Sikkim Observer Nov 19-25, 2011
Sikkim High Court defers Teesta hydro project case against Jagan Reddy
Observer News Service
Gangtok, Nov 18: The High Court of Sikkim will take up hearing of a PIL on mega hydropower projects in Sikkim against Lok Sabha MP Jagan Mohan Reddy’s involvement in the Teesta Stage III hydel power project in North Sikkim next March.
The hearing of the case which to take place on Tuesday has been adjourned as the petitioner Anand Lama’s lawyer failed to turn up. “He was unwell and he could not appear in the court,” Lama said.
Lama, a local resident, filed the PIL in August 2011 and the date for admission of the case was fixed for November 15.
The hearing of the case has now been adjourned to March, Lama said.
Lama has made several parties respondents in the case: Sikkim Government, Sikkim Power Development Corporation, Power Department, CBI, CAG and Teesta Urja Limited.
Besides approaching the High Court, Lama has also filed a written complaint with the CBI, which is currently engaged in probing Reddy’s disproportionate assets, including his investments in several hydro power projects in the State.
Reddy is believed to have made huge investments in the State’s biggest power project – the 1200 MW Teesta Stage III, located at Chungthang in North Sikkim. This project is run by Teesta Urja Limited and Himurja Infra Pvt Ltd. Besides this, Reddy may also have invested in the 99 MW Panan hydropower project in Dzongu, near Chungthang in North Sikkim.
CBI sleuths reportedly visited the State last month to probe into Reddy’s involvement in hydro power projects in the State.
Maximum damage took place at the Teesta Stage III power project area in Chungthang during the recent earthquake when a 6.9 magnitude hit the State killing more than 100 and causing extensive damages all over the State.
Reports say that massive blasting of rocks in power project areas in North Sikkim led to greater death and destruction when the earthquake struck the area.
Lama, who had filed a written complaint with CBI New Delhi for investigations in Sikkim, was asked by the Central sleuths to mark a copy to the zonal office of the CBI in Kolkata, since Sikkim comes under Kolkata jurisdiction, a report in a Guwahati daily said.
Last month, the Joint Director and head of zone Hyderabad, V V Laxmi Narayan, had asked Lama to furnish all relevant details of the case for the Hyderabad CBI to initiate investigations in Sikkim.
SLP for united front against Chamling
Centre must make stand clear on Sikkim; we are becoming refugees in our own homeland: Duk Nath Nepal
Observer News Service
Gangtok, Nov 18: The Sikkim Liberation Party (SLP) Convenor Duk Nath Nepal while accusing the Centre of backing corrupt and undemocratic regimes in the State since its controversial merger in 1975, has called on all Opposition parties in the State to forge a united front to dislodge the Pawan Chamling Government, which has been ruling the State for more than seventeen years since 1994.
“In the past 35 years the Centre’s main policy in Sikkim has been to gradually dilute and destroy Sikkim’s distinct identity,” Nepal said at the party’s first press conference held here on Sunday. “The method used by the Centre has been to back corrupt governments such as Bhandari and Chamling, who have not only suppressed democratic aspirations of the people but have exploited the people economically through corrupt means,” Nepal said.
The SLP leader, a prominent critic of both the present and former chief minister Nar Bahadur Bhandari, said the people of Sikkim want the Centre to make its “stand clear” to the Sikkimese people, who are becoming “refugees in their own homeland.” In a memorandum to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Nepal said his party, formed in May this year, had earlier submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister regarding “violation of the spirit of merger” but “the biggest democracy of this world” did not even bother to respond to the views raised in the memorandum.
“The belief of the Sikkimese people that they are becoming a victim of conspiracy and grand design has a solid base,” Nepal’s letter, dated November 13, 2011, to the Prime Minister said. Nepal said the Centre’s hidden agenda for Sikkim is to “erase” the Sikkimese people using puppet regimes, whose chief aim is to indulge in rampant corruption and suppress the democratic process. “Such regimes purchase or victimize those who fight for a just cause that they once espoused,” Nepal said.
