Casual, contract workers gain
SNS, KOLKATA, 14 OCT: A government order on securing tenure of contractual and casual workers has now been modified by the finance department to include even those who have not completed 10 years of service.
Though the order was modified to bring in more than 2,500 contractual workers of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) under its ambit, those outside the Hills will also enjoy the benefit. The casual and contractual workers, who have not completed 10 years, will now be allowed to draw 75 per cent of the remuneration payable in their respective categories.
One of the key clauses of the Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA) includes regularisation of its casual and contractual workers, but a directive of the Supreme Court does not allow absorption of contractual workers. The previous Left Front government had come up with an order to ensure a secure tenure for those contractual workers who had completed ten years of service from 1993 and had worked for 240 days at a stretch. They were allowed to continue to work in the same position till the age of superannuation.
However, the government order was never implemented during the previous regime.
Now the finance department has modified its earlier order, apparently, to pave the way for implementing the GTA deal. Under the new directive, the state government will allow those casual workers, who have not completed 10 years of service, to draw 75 per cent of the remuneration fixed for that category. The order will be applicable for those who have completed ten years by 1 August, 2011. Earlier, the minimum pay was Rs 6,600 for all categories of casual workers which is the entry point basic pay of Group D employees. But now employees will draw their pay corresponding to the category they belong to.
“The order was modified as it would have been discriminatory if done only in case of DGHC workers. So now all other employees who have not completed 10 years of service will be covered as well,” said an official.
The employees unions are also happy with the turn of events. “We thank the new government for the initiative,” said Mr Malay Mukherjee, joint secretary of the Intuc-affiliated Confederation of State Government Employees.
MLA refutes allegation
D.K.Waiba, KalimNews, Kalimpong, 14 October: Refuting allegations of opposition leaders Dr HB Chhetri MLA and spokesperson of GJM said today that media and those making false allegations should cross check the statements before making and publishing. Counter alleging the recent statement of ABGL and CPM leaders Pratap Khati and Tara Sundas Dr. Chhetri said that before making allegations they should think twice what they had actually done in their capacity. Both Khati and Sundas had alleged of doing nothing by Dr Chhetri for the development of Kalimpong.
He further clarified that announcement of development projects by Mamata Banerjee was for the entire hills and not for a particular subdivision, so no question of neglecting Kalimpong arises.
Dr Chhetri further challenged Sundas that if he wants to know about what Dr Chhetri has done he should approach him but not the media. He further said that he is still preparing various developmental plans for his constituency. As the situation demanded I am now concentrating on relief work for the earthquake victims and development is secondary to relief work, MLA Chhetri further stated.
आरोप लगाउने विपक्षसित रॉंकिए विधायक जनप्रतिनिधि म हुँ, मलाई सोध, तारा र प्रतापलाई होइन-डा.हर्क
मनोज बोगटी, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ, 14 अक्टोबर। ममताको ममता कालेबुङले नपाउनुमा कालेबुङका विधायकको दोष रहेको भन्दै विभिन्न दलका प्रतिनिधिहरूले लगाएको आरोपलाई कालेबुङका विधायक डा.हर्कबहादुर छेत्रीले खण्डन गरेका छन्। दलका प्रतिनिधिहरुले विधायकले कालेबुङका क्षयक्षतिबारे स्पष्टसित मुख्यमन्त्रीलाई कुरा नराखेकोले नै भुँइचालो पीडितहरूले मात्र होइन कालेबुङका जनताले नै ममताबाट कुनै पनि विकासको निम्ति प्याकेज पाउन नसकेको आरोप लगाएका थिए। आज डा. छेत्रीले यसबारेमा भने, जसले जेसुकै भनुन् म कसैको पर्वाह गर्दिन। किन भने उनीहरूले कुरा बुझ्दैनन्। कुरा नबुझ्नेहरूले के भन्छन् मलाई मतलब पनि छैन।
दार्जीलिङमा गरेको प्याकेजको घोषणा कालेबुङको निम्ति पनि रहेको बताउँदै तिनले भने, 20 करोडको क्षति भएकाहरूको घर निर्माण गर्ने अनि अझ 20 करोड कृषि उत्थानको निम्ति दिने भनेको दार्जीलिङको निम्ति मात्र होइन जिल्लालाई नै दिएको हो। ममताले जनसभाबाट नै भन्दैथिइन्, 497 करोडको योजना केन्द्रलाई बुझाएँ। 500 करोडको योजना अझ बुझाउने छु। यो कसको निम्ति हो? तिनले प्रश्न तेर्साए। तिनले अझ भने, दार्जीलिङमा मोटर स्ट्याण्ड बनियो कालेबुङमा बनिएन भन्नु हुँदैन। बालासनको निम्ति योजना भयो कालेबुङमा पानीको हाहाकार छ किन भएन भन्नु हुँदैन। किन भएन भनेर जनताले मलाई सोध्नुपर्छ किन भने जनताको प्रतिनिधि म हुँ। तारा सुन्दास र प्रताप खातीलाई सोधेर हुँदैन।
कालेबुङमा प्रशस्त जमीन रहेको कुरा मोर्चा अध्यक्ष विमल गुरूङले मुख्यमन्त्रीलाई बताइसकेको जनाउँदै तिनले कालेबुङमा रहेको जमीनहरूलाई उपयोगमा ल्याउन विभिन्न योजनाहरू तयार भइरहेको जनाउँदै भने, विकास हुन्छ भने सबैभन्दा धेर विकास कालेबुङमा नै हुन्छ। किन भने कालेबुङमा जति खाली जमीन कतै छैन। यो खाली जमीनलाई सही कुरामा प्रयोगमा ल्याउनुपर्छ। तिनले कालेबुङको मोटर स्ट्याण्डमा धेरैले अवैद्धरूपले जमीन ओगटेकोले असुविधा भइरहेको बताउँदै नेउरा जलपरियोजनाको दस करोडको प्रोजेक्टको कार्य अहिले भइरहेको पनि तिनले बताए। तिनले कालेबुङका मेनरोड र अन्य ठाउँको विकास योजना पनि तयार भइरहेको पनि जनाएका छन्।
Agriculture Minister in Kalimpong
D.K.Waiba, KalimNews, Kalimpong, 14 October: Agriculture and Marketing Minister Arup Roy who had been in Kalimpong since 12th October said that he will inform his government about the requirements of the hills in the agricultural marketing. Addressing a press conference Roy said that Kalimpong is rich in flowers, crops and fruits but well managed marketing of these produces is lacking and the farmers are in loss.
These produces can be marketed in the international market by making special arrangements of marketing. Proposals of a cold storage, managed flower nursery, establishment of a botanical garden at Kalimpong will be forwarded to the Chief Minister, Roy stated. He informed that produces of Kalimpong specifically orange will be exhibited in different state and national level exhibitions.
Farmers of hills and cinchona plantations are deprived of the subsidies provided by the government in agricultural cultivation and now my department will do the needful in this matter, Roy said. He further said that the several departments of the government were mismanaged by the previous LF government and the present TMC is facing difficulty to handle all the errands. During his visit different farmers' organisations met the minister and had discussions.
GJM pushes for flow of funds to Hills
Nirmalya Banerjee, TNN, Oct 15, 2011, Darjeeling/ Malbazar: In course of her short visit to Darjeeling, chief minister Mamata Banerjee has got one clear message from Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM): Other things can wait, but funds must keep flowing to the Hills.
