Hot on Nicole’s heels, CBI team camping in NepalIE, Kolkata, 21 july: During the hearing in the High Court on Thursday, it was revealed the CBI team has been camping in Nepal to trace Nicole Tamang, prime accused in murder case of Madan Tamang, president of the All Indian Gorkha League.
According to CBI’s status report filed today in the HC on its investigation, two officers of the agency went to Nepal on July 19 to assist the Nepal police in tracing Nicole.
The CBI’s counsel advocate Himangsu De said the agency had received information about Nicole’s possible hideout in Nepal. The agency has also issued a “Red Corner” notice also by Interpol in the matter.
The agency’s investigation in Kolkata regional passport office revealed that Nicole was not issued any passport from there. The SSB posted at the Bengal and Bihar-Nepal borders has already been alerted about Nicole’s escape.
“Nicole is alive and has taken shelter in Nepal for evading arrest,” said De. He further said phone calls of Nicole’s family members have been monitored.
According to the agency report in the High Court on June 23, Nicole had crossed the Nepal border on March 15 and crossed over to Nepal.
Advocate Tirthankar Ghosh, counsel of Pema Tamang, Nicole’s wife, said the CBI failed to provide any specific information about the present location of Nicole and that there was no progress in the investigation in the last one month.
The Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Jaynarayan Patel and Justice Kanchan Chakraborty asked the CBI to trace Nicole and produce him in the court after his arrest. The case will come up for hearing on December 22.
Nicole Tamang had escaped from CID custody at Siliguri on August 22 last year. Following that his wife Pema Tamang has filed a habeas corpus petition in the HC alleging that he has been killed by police. The case was handed over to the CBI by the state government in December last year.
Interpol alert for Nicole Tamang
Ananya Dutta, IE, Kolkata: A red corner notice has been issued against Nicole Tamang, the prime suspect in the murder of Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha League leader Madan Tamang, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) informed the Calcutta High Court here on Thursday.
Nicole Tamang, a supporter of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, is believed to have led the attack on Madan Tamang in Darjeeling on May 21, 2010. He was arrested but managed to escape from the custody of the State's Criminal Investigation Department on August 22 and has remained absconding ever since.
In January this year, the Calcutta High Court had asked the CBI to take over the investigation.
Submitting a status report, the CBI said Nicole Tamang was alive and had been seen in Nepal. A red corner notice was issued on July 8.
V-day for semi-final & final - Power bill from day of deal |
| Morcha chief Bimal Gurung breaks into a dance at the Mall on Thursday. Picture by Suman Tamang |
Vivek Chhetri, TT, Darjeeling, July 21: Bimal Gurung broke into a jig today to celebrate the new hill agreement, which he described as a “semi-final” match. Hundreds of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha supporters followed the leader with impromptu steps throughout the day.
The mood was all about the celebration of the signing of the agreement to set up the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration. But when the power went off in the middle of Gurung’s speech that started after more than an hour’s dance at the Mall, the Morcha chief looked irritated.
“I don’t like others fooling with me. The power department might have switched off the electricity as a reminder of the outstanding bills. But we will not pay our dues even if they try to hang us. We will only start paying the bills for electricity used from the day of the agreement was signed (on July 18),” an upset Gurung told the gathering of around 10,000 people when power came back after three minutes. The hill people have not paid any taxes to the state government as part of their non-cooperation movement for Gorkhaland since April 2008 and outstanding electricity bill dues have crossed the Rs 72 crore mark.
The four-hour celebration from 10.30am started with a procession was taken out from Darjeeling station and culminated at the Mall.
Morcha supporters distribute sweets at the Mall on Thursday. (Suman Tamang)
Gurung today hinted that agitation for Gorkhaland would be kept on hold and it was time to concentrate on creation of jobs and development of the hills. “What do you say now?” he asked only to provide the answer himself. “Just as the Bodos say they come from Bodoland, we can now say we come from Gorkhaland. The word ‘Gorkhaland’ has been legitimised and this itself is a victory. We are now playing the semi-finals and we now only have to get a Gorkhaland state,” he told the gathering.
It was clear that this “semi-final” would be played for some years now. “I request the Opposition to refrain from criticising. Give me time for another two to two-and-a-half- years and I will change the face of the hills. We have already spent money and have got experts from Delhi to draw a road map on how to develop the Darjeeling hills, the Terai and the Dooars,” said Gurung. Taking a dig at GNLF leader Subash Ghisingh, who ruled the hills for 20 years before Gurung ousted him from power, the Morcha president said: “I am not an engineer, the job of an engineer has to be done by an engineer. One should not ape an engineer.” The indication was that Ghisingh never consulted experts.
The Morcha today talked about development and urged all the youths who had left the hills in search of better jobs to come back. “The new body has to be run by the educated youths, irrespective of their economic backgrounds. The body must function impartially from now onwards. There was a lot of corruption even during the rehabilitation work in the aftermath of cyclone Aila and such things must not be repeated,” said Gurung.
Gurung said all those people who had worked tirelessly during the 44-month agitation would be suitably rewarded, and reiterated that the hills should not be saddened by chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s speech that Bengal would not be divided. “You should not be saddened by her speech. It was her political compulsion which prompted her to make such a speech,” he said.
The Morcha would be holding celebrations in Kalimpong on July 28, Kurseong on August 1 and in Mirik on August 3. Today, apart from educational institutions and tea gardens, most of the business establishments were shut during the celebrations.
Final solution for Hills is Gorkhaland: Gurung
SNS, DARJEELING, 21 JULY: The Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) president, Mr Bimal Gurung, today said at Chowrasta in Darjeeling that the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), the recently-established autonomous hill body, is just a test for the hill people. The final solution for the hills, he said, would be Gorkhaland.
He said that the GTA will carry out its functions in such an efficient manner that the Central and state governments will be obliged to grant statehood status to the hills. “We have a tough task ahead of us, as the Union home minister Mr P Chidambaram has said, we need to build the hills brick by brick and bring all round development, so we must ensure that the GTA functions in an efficient manner that will serve as an example to the rest of the nation. Nevertheless, this is just a test for us. We must pass this test so that the government thinks of granting us statehood status.” He said he will not be part of the governing body and that the post of chairman will be occupied by someone who is capable of leading the body. Mr Gurung assured his supporters, gathered at Chowrasta to celebrate the creation of the GTA, and chief minister Miss Mamata Banerjee's assertions that the state of West Bengal would not be divided was the result of political pressure.
The GJMM general secretary Mr Rosahn Giri read out the important sections of the agreement signed at Pintail Village, Siliguri on 18 July. Comparing the GTA with the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC), in place between 1988 and 2005, Mr Giri emphasised that the new body has been bestowed with 59 departments, while the DGHC was granted control of only 14 departments. He also pointed out that that the new body will receive Rs 200 crore per annum as part of a special package.
Gorkhaland occupies centre stage at GTA clebrations
Amitava Banerjee, HT, Darjeeling, July 21, 2011: Though chief minister Mamata Banerjee time and again claims "What's in a name?" referring to the nomenclature of "Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA)," Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) chief Bimal Gurung and his party has lost no opportunity in capitalizing on this nomenclature to woo the hill masses.
"Ask anyone hailing from the Bodoland Territorial Council where they are from they will reply "Bodoland." Similarly when people ask you where you are from, you can proudly say you are from Gorkhaland" suggested Bimal Gurung addressing a victory rally on Thursday in Darjeeling.
Gurung claimed that the name "Gorkhaland" has already been legitimized and it is just a matter of time that the GTA will be upgraded to a full fledged state. "Raging debates have ensued through out the country over the GTA nomenclature. We have emerged victorious" stated the GJM Chief.
Though the mammoth rally on Thursday was to celebrate the inking of the GTA agreement, "Gorkhaland" occupied centre stage. "The agreement clearly states that we have not dropped the Gorkhaland demand. It is Mamata-didi's political compulsion that drives her to say that she will not allow the division of the State. She is a mother figure. If we coax her she will definitely give us something better" prophesied Gurung.
The day saw a mammoth rally from the Darjeeling Railway Station which culminated at the Darjeeling Chowrasta. GJM along with frontal organization supporters, leaders took part in the rally dressed in traditional attire. School students, marching bands, dancing and singing formed an integral part of the rally.
Even the GJM Supremo did not miss the opportunity to Tango. Amidst euphoric cheers from his supporters Gurung displayed the moves. Thousands of laddus were distributed. Gurung also chose the celebrations to announce that the hills would not pay their electricity dues.
The announcement was timed perfectly. Just as Gurung took to the microphone, his speech was interrupted with a power cut. With the power returning after a few minutes Gurung made it cleat to the electricity department that he did not like jokes.
"The electricity department must be trying to remind us that electricity bills are due in the Hills. But let me make it clear to them that the Hills will pay for electricity only from the day of signing of the agreement- July 18, 2011. Even if you hang us we will not pay our previous dues" stated Gurung, hinting at a waver.
Incidentally with the GJM launching the separate state agitation had called for a non cooperation movement which included non payment of State taxes, electricity and telephone bills since April 2008. According to electricity department sources the outstanding has crossed the Rs 70 Crore mark already.
Gurung did not fail to promise large scale development under the GTA. "Give me two years time and I will change the face of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong. I will not be a part of the GTA but will keep a close tab on it. We have to all work sincerely in order to translate words into action. GTA is for everyone not only for the Gorkhas. All are happy" stated Gurung.
Gurung on Thursday clarified he had accepted the GTA with the consent of GJM Central committee members and the Study Forum. "Hours before the GTA signing ceremony, I had asked the 48 strong Central Committee and Study Forum members to recheck the agreement. Only after they had all given written consents had I given the go-ahead" stated Gurung.
