Our Correspondent
NAMCHI, May 14: The Chief Minister Pawan Chamling today visited various places in and around Namchi, in order to take stock of the various developmental projects currently under progress here.
He was accompanied by the minister, Rural Management and Development Department, KN Rai, Area MLA, Melli, Girish Chandra Rai, secretaries of all the government departments along with the officials from the South District.
Mr. Chamling started his inspection from the construction site of the Ropeway near Gandhi Park here. He directed the engineers of the concerned department to ensure that the ropeway meets top standards. He also directed them to look for a good parking area near the site.
During his visit to the Jorethang Road, the CM directed the engineers to make provisions for street lights up to Kamrang College Road. He also suggested that sufficient numbers of pay and use toilets in and around Namchi town should be constructed in order to facilitate both the locals as well as tourists.
Concerned over the increasing number of vehicles in the town, the Chief Minister directed the concerned departmental officials to look for a proper site where a parking plaza can be constructed.
The Chief Minister also visited the newly constructed children’s park at Kazitaar, where he instructed the SDM, Namchi to look for a land for the construction of a nature park in Namchi.
Walking towards Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Institute for Handicapped (JNMIH), Mr. Chamling directed the engineers to find a site for the construction of Schedule Caste Bhawan there.
During his interaction with the public, the CM urged them to cooperate with the State Government and help them to make Sikkim a green State by colouring every house in the Namchi Municipality area in green.
The Chief Minister also visited the construction site of the District Library cum Museum and the multi-storied shopping complex cum parking plaza here.
Mr. Chamling announced that the Namchi bazaar will now be a vehicle-free zone. Expressing his desire to make Namchi town as beautiful as Gangtok, the CM directed the engineers of the State Urban Development and Housing Department to design a dancing water fountain at the present taxi stand here.

Himalaya Opticals launche ‘Sunglass Festival’

SE Report
GANGTOK, May 14: It’s time to beat the heat with the killer shades this summer.
Himalaya Opticals, one of the largest optical retail chain stores of Eastern India recently launched their annual mega “Sunglass Festival” where the branded and non-branded sun shades have fabulous discounts to beat the sun.
This festival will run simultaneously in all the stores of Himalaya Opticals across the country.
According to a release, the stores will stock up in-house designer frames along with world class sunglasses like Gucci, Esprit, Prada, Georgio Armani, Emporio Armani, Trusardi, CK, Police, Elle and many others.
For a change, a unique scheme has been put in place this year - a scratch card scheme created to provide fabulous discounts to all customers.
More men are opting for sunglasses mainly to save the eyes from harmful rays. Retro style, plastic and metal sunglasses are in vogue this year with majority people opting for curvature glasses. “We have received immense support from Siliguri. We want Siliguri to experience our mega Sunglass Festival to beat the sun, which is designed to suit every budget, says Sarat Binani, MD, Himalaya Opticals.
Himalaya Opticals is the largest retail company in the vision care business in Eastern India. Started in 1951, Himalaya Opticals, has 34 outlets across North and East out of which 18 are located in the eastern region.
First to introduce computerized eye testing in Kolkata, the company has also been responsible to introduce the concept of contact lens in this region and imported ophthalmic lenses in the country. The introduction of progressive lenses was also one of the firsts by Himalaya in this country.

Staff Reporter
GANGTOK, May 14: True to its name, ‘Crystal and the Witches’ have clearly set the ball rolling, what with a scintillating performance in the North East Rockers jamboree held recently in Gangtok.
Crystal and the Witches is a young rock band that has just about everything it takes to go the distance - looks, charisma, an original sound, ambition, performance and passion.
The vocalist/lead guitarist Diwash Rai, and the bass guitarist Tenzing Loden Bhutia are from Sikkim. The drummer Shubhro Ganguly is from Assam while Arthur Gomes on keyboard hails from Kolkata. Ganguly and Bhutia students of BCom at St Xavier’s College, Calcutta while Rai is a second year student of Asutosh College and Gomes is doing his BCom through correspondence.
Formed only two years ago, Tenzing Loden Bhutia, who is in Gangtok for his vacations says that his band has won a number of major campus competitions in 2006 alone including the Techno India Rock Contest, the Calcutta Medical College rock music competition and the Jadavpur Sanskriti Rock Contest. They were runners up in the Mangan fest in 2007.
Study and music goes hand in hand with these guys. They believe studies are important as well.
Though it means hectic schedules, the foursome always made sure to take out time after classes and perform at Someplacelse and Princeton Club in Kolkata at least thrice a month. In this way, they keep their performance going. Otherwise, they gather for intensive round of rehearsals for a week if any major competitions come up.
With their charisma and stage presence alone, the guys in Crystal and the Witches have a big head start on many local bands. They play metal. And they can really rock.
Not only do they excellently personify Iron Maidens, Megadeth or Slayer, 50 percent of their work according to Bhutia is their own creation and composition.
“Actually, we prefer to do our own songs,” says the talented bassists confidently, who is also known to be the founding member of Crusaders, a band when he was in Tashi Namgyal Academy.
The lead singer/guitarist Diwash was a former member of the top Sikkim band Still Waters.
Crystal and the Witches have miles to go. According to Tenzing, they are planning to release an album, which may take five to six months.
But before this, we may see them participate in great Indian Rock and June Rock Out besides other major rock festivals in India.
Keep rocking, guys!