The main agenda of GJM leaders like Bimal Gurung and Roshan Giri, at their closed-door meeting with Mamata and at a public function earlier this week, was the losses suffered by people of Darjeeling because of the recent earthquake. In a professionally drafted memorandum, GJM leaders enumerated the quake-related damage and asked for Rs 1,000-crore financial help.
But for the situation of penury the state government finds itself in, it would have been easier for the chief minister to tackle financial demands than to find answers to political issues like Gorkhaland state or inclusion of areas in the Dooars and Terai in Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA). Under the circumstances, however, it may not be easy for her to make the Hills financially happy.
Visiting Dooars later, the chief minister at a public meeting at Malbazar pleaded that 87% of the revenue of her government was being spent to meet interest payment dues. "I will continue as long as I can, then I will quit," an exasperated-looking chief minister said in the meeting.
While signing the tripartite agreement on GTA, GJM had been unrelenting on the question of funds, insisting on a provision of Central assistance of Rs 200 crore per year for three years, besides Plan and non-Plan funds from the state government. In contrast, when the earlier Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) accord was signed in 1988, the quantum of Special Central Assistance (SCA) was Rs 22 crore a year. According to the GJM memorandum, the current SCA to the existing DGHC is Rs 42 crore. GJM has demanded an assistance of Rs 195 crore from the state government in the current year.
It is no wonder that no one raised the issue of Gorkhaland when the chief minister visited the Hills. GJM leaders are well aware that for common people in Darjeeling, the immediate problem now is restoration of peace so that they can lead a normal life, they do not have to send their children outside for education. They also want the problems of their daily lives be eased - better roads, adequate water and a reliable power supply. For this, proper utilization of the available funds is essential, they say. Otherwise, GTA could become as ineffective as its predecessor DGHC.
If GTA fails to deliver, the Gorkhaland demand may again resurface, fear political circles in the Hills, as neither GJM nor Gorkha National Liberation Front has abandoned the demand. Smaller parties like Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxists and All India Gorkha League are still supporting it. Besides peace, civil societies also crave for restoration of democracy in the Hills. They watch with apprehension the virtual absence of any party other than GJM in the Hills, and fear the return of despotism, like in the heydays of GNLF.
Mamata hid behind the screen provided by the high-power committee to parry the issue of inclusion of additional areas in the Dooars and Terai in GTA. "The high-power committee is on the job to identify these areas. The task of delimitation of constituencies for holding the council election has also started," she said in Darjeeling. "If you have any objection, go and place it before the high-power committee in writing. Some people may make demands, you, too, can make your own representation," she advised to Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikash Parishad, which is opposed to GJM's demand for inclusion of more than 300 moujas in the Dooars and Terai to GTA.
Whichever way the high-power committee decides, the area issue of GTA has spawned a fresh demand in the Dooars and Terai - the demand for an autonomous council for the adivasis. In fact, the demand had been raised earlier, when CPM, then ruling, had started backing adivasi groups to counter GJM, say political circles in the Dooars. CPM did not possibly bargain for a tribal reawakening, but the council demand of the adivasis is under the sixth schedule of the Constitution and entails more autonomy than even GTA. The prolonged agitation of the Gorkhas have made other communities also restive and even the marginalized Lepcha community now wants its own development board, which Mamata has agreed to set up under the state government.
कृषि एवं व्यवसाय मन्त्री कालेबुङमा थमाए कालेबुङलाई आश्वासनको पोका
मनोज बोगटी, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ, 14 अक्टोबर। चार दिवसीय भ्र्रमणमा कालेबुङ आएका कृषि एवं व्यवसाय मन्त्री अरुप रोयले पनि आज कालेबुङमा कृषि सम्बन्धि विभिन्न नयॉं योजनाहरूको घोषणा गरे। 2005 मा नै निर्माण कार्य शुरू भए पनि विभागीय अनदेखाको कारण जीर्ण बनिसकेको कालेबुङको रेगुलेटेड मार्केटलाई पुनर्थापना गर्दै वेरोजगारहरुको निन्ति रोजगारको अवसर निर्माण गर्ने मन्त्री रोयले घोषणा गरेका छन्। मन्त्री तीनदिनदेखि नै विभिन्न क्षेत्रको निरीक्षणमा जुटेका थिए भने आज मात्र पत्रकारहरूसित बोल्दै सुन्तला, अर्किड र सिन्कोनाको प्रदर्शनी दिल्लीमा गर्ने बताए। यो प्रदर्शनी दिल्लीमा नोभेम्बरमा (2012) हुने जानकारी तिनले दिए। तिनले कालेबुङमा पनि बोटानिकल गार्डनको निर्माण गर्ने घोषणा पनि गरे।
तिनले बोटानिकल गार्डन कसरी निर्माण गर्ने अनि कहॉं निर्माण गर्ने मात्र होइन यसको सञ्चालन कसरी गर्ने भन्ने कुरा कालेबुङका विधायक डा. हर्कबहादुर छेत्रीसित भइरहेको बताउँदै यसको निम्ति 49.9 ऐकर जमीन चाहिने पनि बताएका छन्। जमीनको निम्ति पनि विधायकसित कुराकानी भइरहेको तिनले जनाएका छन्। तिनले आज रेगुलेटेड र सिडफार्मको निरीक्षणपछि स्थानीय एक होटलमा महकुमा अधिकारी, विधायक, कालेबुङ कृषि विज्ञान केन्द्र, उत्तरबङ्ग कृषि विश्व विद्यालयका प्रतिनिधिहरूसित पनि बैठक गरे।
भेटअवधि प्रतिनिधिहरूले आ-आफ्नो समस्या पनि मन्त्रीसित राखे। कालेबुङमा अलैंची, अर्किड, अदुवा, विभिन्न प्रकारका फूल आदि व्यापकरूपमा उत्पादन हुने तर यसको बजार व्यवस्थित नरहेकोले व्यवसाय अघि बढ्न नसकिरहेको समस्या पनि मन्त्रीसित उनीहरूले राखे। मन्त्री रोयले प्रतिनिधिहरूलाई उनीहरूको समस्या भारत सरकारको कृषि मन्त्रालयमा राख्ने आश्वासन दिएका छन्। खासमहलवासीहरूलाई कुनै पनि ऋणमा सब्सीडी दिने प्रावधान रहे पनि सिन्कोना र चिया बगानका श्रमिकहरूलाई त्यो सब्सीडी किन उपलब्ध हुँदैन भन्ने प्रश्न गर्दा तिनले भने, यो समस्या देखिएको छ। म यो कुरा नेश्नल हर्टिकल्चर बोर्डसित राख्नेछु।
तिनले सुन्तलाको खेती उन्नयन गर्न मात्र होइन यसको रोग उन्मुलन अनि बजारीकरणको निम्ति पनि पहल गर्ने जनाए। तिनले भने, कालेबुङको विकास नै बङ्गालको विकास हो। म बङ्गालको विकास गर्न चहान्छु। जति पनि गरिने छ त्यसमा कालेबुङवासीको हीत रहनेछ। यता विधायक डा. हर्कबहादुर छेत्रीले पनि नयॉं सरकार परिवर्तनपछि दार्जीलिङको विकासको निम्ति यस्ताखाले पहल गरेकोमा खुशी व्यक्त गरे। तिनले भने, अब पहाडका व्यवसायले पनि राष्ट्रिय स्तर प्राप्त गर्नेछ। यस अघि कुनै पनि मन्त्रीले यहॉंको विकासको निम्ति उति चासो लिएको थाहा छैन। गुनासो अधिकारीसम्म मात्र पुग्ने गरेको थियो तर यसको सामाधान हुँदैन थियो। कुनै पनि समस्याको समाधान वास्तवमा राजनैतिकरूपले मात्र हुन्छ। मन्त्रीले जुन जुन आश्वासन दिएका थिए त्यसमा विधायकले अझ थप्दै भने, कालेबुङमा अर्किड रिसर्च केन्द्र हुनेछ। मोर्गेन हाउसलाई अर्किड सेन्चुरी बनाइने छ। सिडफार्ममा सॉंडे चौध ऐकर जमीनमा फ्लोरिकल्चर पार्क बनाइने छ।
दलहरू एक त हुने तर आन्दोलन क्षेत्रीय हुने कि राष्ट्रिय ?