Incidentally the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the formation of the GTA was signed by KK Pathak, joint secretary, Union home ministry, GD Gautama, home secretary, government of West Bengal and Roshan Giri, GJM general secretary at the Pintail Village on the foothills of the Darjeeling district on July 18 in the presence of chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Union home minister P Chidambaram and Gurung.
Highlighting the key points of the draft Giri stated that 6326 adhoc workers of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) would be regularized in the GTA; Hill youths would get preference in the police, para military and armed forces. "The Gorkhaland Personnel (GLP) will benefit from this" stated Giri.
Interesting with the GLP (this voluntary outfit under the GJM has raked up a lot of controversy including being dubbed Gurung's personal army by opposition political parties.
Gurung announced that the GLP hereby would be called the GTA Youth. Political observers feel that this is to avoid the controversies that the GLP has sparked in the past.
Educational institutions, offices, tea gardens, cinchona plantations were shut down to facilitate people from taking part in the victory celebrations. "Our 43 month 10 day long agitation has resulted in this powerful GTA. The next part will definitely bestow us with our final goal Gorkhaland" stated assistant secretary Binay Tamang.
The GJM has been spearheading an agitation for carving out a separate state Gorkhaland since October 2007.
We have entered the semi-final: Gorkha Janmukti Morcha
Celebrations over signing of agreement to set up new body on Gorkhaland
Marcus Dam, TH, July 22: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) celebrated the signing of the agreement for the setting up of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) with much fanfare in Darjeeling on Thursday even as its leadership asserted that this was only the “semi-final.”
The implication was clear. Formation of the GTA is being considered the “semi-final”; the “final” being the creation of a separate Gorkhaland State - what the GJM has been claiming to be its main agenda.
“We have entered the semi-final stage,” GJM's assistant general secretary Benoy Tamang told The Hindu over telephone from Darjeeling district.
“People from different walks of life joined in the celebrations with a great deal of enthusiasm. There was dancing and the overall mood was one of gaiety. Victory processions were taken out, and one converged at Chowrasta where our president Bimal Gurung addressed our supporters,” he added.
“Similar celebrations have also been planned at Kurseong, Kalimpong and Mirik in the coming days,” Mr. Tamang said. They are expected to be occasions when the GJM leadership will elaborate on its political position in the backdrop of the GTA agreement and on the future of its movement for a separate State.
The GJM had made clear its resolve to keep its demand for Statehood alive when Mr. Gurung, while addressing party activists of its units in the Terai and the Dooars a day after the signing of the tripartite agreement on July 18, pointed out that the memorandum of agreement contained a mention of the fact that it had not dropped its Gorkhaland demand.
But even as the celebrations were being held in Darjeeling, leaders of the non-GJM regional parties were critical of the GJM for “betraying the cause of Gorkhaland” and “hoodwinking the people”.
“It has been a betrayal of the Statehood cause, on the strength of which the GJM had won more than 80 per cent of the popular vote in the Assembly elections. Now, having settled for GTA, which is just another body like the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (which had been set up in 1988 and is to be replaced by the GTA), it seems to be following the route taken by Subhas Ghising (president of the Gorkha National Liberation Front),” said Gobind Chettri, spokesman of the Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxists – arguably the largest non-GJM regional party.
“The GJM is celebrating because it considers what it has achieved [GTA] a victory. But how can being served with ‘thukpa' [a local soupy noodles dish] when it was spaghetti that was asked for, be reason for celebration,” asked Dawa Sherpa, convener of the Democratic Front, an anti-GJM political conglomerate in the hills.
3 who made deal work - How the trio negotiated the GTA draft
MEGHDEEP BHATTACHARYYA, TT, Calcutta, July 21: Three senior bureaucrats played a pivotal role in paving the way for the landmark agreement to form the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration that has ended the hill impasse for now and helped Mamata Banerjee fulfil her promise of solving the problem within three months of coming to power.
The chief minister, who on her first day at Writers’ had publicly rued the lack of “good” IAS officers in Bengal, would conceivably be thankful to chief secretary Samar Ghosh, home secretary G.D. Gautama and DGHC administrator Anil Verma for their contribution in resolving the hill crisis.
Days after her government was sworn in on May 20, Mamata had told Ghosh and Gautama, both Bengal-cadre IAS officers of the 1977 batch, that she wanted a solution to the Darjeeling issue as soon as possible.
Verma, an IAS officer of the 1989 batch with extensive experience in dealing with the hill impasse, was brought on board for counsel soon after.
Since early June, the three bureaucrats had been negotiating on Mamata’s behalf with the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha the terms and conditions for the formation of the GTA. The Centre, state government and the Morcha signed the agreement at Pintail Village, near Siliguri, on Monday.
Writers’ sources told The Telegraph how the three officers “toiled for hours” during meetings with Morcha delegations led by general secretary Roshan Giri since June to find a way out of the four-year-old impasse.
“The officers spent hours with the Morcha on June 6 and 7 trying to keep the statehood demand out of the agreement’s equation,” a government official said. “Morcha leaders met the chief minister each time they came to Writers’ but they were not more than courtesy calls. She made it clear that the discussions would have to take place at the official level, with the bureaucrats,” he added.
According to sources, the “most difficult ask” for the trio was to get the Morcha to agree with the government on the “extremely sensitive issue” of territory of the proposed set-up. Before Mamata announced on June 7 that the Darjeeling problem had been “solved”, the bureaucrats spent four hours negotiating the territory issue.
“That was the biggest challenge and they manoeuvred the talks well. After four hours, they managed to make the Morcha agree to the formation of a nine-member committee to look into the party’s demand that the Gorkha-dominated areas of the Dooars, the Terai and Siliguri be included under the GTA’s jurisdiction,” a source said.
“The Morcha was given a take-it-or-leave-it kind of deal. It had to accept it as time was running out for (party chief) Bimal Gurung and other Morcha leaders,” he added.
Sources said the Morcha was “adamant” on three other issues — direct nomination to the new hill authority, transfer of the tauzi department that keeps land records of tea gardens to the arrangement and some legislative powers.
“Samarbabu made it clear to the Morcha that direct elections to select GTA members would have to be held. It was non-negotiable. But the Morcha initially refused to budge from its demand that the new authority be given some legislative powers and the tauzi department be transferred to it,” the source said.
Finally, on July 8, the government agreed to transfer the tauzi department to the GTA. The demand for legislative powers was, however, ruled out. “That is the day the Morcha agreed to sign the tripartite agreement after over a month and a half of hard bargaining,” a senior official said. “Gautama drafted the agreement that day itself after consulting the chief secretary and Verma. The draft was approved by the chief minister before the Morcha was allowed to see it,” he added.
Senior government officials said the Darjeeling impasse had continued for so long because of the Left Front regime’s “reluctance” to concede any ground to the Morcha. “Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and (former municipal affairs minister) Asok Bhattacharya were adamant against giving the Morcha any leeway. The Left Front government had insisted on accommodating all voices from the hills, including those of the GNLF and the ABGL, in the tripartite agreement,” an official said.
The Writers’ sources said two previous chief secretaries, Asok Mohan Chakrabarti and Ardhendu Sen, “had not been able to take sufficient initiative” to resolve the crisis. “Both had played a rather passive role in the talks during the Left regime,” a source said.
Threat to stop tea despatch for wage hike
TT, Siliguri/Jaigaon, July 21: Trade unions affiliated to the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha have threatened to impose an embargo on the despatch of tea from gardens in the Dooars and the Terai from July 26 to demand a revision in the workers’ wages.
The garden workers in the plains are currently paid Rs 67 a day according to an agreement reached between planters and trade unions three years ago. The duration of the deal ended on March 31 and all negotiations held so far to fix a new wage failed to reach a consensus.
“We had a meeting with leaders of the Parishad-backed Progressive Tea Workers’ Union at Banarhat yesterday. We decided to hold meetings in front of the gates of each tea garden in the Terai and the Dooars for two hours from tomorrow, demanding immediate fixing of wages,” said Govind Pradhan, the assistant general secretary of the Morcha-affiliated Darjeeling Terai Dooars Plantation Labour Union.
“The meetings will continue till July 25 and if the tea companies do not revise the wage by then, we will stop the despatch of tea from the gardens.”
The Parishad union noted that the labourers in the plains continued to draw the old wage while their counterparts in the Darjeeling hills were paid Rs 90 a day.
“Workers in the hills have been getting revised wages for the past three months. But in the Terai and the Dooars, a new rate is yet to be fixed. The Morcha had also enforced an embargo on the despatch of tea in the hills to clinch a hike of Rs 23 in the wage. Apart from stopping the transport of tea from the estates, the labourers will also adopt a policy of ‘go-slow’ at their workplaces. They will join work, but will discharge their duties in a sluggish manner,” said Shukra Munda, the chairperson of the Parishad union.
The planters in the plains had offered a hike of Rs 8 every year so that the wage would reach Rs 91 in 2013 from the current Rs 67. But the unions rejected the offer outright and wanted the garden owners to come forward with fresh proposals. The offers were made at tripartite meetings convened by the state labour department.
The two apex bodies of tea trade unions in the plains have already announced a joint convention in Siliguri on Saturday to press for the wage revision.
“Representatives of more than 30 trade unions will meet at Mitra Sammilani auditorium in Siliguri on July 23 and decide on the future course of action. The convention might even call for an indefinite strike in the tea industry for the wage hike,” said Samir Roy, the convener of the Defence Committee for Plantation Workers’ Rights.
The garden owners said halt in the despatch of tea and slow work would cripple the industry.