Those who fail to toe the official line has no place in Sikkim, Nepal, who was once put behind bars and paraded in the court “barefooted and handcuffed”, said. “If you are in the Opposition you will not be able to exercise your democratic rights and get privileges and benefits that are meant for all citizens in the country,” Nepal said. “The Constitution of India does not apply in Sikkim,” he added.
While calling for “unification” of the Opposition, Nepal, a former General Secretary of the Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee admitted that after Chamling SPCC chief Bhandari has the most following in the State. “However, the Congress party speaks in two voices. While its local unit wants to fight against rampant corruption in the administration the national unit is in favour of Chamling,” Nepal pointed out.
“I’m in touch with some Opposition leaders and am confident that we will be able to unite against Chamling,” Nepal said.
Patra Commission to probe graft cases against Chamling & Co an ‘eyewash’: SPCC
Gangtok, Nov 18: The Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee (SPCC) remains adamant on its rejection of the Patra Commission’s bid to probe allegations of corruption against Chief Minister Pawan Chamling and his past and present Cabinet members leveled by Congress leaders in the State.
Only former chief minister and SPCC President Nar Bahadur Bhandari appeared before the one-man Justice (Rtd) RK Patra Commission here on Monday. The rest of the seven petitioners did not attend the hearing of the case.
They maintained that since they had, through an affidavit, challenged the legality of the Commission there was no need for them to appear before the Commission.
SPCC spokesperson Kunga Nima Lepcha said since the Inquiry Commission set up by the Chamling Government was “an eyewash” it was not acceptable to the party.
The SPCC maintains since the case is before the CBI the Commission did not have any legal jurisdiction to take up graft cases against Chamling & Co.
Besides approaching the CBI and the Supreme Court on graft cases against Chamling, the SPCC has brought out its publicated – Sikkim Mahaloot – detailing charges against senior members of the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF). This magazine, brought out in English and Nepali, has been widely circulated in the State and New Delhi.
After Sikkim quake tourists flock to Darjeeling
Observer News Network
Darjeeling, Nov 18: Tourists have been flocking to Darjeeling after a massive earthquake rocked neighbouring Sikkim.
"We had come here in 2008, but we had to go back due to some problem. Since 'didi' (West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee) has taken up the government we have come here again," said Mrinalini Sengupta, a tourist from Kolkata, ANI reported.
Tour operators have been expecting a jump in tourist inflow to North Bengal, as tourists were still afraid to visit the quake hit Sikkim state. We are giving alternative destinations like Darjeeling, Kalimpong Lava, Lolegaon. These are becoming alternative destinations and sometimes some parts of Sikkim like Ravangla and.... which are okay we are giving preferences to those destinations also but we would like to inform that yes in Darjeeling, the number of tourists are more in Darjeeling and this area as compared to Sikkim where tourists are less this time," said Samrat Sanyal, a tour operator from Siliguri district.
Darjeeling with its varied landscape and spectacular beauty has been a favourite and affordable destination not only for the locals, but also for people across the globe.
Tourism in Darjeeling, which accounts for substantial revenues for the state tourism industry, has been badly hit since 2008 when the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) revived a violent stir in support of forming a separate state of Gorkhaland.
Now, the internationally famous hill resort is hoping to return to its good old days after the inking of a peace accord in July in this year.
Editorial
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POWER PROJECTS
Reddy in the Dock
Anand Lama needs to be congratulated in taking on Andhra Pradesh Lok Sabha MP Jagan Mohan Reddy in the High Court of Sikkim. His filing of a PIL against Reddy for his involvement in Sikkim ’s biggest hydropower project – Teesta Stage III- in Chungthang in North Sikkim will surely reveal a lot of things hidden from the public domain by vested interests. However, it is most unfortunate that a petition filed in August 2011 will be formally taken up in the High Court only in March 2011. Reddy is already under the CBI scanner and another High Court has ordered probe into his multi-crore financial dealings in Andhra Pradesh and elsewhere.