मनोज बोगटी, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ, 14 अक्टोबर। पहाडको राजनैतिक केन्द्र अहिले भुइँचालो भइसकेको छ। यता तेलङ्गना अर्कोतिर जीटीए। दुइटैले झक्झकाउँदैछ गोर्खाल्याण्डलाई। पहाडको ठूलो दल भनेको नै गोर्खा जनमुक्ति मोर्चा हो। तर यो दलले बङ्गालमा नै बस्ने स्पष्ट पारेको छ। बङ्गालमा बस्ने मात्र होइन गोर्खाल्याण्डको आन्दोलन नै नगर्ने पक्षमा पनि छ। भनाइ र गराईमा फरक देखियो भने त्यसलाई राजनीति होइन कुटनीति मानिन्छ। कुटनीति पनि मुद्दापक्षमा हो भने जनस्वीकार्य हुन्छ तर कुटनीति गोजीपक्षको हो भने त्यसले अर्को विरोधी शक्तिलाई उपार्जन गर्छ।
राजनीति गर्नेहरूले नै आफूले के को निम्ति राजनीति गरिरहेको छु भन्ने कुराको परिभाषा हरायो भने त्यस्ता राजनीति गर्नेहरूलाई राजनीतिजीवी भनिने गरेको छ अथवा राजनीति गरेर जीविकोपार्जन गर्ने। जीविकोपार्जनको निम्ति राजनीति गर्नेहरूको संख्या दार्जीलिङमा कम्ति छैन त्यही माथि अब गोर्खा जनमुक्ति मोर्चाले पनि त्यसै लहरमा आफूलाई उभ्याएपछि देशमा गोर्खाहरूको राजनैतिक सुरक्षाको सवालमा उठिरहेको मुद्दा क्षेत्रीय कठघरामा थुनिने सम्भावना नब्बे प्रतिशत नै बढ्यो। उता नथाकी, इमान्दाररूपले केवल राज्य भन्ने तेलङ्गना आन्दोलनकारीहरूको त्यागको हरहिसाबको परिणति निस्कने स्थितिमा छ।
कंग्रेस चारैतिरबाट समस्याहरूको जालोमा परेकोले तेलङ्गानाको मुद्दाले निकास पाउने सम्भावनालाई नै बेशी संकेत गरेको छ। कुनै पनि परिस्थितिमा तेलङ्गाना भयो भने गोर्खाल्याण्डको निम्ति यतिञ्जेल आन्दोलन गर्नेहरूसित के रहन्छ? यसको सोझो जवाब हो जीटीए। राज्य नहुँदा हालत कसरी पत्ला हुँदोरहेछ भन्ने कुरा पहाडमा राजनीति गर्नेहरुलाई भुइँचालोले नै सिकायो। शिक्षा लिनेले यसैबाट शिक्षा लिएर जनताको आकांक्षालाई सम्बोधन गर्ने शक्ति निर्माण गर्छ। तर शिक्षा त्यसले मात्र लिन्छ जोसित इमान्दारिता छ। विकासको संस्था जीटीएले गोर्खाल्याण्ड पुग्ने कुरा जति सजिलोसित भनिने गरिएको छ उनीहरूको कार्यशैली अनि कार्य संरचनाले उति नै गाह्रो रहेको अध्ययनशील र इमान्दारहरूलाई छर्लङ्ग हुन्छ।
किन भने छुट्टैराज्य हुनको निम्ति राष्ट्रिय सहमति र स्वीकृति चाहिन्छ तर यो नै भएन। जुन कुरा छुट्टैराज्यको निम्ति गर्नुपर्छ त्यो भएन भने उसको उद्देश्य के हो भन्ने कुरा बुझिन्छ। गोर्खा जनमुक्ति मोर्चाले मुद्दालाई क्षेत्रीयकरण गर्दै राज्य केन्द्रित आन्दोलन गरेपछिको फलस्वरूप पाउनुपर्ने कुरा पाइएको छ-जीटीए। यसलाई सकरात्मकरूपले लिएर पहाडको विकास कार्यमा मोर्चा जनमुक्ति मोर्चालाई समर्पित गराए अनुचित हुँदैन। यो क्षेत्रीय कुरा हो गोर्खाल्याण्डको मुद्दासित मोर्चा र जीटीएको वास्तवमा कुनै सम्बन्ध छैन। गोर्खाल्याण्ड देखाएर जीटीए थाप्नु मोर्चाका बुद्दिजीवीहरूको राजनैतिक कौशल हो। मोर्चाले के गर्यो के गरेन भन्ने कुरातिर नफर्कि वास्तवमा नै छुट्टैराज्यको निम्ति गरिनुपर्ने काम हजारौं छन्। किन भने जीटीएसित देशका अन्यप्रान्तमा बस्ने गोर्खाहरूलाई कुनै सरोकार छैन। दार्जीलिङको समस्या समाधान भएकोमा उनीहरूलाई खुशी नै छ किन भने दार्जीलिङलाई त्यही राज्यले सानीआमाको व्यवहार गरेको थियो जन सरकारसित मोर्चाले सहमति बनाएर पहाडको विकासको निम्ति जीटीएमा सम्झौता गयो। दार्जीलिङको तीनवटा महकुमाको निम्ति मात्र हो भने जीटीए फाइदा जनक नै हुनसक्छन् यदि यसको कार्यप्रणाली एकपाखे भएन भने। यति बुझ्नुपर्यो कि जीटीए गोर्खाल्याण्ड पुग्ने सिँडी भने होइन।
यो सिँडीको एक फड्कोको दुरत्व दसवर्ष हुने लक्षण त सबैले पाएका नै छन्। जसको अघिल्लो चौतारीको एक फड्को 15 वर्ष रह्यो। दागोपापको 15 वर्षे फड्को नै जीटीए हो। यस्ता हजारौं फड्को मारिए पनि गोर्खाल्याण्ड पुग्न सकिन्न किन भने यो गोर्खाल्याण्ड पुग्ने सैद्धान्तिक कार्यरूप नै होइन। मोर्चा र जीटीएले जनतालाई भुल्यायो भनेर कराई बस्ने पहाडका विपक्षी दलहरूलाई अहिले फेरि तेलङ्गानाले झस्काएको छ। यी दलहरूलाई आफ्नो दलीय अस्तित्वको आभास जनतामा दिलाउन यो झस्काई उपयुक्त नै छ। यसपाली यी दलहरूको झस्काई फेरि मोर्चा र जीटीएबाट नै शुरु हुने हो भने यसको उद्देश्य पनि फेरि दस वर्षे अर्को फड्को निर्माणसम्म कै रहने पनि स्पष्ट छ। यसकारण तेलङ्गानाको कारण एक हुने पहाडका अन्य दलहरूको अबको गोर्खाल्याण्ड आन्दोलनको कार्यसंरचना जनविश्वास योग्य, तक्निकीय र इमान्दार कार्यसोंचले निर्माण भएको हुनु अनिवार्य देखिएको छ।