“We have already started talks and are confident that the issue can be settled through discussions,” said Prabir Bhattacharya, the secretary of the Dooars branch of the Indian Tea Association.
“If the labourers stop the despatch of tea and are slow at work, the entire sector will be affected.”
Deb invite
North Bengal development minister Gautam Deb has invited the Parishad for a meeting at Writers’ Buildings in Calcutta on Saturday. This will be the first formal meeting between the Parishad and the Mamata Banerjee government.
“A 15-member delegation comprising regional and state leaders will head for Calcutta tomorrow. The main item on the agenda is the Morcha’s demand to include the Terai and the Dooars under the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration. We will clarify to the minister why we are against the move and will request him to draft projects for the development of the Terai and the Dooars,” said Tezkumar Toppo, the state secretary of the Parishad.
Celebrations in Hills, GJM promises growth
TNN , Jul 22,DARJEELING: For anyone visiting Darjeeling for the first time, it will be hard to tell that this was the very Hill station that was out of bounds because of the turmoil it experienced in the past three years. The change was evident and hard to miss on Thursday.
The theme songs for the agitators were mostly to do with the demand for a separate state. But, that did a 'poriborton' during the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) rally organized to mark the GTA signing. Supporters sang popular Nepali numbers like 'kanchi re kanchi' and 'Basanta nei basna khoja...maiti ghar' that are belted out during festivals, instead of the more thought and heart provoking 'samaya ko mang ho yo...Gorkhaland and jite ko jitaiko Morhca le harnu... jandaina' . GJM supporters sang paeans to the new state government . Instead of 'We want Gorkhaland' , they chanted long live 'Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA)'.
Supporters from Kalimpong , Kurseong and Mirik also attended the procession that started from the Railway station and reached Chowastha nearly two hours late. But, the supporters were not complaining . "It's a historic occasion . There are lots of development avenues in the GTA with huge financial package. We will have peace and development that we were deprived of so long," said a middle-aged woman fluttering the GJM flag.
School bands from Kalimpong and Darjeeling led the procession. Gurung played to the gallery dancing with wife Asha and party leaders at the 'hawa ghar' and distributed 'laddoos' . "We will prove our detractors and emerge successful in our endeavor," bellowed the GJM leader while explaining the necessity of accepting the GTA. "We request the Opposition parties not to create obstacles for two and half years and let us work. You (oppositions) must also appreciate the good work we do," said Gurung and asked them to be a part of a constructive criticism system instead of opposing for the sake of it.
A short power failure for about five minutes in the middle of his speech bared Gurung's wrath. "Maybe the electricity department is reminding me that the bills are pending. But let me tell you (electricity department) that we will only pay the bills from the date of signing the GTA agreement," he roared.
Referring to Mamata Banerjee , he added, "She is a political leader and so sometimes she has to say things because of political compulsions . But do not get her wrong." Countering the Bengal CM's assertion that Bengal will not be divided, Gurung pointed out that the word Gorkhaland in GTA was proof that the Union and state government had accepted the demand for a separate state. "We can now say that we are from Gorkhaland. The government accepting Gorkhaland in the GTA nomenclature proves that," he remarked.
Gurung, who was part of the erstwhile Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) rule, was aware of the wrongs that been done then and advised his leaders not to repeat the mistakes.
Final solution for Hills is Gorkhaland: Gurung
SNS, DARJEELING, 21 JULY: The Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) president, Mr Bimal Gurung, today said at Chowrasta in Darjeeling that the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), the recently-established autonomous hill body, is just a test for the hill people. The final solution for the hills, he said, would be Gorkhaland.
He said that the GTA will carry out its functions in such an efficient manner that the Central and state governments will be obliged to grant statehood status to the hills. “We have a tough task ahead of us, as the Union home minister Mr P Chidambaram has said, we need to build the hills brick by brick and bring all round development, so we must ensure that the GTA functions in an efficient manner that will serve as an example to the rest of the nation. Nevertheless, this is just a test for us. We must pass this test so that the government thinks of granting us statehood status.” He said he will not be part of the governing body and that the post of chairman will be occupied by someone who is capable of leading the body. Mr Gurung assured his supporters, gathered at Chowrasta to celebrate the creation of the GTA, and chief minister Miss Mamata Banerjee's assertions that the state of West Bengal would not be divided was the result of political pressure.
The GJMM general secretary Mr Rosahn Giri read out the important sections of the agreement signed at Pintail Village, Siliguri on 18 July. Comparing the GTA with the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC), in place between 1988 and 2005, Mr Giri emphasised that the new body has been bestowed with 59 departments, while the DGHC was granted control of only 14 departments. He also pointed out that that the new body will receive Rs 200 crore per annum as part of a special package.
Gorkhaland occupies centre stage at GTA clebrations
Amitava Banerjee, HT, Darjeeling, July 21, 2011: Though chief minister Mamata Banerjee time and again claims "What's in a name?" referring to the nomenclature of "Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA)," Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) chief Bimal Gurung and his party has lost no opportunity in capitalizing on this nomenclature to woo the hill masses.
"Ask anyone hailing from the Bodoland Territorial Council where they are from they will reply "Bodoland." Similarly when people ask you where you are from, you can proudly say you are from Gorkhaland" suggested Bimal Gurung addressing a victory rally on Thursday in Darjeeling.
Gurung claimed that the name "Gorkhaland" has already been legitimized and it is just a matter of time that the GTA will be upgraded to a full fledged state. "Raging debates have ensued through out the country over the GTA nomenclature. We have emerged victorious" stated the GJM Chief.
Though the mammoth rally on Thursday was to celebrate the inking of the GTA agreement, "Gorkhaland" occupied centre stage. "The agreement clearly states that we have not dropped the Gorkhaland demand. It is Mamata-didi's political compulsion that drives her to say that she will not allow the division of the State. She is a mother figure. If we coax her she will definitely give us something better" prophesied Gurung.
The day saw a mammoth rally from the Darjeeling Railway Station which culminated at the Darjeeling Chowrasta. GJM along with frontal organization supporters, leaders took part in the rally dressed in traditional attire. School students, marching bands, dancing and singing formed an integral part of the rally.
Even the GJM Supremo did not miss the opportunity to Tango. Amidst euphoric cheers from his supporters Gurung displayed the moves. Thousands of laddus were distributed. Gurung also chose the celebrations to announce that the hills would not pay their electricity dues.
The announcement was timed perfectly. Just as Gurung took to the microphone, his speech was interrupted with a power cut. With the power returning after a few minutes Gurung made it cleat to the electricity department that he did not like jokes.
"The electricity department must be trying to remind us that electricity bills are due in the Hills. But let me make it clear to them that the Hills will pay for electricity only from the day of signing of the agreement- July 18, 2011. Even if you hang us we will not pay our previous dues" stated Gurung, hinting at a waver.
Incidentally with the GJM launching the separate state agitation had called for a non cooperation movement which included non payment of State taxes, electricity and telephone bills since April 2008. According to electricity department sources the outstanding has crossed the Rs 70 Crore mark already.
Gurung did not fail to promise large scale development under the GTA. "Give me two years time and I will change the face of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong. I will not be a part of the GTA but will keep a close tab on it. We have to all work sincerely in order to translate words into action. GTA is for everyone not only for the Gorkhas. All are happy" stated Gurung.
Gurung on Thursday clarified he had accepted the GTA with the consent of GJM Central committee members and the Study Forum. "Hours before the GTA signing ceremony, I had asked the 48 strong Central Committee and Study Forum members to recheck the agreement. Only after they had all given written consents had I given the go-ahead" stated Gurung.
Incidentally the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the formation of the GTA was signed by KK Pathak, joint secretary, Union home ministry, GD Gautama, home secretary, government of West Bengal and Roshan Giri, GJM general secretary at the Pintail Village on the foothills of the Darjeeling district on July 18 in the presence of chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Union home minister P Chidambaram and Gurung.
Highlighting the key points of the draft Giri stated that 6326 adhoc workers of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) would be regularized in the GTA; Hill youths would get preference in the police, para military and armed forces. "The Gorkhaland Personnel (GLP) will benefit from this" stated Giri.
Interesting with the GLP (this voluntary outfit under the GJM has raked up a lot of controversy including being dubbed Gurung's personal army by opposition political parties.
Gurung announced that the GLP hereby would be called the GTA Youth. Political observers feel that this is to avoid the controversies that the GLP has sparked in the past.
Educational institutions, offices, tea gardens, cinchona plantations were shut down to facilitate people from taking part in the victory celebrations. "Our 43 month 10 day long agitation has resulted in this powerful GTA. The next part will definitely bestow us with our final goal Gorkhaland" stated assistant secretary Binay Tamang.
The GJM has been spearheading an agitation for carving out a separate state Gorkhaland since October 2007.
We have entered the semi-final: Gorkha Janmukti Morcha
Celebrations over signing of agreement to set up new body on Gorkhaland
Marcus Dam, TH, July 22: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) celebrated the signing of the agreement for the setting up of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) with much fanfare in Darjeeling on Thursday even as its leadership asserted that this was only the “semi-final.”
The implication was clear. Formation of the GTA is being considered the “semi-final”; the “final” being the creation of a separate Gorkhaland State - what the GJM has been claiming to be its main agenda.
“We have entered the semi-final stage,” GJM's assistant general secretary Benoy Tamang told The Hindu over telephone from Darjeeling district.
“People from different walks of life joined in the celebrations with a great deal of enthusiasm. There was dancing and the overall mood was one of gaiety. Victory processions were taken out, and one converged at Chowrasta where our president Bimal Gurung addressed our supporters,” he added.
