SIKKIM OBSERVER                                         May 5, 2012

After calling off bandh GJM wants tourists to visit hills

Welcome to Darjeeling: Morcha MLA

Darjeeling, May 4: Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) leader and member of the West Bengal Assembly Harka Bahadur Chhetri on Wednesday urged tourists to visit Darjeeling without any fear.

Tourism was an important part of the hill economy, and the recent spate of cancellations, due to the turmoil in certain pockets in Dooars, was hurting the industry, he said at the Secretariat in Kolkata, The Hindu reported.

 “Darjeeling is having gorgeous climate. Please come and have a good stay. I am welcoming you,” he said.

Chhetri’s call comes after the Morcha last week called off its proposed indefinite bandh in the region, which was to begin last weekend.

  “Considering the situation in the region, the problems faced by the people during bandh and the request of the Bengal Government and the district administration, we are postponing the bandh for the time being,” GJM President Bimal Gurung said last week.

The GJM collaborated with a break-away faction of the ABAVP led by John Burla to call an indefinite bandh in support of its demand for holding rallies in the region, which was disallowed by the State Government apprehending large scale violence.

Press Club organizes public debate on traffic system

Gangtok, May 4:  The Press Club of Sikkim in collaboration with the Office of the Superintendent of Police (East) on Wednesday organized an open public debate ("Khulla Manch") on the traffic in the capital here at the heart of the capital at M.G Marg.

The function is a part of the 23^rd National Road Safety Week organized of Sikkim traffic police.

 The panel consisted of K.N Topgey (Mayor, Sikkim Municipal Corporation), Shakti Singh (Deputy Mayor),  P.K Basnet (Senior R.T.O), Mandeep Singh (Senior S.P), Sonam Bhutia (D.S.P Traffic), Ongmu Bhutia (S.D.P.O) and Snadhya Prasad (Councellor).

 Many questions were asked during the debate to which some solutions were provided on the spot.

Some of the main issues discussed during the debate were the increasing number of the vehicles in the city and less parking space, fake West Bengal licenses used by drivers, parking of VIP and Official vehicles in front of tourism department which hinders flow of traffic and unstable hike in the taxi fare at peak hours.

The Mayor said the capital would soon have ropeways from Gangtok to places like Ranipool and Sichey with a minimum fare of Rs 10 to 15 to reduce the number of people travelling on road.

Annual Day function at SMIT

Speaker harps on character & leadership

Majitar, May 4:  K. T. Gyaltsen, Speaker of Sikkim Legislative Assembly, emphasized on the need to build character and leadership among students. He said education should not be limited to marks and salaries.

Speaking at a function here on the Annual Day of Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology (SMIT) as the Chief Guest, Gyaltsen said, “Giving education to a person short on character is like giving a sports car to a teenager high on drugs! Both will result in disastrous consequences.” He emphasized the importance of character building in the context of education.

Brig. (Dr.) S.N. Mishra, Vice Chancellor, SMU, and other officials of the University were present at the function.

The Vice Chancellor congratulated the students and the staff upon their wonderful achievements and said that SMIT is recognized as an institution of excellence all over India. He, however, cautioned the students and the authorities not to become content but keep on working hard as miles still need to be covered.

 SMITSONIAN, the annual SMIT magazine was released on the occasion.  Cultural programmes and prize distribution to students for their achievements in academic, cultural, literary and sports activities were part of the Annual Day function.

Govt vs Teesta Urja over Chungthang Teesta hydel project
Gangtok, May 4: In what appears to be the first indication of tension brewing between

the Energy and Power  Department of the State Government and it's joint venture partner Teesta Urja Limited, the private developer of the 1200 MW Mega Teesta Stage III hydro power Project at Chungthang in North Sikkim (one of the biggest hydel power projects in the country), the State Government has approached the State Electricity Regulatory

Commission on April 5, 2012 alleging that the Teesta Urja has denied the government its 26% equity shares in the Rs. 6000 crore mega project; a pre-condition in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by the company with the government.