अहिले दलहरू फेरि एक हुने हल्ला चलेपछि सबैले एउटै प्रश्न गरिरहेका छन्, दलहरू त एक हुनु राम्रो हो तर उनीहरूको आन्दोलन पनि क्षेत्रीय नै हुने कि राष्ट्रिय सहमतिपूर्ण हुने हो? यो सजिलो प्रश्नको उत्तर यी दलहरूको निम्ति टाउकोभरिको भारि देखिएको छ। किन भने राज्यकेन्द्रित आन्दोलनको परिणति दुइपल्ट नै पहाडका जनताले देखीसकेका छन्। अबको पुस्ताले पारम्परिक राजनीतिबाट माथि उठेको कार्य संरचना हेर्ने सबैलाई थाहा छ। फेरि जनतालाई सडकमा उतार्ने, बङ्गालको पुलिससित भिडाउने, फेरि जनतालाई आमरण अनशनमा राख्ने, उनीहरूको किडनी विगार्ने, फेरि कुनै ठूलो नेताको हत्या हुने, त्यसको हत्याराहरू पक्राउ नपर्ने, फेरि असहयोग आन्दोलन गर्ने अनि बीलको मार जनतालाई दिने, फेरि पहाडका संसाधनहरू नष्ट गर्ने अनि पुननिर्माणको बाटो हराउने, फेरि सरकारी भवनहरू जलाउने, फेरि जनतालाई आर्थिक नोक्सानीमा राख्ने, फेरि जनतालाई थकाउने किसिमको कार्यक्रमहरू हो भने तेस्रो चरणको आन्दोलन नभएको नै उत्तम हुने आजको पुस्ताले सोंच्ने विषय बनेको कुरा अब आन्दोलन गर्ने कुनै पनि दलले बुझ्न अनिवार्य देखिएको छ।
यति जम्मै गरीसकेर त्यो आन्दोलनको निचोड अन्तमा जनताको असुविधासित ठोक्किने गरेको छ अनि जनताको असुविधालाई नै देखाएर कुनै न कुनै व्यवस्थामा सम्झौता र हस्ताक्षर गर्नुपर्ने परिणति ल्याउने दुइदुइपल्टको आन्दोलनदेखि सचेत र बुद्धिजीवी( दलीय बुद्धीजीवीहरू होइनन्)वाक्कै बनिसकेका छन्।
फेरि पनि यस्तैखाले कार्यनीति अघि लगाएर कुनै पनि दल वा गठबन्धन दलहरू अघि आए ती दल पहिलेबाट नै सचेत र वुद्धिजीवीहरूको विचारबाट बाहिर पर्ने स्पष्ट छ। अबको आन्दोलन राष्ट्रिय सोंचबाट निर्माण गरिएका कार्यसंरचना र सिद्धान्तबाट निर्माण गरिएको हुनु अनिवार्य मानिएको छ। तेलङ्गनाको कारण एक हुने भनिएका दलहरू र यी दलहरूले गर्ने आन्दोलनको नीति कुनखाले विचारबाट जन्मिएको हुने हो त्यो हेर्न गोर्खाल्याण्डपन्थीहरू धेरै नै उत्सुक देखिएको छ।
जीटीए सूनको पिञ्जडा-आरबी
मनोज बोगटी, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ, 14 अक्टोबर। विधानसभा चुनाउको बेला भत्किएको विपक्षहरूको गणतान्त्रिक मञ्च फेरि सङ्गठित हुने सम्भावना बढेको छ। केहीदिन अघि गोर्खालीगले पनि यस्तै संकेत दिएको थियो भने आज क्रान्तिकारी मार्क्सवादी कम्युनिष्ट पार्टीले पनि सही संकेत दिएको छ। क्रामाकपा अध्यक्ष आरबी राईसित यसबारे प्रश्न गर्दा तिनले भने, चलिरहेको दलीय एकताको कुरा ठीकै हो। यसबारे पार्टीको बैठक हुने छ अनि असङ्गठित शक्तिलाई एकिकरण गरिनेछ। तेलङ्गानाको कुरा इमान्दाररुपले अघि बढिरहेको बेला समस्त गोर्खाहरूको चिह्नारीसित जोडिएको गोर्खाहरूको छुट्टैराज्यको सवालसित किनबेच हुने काम भइरहेको छ। अब सङ्गठित बनेर छुट्टैराज्यको आन्दोलनलाई अघि बडाइनुपर्छ।
यसको निम्ति सबै दलबीच सरसल्लाह हुनेछ। तिनले मदन तामङको हत्यालाई अघि राखेर गोर्खाल्याण्डको मुद्दासित किनबेच भइरहेको आरोप लगाउँदै भने, जनाकांक्षा हो छुट्टैराज्य, त्यही छुट्टैराज्यको निम्ति बङ्गाल विभाजन नहुने घोषणा ममताले बारम्बार गरिरहेकी छन्। गोर्खाल्याण्ड राज्य विरोधी राज्य सरकारसित गोर्खा जनमुक्ति मोर्चाले बाध्यताको कारण मुद्दा बेचिसकेको छ। तिनले मोर्चा अहिले सूनको पिञ्जडामा पसेको बताउँदै भने, पिञ्जडा सूनको होस्, तर त्यो पिञ्जडा नै हो। जति नै करोडको कुरा गरेपनि आखिर त्यो छुट्टैराज्यको निम्ति होइन। तिनले भुइँचालोले गोर्खाल्याण्डको आवश्यकता अनुभव गरेको भन्ने नेताहरूले भुइँचालोलाई नै अघि राकेर पैसाको कुरा गर्नु दुर्भाग्यको कुरा रहेको पनि तिनले बताए। तिनले भने, अहिले मुद्दालाई छिन्नबिन्न पार्ने काम भइरहेको छ। मोर्चाले सोझै किनबेचको कुरा गरिरहेको छ। बङ्गालले दार्जीलिङ र डुवर्सलाई दासत्वमा राख्न करोडौंको चारो फ्यॉंकिरहेको छ अनि मोर्चा पनि चारोमा फँसेर सूनको पिञ्जडामा परिसकेको छ। भुइँचालोको निम्ति हजार सय करोडको कुरा गर्नु ठीकै होला तर आइलाले मोर्चाको आनिबानी देखाइसकेको छ।
मोर्चाले आइलाको पैसाले पार्टी चलाएको थियो अहिले भुइँचालोलाई अघि राखेर फेरि त्यस्तै दाउ हेरिरहेको छ। वास्तवमा भुइँचालो पीडितहरूलाई हेर्ने काम सरकारको हो। मोर्चाले मौका पायो कि मुद्दालाई होससेलमा बेच्ने काम गरिरहेको छ। तिनले ममता व्यनर्जीको रबैया पनि पहाडका जनतालाई विकास भन्दै गोर्खाल्याण्डको मुद्दा दबाउने नै रहेको बताउँदै भने, ममतालाई तलदेखि माथिसम्म नै स्वागत गरियो। मोर्चाले ममताको मुद्दा दबाउने चलखेललाई सहयोग गरिरहेको छ। ममता व्यानर्जीले प्याकेज फ्यॉंकेको होइन मुद्दा बेच्ने पैसाखोर र भोकमरी नेताहरूको भोक मेटिदिएका हुन्।
