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8th May 2008

 A meeting of senior level officers of the Forest, Environment and Wildlife Management Department was held at Forest Secretariat Building under the chairmanship of PCCF-cum-Secretary on 6^th may 2008 regarding the implementation of green mission programme. The meeting also reviewed in detail about the progress of last year’s green mission work an stressed upon the casualty filling with tall and healthy plants wherever necessary. The PCCF-cum-Secretary directed all the officers to seriously involve in this mission to make it a grand success. The meeting further decided that the green mission programme for the year 2008 will start from 12^th May 08. On the same day a meeting on green mission is expected to be held at Chintan Bhawan, Gangtok which is likely to be presided over by the Chief Minister of Sikkim, including all Cabinet Ministers, Advisors, MLAs, HODs, NGOs, Panchayats, Block Development Officers, Army. Border Roads organizations, Students etc.  Inputs received from Forest, Environment and Wild Life Management Department.

                                                                                                                                     IPR News Service

                                                                                        P . R. No.30/08-09/IPR   

8th May 2008

As per information received from Forest Department, the “Core Committee” constituted under the chairmanship of Sri. S.T. Lachungpa, PCCF-cum-Secretary, Forest Environment and Wildlife Management Department, vide Notification number 44/home/2008 dated 5/5/08 held a meeting on the 7^th of May 08 at the Saramsa garden to look after the maintenance and sustenance of the Saramsa garden as well as to ensure its proper use. The meeting was attended by all committee members and  officers of the Tourism, Horticulture and Forest Department. The Chairman of the committee Shri. S.T. Lachungpa, IFS stressed on the need to include PHED and Power Department in the committee since their services are always required for the maintenance of the Garden.

Shri. Y.P. Gurung, Joint Director (Eco-Tourism) FEWMD informed the committee about the present status of the garden and highlighted the different problems of the garden for consideration by the core committee. Secretary Tourism stated that since the Tourism Department and Horticulture Department has contributed considerably to the development of the garden, certain percentage of the revenue should be given to these departments as well. The Secretary tourism assured that all the infrastructure constructed by the Tourism Department shall be handed over to the Eco-Tourism wing of the Forest Department within seven days and the remaining work and maintenance shall be completed as soon as possible. Further, Secretary Horticulture suggested forming a “Saramsa Garden Management Committee” consisting of representatives from Horticulture, Forest Tourism, PHED, and Power Department to workout the fee structures for the different facilities created at Saramsa Garden so that the government revenue can be generated by conducting different events, fairs, seminars, or other types of functions.

                                                                                                                                IPR News Service

                                                                                        P . R. No.29/08-09/IPR 

6th May 2008

Doordarshan Kendra, Gangtok was commissioned in November 2004 at Gangtok, which has been awaiting the formal inauguration to become a full-fledged centre. The state government has been vigorously pursuing the matter with the Central Government. The Chief Minister Mr. Pawan Chamling has communicated through letters to the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India on several occasion for the inauguration of the same but a formal inauguration is still awaited. (Copies of the letters enclosed).

Once again, the Governor of Sikkim Shri. Surdarshan Agarwal has taken up the matter with Mr. Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi, Union Minister, Information and Broadcasting for timely intervention of the Ministry  so that the Developmental activities of the state and other Information could reach the people of Sikkim and the general public at large.  

                                                                                                                                         IPR News Service

                                                                                        P . R. No.27/08-09/IPR   

Glacier & Climate Change Studies in Sikkim

5th May 2008

          Sikkim has large number of glaciers and act as natural reservoirs for supply of water to major river systems of the State. Reports of Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change regarding global warming and glacial melting have raised serious concern in the State.

          The State Government has  constituted a  Commission to study the state of Glaciers and its impact on water system in Sikkim under the Chairmanship of Prof.Syed Iqbal Hasnain, renowned glaciologist of the country to review the current status of Glaciers & snowmelt and potential impact of climate change on mountain eco-system and suggest measures for modern scientific and technological interventions and actions required on human resources generation, training and management that would cater to glaciology and related environmental management.