“Similar celebrations have also been planned at Kurseong, Kalimpong and Mirik in the coming days,” Mr. Tamang said. They are expected to be occasions when the GJM leadership will elaborate on its political position in the backdrop of the GTA agreement and on the future of its movement for a separate State.
The GJM had made clear its resolve to keep its demand for Statehood alive when Mr. Gurung, while addressing party activists of its units in the Terai and the Dooars a day after the signing of the tripartite agreement on July 18, pointed out that the memorandum of agreement contained a mention of the fact that it had not dropped its Gorkhaland demand.
But even as the celebrations were being held in Darjeeling, leaders of the non-GJM regional parties were critical of the GJM for “betraying the cause of Gorkhaland” and “hoodwinking the people”.
“It has been a betrayal of the Statehood cause, on the strength of which the GJM had won more than 80 per cent of the popular vote in the Assembly elections. Now, having settled for GTA, which is just another body like the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (which had been set up in 1988 and is to be replaced by the GTA), it seems to be following the route taken by Subhas Ghising (president of the Gorkha National Liberation Front),” said Gobind Chettri, spokesman of the Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxists – arguably the largest non-GJM regional party.
“The GJM is celebrating because it considers what it has achieved [GTA] a victory. But how can being served with ‘thukpa' [a local soupy noodles dish] when it was spaghetti that was asked for, be reason for celebration,” asked Dawa Sherpa, convener of the Democratic Front, an anti-GJM political conglomerate in the hills.
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| School bands march at the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha rally in Darjeeling on Thursday | The audience at the Mall during the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha celebration on Thursday | Morcha supporters dance at the Mall. All pictures by Suman Tamang |
3 who made deal work - How the trio negotiated the GTA draft
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| From top: Samar Ghosh, G.D. Gautama and Anil Verma |
The chief minister, who on her first day at Writers’ had publicly rued the lack of “good” IAS officers in Bengal, would conceivably be thankful to chief secretary Samar Ghosh, home secretary G.D. Gautama and DGHC administrator Anil Verma for their contribution in resolving the hill crisis.
Days after her government was sworn in on May 20, Mamata had told Ghosh and Gautama, both Bengal-cadre IAS officers of the 1977 batch, that she wanted a solution to the Darjeeling issue as soon as possible.
Verma, an IAS officer of the 1989 batch with extensive experience in dealing with the hill impasse, was brought on board for counsel soon after.
Since early June, the three bureaucrats had been negotiating on Mamata’s behalf with the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha the terms and conditions for the formation of the GTA. The Centre, state government and the Morcha signed the agreement at Pintail Village, near Siliguri, on Monday.
Writers’ sources told The Telegraph how the three officers “toiled for hours” during meetings with Morcha delegations led by general secretary Roshan Giri since June to find a way out of the four-year-old impasse.
“The officers spent hours with the Morcha on June 6 and 7 trying to keep the statehood demand out of the agreement’s equation,” a government official said. “Morcha leaders met the chief minister each time they came to Writers’ but they were not more than courtesy calls. She made it clear that the discussions would have to take place at the official level, with the bureaucrats,” he added.
According to sources, the “most difficult ask” for the trio was to get the Morcha to agree with the government on the “extremely sensitive issue” of territory of the proposed set-up. Before Mamata announced on June 7 that the Darjeeling problem had been “solved”, the bureaucrats spent four hours negotiating the territory issue.
“That was the biggest challenge and they manoeuvred the talks well. After four hours, they managed to make the Morcha agree to the formation of a nine-member committee to look into the party’s demand that the Gorkha-dominated areas of the Dooars, the Terai and Siliguri be included under the GTA’s jurisdiction,” a source said.
“The Morcha was given a take-it-or-leave-it kind of deal. It had to accept it as time was running out for (party chief) Bimal Gurung and other Morcha leaders,” he added.
Sources said the Morcha was “adamant” on three other issues — direct nomination to the new hill authority, transfer of the tauzi department that keeps land records of tea gardens to the arrangement and some legislative powers.
“Samarbabu made it clear to the Morcha that direct elections to select GTA members would have to be held. It was non-negotiable. But the Morcha initially refused to budge from its demand that the new authority be given some legislative powers and the tauzi department be transferred to it,” the source said.
Finally, on July 8, the government agreed to transfer the tauzi department to the GTA. The demand for legislative powers was, however, ruled out. “That is the day the Morcha agreed to sign the tripartite agreement after over a month and a half of hard bargaining,” a senior official said. “Gautama drafted the agreement that day itself after consulting the chief secretary and Verma. The draft was approved by the chief minister before the Morcha was allowed to see it,” he added.
Senior government officials said the Darjeeling impasse had continued for so long because of the Left Front regime’s “reluctance” to concede any ground to the Morcha. “Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and (former municipal affairs minister) Asok Bhattacharya were adamant against giving the Morcha any leeway. The Left Front government had insisted on accommodating all voices from the hills, including those of the GNLF and the ABGL, in the tripartite agreement,” an official said.
The Writers’ sources said two previous chief secretaries, Asok Mohan Chakrabarti and Ardhendu Sen, “had not been able to take sufficient initiative” to resolve the crisis. “Both had played a rather passive role in the talks during the Left regime,” a source said.
Threat to stop tea despatch for wage hike
TT, Siliguri/Jaigaon, July 21: Trade unions affiliated to the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha have threatened to impose an embargo on the despatch of tea from gardens in the Dooars and the Terai from July 26 to demand a revision in the workers’ wages.
The garden workers in the plains are currently paid Rs 67 a day according to an agreement reached between planters and trade unions three years ago. The duration of the deal ended on March 31 and all negotiations held so far to fix a new wage failed to reach a consensus.
“We had a meeting with leaders of the Parishad-backed Progressive Tea Workers’ Union at Banarhat yesterday. We decided to hold meetings in front of the gates of each tea garden in the Terai and the Dooars for two hours from tomorrow, demanding immediate fixing of wages,” said Govind Pradhan, the assistant general secretary of the Morcha-affiliated Darjeeling Terai Dooars Plantation Labour Union.
“The meetings will continue till July 25 and if the tea companies do not revise the wage by then, we will stop the despatch of tea from the gardens.”
The Parishad union noted that the labourers in the plains continued to draw the old wage while their counterparts in the Darjeeling hills were paid Rs 90 a day.
“Workers in the hills have been getting revised wages for the past three months. But in the Terai and the Dooars, a new rate is yet to be fixed. The Morcha had also enforced an embargo on the despatch of tea in the hills to clinch a hike of Rs 23 in the wage. Apart from stopping the transport of tea from the estates, the labourers will also adopt a policy of ‘go-slow’ at their workplaces. They will join work, but will discharge their duties in a sluggish manner,” said Shukra Munda, the chairperson of the Parishad union.
The planters in the plains had offered a hike of Rs 8 every year so that the wage would reach Rs 91 in 2013 from the current Rs 67. But the unions rejected the offer outright and wanted the garden owners to come forward with fresh proposals. The offers were made at tripartite meetings convened by the state labour department.
The two apex bodies of tea trade unions in the plains have already announced a joint convention in Siliguri on Saturday to press for the wage revision.
“Representatives of more than 30 trade unions will meet at Mitra Sammilani auditorium in Siliguri on July 23 and decide on the future course of action. The convention might even call for an indefinite strike in the tea industry for the wage hike,” said Samir Roy, the convener of the Defence Committee for Plantation Workers’ Rights.
The garden owners said halt in the despatch of tea and slow work would cripple the industry.
“We have already started talks and are confident that the issue can be settled through discussions,” said Prabir Bhattacharya, the secretary of the Dooars branch of the Indian Tea Association.
“If the labourers stop the despatch of tea and are slow at work, the entire sector will be affected.”
Deb invite
North Bengal development minister Gautam Deb has invited the Parishad for a meeting at Writers’ Buildings in Calcutta on Saturday. This will be the first formal meeting between the Parishad and the Mamata Banerjee government.
“A 15-member delegation comprising regional and state leaders will head for Calcutta tomorrow. The main item on the agenda is the Morcha’s demand to include the Terai and the Dooars under the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration. We will clarify to the minister why we are against the move and will request him to draft projects for the development of the Terai and the Dooars,” said Tezkumar Toppo, the state secretary of the Parishad.
Celebrations in Hills, GJM promises growth
TNN , Jul 22,DARJEELING: For anyone visiting Darjeeling for the first time, it will be hard to tell that this was the very Hill station that was out of bounds because of the turmoil it experienced in the past three years. The change was evident and hard to miss on Thursday.
The theme songs for the agitators were mostly to do with the demand for a separate state. But, that did a 'poriborton' during the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) rally organized to mark the GTA signing. Supporters sang popular Nepali numbers like 'kanchi re kanchi' and 'Basanta nei basna khoja...maiti ghar' that are belted out during festivals, instead of the more thought and heart provoking 'samaya ko mang ho yo...Gorkhaland and jite ko jitaiko Morhca le harnu... jandaina' . GJM supporters sang paeans to the new state government . Instead of 'We want Gorkhaland' , they chanted long live 'Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA)'.
Supporters from Kalimpong , Kurseong and Mirik also attended the procession that started from the Railway station and reached Chowastha nearly two hours late. But, the supporters were not complaining . "It's a historic occasion . There are lots of development avenues in the GTA with huge financial package. We will have peace and development that we were deprived of so long," said a middle-aged woman fluttering the GJM flag.