किन भने उनीहरूले तिनलाई गोर्खाल्याण्डको मुद्दा दबाउनमा भरपुर सहयोग गरिरहेका छन्। तिनले अझ भने, स्वीट्जरल्याण्ड विश्व कै सबैभन्दा ठूलो गणतन्त्र रहेको ठाउँ हो, तर ममताले दार्जीलिङमा कुन गणतन्त्रको कुरा गरिरहेको छ? जुन ठाउँमा ठूलो नेताको हत्या हुन्छ अनि हत्याराहरूसित मुख्यमन्त्रीले हात मिलाउँछ, यो कस्तो स्वीट्जरल्याण्ड हो? जहॉं उभेर पनि मदन तामङको हत्याराहरूको कुरै गर्दैनन् मात्र होइन योबारे कुराकानी गर्नै पनि चहान्नन्। यस्तो गणतन्त्रवादीले कुन स्वीट्जरल्याण्डको कुरा गरिरहेको हो जनताले बुझ्नुपर्छ। तिनले पहाडको बुनियादी विकासको कुनै कुरा नगरेर केवल काम टार्ने अनि जनतालाई झुक्याउने योजनाहरूको कुरा मात्र गरिरहेको बताउँदै भने, बाटो, बिजुली र पानी समेतको राम्रो व्यवस्था गर्न नसक्ने सरकारले कुन स्वीट्जरल्याण्डको कुरा गरेको हो? मोर्चा र राज्य सरकार मिलेर नै गोर्खाल्याण्डको मुद्दालाई पछिपार्ने जुक्ति गरिरहेको भए पनि सबै दलहरूको सहमति र कार्य योजनामा पहिले क्षेत्रीयस्तरमा आन्दोलन गर्ने अनि राष्ट्रिय कार्यसोंच र विचार रहेका सहयोगीहरूसित मिलेर राष्ट्रियस्तरमा नै आन्दोलन गर्ने दिशामा अहिले दलहरू रहेको समेत तिनले जनाएका छन्।
गाडी चोर्ने प्रयास गर्दा पुलिसको पञ्जा
मनोज बोगटी, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ, 14 अक्टोबर। कालेबुङमा गाडी चोरीको घटनाले तीब्रता लिइरहेको छ। हिजो गुम्बाहट्टा निवासी जसना छेत्रीको गाडी पुलिस थाना अघि नै चोर्ने प्रयास गर्दा चासिले तिरुवा गाउँ निवासी बताउने 23 वर्षीय युगेन पञ्चकोटी पुलिसको पञ्जामा परे। जसना छेत्रीको वेगनर डब्ल्युबी 74 भी 4679 चालकले मालिकलाई सिलगडी पुर्याएर थाना परिसरमा राती 9 बजी राखेका थिए।
केही क्षणको निम्ति चाबी गाडीमा नै छोडेर चालक नजिकैको पसलमा पसेका मात्र थिए, त्यसै बेला अज्ञात युवक आएर तिनको गाडी गुडाए। चालकले देख्ने वित्तिकै त्यसलाई पछ्याउँदा युवकले केही पर पुगेपछि गाडी भित्तामा ठोक्काए। गाडीको अगिल्लो भाग यसैबेला क्षतिग्रस्त बनेको थियो। युवकलाई त्यसैबेला चालकले पक्राउ गरेर थानामा सुम्पिए। थानापक्षले बताए अनुसार आरोपीलाई कोर्टमा पेश गरेर पुलिस रिमाण्डमा नै राखिने छ।
10 अक्टोबरको दिन पनि लाभाबाट पर्यटकलाई मालदाबाट लिएर आएको बोलेरोको पनि चोरी भएको थियो। राती चोरी भएको गाडी अनि चोरको अझसम्म पनि पत्तो लाग्न सकेको छैन। यस घटनाको दुइदिन पनि नपुग्दै कालेबुङमा अर्को गाडी चोर्ने प्रयास भएकोले गाडी चोरहरूको गिरोह ठूलो रहेको हुन सक्ने अनुमान कालेबुङ पुलिसले गरेको छ। पक्राउ परेका युवक कै माध्यमबाट गिरोह अनि यसको टाउकेसम्म पुग्ने सम्भावना रहेकोले युवकलाई केरकार गरिरहेको थाना सूत्रले बताएको छ।
च्याब्रुङ प्रतियोगिता सम्पन्न
मनोज बोगटी, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ, 14 अक्टोबर। बुधबारदेखि कालेबुङमा सम्पन्न तीन दिवसीय अन्तराष्ट्रिय इसाई लिम्बू पवित्र सम्मेलनलाई आज समापन गरियो। दुइ दिनसम्म पीएफसी चर्चमा विविध कार्यक्रम भएपछि सम्मेलनको आज अन्तिम दिन स्थानीय रामकृष्ण रङ्गमञ्चमा लिम्बूहरूको सांस्कृतिक च्याब्रुङ नृत्य प्रतियोगिता सम्पन्न भयो। सम्मेलनमा अंशग्रहण गर्न नेपाल, दार्जीलिङ, सिक्किम, मिजोराम, नागाल्याण्ड आदिका ख्रिष्टीय लिम्बू प्रतिनिधिहरुको उपस्थिति थियो।
मुख्यरूपमा नेपाल इलाका अध्यक्ष रेभरेन्ट दानियल सुब्बा, दार्जीलिङ इलाका अध्यक्ष मिकाहाङ सुब्बा, सिक्किमका टीबी टामलिङ आदि उपस्थित थिए। उत्तर सिक्किम, नेपालको पॉंचथर, इलाम, दार्जीलिङ आदिका प्रतियोगीहरूबीच च्याब्रुङ नृत्य प्रतियोगिता सम्पन्न भयो। आसामबाट प्रताप सिंह पोटी, सिक्किमबाट टीबी टामलिङ अनि इलामबाट विनोद साङदेन प्रतियोगिताका निर्णायक रहेका थिए।
How they tracked Dzongu after quake - Forest dept’s GPS mappings came to rescue of pilots without coordinates
BIJOY GURUNG, TT, Gangtok, Oct. 14: It would have meant endless sorties and waste of fuel for choppers but for the combined technology of GIS and GPS used by the forest department to map wildlife areas that gave the pilots the much-needed coordinates to carry out relief operations in the almost inaccessible Dzongu.
Crafted by the forest department to prepare maps meant for delineation, protection and management of wildlife areas, the Geographic Information System (GIS) and Global Positioning System (GPS) had been an immense help to both civilian and army helicopters. In aviation science, little can be done without co-ordinates, which enables every location on the surface of the earth to be specified by a set of numbers.