The Commission headed by former Chief Secretary T T Dorjee appointed a sole arbitrator to resolve the dispute on the same day without hearing the Teesta Urja's version on the issue, UNI reported.

Reports indicate that on April 7, 2012, the State Government approached the District Judge East and North District at Gangtok, under section 9 of the Arbitration Act 1996, praying for interim injunction restraining Teesta Urja from changing the constitution of its Board of Directors.

The District Judge vide an Order dated 7.4.12 passed an interim order restraining the company on reconstituting its Board of Directors.  The matter reportedly is set for a final hearing on May11. The State Government has claimed that apart from the 26% equity shares it also has the right to select two directors as their appointee in the company board.

Meanwhile, Teesta Urja Limited has filed an appeal before the Central Electricity Tribunal against the order of the State Regulatory Commission referring the matter to a sole arbitrator.

After hearing both parties the Tribunal has vide an Order dated 25.4.12 stayed the

operation of the order passed by the State Commission. The matter has been fixed for final hearing before the Appellate Tribunal on May 29, the report said.

Karki assurance on Sikkim weeklies

Scribes body demands better deal on govt advertisements

Gangtok, May 4: Minister for Information and Public Relations CB Karki has assured that the government would positively view demands placed before it for increase on rate and flows of advertisements to weekly newspapers in the State.

This was revealed by Female Journalist Association President Radhika Pradhan, who met the IPR Minister along with a delegation of the Association recently.

After receiving positive response from the Minister on their demand Association members and Pradhan met IPR Secretary KS Tobgay to pursue their demands.

Presently the government’s classified advertisement rates for local weeklies is Rs 55 per column centimeter and full page display advertisement is Rs 5,500 only. The Association wants the rates for classified advertisements to be increased to Rs 95 per col cm and the display rates to be fixed at Rs 11,000 per page.

The Association has also demanded increase in release of both classified and display advertisements to local weeklies. Apart from a few dailies most local newspapers in the State are weeklies.

Editorial

PRESS FREEDOM

We Mourn The Closure Of Gangtok Weeklies

Ever heard of Female Journalist Association? We have one in Sikkim by that name and surprisingly while other media organizations are busy entertaining the public and at times playing the role of a public relations body, the Female Journalist Association has urged the State Government to give a better deal to Gangtok weeklies in matters regarding release of government advertisements. The IPR Minister CB Karki has again assured the Press that the government would respond positively on the issue.  Perhaps it will do something this time as the next Assembly polls are nearing.

Sadly the death of several credible Gangtok-based weeklies and other journals in the past few years is something that free societies should be worried about. Weeklies such as Weekend Review and Mid-Week are no more. We mourn their untimely death or indefinite closure. The Sikkimese and Sikkim Observer (Nepali edition) are also off the newsstands for a long time. Journals such as Talk Sikkim and Hill People have been forced to shut down due mainly to financial constraints. In such a scenario the claim that the Press in Sikkim is free and vibrant has no basis. Quality is what people are looking for in the media and this is in short supply in today’s Sikkim. A casual glance at which newspapers are getting government advertisements and how often will reveal the state of the Press in Sikkim. Let the facts be revealed and the truth will be out in the public domain.

Sikkim Muslim women forum meet in Gangtok

Gangtok, May 4: Members of the All Sikkim Muslim Women’s Association, who participated in the first general meeting of the Association here on Sunday, has decided to work for the welfare of Muslim women community in the State.

The meeting held here at the Sikkim Democratic Front Bhawan was attended by members of the Association from Mangan, Jorethang, Namchi and Gangtok.

During the meeting the Association introduced its governing body:  Manium Iqbal Bhutia (President), Merunisha Begum (Vice President), Noorjaha Begum (General Secretary),

Mumtaz Begum (Treasurer), Merenaaz Begum (Assistant Treasurer) and Saminaa Bano (Advisor).

Apart from conducting a free health camp and plantation drive in various parts of the State the members also discussed on various skill upgradation schemes such as tailoring, computer course etc for upliftment of the women community.