School bands from Kalimpong and Darjeeling led the procession. Gurung played to the gallery dancing with wife Asha and party leaders at the 'hawa ghar' and distributed 'laddoos' . "We will prove our detractors and emerge successful in our endeavor," bellowed the GJM leader while explaining the necessity of accepting the GTA. "We request the Opposition parties not to create obstacles for two and half years and let us work. You (oppositions) must also appreciate the good work we do," said Gurung and asked them to be a part of a constructive criticism system instead of opposing for the sake of it.
A short power failure for about five minutes in the middle of his speech bared Gurung's wrath. "Maybe the electricity department is reminding me that the bills are pending. But let me tell you (electricity department) that we will only pay the bills from the date of signing the GTA agreement," he roared.
Referring to Mamata Banerjee , he added, "She is a political leader and so sometimes she has to say things because of political compulsions . But do not get her wrong." Countering the Bengal CM's assertion that Bengal will not be divided, Gurung pointed out that the word Gorkhaland in GTA was proof that the Union and state government had accepted the demand for a separate state. "We can now say that we are from Gorkhaland. The government accepting Gorkhaland in the GTA nomenclature proves that," he remarked.
Gurung, who was part of the erstwhile Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) rule, was aware of the wrongs that been done then and advised his leaders not to repeat the mistakes.
आरटीआईको गलत प्रयोग रोक्ने र ड्रग्स विरोधी कडा कानुन बनाउऩे मुख्यमन्त्रीको घोषणालाई युवा कंग्रेसको स्वागत
प्रविण खालिंग, कालिमन्युज, गान्तोक, 21 जुलाई। सिक्किमका मुख्य मन्त्रीको पुर्व सिक्किम भ्रमण अन्तर्गत डुगा-लाखामा "केन्द्य्रिा ऐन आर0 टि0 आई0,2005 को गलत फाईदा उठाएर पैसा सोर्नेहरुको खिलाफमा कठोर कानुन बनाउने' भन्ने वतब्यलाई आखिल भारतिय युवा कग्रेस सिक्किम ईकाई स्वागत जनाएका छन्। युवा कंग्रेस का सिक्किम प्रतिनिधि अविनाश याखाले प्रेस विज्ञप्ति जारी गर्दै कानुन बनाएर मात्र होइन तर व्यावहारिक रूपमा पालन गरिनु पर्ने बताउँदै भनेका छन्. सरकार द्वार नियम नियम कानुन बनाउनु मात्रै समस्याको समाधान होइन औ यस्ता नियम कानुनहरु बनाउँदै सरकारको जिम्मेवारी पुरा हुँदैन। वर्तमान मुख्य मन्त्रीको नेतृवमा सरकार चलेको 18 वर्ष भयो र यो अवधीमा यस्ता हजारौं कानुनहरु बनिए जो आज बॉंदरको पुच्छर लौरो न हतियार भएका छन्।
उनले अझ भनेका छन्, हाम्रा आँखा अघी लाचार भएका कानुनहरु धुम्रपान निषेध ,फोहोर मुक्त सिक्किम, थुक र फोहर मुक्त एमजी मार्ग जस्ता कानुनहरू आज सिक्किमको राजधानी मा अपाहिज भएका छन् जहॉं सिक्किमको सबै भन्दा लब्ध-प्रतिष्ठित ब्यतिहरु बस्छन् भने अरु ठाउँको कुरै छाड़़ौं। बिपक्षी राजनितीक पार्टीहरुले सरकारको आलोचना मात्रै गर्छ कहिले गरेको देख्दैन भन्ने मुख्य मन्त्रीको आरोपलाई जवाफ दिँदै भनेका छन्,मुख्यमन्त्रीको आरोप हामी भारतीय युवा कग्रेसले सहर्ष खारेज गर्दछौं, किनभने सरकारको गरिगराईमा पनि पारदर्षिता हुनु पऱ्यो, गल्ती भएको ठाउँमा हाम्रो गल्ती भयो भनि सरकार पक्षले पनि स्विकार्नु पर्छ तर गालीमा मात्रै समस्याको समाधान खोज्नु यो 21सौं शदिमा न्यायउचित हुँदैन।
आर टीआई ऐन 2005 को गलत फायदा सारा भरतको तुलनामा सिक्किममा सबै भन्दा अधिक भएकोछ भनी 2010 को सर्वे रिपोर्टमा खुलासा भएको विषय हो जो सारा खबर पत्र-पत्रिकामा पढ़न पाईएको थियो भन्दै उनले भनेका छन्, यस विषयमा हामी के स्पष्ट पार्न चहान्छौ भने यो प्रकरणमा राजनितीक खेमा नै हावी भएका छन् चाहे सत्ता होस या विपक्ष। हामीले हाम्रै पार्टी भित्र पनि यस्तो क्रिया कलाप भईरहेको चाल पाए पछि पार्टी भित्रै धेरै आवाज उठायौं र बिभिन्न खबर पत्रिका लगायत सिक्किममा कग्रेस बिगार्ने हो का ?े भन्ने हाते पर्चामा पनि खुलासा गरि सकेका छौं।
तिनले भनेका छन्, आरटीआई ऐन 2005 को गलत फायदा भएको सन्दर्भमा एउटा ज्वालन्त उदाहरण पेश गर्न चहान्छु पुर्व सिक्किम माखा 10 माईल देखी तनक पुल सम्मको लगभग 5 किलोमिटर सडकको अलकत्र बिछ्याउनको निम्ति 2010 मा नै टेण्डर भएर वर्क अडर पनि थापी सकेको हो तर एसडी एफ पार्टीकै लिङ्गीका एक होनहार पार्टी समरथक एवं एक खपिस राजनितिज्ञ र खाम्दोङ आरिटारका एक एसडीएफ कै कर्मठ युवाले आरटीआई लगाए पछि काम ठप छ अभाग्यवस ती बाटो भएर यात्रा गर्ने लिङ्गी, पायोङ्ग, सोपे, लिङ्गमो, माङि्जङ, नियाब्रम आदी भेगका हजारौं जनताले दुख भोग्नु परिरहेका छन् जुन कुरा मुख्य मन्त्री लगायत क्षेत्र विधायकलाई पुर्ण आवगत भएको विषय हो। सरकारले अरुलाई टेंड़ो आँखाले हेर्नु भन्दा आफ्नै पार्टी भित्रका ब्वसोहरुलाई कसरी तह लाउने हो यसको बन्द-बस्त मिलाएर मात्रै कानुन बनाए उत्तम होला,तिनले भनेका छन्।
अर्को सिक्किमको सबै भन्दा जटिल समष्या नशालु पदार्थको शेवन र दुर व्यसनी, जसले आज प्रयेक घरलाई त्रासित पारि रहेका छन् विशेष त युवा जमातलाई यो समष्याले धेरै चपेटमा लिइसकेको हामी सबैलाई थाहा भएकाे कुरा हो र यसको बिरुद्ध अति सशक्त कानुनको जरुरी राज्यले महसुस गरेको बेला मुख्य मन्त्रीले आफ्नो जुन बिचार राखेका छन् सो अति नै सराहनिय रहको याखाले बताएका छन्। यो कानुन बनाउन र लागु गर्नमा सरकारलाई हाम्रो सहयोगको यस्तो केही आवश्यक पर्छ भने हामी आखिल भारतिय युवा कग्रेस सिक्किम ईकाईले सरकारलाई पुर्ण सहयोग गर्ने छ भनी बचन दिएको छ। यसैगरि तिनले सुझाव दिँदै भने,हाम्रो सरकारलाई यही सुझाव छ कि कानुन बनाउनमा भन्दा अघी यसलाई व्यवाहारितामा ल्याउनका लागी अधीक गृह कार्य गर्न जरुरी छ।
अज्ञात मृतदेह उद्दार
प्रविण खालिंग, कालिमन्युज, गान्तोक, 21 जुलाई। यहॉंको सदर थाना अन्तर्गत डेञ्जोङ फाटक नजिकको झोडाबाट आज बिहान पुलिसले एक 32-35 वर्षको मरदको मृतदेह उद्दार गरेको छ। अज्ञात व्यक्ति मरिरहेको सूचना स्थानीय एक महिलाले पुलिसलाई दिएपछि पुलिसले घटनास्थलमा पुगेर कुहि सकेको मृतदेह उद्दार गरेको पुविस सूत्रले बताएको छ। पुलिस सूत्र अनुसार कुनै हत्या तथा हिंसाबाट मृत्य भएको शंका गर्ने कुनै चोट पटक नभएको हुनाले उक्त अज्ञात व्यक्तिको मृत्यु नालीमा दिशा बस्नु जॉंदा चिप्लेर भएको हुनसक्ने आशंका गरिएको बताएको छ। यसका साथै मृतदेहको अनुहार र टाउको कुहि सकेको हुनाले चिन्न गाह्रो भएको पनि बताएको छ। लाशलाई 72 घण्टासम्म शवगृहमा राखिने तथा सबै थाना र छिमेकी राज्यको चेकपोष्टहरूमा यसको सूचना प्रसारण गरिने बताइएको छ। पुलिसले घटना बारे सीआरपीसीको धारा 174 अन्तर्गत अस्वभाविक मृत्युको मामिला दर्ता गरेको छ।