The picturesque village Lachen was inaccessible by road after the quake. But the army could identify it from the air because of the dual importance of security and tourism
More than a dozen villages scattered and hidden amid dense forests of Dzongu in North Sikkim, the worst hit in the September 18 quake, had been cut off from the rest of the state because of the innumerable landslides that followed. A remote destination, the protected Lepcha reserve of Dzongu had few landmarks to identify each village. Most of the hamlets in Dzongu have hardly a dozen houses.
Little information about the extent of damage in Dzongu had reached the government and North district administration at first, prompting the use of aerial reconnaissance by army choppers and Pawan Hans helicopters operating under the Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation (STDC). But the first stumbling block for pilots was lack of addresses, or co-ordinates, in terms of aviation language.
Chungthang town and the regions above, like Lachen and Lachung, were inaccessible by road, too, and more densely populated than Dzongu. But the areas could be identified by the army from the air because of three pre-existing helipads, presence of security forces and the dual importance of border security and tourism.
In comparison, Dzongu is relatively unknown as outsiders are not allowed in this protected reserve for the indigenous tribal Lepcha community. Hence, the absence of aviation knowledge to reach and air drop relief material.
“Our pilots were familiar with the Chungthang area because of established helipads in North Sikkim and so they had had no problem reaching relief material and evacuating people. But we did not have any co-ordinates for Dzongu. Without co-ordinates, pilots don’t know where to go,” said STDC manager (operations) Tejpal Pradhan.
“Co-ordinates are like heart of aviation. Once you have the exact co-ordinates, things become much simpler and choppers don’t have to hover around, searching for the places and wasting fuel and time in the process. We got the co-ordinates of Dzongu villages from the forest department and our pilots were the first to tell the state government about the damage in Bey village in Upper Dzongu,” said Pradhan.
Bey is some 35km from Mangan, the administrative headquarters of North Sikkim. Seven villagers were killed after four houses were buried under an avalanche of rocks from the hillside following the quake. Bey and nearby villages of Sakyong and Pentong along with Tholung monastery were inaccessible because of landslides from Lingzya onward.
The coordinates helped the Pawan Hans choppers drop Sikkim Armed Police jawans, a doctor and relief material at Sakyong on September 22 in three sorties, said the STDC official.
The forest department’s knowledge of GPS and its subsequent use in Dzongu region has an interesting link. A day after the quake, state forest secretary N.T. Bhutia had been dispatched by the government to North Sikkim to oversee the relief operations and assess the damage. That was when Bhutia realised that the choppers were without co-ordinates, something that his department had.
The GPS is a satellite-based navigation system that provides information on location and time in all weather, anywhere on or near the Earth. On the other hand, the GIS is a system designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyse, manage, and present all types of geographically referenced data.
By the third day of the earthquake, coordinates arrived from the forest department, enabling helicopters to land at Sakyong for the first time.
“We were lucky to have the joint director Karma Legshey who knew about the GPS technology. He was in constant touch with the army and the STDC. He used to calculate the required co-ordinates and pass it on to the pilots. The co-ordinates enabled a helicopter to land at Sakyong for the first time with rescue workers and relief material which were provided to 60 villagers there,” said the forest secretary.
Once word got around that forest department was providing co-ordinates to the STDC choppers, the army also started asking for them.
The forest department had procured GPS (global positioning system) equipment and technology through a centrally sponsored Integrated Forest Protection Scheme. “Our staff also went to train at Forest Survey of India, Dehradun for two weeks on GPS technology. Selected forest staff members were sent to exposure trip at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, Kathmandu. Our primary objective was to use the GPS technology in forest management and protection. Nobody knew that it would be of such immense use in emergencies,” said Bhutia.
Joint director Karma Legshey explained that the forest department had used the GPS technology to map out the reserve forests and wildlife protected areas of Sikkim over the years.
“The reserve forests and wildlife protected areas of Sikkim have been delineated out in maps and have been digitised. Villages on the fringes of reserve forests were also marked during the process. This is an ongoing process. Our primary objective was to demarcate the forest boundaries and to manage and protect the forests along with its wildlife. The use of GPS helped settle boundary disputes and planting pillars along the forest border,” he said.
The isolated villages of Sakyong and Pentong are adjacent to the Kanchenjungha Biosphere reserve and had been marked out in the map. “From the map and the software, we can calculate its co-ordinates and also the aerial distance between two villages. All these data were provided to the relief teams and pilots,” said Legshey.
Co-ordinates provided by the forest department also enabled the central teams of experts who had come to assess the damage to land in Namprikdhang, the major gateway to Dzongu. From there, the central team made its way to Lingzya by road. Another central assessment team was dropped at Sakyong in a chopper.
Summing up his experience, Legshey said: “I believe that if this process is institutionalised and facilities like this put in place in the disaster management mechanism, then it will be of great help at the state and district levels. This has to be supported by reliable communication network,” he said.
NH trouble spot survey
TT, Siliguri, Oct. 14: The PWD has started a survey of the damaged stretches of Hill cart Road today to carry out permanent repairs on the national highway that links Siliguri to Darjeeling.
Officials said the study that will focus on the nature of the soil in the affected areas and its capacity to take load will be ready before Diwali.
“Our team is conducting a survey to assess the damage and prepare a detailed report on the present situation of the two major affected parts of NH55, one near Paglajhora and the other near Tindharia. On the basis of the report, we can start the restoration,” said Nirmal Mondal, the executive engineer of NH (division IX) of the PWD.
“Soil exploration would be one of the major areas that will be investigated during the survey as we have to find out the loading capacity of the soil in the affected places. Apart from that, the estimation of loss and budget for re-establishing the road will also be decided during the survey,” said Mondal.
Last year, a 500-metre stretch near Paglajhora, 35km from here, had caved in. The PWD officials had said the damaged part would be restored by September 25 and vehicles would be allowed on the stretch but the condition of the affected area deteriorated after the recent earthquake.
On September 28, a 150-metre stretch at Tindharia, 5km from Paglajhora, caved in.
“There is no option for temporary repairs (in these places). We need to prepare a report for permanent reinstatement work and we are planning to complete the report before Diwali,” Mondal said.
He added that in both the areas the road has to be build from below the highway level.
Survey on mobile tower radiation
SNS, KOLKATA, 14 OCT: The state environment department has carried out a survey to find out the adverse effects of mobile towers on human health in the state. The report would be submitted to the chief minister and later it would be sent to the Centre with the recommendations made by the expert committee to reduce health risks arising from usage of mobile phones as well as installation of mobile towers indiscriminately.
State environment minister Mr Sudarshan Ghosh Dastidar today said the state had engaged three experts ~ Prof. Sujoy Guha and Prof Sudarshan Niyogi of IIT, Kharagpur, and Prof. Girish Kumar of IIT, Bombay to conduct the survey. The prime objective of the survey was to find out what kind of health risks are being caused due to indiscriminate installation of mobile phone towers.
The survey has found that the mobile towers installed in congested areas of the state are transmitting electro-magnetic radiation in alarming proportions. In India, the permissible electro-magnetic ration is 4.7 watt per square metre, which is much higher than in the European countries and other developed countries (as in China, the permissible limit is 0.1 watt per square metre). And in the state, the mobile towers are transmitting radiation at about 77,000 micro-watt per square metre in congested areas like the surroundings of the nursing hostel of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
The committee has recommended that the radiation should be brought down to 1,000 micro-watt per square metre. The committee has also recommended that installation of mobile towers should be restricted in the areas close to hospitals, schools etc. The committee has recommended that the permissible limit of electro-magnetic radiation should be brought down considerably from 4.7 watt per square metre in India as it may cause several health hazards.