The Chairman of Glacier & Climate change Commission, Government of Sikkim, Prof. Syed Iqbal Hasnain, Senior Fellow, The Energy & Resources Institute (TERI), New Delhi, along with a team consisting of officers from Science & Technology Department, Forest Department, Rural Management Department and Junior Research Fellows working with the Commission visited East Rathong Glacier, West Sikkim between April 24 and May 3, 2008. 

The expedition was undertaken to check the suitability of the glacier to be used as a benchmark for long term measurement of mass balance, energy balance and hydrological balance.  As per the attributes approved by the International Association of Cryospheric Sciences (IACS), the chosen glacier should have a simple geometry (without feeding glaciers), debris free and elevation difference between the snout and accumulation zone should not be more than 1000 m. 

East Rathong is a South facing, debris free, summer nourished glacier (which implies that it receives around 80% of its accumulation by the summer SouthWest monsoon) and has easy accessibility with a well established Himalayan Mountaineering Institute base camp. East Rathong glacier is an ideal glacier for long term studies in Sikkim Himalaya and could be used for developing long term time series which may be used by developing regional models on mass balance, hydrology and impact of climate change on Equilibrium Line Altitude (ELA).  The models could be validated by using the real time series of this glacier. 

In the downwasted region in front of the present snout, two prominent glacial lakes are present.   The bigger lake is about 0.5 square km in area whereas the smaller one is 0.25 square km.  Both are dammed by moraines with small outlets.  There is a need for continuous monitoring of these lakes.

As per the suggestion of the Chairman of the Glacier Commission various studies regarding summer and winter accumulation of snow in the glacier areas will be studied by the team.  The density of snow/ice at different accumulation areas of the glacier will also be studied.  The hydrological study regarding the velocity of ice and mass changes in the glacier will also be studied over a period of time. 

Further, a team from the Department of Space, Government of India under the leadership of glaciologist Dr. A.V. Kulkarni who is also a member of the Sikkim Glacier Commission is also visiting Sikkim glaciers for taking up studies jointly with the Department of Science & Technology, Government of Sikkim on glacier depth using radar system.  In addition to this, a glacier expedition will also be done under the leadership of Dr. Milapchand Sharma, Professor from Jawaharlal Nehru University during this month for studying geomorphology and other parameters related to glaciers. The Centre of Studies of Resource for Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai is also taking up microwave remote sensing studies for various glaciers of Sikkim. The microwave remote sensing is very helpful is glacier studies because it can penetrate the clouds for glacier studies during monsoon season.  The Department of Science & Technology will be associated in all these ventures.

Studies are will also be initiated jointly with the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune for development of various prediction models for impact of climate change in Sikkim Himalaya after analysis of past meteorological data. 

                                                                                                                                         IPR News Service

                                                                                        P . R. No.24/08-09/IPR   

5th May 2008

All are aware that the Government of India recongnised the Limboo and Tamang communities as the Scheduled Tribe in the year 2002 following the relentless and sincere effort made by Mr. Pawan Chamling, Chief Minister of Sikkim.

Consequent upon recognition of Limboo and Tamang as Scheduled Tribe, the Chief Minister has also been pursuing vigorously with the Union Government for reservation of seats for these communities in the State Assembly. In pursuance of the repeated requests from the Government of Sikkim, Centre has now constituted a Central Committee under the chairmanship of Registrar General of India, Census Operation for this purpose.

The Cabinet in its meeting held on 24th April, 2008 deliberated on the issue and directed the Directorate of Economics, Statistics, Monitoring and Evaluation, Government of Sikkim, to carry out the survey to ascertain the population of Limboo and Tamang communities in Sikkim on priority within hundred days. This will assist / help the Central Committee under the Chairmanship of Registrar General of India, Census Operation.

                                                                                                                                    IPR News Service

                                                                                        P . R. No.25/08-09/IPR 

5th May 2008

PROCEEDING OF THE CABINET MEETING HELD ON 24.04.08 AT 3 P.M IN THE CABINET HALL, TASHILING SECRETARIATE GANGTOK.

1. Dr. Pawan Chamling, Chief Minister of Sikkim, Department - Home, Finance, Revenue and Expenditure, Development Planning, Economic Reforms & North East Council Affairs etc)

4. Shri Dorjee Dazom Bhutia, Minister,(Department- Land Revenue & Disaster Management, Urban Development & Housing; Irrigation and Flood Control).