टासीडीङ र टिङटिङ जलविद्युत परियोजना रोक्न ज्ञापन
सिक्किमेहरूको पहिचान मेटाउऩे प्रयास हुँदैछ हामी सहने छैनौः छितेन टासी
प्रविण खालिंग, कालिमन्युज, गान्तोक, 21 जुलाई। पश्चिम सिक्किमको राथोङ छु (नदी)मा प्रस्तावित टिङटिङ जल विद्युत परियोजना (99 मेगावाट) अनि टासिडिङ जलविद्युत परियोजना (97 मेगावाट)-निर्माणको निम्ति पर्यावरण मन्त्रालयबाट छोडपुर्जी प्रदान गरिएको खबरलाई लिएर यो परियोजनाले सिक्किमको धर्मिक आस्थामा ठेस पुऱ्याएको बताउँदै विरोध गरिरहेको सिक्किम भोटिया लेप्चा एपेक्स कमेटी (सिब्ल्याक) ले केंद्रिय पर्यावर तथा वन राज्य मंत्री (स्वतन्त्र प्रभार) श्रीमती जयान्थी नटराजनलाई गतिलो ज्ञापन पठाएको छ।
विहिबार ज्ञापन पठाइसकेपछि पत्रकारहरूसित कुराकानी गर्दै सिब्ल्याकका संयोजक छितेन टासी भोटियाले भने, केन्द्र सरकारको वन तथा पर्यावरण मन्त्रालयले यो दुइ परियोजनालाई रद्द गर्नुपर्छ किनभने, सिक्किमको धार्मिक आस्था र पर्यावरणसित जोडिएको यो राथोङ छु मा कुनै पनि परियोजना हाल्न पाउने छैन्। उनले भने, यो परियोजनाको निम्ति मन्त्रालयबाट छोडपुर्जी दिइएको छ भने त्यो प्रदान गर्न अघि नेशनल बोर्ड अफ् वाइल्ड लाइफ (एनबीडब्लुएल)मा यो मामिलालाई पठाइऩु पर्छ।
उनले राथोङ छु सिक्किमी बौद्धधर्मावलम्बीहरूको निम्ति अत्यान्तै महत्वपूर्ण अनि आस्थाको केन्द्र रहेको पवित्र नदी हो जहॉंको पानी टासिडिङ गुम्पामा विश्व प्रसिद्धा बुम छुको निम्ति प्रयोग गरिने पवित्र पानी हो हाम्रो निम्ति अमृत समान हो, यस्तो आस्थाको केन्द्रलाई कुल्चिने प्रयास हुँदैछ हामी कदापी सहन गर्ने छैन्। उनले दस्तावेजहरू प्रस्तुत गर्दै यो नदीमा जल विद्युत परियोजना लगाउन नपाउने केन्द्र सरकारकै कतिपय अडानहरू र दस्तावेजहरू रहेको बताए। जसमा वन तथा पर्यावरम मन्त्रालयले स्वयं 10 किलोमिटरको क्षेत्रफलमा कुनै पवित्र धार्मिक स्थल, संरक्षीत वन र आस्थासित जडित ऐतिहासीक धरोहरहरू भएको खण्डमा टिङटिङ परियोजना निर्माण गर्न नमिल्ने बताएको दस्तावेज प्रस्तुत गरे।
उक्त कुरो पर्यवारण मन्त्रालयका निदेशक संचिता जिन्दलले बताएका छन्। यसैगरि केन्द्रिय पर्यावरण तथा वन मन्त्री जयराम रमेशले समेत टिङटिङ र टासिडिङ परियोजना बारे मन्त्रालयलाई थाहै नभएको पत्र पठाएको तथा त्यसमा स्पष्टरूपमा मन्त्रालयमा उक्त दुइ परियोजनाबारे छोडपुर्जीको निम्ति आवेदन आएको खण्डमा विचार गरिने बताएको पनि संयोजक भोटियाले जानकारी दिए। उल्लेख्य छ, सिब्ल्याककै प्रयासमा राथोङ छुमा निर्माण गरिने लेथाङ जल विद्युत परियोजना पनि केन्द्रिय पर्यावरण मन्त्रालयले खारेज गरेर रद्द गरिसकेको छ। उक्त परियोजना धार्मिक आस्था र विश्वासकै कारण रद्द गरिएको थियो।
अर्कोतिर उनले भारत सरकारलाई सिक्किमको 2818 वर्गमाइल सानो भूमीमा 30 वटा परियोजना लगाएर यहॉंको स्थानीयहरूको विश्वास, आस्था र संस्कृति मेटाउने कार्य भएको बताउँदै न्यायको निम्ति गुहार लगाएका छन्। यसैगरि सिक्किमको निम्ति धर्मिक पुस्तक र धर्मग्रन्थहरूले संरक्षीत पारेको प्राकृतिक संसाधनहरूलाई यथावत राखिनु पर्ने माग गरेका छन्। यसको निम्ति सिक्किमका मुख्यमन्त्री पवन चामलिङलाई पनि तिनले भने, केही दिन अघि मुख्यमन्त्रीला गाउँ-गॉंउ भ्रमण गर्दा स्थानीय सिक्किमेहरूको सुरक्षा हुनुपर्ने मन्तव्य जाहेर गरेका थिए अब समय आएको छ, मुख्यमन्त्रीले आफ्नो बचनलाई व्यावहारिकतामा पालन गरेको हुनुपर्छ।
अर्कोतिर उनले सिक्किम भारतमा विलय नभएर भारतले आक्रमण गरेर बलजफ्ती भारतमा गाभेको कुरो उठान गर्दै संवेदनशील यो विषयमाथि विभिन्न पुस्तकले सिक्किम विलय नभएको कुरो प्रष्ट पारिसकेको बताउँदै अब भारत सरकारले सिक्किमेको अस्तित्वलाई मेटाउन नपाउने गम्भीर मुद्दा उठाएका छन्। उनले भने यदी यसो गरिन्छ भने यो आन्दोलनलाई हामी अन्तरराष्ट्रियकरण गर्न बाध्य हुनेछौं। तिनले भने, हामी सर्वप्रथम भारतीय हौं तर भारतले सिक्किमको एउटा इतिहासमात्र जानेको छ हाम्रो अर्को इतिहास बताएर विश्वस्तरमा आन्दोलन चर्काउने अवस्था नआवोस भन्ने हाम्रो पनि कामना छ। उनले भने भारत सरकारले बुझ्नुपर्छ हाम्रो धार्मिक आस्था र विश्वासहरूलाई मेटाएर विद्युत उत्पादन गर्ने प्रयास हुँदैछ यसकारण यो पनि बुझ्नु पर्छ सिक्किम चीन, भोटाङ र नेपालको अन्तरराष्ट्रिय सिमानाले घेरिएको छ।
अर्कोतिर उनले राज्यको संस्कृति र इतिहासलाई गलत व्याख्या गरिएको बारे पनि आपत्ति जनाउँदै राज्यको सूचना तथा जनसंपर्क विभागले प्रकाशित गरेको सिक्किम स्टडी सिरिजको भोल्युम तीनको संस्कृति विषयको पुस्तकमा सिक्किमे भोटियाहरूको गलत व्याख्यान भएको तथा त्यसलाई सूचना तथा जनसम्पर्क विभागले संसोधन गर्ने बचन दिएको भएपनि अहिले सम्म नगरेको बताए। तिनले भने, यदि आगामी पाङ ल्हाब सोल सम्म पनि उक्त पुस्तकको संसोधित संस्करण प्रकाशित नभए पाङ ल्हाब सोल पर्वमा उक्त पुस्तक सार्वजनिक रूपमा जलाएर विरोध प्रदर्शन गर्ने छौं।
प्रशासनले जबरजस्ती भत्काइदियो घर - जङ्गवीर सापकोटाको सालिग निर्माण हुने नै भयो मनोज बोगटी, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ, 21 जुलाई। सन् 2006 सालदेखि नै जमिन विवादको कारण कालेबुङमा भारतीय स्वतन्त्रता संग्रामी जङ्गवीर सापकोटाको सालिग निर्माण हुन सकिरहेको थिएन। कालेबुङ सालिग निर्माण समितिले यहॉंको नोभेल्टी हल परिसरमा सालिग निर्माण स्थल बनाउने पहल शुरू गरेको थियो।
उक्त स्थानमा अघिबाटै स्थानीय एसयूएमआईका पूर्व शिक्षक रामाशंकर प्रसादको घर रहेको थियो जो पूर्ण रूपले अवैद्य भएपनि उनीहरू त्यहॉं लगभग 25 वर्षअघिदेखि बसिरहेका थिए। रामाशंकरको परिवार अनि सालिग निर्माण समितिबीच जमिनलाई लिएर 5-6 वर्ष अघिदेखि विवाद सृष्टि भइरहेको थियो। परिवार पक्ष भने आफूहरू धेरै वर्ष अघिदेखि त्यहॉं रहेकोले उनीहरूलाई प्रशासनले अन्यत्र कहीं सारिदिने माग गरिरहेका थिए। तर प्रशासनले उनीहरूलाई अन्यत्र कहीं सारिदिने व्यवस्था गरिदिएन। अन्तमा अघिबाटै दिएको नोटिसको आधारमा आज प्रशासनले जबरजस्ती कोही नभएको समय उक्त घर भत्काइदिएको छ। उक्त जमिन पीडब्ल्यूडी विभागको पर्ने भएकोले आज विभागका अधिकारीहरू, महकुमा अधिकारी, सालिग निर्माण समितिका प्रतिनिधिहरूको उपस्थिति रहेको थियो। यता महकुमा अधिकारी एल.एन. शेर्पाले बताएनुसार यो घर अवैद्य रहेकोले नै भत्काइएको हो अनि शहरमा अवैद्य ढङ्गमा निर्माण गरिएका अन्य घरहरू पनि चॉंड़ै भत्काइनेछ।