Govinda ends two-day Darjeeling visit
SNS, KURSEONG, 14 OCT: Bollywood actor Govinda (in sns photo) and his wife, Sunita, today returned to Mumbai after a two-day visit to Darjeeling to check on the construction of their new home.
Govinda had bought a site in Darjeeling, on Gandhi Road (INA Road) near Pansi Pool Batasia Loop, about 7 km from the Darjeeling town; construction on a new house has already started.
Govinda also visited Darjeeling with his wife on 12 September, and the couple stayed in the Mayfair Hotel. In July, Ranbir Kapoor stayed at the same hotel during the shooting of film, Barfee. Govinda said: "I had heard about this place from my wife who is from Nepal, so she had come to see it. She liked this place and said that she wanted to have her home here and I agreed. When I came to see this place, I liked it. This place is peaceful and is filled with nature and is good for your health." Govinda said that he had made a trip last year also, to search for a place to build a house.
When finished, the bungalow will have four bedrooms, a hall, a kitchen, an underground car park, and servants’ quarters. The entire plot measures about 5.5 poles. The actor, however, said that construction could take some more time. Govinda said that he has a few films coming out in the next six months. "I have been lucky and blessed as an actor and have seen a lot in my career, and I thank God for His blessings. A couple of films that I have acted in will soon hit the screens, like Mr Ravi Chopra's Banda Bindas Hai which also stars Sunil Shetty, which will be released in February, and another film named Loot, which will be released in November.
Mamata lacks political integrity, says Asok
SNS, SILIGURI, 14 OCT: The former state urban development minister and senior CPI-M leader, Mr Asok Bhattacharya, today charged the chief minister, Miss Mamata Banerjee with lack of political integrity regarding the continuing tension in the Darjeeling Hills and the Dooars over the GJMM land clamour. “She has been indulging in double standards and duping the people. This would ultimately exacerbate ethnic tension in the region,” he said.
He pointed out that the constitution of the land verification committee as per the clause of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration agreement was a roundabout admission on the part of the state government that the GJMM’s land clamour involving Terai-Dooars was justified.
“But, while in the Dooars, turning a somersault, Miss Banerjee assured the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Bikash Parishad leaders that there was no question of transfer of lands. This is errant hypocrisy,” he said.
Addressing a gathering at Malbazar in the Dooars on 12 October, the chief minister asked the people to refrain from taking recourse to agitation regarding the land transfer issue, saying that the matter was under consideration of the state government-appointed committee headed by the Mr Justice (retired) Shyamal Sen. She is also reported to have asked the people residing in the Terai-Dooars to lodge objection with the committee on the matter.
Ridiculing the chief minister, the Marxist leader said that she had created an impression in the Dooars that the land verification committee had been empowered to decide the question of the separate autonomous council as being demanded by the ABAVP leadership. “She casually asked the members of the ABAVP delegation to approach the committee regarding their demand for a GTA-type council for the Terai-Dooars. The matter is serious. It should not be dealt with in such a cavalier fashion,” he said.
“My party remains opposed to the GTA, yet we want prompt constitution of the GTA through free and fair elections,” he said, adding that the Darjeeling district Left Front would hold a meeting shortly to chalk out detailed strategy vis-à-vis the land verification committee.
He also slammed the chief minister for having refused to meet the AIGL president, Mrs Bharati Tamang and the representatives of the near extinct Toto community in the Dooars during her just-concluded Hills and Dooars trips.
Tea growers in trouble
SNS, SILIGURI, 14 OCT: Small tea growers in north Bengal are facing problems after a sudden fall in the price of green tea leaves. Although the Tea Board has framed a price-sharing formula to fix the price of green tea leaves and the amount payable to small tea growers, a section of them have suffered huge losses.
Small tea planters have started agitations in different places, including Bidhan Nagar in Siliguri, Islampur in North Dinajpur and in the Jalpaiguri area.
The United Forum of Small Tea Growers’ Association (UFSTGA) has faxed a message to the Tea Board and state commerce and industries minister Mr Partha Chatterjee seeking their assistance to resolve the present crisis.
The UFSTGA president, Mr BG Chakraborty, said that nearly 30,000 small tea growers had suffered huge losses after a sharp fall in price.
“Before Puja, the rate of green leaf was Rs 12 to 13 per kg. But after Puja, the present rate is Rs 3 to 4 per kg at bought leaf factories,” said Mr Chakraborty. “The production cost of green tea leaves is Rs 10.50 per kg,” he added.
According to Mr Chakraborty, small tea growers are producing at least 79 million kg of green tea leaves per year, which accounts for 37 per cent of total production in the region. A total of 89 bought leaf factories are running to procure green leaves from small growers. In 2004, there were 77 bought leaf factories.
“The previous Left Front government restricted the establishment of bought leaf factories from 2004 to 2009. After 2009, the state government gave permission to set up 12 more bought leaf factories. We have demanded more bought leaf factories be allowed to increase demand for green tea leaves,” said Mr Chakraborty.
The North Bengal Tea Producers’ Association president, Mr Sanjay Dhanuthi, said: “The small tea growers’ information about the price of green tea leaves is incorrect. During Puja, the tea plantations were closed and regular plucking of leaves was suspended. Since Puja, the production of green tea leaves has increased but the quality of leaves is very poor. We are unable to buy poor quality leaves at high rates.”
Mr Dhanuthi said: “The present auction price is less, at least Rs 40 per kg, than last year. And on top of this, Assam is producing high quality tea compared to our production. At present, we are paying Rs 6 to Rs 9 per kg of green tea leaves depending on its quality. We will pay a reasonable price when small tea growers are able to supply quality tea leaves.”
D.K.Waiba, KalimNews, Kalimpong, 14 October: Refuting allegations of opposition leaders Dr HB Chhetri MLA and spokesperson of GJM said today that media and those making false allegations should cross check the statements before making and publishing. Counter alleging the recent statement of ABGL and CPM leaders Pratap Khati and Tara Sundas Dr. Chhetri said that before making allegations they should think twice what they had actually done in their capacity. Both Khati and Sundas had alleged of doing nothing by Dr Chhetri for the development of Kalimpong.
He further clarified that announcement of development projects by Mamata Banerjee was for the entire hills and not for a particular subdivision, so no question of neglecting Kalimpong arises.
Dr Chhetri further challenged Sundas that if he wants to know about what Dr Chhetri has done he should approach him but not the media. He further said that he is still preparing various developmental plans for his constituency. As the situation demanded I am now concentrating on relief work for the earthquake victims and development is secondary to relief work, MLA Chhetri further stated.
