SIKKIM OBSERVER Saturday   March 2-8,  2013    

Justice Pius tipped to be Sikkim High Court CJ

Gangtok, March 1: Justice Pius C Kuriakose, a judge of the Kerala High Court, may well become the next Chief Justice of the High Court of Sikkim. The Supreme Court collegium has reportedly recommended Justice Kuriakose’s name for the post.

Justice Kuriakose, born on October 2, 1951, enrolled as an advocate in 1974 and was made an Additional Judge of the Kerala High Court on September 9, 2002. He was made a Permanent Judge on September 8, 2004.

If the appointment goes through, Justice Kuriakose will replace Chief Justice Permod Kohli who became the Chief Justice on December 12, 2011.

Born in Tripunithura in 1951, Justice Kuriakose did his schooling at St Mary’s Lower Primary School, Tripunithura, the Leo XIII English Medium High School, Alappuzha and Govt Boy’s High School, Tripunithura.

Later, he joined the Maharaja’s College, Ernakulam, and then Law College, Ernakulam. He enrolled as lawyer in 1974 and started practice in Ernakulam.

Sikkim needs rail connectivity: PD Rai

New Delhi, March 1: The railways should create a mountain unit within the ministry to plan connectivity in the Himalayan region, lone Sikkim Democratic Front member in the Lok Sabha, P D Rai, said on Wednesday while noting that his State, which borders China, remains cut off from the national network till date.

"Till date there is no rail link to Sikkim. There is no strategic thinking. Why can't we have railway when China has built rail connectivity till Lhasa in Tibet," Rai told IANS.

"I will write to Railway Minister P K Bansal to create a mountain railway division. Railway can be a clean form of transport in the Himalayan region," he said.

Rai said the need for connecting Sikkim with rail network was being felt more as it has become the fastest growing state, especially in tourism.

"We get around 7 lakh (700,000) tourists per year," said Rai.

According to Rai, the foundation stone of the 52 km Sevok-Rangpo rail link in the northeastern state was laid in 2009 but there has been no progress since then.

"The rail link will help as the highway connecting Sikkim (with North Bengal) has become overloaded," he said.

Chief Secy Karma Gyatso retires

Gangtok, March 1: Chief Secretary Karma Gyatso retired yesterday after serving the State Government for over three decades.  Gyatso first joined service in the year 1974 and was inducted into the IAS in 1977. 

During his long tenure as a civil servant Gyatso served in various capacity in almost all departments.  He is notable for having been the architecture of establishing Tourism Department and putting Sikkim in the tourism map of India and abroad. 

Amongst the various high points of his career he was the Deputy Leader in the Indian delegation to China to sign the MoU for Nathula trade.

  During the Chief Minister’s address to the Sikkim Legislators here on Thursday,  Chamling paid glowing tributes to the outgoing Chief Secretary and termed him as a man of generosity, frankness and easy disposition.

 The Chief Minister stated that he was indebted to the help and support that Gyatso rendered to the Government during his 18 and half months tenure as the Chief Secretary.

  Gyatso is appointed as Administrative Advisor to the Government of Sikkim with Cabinet rank.

 Sikkim has achieved new heights in development: Chamling

Sikkim Assembly passes Bills

Gangtok, March 1: The second day of the Eighth Assembly of Seventh Session presided over by  Speaker K.T. Gyaltsen  saw passing of bills: Amendment Bills, Appropriation Bills, First Supplementary Demands for Grants 2012-2013  and Vote on Account 2013-2014.

 The Bills were the Sikkim Earthquake Rehabilitation Management Fund Bill, Bill No 4 of 2013, and the Sikkim Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill, Bill No. 5 of 2013, which was presented by Chief Minister Pawan Chamling who is also the Minister-in-Charge of Finance, Revenue and Expenditure Department on the first day of the session.

During the financial business, the House considered and unanimously passed the Excess Demands for Grants for the financial year 2007-2008.

 The Chief Minister introduced the Sikkim Appropriation Bill, Bill No 1 of 2013 for Excess Demands for Grants 2007-2008 which was considered and passed by the House unanimously.

The First Supplementary Demands for Grants 2012-2013 and the Vote on Account 2013-14, which were introduced on the first day of the session by the Chief Minister was also passed by the House unanimously.

The Chief Minister also introduced the Sikkim Appropriation Bill, Bill No. 2 of 2013 for the First Supplementary Demands for Grants 2012-2013 and the Sikkim Appropriation Bill, Bill No. 3 of 2013 for the Vote on Account 2013-14 were considered and passed by the House.