अवैद्य ढङ्गमै भए पनि तीस-चालिस वर्षदेखि बसोबासो गर्दै आइरहेका मानिसहरूलाई आज आएर जबरजस्ती उठाइदिँदा क्षतिपूरण अथवा उनीहरूलाई अन्यत्र कहीं सारिदिने व्यवस्था प्रशासनले गरिदिन्छ भनि महकुमा अधिकारीसँग प्रश्न गर्दा तिनले परिवारको अवस्था हेरेर विचार गर्ने बताए। रामाशंकरको परिवार सम्पन्न नै भएकोले विभागीय पक्षबाट कुनै पहल गरिदिन आवश्यक नरहेको तिनले बताए। यता परिवार पक्षबाट छोरा निरज प्रसादले यतिका वर्षसम्म आफूहरू बसेको घर भत्काइँदा गुनासो व्यक्त गर्दै कालेबुङमा अवैद्य ढङ्गमै भएपनि कैयौं सालदेखि स्थायी रूपमा बसोबासो गर्नेहरू थुप्रै छन्। तर आज आएर केवल आफ्नो घर मात्र सुनियोजित ढङ्गमा भत्काइनु न्यायसङ्गत नरहेको बताएका छन्। तिनले प्रशासनले आफूहरूलाई एकहप्ता समय दिएको अनि आज घरमा कोही पनि नभएको समय अचानक आएर भत्काएकोमा आपत्ती जनाएका छन्। तिनले अझ बताएनुसार पिता रामाशंकर यसै विषय लिएर धेरैपल्ट नगरपालिका अनि महकुमा कार्यालय धाए। हाल तिनी हृदय रोगले सिकिस्त अवस्थामा रहेकोले कलकत्ता लैजॉंदै गरेको अनि घर भत्काएको थाहा पाएपछि आफू यहॉं आएको तिनले जनाएका छन्। यदि यस्तो अवस्थामा रहेको पितालाई केही भए यसको पूर्ण जिम्मेवारी प्रशासन अनि निर्माण समितिले लिनपर्ने तिनले चेतावनी दिएका छन्।
विभागले उक्त घर भत्काइदिएपछि सालिग निर्माण समितिको निम्ति बाटो खुल्ला भएको छ। सालिग समितिका उप-सभापति पी.बी.घतानीले बताएनुसार आगामी 15 अगस्तको दिन उक्त स्थानमा जङ्गवीर सापकोटाको सालिगको विधिवत् उद्घाटन गरिने छ। परिवार पक्षले भने यतिका वर्षसम्म बसेको आफ्नो घर गुमाउन परे पनि धेरै वर्षको सङ्घर्षपछि सालिग निर्माण समिति अनि प्रशासनको भने एकतर्फी जीत भएको छ।
फौजमा भर्ना हुन लेप्चा अनि भोटियाहरूलाई गोर्खा प्रमाण पत्र नचॉंहिने
मनोज बोगटी, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ, 21 जुलाई। लेप्चा अनि भोटिया सम्प्रदायका युवा-युवतीहरूले भारतीय सेनामा भर्ना हुँदा गोर्खा प्रमाण पत्रको समस्या अबउसो झेल्न नपर्ने भएको छ। यी सम्प्रदायका युवाहरू फौजमा भर्ना हुँदा पहिले गोर्खा प्रमाण पत्र अनिवार्य हुन्थ्यो। महकुमा कार्यालयहरूबाट उनीहरूलाई गोर्खा प्रमाण पत्र दिँदैनथ्यो।
लेप्चा अनि भोटिया सम्प्रदायका युवाहरू गोर्खा प्रमाण पत्रको कारण विगत धेरै वर्षअघिदेखि सेनामा भर्ना हुनबाट वञ्चित बनिरहेका थिए। यद्यपि गोर्खा प्रमाण पत्रको कारण लेप्चा अनि भोटिया सम्प्रदायका संस्थाहरूले पहल गर्दै आइरहेको थियो। यी विषय सम्बन्धी अघिबाटै इण्डिजिनियस भोटिया ट्राइबल फोरमले चार बुँदे माग रक्षा मन्त्रालयसमक्ष राखेको थियो। फोरमले राखेको मागहरूमा मुख्य मागहरूमध्ये गोर्खा प्रमाण पत्र होइन तर ट्राइवल प्रमाण पत्रकै आधारमा फौजमा भर्ना लिनुपर्ने मागलाई रक्षा मन्त्रालय दिल्लीले मानिलिएको छ। आज उक्त कुराको जानकारी इण्डिजिनियस भोटिया ट्राइबल फोरमका सचिव सोनाम टी भोटियाले जानकारी दिएका हुन्। तिनले बताएनुसार रक्षा मन्त्रालयलाई फोरमलले गोर्खा प्रमाण पत्र सम्बन्धि राखेको मागलाई मानिलिएको छ।
यसै सम्बन्धमा तिनले भने, पहिला बङ्गाल सरकारले लेप्चा-भोटियाहरू गोर्खाका उपजाती होइन भनि एक सर्कुलर जारी गरेको थियो। त्यसदेखि यता सरकारले हामीलाई गोर्खा प्रमाण पत्र नदिएर युवाहरू फौजमा जान सकिरहेका थिएनन्। तर फोरमले राखेको मागलाई रक्षा मन्त्रालयले मानिलिएर गत 12 जुलाईमा अबउसो फौजमा भर्ना हुँदा गोर्खा प्रमाण पत्र नलाग्ने अनि ट्राइबल प्रमाण पत्रले नै काम गर्ने बताएका छन्। गोर्खाहरूले उचाई-ओजन आदिमा पाउने गरेको छुट पनि लेप्चाहरूले सोही प्रमाण पत्रकै आधारमा पाउने तिनले जनाएका छन्।
Probe cry on green nod
BIJOY GURUNG, TT, Gangtok, July 21: The Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (Siblac) today wrote to Union environment and forest minister Jayanthi Natarajan, objecting to the clearance granted to a 99MW hydel power project on the Rathung Chu, a river considered holy by the Sikkimese.
The committee contends that the clearance was given despite the ministry of environment and forests stating earlier that it had not received any proposal on the project.
Three power projects — Lethang (96MW), Ting Ting (99MW) and Tashiding (97MW) — had been planned over the Rathung Chu, a tributary of the Rangeet river. The Lethang project had been rejected by the standing committee for the National Board for Wildlife in October last year following objections from Siblac, which had pointed out that the proposed project would hurt the “religious sentiments” of Bhutias and Lepchas.
According to documents collected by Siblac, the ministry of environment and forests on July 4 communicated its environmental clearance to a private company that is developing the 99MW Ting Ting project, 140km from Gangtok.
This clearance, Siblac convener Tseten Tashi Bhutia said, was given within two-and-a-half months of then environment minister Jairam Ramesh saying his department was not aware of the Ting Ting project nor the other one proposed over the Rathang Chu.
On March 16, Ramesh had written to the National Commission for Minorities member from the Northeast, Spalze Angmo, saying of the three power projects initially proposed over the Rathung Chu, the 96MW Lethang project had been rejected by the standing committee of National Board for Wildlife. As far as the other two projects are concerned, the proposals had not been received by the ministry, Ramesh had said. Angmo had taken up the matter with the Centre on behalf of Siblac.
“Ramesh had stated categorically that his ministry was not aware of the Ting Ting and Tashiding projects. How come this controversial project got environmental clearance? We request an impartial probe,” said Tseten Tashi in his letter to Union environment and forest minister Jayanti Natarajan.
“We believe there is some communication gap within the ministry but we cannot allow our religious sentiments and history to be wronged by it. While giving the environmental clearance to the Ting Ting project, the ministry stated that there is no national park, sanctuary, biosphere reserve or historical monuments in the vicinity of the project area. But the proposed dam of all the three projects is located within 10km of the Kanchenjungha National Park,” said Tashi.
The Siblac convener has substantiated this claim before Natarajan with an RTI reply. The dam of the proposed 99MW Ting Ting and Tashiding power projects falls within 10km of the boundary of Kanchenjungha National Park, the state forest department had submitted in response to the RTI query.