3. Shri Garjaman Gurung, Minister, (Department -Human Resource Development, Cultural Affairs & Heritage)

4. Shri Hishey Lachungpa, Minister, (Department-Health Care, Human Services and Family Welfare;Social Justice, Empowerment and Welfare)

5. Shri Prem Singh Tamang, Minister,(Department -Building and Housing ;Sports and Youth Affairs)

6. Shri Ram Bahadur Subba, Minister, (Department-Law, Parliamentary Affairs; Tourism; Commerce & Industries Department)

7. Shri Sher Bahadur Subedi, Minister, (Department -Forest, Environment and Wildlife Management; Mines, Minerals and Geology; Science & Technology

8. Smt. Kalawati Subba, Minister, (Department-Animal Husbandry, Live Stock, Fisheries & Veterinary Services; Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs).

9. Shri Menlom Lepcha, Minister, (Department-Water Security & Public Health Engineering; Transport)

10. Shri. Karna Bahadur Chamling, Chief Whip.

RURAL MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

The cabinet approved and sanctioned the proposal seeking approval to transfer Rs. 55,39,976(Rupees fifty five lakhs thirty nine thousand nine hundred seventy six) only to Land Revenue and Disaster Management Department for the purpose of acquisition of 28 houses for construction of PMGSY road at Lungchok Gupti via Mungrang and Sadam, South Sikkim.

HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT 

Proposal seeking approval and sanction of Rs.l, 64,99,434/- (Rupees One crore sixty four lakhs ninety nine thousand four hundred and thirty four) only for acquiring 3.5600 hectare of land for construction of District Institute of Education & Training( DIET) and State Council of Education Research and Training(SCERT) at Ranka, East Sikkim, has been approved and sanctioned by the Cabinet.

Proposal seeking confirmation of the approval and sanction of Rs. 216.55 lakhs (Rupees  Two crore sixteen lakhs fifty five thousand) only for implementation of the continuing scheme for cooked Mid -Day Meal Programme, has been approved and sanctioned by the Cabinet.

Proposal seeking approval for upgradation of 19 schools under different categories with immediate effect from academic session 2008, has been approved and sanctioned by the Cabinet alongwith the upgradation of the following lower primary school to Primary School.

1.      Tingmoo Bering Lower Primary school, South District

2.      Lower Timburbong Lower Primary school, West District.

Proposal seeking approval and sanction of Rs.74.45 lakhs (Rupees Seventy four lakhs forty five thousand) only for free distribution of Exercise books to School students for the academic session-2008 and drawal of Rs.l.00 lakh (Rupees one lakh) only as advance to meet distribution charges etc, has been approved and sanctioned by the Cabinet.

Proposal seeking approval for introduction of new schemes involving distribution of free Shoes& Socks to the students of Pre-Primary to Class V of all Government Schools and free distribution of Text Books, Exercise Books, School Uniforms, School Bags, Raincoats, Shoes and Socks from class VI to VIII of Remote Area Schools and approval is also solicited to invite open tender as per SFR for the procurement of above mentioned beneficiary items has been approved by the Cabinet.

Proposal seeking approval and confirmation to declare 172 numbers of Government

Schools as the remote area schools of the state and to extend the facilities of free 1stribution of Text Books, School Uniforms, Excise Books, Shoes and Socks to the students up to Class VIII of 45 numbers of Jr .High Schools, Sec. School and Sr. Sec. School out of 172 numbers of schools, has been approved by the Cabinet.

BUILDING AND HOUSING DEPARTMENT

Proposal seeking approval and sanction of revised estimate of Rs. 352.60 lakhs (Rupees Three crore fifty two lakhs and sixty thousand) only involving additional financial /implication of Rs.74.29 lakhs (Rupees seventy four lakhs and twenty nine thousand) only  for construction of SDM Complex at Rongli in East Sikkim, has been approved and sanctioned by the Cabinet           

DEPARTMENT OF PER. ADM., REF., TRG, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES, CARRIER OPTIONS & EMPLOYMENT, SKILL DEV. AND CHIEF MINISTER’S SELF EMPLOYMENT SCHEME

Under the Provision of Rule 5 of the Sikkim State Right to Information(Regulation of fee, cost & Miscellaneous )Rules, 2005,   the application fee of Rs.I00/- and Photocopying fee of Rs.10/-- has to be deposited and Bank Receipt is to be produced before obtaining information. Now, the Government has decided to reduce the cost of . application fee from Rs.100/- to Rs10 and photocopying fee from Rs.10/-- to Rs. 2/-. The Cabinet has approved the proposal.