Chamling presented the Finance Accounts 2011-2012 (volume I and II ) and Appropriation Accounts 2011-2012, the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (Report No.3) of the year 2010-11 on impact of implementation of developmental schemes in South district, ‘Half yearly review” report of trends in receipts and expenditure in relation to the budget 2012-13.

 The Speaker also announced for laying ‘White paper on Chief  Minister’s Relief Fund’ on the table of the House and the presentation of annual report of the State Government departments.

 The Minister for Rural Management and Development Department, C.B. Karki, presented the annual technical inspection report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India for the year ended 31st March 2011 on Panchayati Raj Institutions, Government of Sikkim.

The Leader of the House while delivering his vote of thanks said that the two days session saw the passing of new bills, Appropriation bills, Amendment Bills, Supplementary Demands for Grants, Vote on Account. The Vote on Account 2013-2014 for three months starting from April to June 2013 is due to non finalization of annual budget of the country. The funds are required for the disbursement of the salaries, wages and other expenses to the state government. The Leader of the House said that the state government is trying its best to avail maximum development in the state with the allotted annual fund by the centre government.

He further stated that the state government has achieved fast development in a span of his tenure of 18 and half year in all sectors. In this regard, the Chief Minister also informed that under his tenure the state has taken giant leap forward in taking the state to newer heights. He stated that a good leadership is required for the development of the State as well as the smooth functioning of the Government. Therefore, the present Government is working day and night to make Sikkim capable, skilled and prosperous. 

 He also thanked the Chief Secretary Karma Gyatso who is retiring from his service and acknowledged him as dynamic, capable, free and frank person. Further, he said that, Gyatso has worked for the State Government with dedication and honesty and further wished him success and best in his retirement life.

The Chief Minister further informed that Mr. Gyatso will be further appointed as the Administrative Advisor to the Government and he expected that  Gyatso will provide his contributions with the same commitment.

Japan helps Sikkim preserve its biodiversity

Ten villages targeted for development of eco-tourism

Gangtok, March 1: A team of experts from Japan recently visited remote areas of Sikkim to review work on a biodiversity conservation and forest management project.

Representatives of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) interacted with members of the Joint Forest Management Committee and reviewed their work in Sikkim, which is known for its rich biodiversity, ANI reported.

JICA is an independent governmental agency that coordinates official development assistance (ODA) for the Government of Japan.

"Sikkim was chosen for the biodiversity conservation project as JICA felt that the State had unique flora and fauna that deserved attention. JICA treated the Sikkim project as its flagship biodiversity program which would serve as a model for other States of India and other parts of the world," said Vineet Sarin, Principal Development Specialist, JICA.

The JICA team also met various self-help groups and interacted with youth from the region.

Ten villages in Sikkim are being targeted for the development of eco-tourism.

The scheme has already been implemented in Okhrey, Kitam and Dzongu villages in West and North Sikkim.

"I see lots of potential in Sikkim, it has a beautiful diversity. In the field of eco-tourism, local can share to tourist and get a benefit from them," said Miho Horikawa, representative, JICA .

This project will cover key areas of biodiversity conservation, eco tourism and scientific management of forest areas with active involvement of local communities.

It will help local people who are dependent on forests and will promote biodiversity conservation in the State.

Dutch, Thai agencies to help Sikkim develop floriculture

Gangtok, March 1: Floriculturists from Netherland and Thailand, who  participated in the International Flower Show here, will sign an MoU with the State Government soon to help the State develop its potential in flower farming.

The agreement would be to make Sikkim, the geographical and environmental conditions of which are ideal for floriculture, better equipped to cater to demands and requirements of the international market, Horticulture Secretary Santa Pradhan, said.

Editorial

NORTHEAST POLLS

Status Quo Maintained

While the CPI (M)-led Left Front returned to power in Tripura for the fifth consecutive term, the Naga People’s Front (NPF) has performed better this time and is all set to form the government in Nagaland without the help of other Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) partners. In both these states the Congress has been almost totally wiped out. Only Meghalaya offers a ray of hope for the Congress but here, too, the party missed the simple majority mark of 31 in a House of 60 by two seats. A big relief for the Congress in Meghalaya is that former Speaker PA Sangma’s newly formed National People’s Party won only two seats. He will, therefore, be unable to unite the opposition to dislodge a Congress-led government in Meghalaya.

The NPF will now play a bigger role in the Naga peace process. The poll verdict has given its chief and the likely chief minister,  Neiphiu Rio, who is very positive on the Naga issue, the mandate of the people to bring about an amicable solution at the earliest. Tripura is now the last bastion of the Left and as of now none of the opposition parties are likely to make much inroads in the State. This will be Tripura’s fourth term under Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, who made peace and development his main poll plank. All set and done the Assembly poll results are a repeat of the 2008 polls.