SIKKIM OBSERVER March 17, 2012

Stage set for GTA polls, govt issues notification

Kolkata, March 16: The Mamata Banerjee government on Wednesday issued the notification for the GTA Act, signalling preparations for elections in the Darjeeling Hills, even as the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) demanded the inclusion of some 400 moujas in the Terai-Dooars. The notification to formulate rules for the elections to the GTA will be issued on Thursday.

According to the gazette notification issued by the hill affairs department, the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) Act to set up the GTA for the Darjeeling Hills takes effect on March 14, 2012, a Kolkata daily reported.

The GTA Bill was passed in the Bengal Assembly in September last year, accommodating most changes sought by the GJM. Through 54 amendments, the GTA Bill had tried to ensure that the legislation was in accordance with the tripartite agreement and the Hills body got more autonomy than the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC), which it will eventually replace.

After the chief minister had blamed the Centre for the delay in getting assent, there was possibility that the fragile peace brokered by the GTA deal might have been disturbed once again. The GTA Bill got presidential assent on March 7, paving the way for setting up the GTA and holding elections in the Hills.

On Tuesday, chief secretary Samar Ghosh had said, "The election to the formation of the GTA will be held with the existing area as per the tripartite agreement. The government is not taking cognizance of the GJM's demands."

On Friday, chief minister Mamata Banerjee had iterated that elections in the Hills will be held as per the tripartite agreement. The GJM has been demanding that the high-power committee, looking into the inclusion of fresh areas from the Terai and Dooars in GTA, should submit its report before elections are held.

Now that the notification for giving effect to the GTA Act has been issued, the delimitation process for the election will also begin. After delimitation, a draft will be published for the delimited constituencies. There will be an interval of 15 days to register objections.

Hishey sworn in as Rajya Sabha MP

Gangtok, March 16: Former Minister and senior ruling Sikkim Democratic Front leader Hishey Lachungpa was on Monday sworn in as the new Rajya Sabha member from Sikkim by Vice President Hamid Ansari.

Lachungpa, who succeeds OT Lepcha, was elected to the lone Rajya Sabha seat in February this year.

The new Rajya Sabha MP hails from the tribal-dominated region of Lachung, North Sikkim.

Editorial

GTA POLLS

Participate In The Democratic Process

The decision of the Mamata Government in West Bengal to go ahead with elections to the Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA) is an indication of its firmness to implement  the tripartite pact signed in July 2011 despite the fact that the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), one of the signatories to the deal, is in no mood to go ahead with the polls before settling the territorial jurisdiction of the new body. In fact, the GJM has indicated its unwillingness to join the poll fray if its demand on inclusion of the Gorkha-dominated areas in the Terai and Dooars in the GTA are not met. With the West Bengal Government formally proceeding ahead with the poll process the ball is now in the GJM’s court.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee swung into action when she was apprised of the delay in getting President Pratibha Patel’s approval of the GTA by the GJM leadership.

The Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre, which was blamed for the delay in getting the GTA implemented, acted promptly to Mamata’s appeal and without any delay got the presidential approval of the pact. The GJM should now act responsibly and participate in the poll process and ensure that Darjeeling gets the much-needed economic boost. A committee is looking into the issue of inclusion or non-inclusion of areas in the Terai and Dooars in the GTA. Reactions from the GJM should be reserved until the findings of the committee are in the public domain. Majority of the plainspeople, including Adkivasis and Bengalis, have opposed GJM’s demand on the issue. The Mamata Government will have to play a balancing role on this controversial issue when the time comes. As of now hill people must not be led astray but wholeheartedly participate in the democratic process.

 State preparing for panchayat polls

By A Staff Reporter

Gangtok, March 16: The State Election Commission has begun the process for elections to Zilla Panchayats/Gram Panchayats, which is likely to be held later this year.

The Commission has already issued its schedule for the polls:

Preparation of Draft Electoral Rolls               -12.3.2012

Segregation of ward wise electoral rolls         -13.3.2012 - 02.04.2012

Filing Claims and Objections                          -23.4.2012- 30.04.2012

Disposal of claims and Objections                              -01.5.2012 to 09.5.2012

Printing & Final Publication of electoral rolls - 21.5.2012

A designated officer appointed for each Polling Station are to be contacted by all concerned voters for inclusion of their names in the electoral rolls and filing of claims and objections by filling up the forms available with the designated officer, a press release of the Commission said.

“All political party workers and concerned public are requested to kindly cooperate with the authorities for preparation of defect free electoral rolls,” the release said.

Monasteries reflect Sikkim’s unique identity

Observer News Service

Gangtok, March 16: The Governor BP Singh has urged everyone to work unitedly for restoration of monasteries in the State which were destroyed by last year’s earthquake. He said the monasteries in the State reflected Sikkim’s unique and distinct identity.

A presentation on the State Government’s strategy to restore and rebuild the monasteries damaged during the  September 18 earthquake was made before  the by the representatives of the Ecclesiastical Department, Cultural and Heritage Affairs Department and Building and Housing Department at the Raj Bhavan Winter Camp.

The representatives were led by the Additional Chief Secretary, R. Ongmu. The presentation was made by Devika Chettri, Additional Town Planner, UDHD, a Raj Bhavan release said.

The Governor was informed that the Ecclesiastical Department had received reports of damages from 326 monasteries. Acting on the reports, the Ecclesiastical Department and the Buildings and Housing Department had undertaken a joint survey of monasteries.

Following this, the Building and Housing Department has submitted detailed project reports for restoration, repair and minor retrofitting of 124 monasteries to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Government of India.

The Government of Sikkim has recognised 6 monasteries (Ringhim, Chawang,  Tashiding, Chungthang, Hungri and Tholung) as critically damaged.

 The restoration process will be handled by experts in various fields, the release said.

The Governor emphasised that the monasteries in Sikkim lend a unique identity to it among the union of States. The State should do its best to ensure that the sanctity and the beauty of the monasteries are maintained.

The Governor directed the Building and Housing Department to ensure that the restored and reconstructed monasteries, to the extent possible, be made earthquake resistant. He also called for involvement of the local communities in the rebuilding process.

The Governor also expressed the need to create inventories of all the relics in the monasteries.

CM inspects Tadong college, makes promises

Gangtok, March 16: The Chief Minister of Sikkim Pawan Chamling along with the Minister for HRDD NK Pradhan, Minister UDHD D.B.Thapa and Chief Secretary Karma Gyatso visited the Sikkim Government College, Tadong on Wednesday to inspect the ongoing infrastructural development in the college premises.

The visit is also aimed at solving some of the long-pending problems of the people residing near the college. The people living in this area have been facing the problem of thoroughfare as the road passes from inside the college premises. Hence the people have been demanding an alternative road, an official release said.

The Chief Minister has directed the concerned department to take a holistic approach and prepare a comprehensive project report to solve the problem once and for all. Sanctity and security of the college should not be a compromise while preparing the project report, the Chief Minister added.

While interacting with the college authorities and the student representatives at the meeting hall of the college, the Chief Minister said the government would give two new buses to the College. He also sanctioned in principal the demand of the student representatives for internet facility in the college and solve the drinking water problem of the college. The Chief Minister also dealt upon the various issues pertaining to the college.

The Sikkim Government College was established during the year 1972 and moved to the present premises in 1983.