation from the officers to protect the environment.

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Our Correspondent
NAMCHI, May 12: The distribution of mulching cows undertaken by the State Animal Husbandry Livestock Fisheries and Veterinary Services Department has now reached Rateypani Constituency.
The Area MLA AS Baraily, who was present as the chief guest of the programme today distributed mulching cows to five Scheduled Caste beneficiaries of the constituency.
On the occasion, the department also organized skill development programme for the beneficiaries wherein the departmental representatives educated the participants on various ways of dairy farming.
Addressing the programme, the Area MLA informed that the distribution of mulching cows to the rural farmers is a part of the SDF government’s pro-poor schemes.
He further said that the people of Sikkim were not serious about dairy farming hitherto in the state which according to Mr Baraily was the easiest way of earning livelihood in the rural areas.
Mr. Baraily also advised the department personals to inspect the distributed cows later in order to find out that the beneficiaries were doing well in the management of cows.
He also informed that the government is distributing such mulching cows all over the state to the rural people with the aim to uplift their living standard and to make them self reliant.
The Area MLA also took the opportunity to slam the oppositions and said that they should praise the good works of the government instead of opposing each and every work done by the government.
The cows were brought from the remote village of Santuk in West Bengal by the Joint Director, South Dr. NK Rai and Deputy Director Dr. HN Sharma, it is informed.
According to Dr. Rai, the mulching cows have been insured for three years and that the government will provide insurance amount to the beneficiaries for any casualty.
The department also provided cow feed to the beneficiaries.

Monsoon hits east coast 5 days in advance

SE Report
GANGTOK, May 12: South-west monsoon, the lifeline of many farmers of the country, has set in the south Andaman Sea and the south east Bay of Bengal a good five days in advance.
The Andaman and Nicobar archipelago had been receiving isolated heavy to very heavy rains over the last two days along with strong westerly winds and a persistent convection over the Andaman Sea for the last three to four days.
The weather office has forecast the onset of monsoon over the southern Kerala coast a week earlier than the normal June 1 date. According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the monsoon reached the eastern coast five days earlier than normal.Rains set over parts of Bay of Bengal and the south Andaman Sea from May 10, says weather bureau. These areas usually receive rain around May 15.
Some parts of India have received some relief from the sweltering heat wave with the early arrival of the first monsoon showers.
It said conditions were favourable for further advance of southwest monsoon over some more parts of southeast Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea in the next two days.
India's 235 million farmers rely on the timing of the June-September monsoon season to decide which crops to grow.
The long-range summer monsoon forecast has pegged this season's rainfall as almost near-normal of 99 per cent of the average between 1941 and 1990.