DEAPARTMENT OF H.C, HS & FAMILY WELFARE

Proposal soliciting administrative approval and sanction in principle for up gradation of the Sir Thutob Namgyal Memorial  Hospital to 500-Beeded State of the Art Hospital at an estimated cost of Rs. 1,25,00,00,000 (Rupees one hundred and twenty five crores) The Cabinet has approved and sanctioned the above proposal.  

SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT DEPARTMENT

Proposal seeking approval and sanction of Rs. 50.00 lakhs (Rupees fifty lakhs) only

which is to be transferred to Cultural Affairs and Heritage Department for construction  of Khamsel Lhakhang at Tholung Gumpa in upper Dzongu, North Sikkim at an estimated cost of Rs.170.00 lakhs (Rupees one crore seventy lakhs)only, The Cabinet approved and sanctioned the above proposal.

ROADS AND BRIDGES DEPARTMENT

Proposal seeking approval and sanction of Rs.42,57,000 (Rupees forty two lakhs fifty seven thousand) only for strengthening carperting and stabilization of approach road to Melli Bazar in South Sikkim has been approved and sanctioned by the Cabinet.

Proposal seeking approval and additional financial sanction of Rs.l 0.96 lakhs (Rupees ten lakhs ninety six thousand) only for construction of road from Sangkhola- Zingla in  East Sikkim, has been approved and sanctioned by the Cabinet.

    ECCLESIASTICAL AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT

121.21 Proposal seeking approval of the following:

Administrative approval and financial sanction to the tune ofRs.50 lakhs (Rupees fifty akhs) only.

ii) Transfer of this fund to the Kamsel Lhakhang Committee of the Tholung Gumpa, Upper Dzongu, has been approved and sanctioned by the Cabinet.

SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT DEPARTMENT

Proposal seeking administrative approval and financial sanction of Rs.29.86 lakhs

 (Rupees Twenty nine lakhs eighty six thousand) only for provision of dairy inputs to diary co-operative societies and tribal milk producers of North district has been approved and sanctioned by the Cabinet.

BUILDING AND HOUSING DEPARTMENT

Proposal seeking revised administrative approval and financial sanction of Rs.615.11 lakhs (Rupees six crores fifteen lakhs eleven thousand) only involving an additional  financial implication of Rs.166.90 lakhs (Rupees one crore sixty six lakhs ninety  thousand) only for construction of High Court Complex, Gangtok, Phase- II, has been approved and sanctioned by the Cabinet.

WATER SECURITY AND PUBLIC HEALTH ENGG. DEPRTMENT

Proposal seeking administrative approval and financial sanction of Rs 40.00 lakhs

(Rupees Forty lakhs) only for the work “construction of boundary fencing and beautification of Ridge Park at Gangtok, has been approved and sanctioned by the Cabinet.

Cabinet also approved and directed that, in pursuance of the Committee formed by the Central Government under the Chairmanship of Register General, Census, Government of India, that DESME carryout survey to ascertain the population of Limboo and Tamang

on priority within 100 days. This would assist/help the central Committee under the chairmanship of Register General, Census Government of India.

                                                                                                                                                                           IPR News Service

                                                                                               P . R. No.26/08-09/IPR

1st May 2008

All registered Government of Sikkim Employees Associations and all Muster Roll and Work Charged Workers Associations in Sikkim Government Departments were called upon by the Grievance Committee to submit their written grievance by 7^th May to the committee for consideration. However, the date for the same has been extended upto 15.05.08 in view of the request for extension by the Chairman, Central Executive Committee, All Sikkim Government Employees Association.

                                                                                                                                                                       IPR NEWS SERVICE 

                                                                                                                                                                      P . R. No.20/08-09/IPR