While the Chamling Government is determined to go ahead with its hydropower projects most Sikkimese have opposed them. Even almost a thousand days of hunger strike by Lepcha tribals in Gangtok the Chamling Government remained firm and resolute on implementation of hydro projects in the State. Chungthang and Dzongu in North Sikkim were badly hit by the 6.9 magnitude September 18 earthquake. Besides Reddy there are reportedly many highly-placed politicians who have invested in the State’s largest hydropower project. The hidden facts need to be placed in the public domain at the earliest. Do we still have to wait for another five months to get to the truth?
LHABAB DUCHEN: One of the four great events in Buddha’s life
There are four major Tibetan Buddhist holidays—duchen or ‘great occasions’—marking the four events known as the ‘great deeds’ of the Buddha. The first is Chotrul Duchen, which falls on the first full moon of the year and celebrates the time when the Buddha is said to have displayed a different miracle each day to spur on his disciples. The leaders of the six main philosophical schools of the day challenged the Buddha to a contest of miraculous powers. The Buddha displayed a different miracle each day for fifteen days, and, utterly defeating his opponents, inspired students many to follow the dharma. The next is Saga Dawa, which remembers the Buddha’s enlightenment, death and parinirvana. And the third is Chokhor Duchen, which commemorates the Buddha’s first sermon and the teaching of the Four Noble Truths.
The teaching of the Lhabab Düchen is one of the four Buddhist festivals commemorating four events in the life of the Buddha, according to Tibetan traditions. Lhabab Düchen occurs on the 22nd day of the ninth month on a Tibetan calendar.
This is a Buddhist festival celebrated to observe the descent of Buddha from heaven back to earth. Buddha had left for heaven at the age of 41, having ascended to The Heaven of Thirty-Three (Trayastrimsa) in order to give teachings to benefit the gods in the desire realms and to repay the kindness of his mother by liberating her from Samsara. He was exhorted by his follower and representative Maugalyayana to return, and after a long debate managed to return. This is considered to be one of the eight great deeds of the Buddha. He returned to earth by a special triple ladder prepared by Viswakarma, the god of machines.
On Lhabab Duchen, the effects of positive or negative actions are multiplied ten million times. It is part of Tibetan Buddhist tradition to engage in virtuous activities and prayer on this day.
The most westward and perhaps most obscure of the eight places of pilgrimage is Sankashya, whose name may derive from a stupa built there by Kashyapa Buddha's father and dedicated to his son. This is the last of the four places common to the buddhas of this world.
Some say that during his forty-first year Shakyamuni went up from Shravasti to the Tushita Heaven and passed the rainy season retreat teaching Abhidharma to his mother, Queen Mayadevi, who had died seven days after Buddha's birth and been reborn as a male god in Tushita. The same happens to the mothers of all the buddhas, and they too later go to teach them, afterwards descending to Sankashya.
Seven days before his descent the Buddha set aside his invisibility. Anuruddha perceived him by his divine sight and urged Maudgalyayana to go and greet him. The great disciple did so, telling the Buddha that the Order longed to see him. This was the time Prasenajit's statue was made. Shakyamuni replied that in seven days he would return to the world. A great assembly of the kings and people of the eight kingdoms gathered. As the Buddha descended, a flight of gold stairs appeared, down which he came. He was accompanied on the right by Brahma, who, holding a white chowny, descended on a crystal staircase, while to the left Indra came down a flight of silver stairs, holding a jewelled umbrella. A great host of gods followed.
The Buddha bathed immediately after his descent, and later a bathing house and stupa were built to mark the site. Stupas were also raised at the spot where he cut his hair and nails, and where he entered samadhi. The three flights of stairs disappeared into the ground, but for seven steps of each, which remained above. When Ashoka came here later he had men dig into the earth around the protrusions in order to discover their depth. Although they reached the level of water, they could not find the stairs' end. With increased faith, Ashoka then built a temple over them with a standing image of the Buddha above the middle flight. Behind this temple he erected a great pillar surmounted by an elephant capital.