प्रशासनले जबरजस्ती भत्काइदियो घर - जङ्गवीर सापकोटाको सालिग निर्माण हुने नै भयो मनोज बोगटी, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ, 21 जुलाई। सन् 2006 सालदेखि नै जमिन विवादको कारण कालेबुङमा भारतीय स्वतन्त्रता संग्रामी जङ्गवीर सापकोटाको सालिग निर्माण हुन सकिरहेको थिएन। कालेबुङ सालिग निर्माण समितिले यहॉंको नोभेल्टी हल परिसरमा सालिग निर्माण स्थल बनाउने पहल शुरू गरेको थियो।
उक्त स्थानमा अघिबाटै स्थानीय एसयूएमआईका पूर्व शिक्षक रामाशंकर प्रसादको घर रहेको थियो जो पूर्ण रूपले अवैद्य भएपनि उनीहरू त्यहॉं लगभग 25 वर्षअघिदेखि बसिरहेका थिए। रामाशंकरको परिवार अनि सालिग निर्माण समितिबीच जमिनलाई लिएर 5-6 वर्ष अघिदेखि विवाद सृष्टि भइरहेको थियो। परिवार पक्ष भने आफूहरू धेरै वर्ष अघिदेखि त्यहॉं रहेकोले उनीहरूलाई प्रशासनले अन्यत्र कहीं सारिदिने माग गरिरहेका थिए। तर प्रशासनले उनीहरूलाई अन्यत्र कहीं सारिदिने व्यवस्था गरिदिएन। अन्तमा अघिबाटै दिएको नोटिसको आधारमा आज प्रशासनले जबरजस्ती कोही नभएको समय उक्त घर भत्काइदिएको छ। उक्त जमिन पीडब्ल्यूडी विभागको पर्ने भएकोले आज विभागका अधिकारीहरू, महकुमा अधिकारी, सालिग निर्माण समितिका प्रतिनिधिहरूको उपस्थिति रहेको थियो। यता महकुमा अधिकारी एल.एन. शेर्पाले बताएनुसार यो घर अवैद्य रहेकोले नै भत्काइएको हो अनि शहरमा अवैद्य ढङ्गमा निर्माण गरिएका अन्य घरहरू पनि चॉंड़ै भत्काइनेछ।
अवैद्य ढङ्गमै भए पनि तीस-चालिस वर्षदेखि बसोबासो गर्दै आइरहेका मानिसहरूलाई आज आएर जबरजस्ती उठाइदिँदा क्षतिपूरण अथवा उनीहरूलाई अन्यत्र कहीं सारिदिने व्यवस्था प्रशासनले गरिदिन्छ भनि महकुमा अधिकारीसँग प्रश्न गर्दा तिनले परिवारको अवस्था हेरेर विचार गर्ने बताए। रामाशंकरको परिवार सम्पन्न नै भएकोले विभागीय पक्षबाट कुनै पहल गरिदिन आवश्यक नरहेको तिनले बताए। यता परिवार पक्षबाट छोरा निरज प्रसादले यतिका वर्षसम्म आफूहरू बसेको घर भत्काइँदा गुनासो व्यक्त गर्दै कालेबुङमा अवैद्य ढङ्गमै भएपनि कैयौं सालदेखि स्थायी रूपमा बसोबासो गर्नेहरू थुप्रै छन्। तर आज आएर केवल आफ्नो घर मात्र सुनियोजित ढङ्गमा भत्काइनु न्यायसङ्गत नरहेको बताएका छन्। तिनले प्रशासनले आफूहरूलाई एकहप्ता समय दिएको अनि आज घरमा कोही पनि नभएको समय अचानक आएर भत्काएकोमा आपत्ती जनाएका छन्। तिनले अझ बताएनुसार पिता रामाशंकर यसै विषय लिएर धेरैपल्ट नगरपालिका अनि महकुमा कार्यालय धाए। हाल तिनी हृदय रोगले सिकिस्त अवस्थामा रहेकोले कलकत्ता लैजॉंदै गरेको अनि घर भत्काएको थाहा पाएपछि आफू यहॉं आएको तिनले जनाएका छन्। यदि यस्तो अवस्थामा रहेको पितालाई केही भए यसको पूर्ण जिम्मेवारी प्रशासन अनि निर्माण समितिले लिनपर्ने तिनले चेतावनी दिएका छन्।
विभागले उक्त घर भत्काइदिएपछि सालिग निर्माण समितिको निम्ति बाटो खुल्ला भएको छ। सालिग समितिका उप-सभापति पी.बी.घतानीले बताएनुसार आगामी 15 अगस्तको दिन उक्त स्थानमा जङ्गवीर सापकोटाको सालिगको विधिवत् उद्घाटन गरिने छ। परिवार पक्षले भने यतिका वर्षसम्म बसेको आफ्नो घर गुमाउन परे पनि धेरै वर्षको सङ्घर्षपछि सालिग निर्माण समिति अनि प्रशासनको भने एकतर्फी जीत भएको छ।
फौजमा भर्ना हुन लेप्चा अनि भोटियाहरूलाई गोर्खा प्रमाण पत्र नचॉंहिने
मनोज बोगटी, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ, 21 जुलाई। लेप्चा अनि भोटिया सम्प्रदायका युवा-युवतीहरूले भारतीय सेनामा भर्ना हुँदा गोर्खा प्रमाण पत्रको समस्या अबउसो झेल्न नपर्ने भएको छ। यी सम्प्रदायका युवाहरू फौजमा भर्ना हुँदा पहिले गोर्खा प्रमाण पत्र अनिवार्य हुन्थ्यो। महकुमा कार्यालयहरूबाट उनीहरूलाई गोर्खा प्रमाण पत्र दिँदैनथ्यो।
लेप्चा अनि भोटिया सम्प्रदायका युवाहरू गोर्खा प्रमाण पत्रको कारण विगत धेरै वर्षअघिदेखि सेनामा भर्ना हुनबाट वञ्चित बनिरहेका थिए। यद्यपि गोर्खा प्रमाण पत्रको कारण लेप्चा अनि भोटिया सम्प्रदायका संस्थाहरूले पहल गर्दै आइरहेको थियो। यी विषय सम्बन्धी अघिबाटै इण्डिजिनियस भोटिया ट्राइबल फोरमले चार बुँदे माग रक्षा मन्त्रालयसमक्ष राखेको थियो। फोरमले राखेको मागहरूमा मुख्य मागहरूमध्ये गोर्खा प्रमाण पत्र होइन तर ट्राइवल प्रमाण पत्रकै आधारमा फौजमा भर्ना लिनुपर्ने मागलाई रक्षा मन्त्रालय दिल्लीले मानिलिएको छ। आज उक्त कुराको जानकारी इण्डिजिनियस भोटिया ट्राइबल फोरमका सचिव सोनाम टी भोटियाले जानकारी दिएका हुन्। तिनले बताएनुसार रक्षा मन्त्रालयलाई फोरमलले गोर्खा प्रमाण पत्र सम्बन्धि राखेको मागलाई मानिलिएको छ।
यसै सम्बन्धमा तिनले भने, पहिला बङ्गाल सरकारले लेप्चा-भोटियाहरू गोर्खाका उपजाती होइन भनि एक सर्कुलर जारी गरेको थियो। त्यसदेखि यता सरकारले हामीलाई गोर्खा प्रमाण पत्र नदिएर युवाहरू फौजमा जान सकिरहेका थिएनन्। तर फोरमले राखेको मागलाई रक्षा मन्त्रालयले मानिलिएर गत 12 जुलाईमा अबउसो फौजमा भर्ना हुँदा गोर्खा प्रमाण पत्र नलाग्ने अनि ट्राइबल प्रमाण पत्रले नै काम गर्ने बताएका छन्। गोर्खाहरूले उचाई-ओजन आदिमा पाउने गरेको छुट पनि लेप्चाहरूले सोही प्रमाण पत्रकै आधारमा पाउने तिनले जनाएका छन्।
Probe cry on green nod
BIJOY GURUNG, TT, Gangtok, July 21: The Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (Siblac) today wrote to Union environment and forest minister Jayanthi Natarajan, objecting to the clearance granted to a 99MW hydel power project on the Rathung Chu, a river considered holy by the Sikkimese.
The committee contends that the clearance was given despite the ministry of environment and forests stating earlier that it had not received any proposal on the project.
Three power projects — Lethang (96MW), Ting Ting (99MW) and Tashiding (97MW) — had been planned over the Rathung Chu, a tributary of the Rangeet river. The Lethang project had been rejected by the standing committee for the National Board for Wildlife in October last year following objections from Siblac, which had pointed out that the proposed project would hurt the “religious sentiments” of Bhutias and Lepchas.
According to documents collected by Siblac, the ministry of environment and forests on July 4 communicated its environmental clearance to a private company that is developing the 99MW Ting Ting project, 140km from Gangtok.
This clearance, Siblac convener Tseten Tashi Bhutia said, was given within two-and-a-half months of then environment minister Jairam Ramesh saying his department was not aware of the Ting Ting project nor the other one proposed over the Rathang Chu.
On March 16, Ramesh had written to the National Commission for Minorities member from the Northeast, Spalze Angmo, saying of the three power projects initially proposed over the Rathung Chu, the 96MW Lethang project had been rejected by the standing committee of National Board for Wildlife. As far as the other two projects are concerned, the proposals had not been received by the ministry, Ramesh had said. Angmo had taken up the matter with the Centre on behalf of Siblac.
“Ramesh had stated categorically that his ministry was not aware of the Ting Ting and Tashiding projects. How come this controversial project got environmental clearance? We request an impartial probe,” said Tseten Tashi in his letter to Union environment and forest minister Jayanti Natarajan.
“We believe there is some communication gap within the ministry but we cannot allow our religious sentiments and history to be wronged by it. While giving the environmental clearance to the Ting Ting project, the ministry stated that there is no national park, sanctuary, biosphere reserve or historical monuments in the vicinity of the project area. But the proposed dam of all the three projects is located within 10km of the Kanchenjungha National Park,” said Tashi.
The Siblac convener has substantiated this claim before Natarajan with an RTI reply. The dam of the proposed 99MW Ting Ting and Tashiding power projects falls within 10km of the boundary of Kanchenjungha National Park, the state forest department had submitted in response to the RTI query.
EASTERN FOREST RANGER COLLEGE, KURSEONG
Brief history of College Building-
The College is located on St. Mary’s Hill, Kurseong. The College is housed in a huge colonial period building which was once a property of St. Mary’s Seminary under the Catholic Mission of West Bengal and was later purchased by the Govt. of India.
It is an imposing building worthy of a heritage status with a long history. At present it has three storey, basement and attic with a floor area of 60,198 sq. ft. There are 121 rooms which include the office, classrooms, library, computer room, Museum, hostel, bathrooms and dinning hall. A proposal to declare the building as a heritage building is underway.This building is the oldest building in the Eastern India and catering to the training needs of the Forest Sector of the country. This College exclusively trains Forest Range Officers from various states.
The Pricipal of this College, Mr P. Chand said that as the GTA has been signed the building would soon be renovated and it would soon restore its lost charm.
1887 – 117 acres of land purchased in April at a cost of Rs. 3600 from the Maharaja of Burdwan.
1889 – July 31 saw Fr. Grosjean blessing the new building.
1974 – Eastern Forest Ranger College was established.
The state of the college became bad after the 1986 agitation. The Bengal Govt. did not give much attention after that. (Mr. Mithlesh Choudhury , Kurseong)
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