Hsuan Chwang tells that the original stairs had existed until a few centuries before his visit, when they disappeared. Various kings built replicas of ornamented brick and stone, with a temple containing images of Shakyamuni, Brahma and Indra above them. These were within the walls of a monastery, which he describes as excellently ornamented and having many fine images. He further says that some hundreds of monks dwelt there and that the community had lay followers. Two centuries earlier Fa Hien found roughly 1,000 monks and nuns living here pursuing their studies, some hinayana and some mahayana. Both pilgrims tell stories of a white-eared dragon who lived close to the monastery, caring for it and the surrounding area. Fa Hien especially remarks on the abundant produce of the land and the prosperity and happiness of the people.
Sankashya lies in the central Uttar Pradesh, 47 kms. From Farrukhabad on Kali Nadi. It is believed that there Buddha, along with Hindu God Brahma and Devraj Indra, descended from heaven by a ladder of gold or gem, after giving sermon to his mother in heaven, thus making the place a centre of Buddhist pilgrimage. Hiuen Tsang, the Chinese traveler, recorded the construction of ladder by the local prince at the site of the original ladder. He also saw at the site a monastery, a pillar of Ashoka, several Stupas and a mega tank. At the spot of descent, stands a temple with a statue of the Lord Buddha. The place is known for Mauryan Emperor Ashoka's Pillar.
Post-Sikkim quake workshop: get involved, be prepared
New Delhi, Nov 18: A meeting of India's top seismologists and earthquake specialists, which discussed issues arising from the Sikkim earthquake, has strongly recommended that northeastern states set up their own state disaster response units instead of being dependent on centralised forces like the National Disaster Response Force.
In addition, the national workshop on 'Housing, Resilience and Rehabilitation' on Nov 11-12 at Jamia Millia Islamia, which saw senior level representation from the governments of five states - Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Sikkim - suggested several innovative steps such as extensive use of ham radio operators and "community radio stations in every district" to respond to crisis where normal telecommunications are knocked out, including mobile phone networks, IANS reported.
They said that most urban centres in the northeast faced major disasters in the event of a severe earthquake: retrofitting of existing buildings, especially "lifeline buildings such as schools and hospitals" was crucial.
"Retrofitting Clinics may be established in every district to develop cadre of trained masons, contractors and engineers and provide information and guidance on retrofitting to the community," the recommendations said.
While awareness was flagged as a key component of preparedness, the workshop recognised the urgent need for "short-term sensitisation programmes for elected representatives, community leaders and government officials."
For Sikkim, the workshop declared that the state government should consider setting up a separate "Department for Disaster Management under a designated officer no lower than a rank of a Secretary/Commissioner who will report directly to the SDMA (State Disaster management Authority". It also noted that the Regional Node for Disaster Risk Reduction in North East Space Applications Centre premises at Umiam, Meghalaya, should be the nodal agency with centres in each NE state with electronic and satellite connectivity.
In addition, the workshop flagged the need to involve communities in projects, programmes and policies. "Since public awareness is at the heart of preparedness, an intensive campaign must be waged from door to door and village to village, involving students and teachers.”
The workshop was organized by Sanjoy Hazarika of Jamia's Centre for North East Studies under the auspices of its Sikkim Studies Programme with collaboration from the National Centre for Peoples Action and Disaster Preparedness in Ahmedabad of Rajendra and Rupal Desai.
Tie-up between Sikkim Manipal with Scotland varsity
New Delhi, Nov 18: Students who have pursued MBA from Sikkim Manipal University will now be eligible to get an additional MBA degree from Edinburgh Napier University in Scotland.
The two varsities signed an MoU last Friday.
“This MoU will be path breaking as we are targeting the 600,000 alumni of Sikkim Manipal University who are eligible for this course,” Edinburgh Napier University principal and vice chancellor Dame Joan Stringer, IANS reported.
According to Stringer, the students can chose between an online course or a campus course. While the regular MBA in the campus costs around 12,000 pounds, it will cost 4,000 pounds to the alumni of Sikkim Manipal University.
Those choosing an online course will have to pay 2,600 pounds only.
“The MoU will promote knowledge sharing, reflecting the deep interest and commitment towards building a strong educational foundation for higher education fraternity at large,” Sikkim Manipal University vice chancellor Somnath Mishra said.
Scottish Education Secretary Michael Russell said the MoU boasts India-Scotland ties in the field of education.
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