आरोप लगाउने विपक्षसित रॉंकिए विधायक जनप्रतिनिधि म हुँ, मलाई सोध, तारा र प्रतापलाई होइन-डा.हर्क
मनोज बोगटी, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ, 14 अक्टोबर। ममताको ममता कालेबुङले नपाउनुमा कालेबुङका विधायकको दोष रहेको भन्दै विभिन्न दलका प्रतिनिधिहरूले लगाएको आरोपलाई कालेबुङका विधायक डा.हर्कबहादुर छेत्रीले खण्डन गरेका छन्। दलका प्रतिनिधिहरुले विधायकले कालेबुङका क्षयक्षतिबारे स्पष्टसित मुख्यमन्त्रीलाई कुरा नराखेकोले नै भुँइचालो पीडितहरूले मात्र होइन कालेबुङका जनताले नै ममताबाट कुनै पनि विकासको निम्ति प्याकेज पाउन नसकेको आरोप लगाएका थिए। आज डा. छेत्रीले यसबारेमा भने, जसले जेसुकै भनुन् म कसैको पर्वाह गर्दिन। किन भने उनीहरूले कुरा बुझ्दैनन्। कुरा नबुझ्नेहरूले के भन्छन् मलाई मतलब पनि छैन।
दार्जीलिङमा गरेको प्याकेजको घोषणा कालेबुङको निम्ति पनि रहेको बताउँदै तिनले भने, 20 करोडको क्षति भएकाहरूको घर निर्माण गर्ने अनि अझ 20 करोड कृषि उत्थानको निम्ति दिने भनेको दार्जीलिङको निम्ति मात्र होइन जिल्लालाई नै दिएको हो। ममताले जनसभाबाट नै भन्दैथिइन्, 497 करोडको योजना केन्द्रलाई बुझाएँ। 500 करोडको योजना अझ बुझाउने छु। यो कसको निम्ति हो? तिनले प्रश्न तेर्साए। तिनले अझ भने, दार्जीलिङमा मोटर स्ट्याण्ड बनियो कालेबुङमा बनिएन भन्नु हुँदैन। बालासनको निम्ति योजना भयो कालेबुङमा पानीको हाहाकार छ किन भएन भन्नु हुँदैन। किन भएन भनेर जनताले मलाई सोध्नुपर्छ किन भने जनताको प्रतिनिधि म हुँ। तारा सुन्दास र प्रताप खातीलाई सोधेर हुँदैन।
कालेबुङमा प्रशस्त जमीन रहेको कुरा मोर्चा अध्यक्ष विमल गुरूङले मुख्यमन्त्रीलाई बताइसकेको जनाउँदै तिनले कालेबुङमा रहेको जमीनहरूलाई उपयोगमा ल्याउन विभिन्न योजनाहरू तयार भइरहेको जनाउँदै भने, विकास हुन्छ भने सबैभन्दा धेर विकास कालेबुङमा नै हुन्छ। किन भने कालेबुङमा जति खाली जमीन कतै छैन। यो खाली जमीनलाई सही कुरामा प्रयोगमा ल्याउनुपर्छ। तिनले कालेबुङको मोटर स्ट्याण्डमा धेरैले अवैद्धरूपले जमीन ओगटेकोले असुविधा भइरहेको बताउँदै नेउरा जलपरियोजनाको दस करोडको प्रोजेक्टको कार्य अहिले भइरहेको पनि तिनले बताए। तिनले कालेबुङका मेनरोड र अन्य ठाउँको विकास योजना पनि तयार भइरहेको पनि जनाएका छन्।
Agriculture Minister in Kalimpong
D.K.Waiba, KalimNews, Kalimpong, 14 October: Agriculture and Marketing Minister Arup Roy who had been in Kalimpong since 12th October said that he will inform his government about the requirements of the hills in the agricultural marketing. Addressing a press conference Roy said that Kalimpong is rich in flowers, crops and fruits but well managed marketing of these produces is lacking and the farmers are in loss.These produces can be marketed in the international market by making special arrangements of marketing. Proposals of a cold storage, managed flower nursery, establishment of a botanical garden at Kalimpong will be forwarded to the Chief Minister, Roy stated. He informed that produces of Kalimpong specifically orange will be exhibited in different state and national level exhibitions.
Farmers of hills and cinchona plantations are deprived of the subsidies provided by the government in agricultural cultivation and now my department will do the needful in this matter, Roy said. He further said that the several departments of the government were mismanaged by the previous LF government and the present TMC is facing difficulty to handle all the errands. During his visit different farmers' organisations met the minister and had discussions.
GJM pushes for flow of funds to Hills
Nirmalya Banerjee, TNN, Oct 15, 2011, Darjeeling/ Malbazar: In course of her short visit to Darjeeling, chief minister Mamata Banerjee has got one clear message from Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM): Other things can wait, but funds must keep flowing to the Hills.
The main agenda of GJM leaders like Bimal Gurung and Roshan Giri, at their closed-door meeting with Mamata and at a public function earlier this week, was the losses suffered by people of Darjeeling because of the recent earthquake. In a professionally drafted memorandum, GJM leaders enumerated the quake-related damage and asked for Rs 1,000-crore financial help.
But for the situation of penury the state government finds itself in, it would have been easier for the chief minister to tackle financial demands than to find answers to political issues like Gorkhaland state or inclusion of areas in the Dooars and Terai in Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA). Under the circumstances, however, it may not be easy for her to make the Hills financially happy.
Visiting Dooars later, the chief minister at a public meeting at Malbazar pleaded that 87% of the revenue of her government was being spent to meet interest payment dues. "I will continue as long as I can, then I will quit," an exasperated-looking chief minister said in the meeting.
While signing the tripartite agreement on GTA, GJM had been unrelenting on the question of funds, insisting on a provision of Central assistance of Rs 200 crore per year for three years, besides Plan and non-Plan funds from the state government. In contrast, when the earlier Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) accord was signed in 1988, the quantum of Special Central Assistance (SCA) was Rs 22 crore a year. According to the GJM memorandum, the current SCA to the existing DGHC is Rs 42 crore. GJM has demanded an assistance of Rs 195 crore from the state government in the current year.
It is no wonder that no one raised the issue of Gorkhaland when the chief minister visited the Hills. GJM leaders are well aware that for common people in Darjeeling, the immediate problem now is restoration of peace so that they can lead a normal life, they do not have to send their children outside for education. They also want the problems of their daily lives be eased - better roads, adequate water and a reliable power supply. For this, proper utilization of the available funds is essential, they say. Otherwise, GTA could become as ineffective as its predecessor DGHC.
If GTA fails to deliver, the Gorkhaland demand may again resurface, fear political circles in the Hills, as neither GJM nor Gorkha National Liberation Front has abandoned the demand. Smaller parties like Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxists and All India Gorkha League are still supporting it. Besides peace, civil societies also crave for restoration of democracy in the Hills. They watch with apprehension the virtual absence of any party other than GJM in the Hills, and fear the return of despotism, like in the heydays of GNLF.
Mamata hid behind the screen provided by the high-power committee to parry the issue of inclusion of additional areas in the Dooars and Terai in GTA. "The high-power committee is on the job to identify these areas. The task of delimitation of constituencies for holding the council election has also started," she said in Darjeeling. "If you have any objection, go and place it before the high-power committee in writing. Some people may make demands, you, too, can make your own representation," she advised to Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikash Parishad, which is opposed to GJM's demand for inclusion of more than 300 moujas in the Dooars and Terai to GTA.
Whichever way the high-power committee decides, the area issue of GTA has spawned a fresh demand in the Dooars and Terai - the demand for an autonomous council for the adivasis. In fact, the demand had been raised earlier, when CPM, then ruling, had started backing adivasi groups to counter GJM, say political circles in the Dooars. CPM did not possibly bargain for a tribal reawakening, but the council demand of the adivasis is under the sixth schedule of the Constitution and entails more autonomy than even GTA. The prolonged agitation of the Gorkhas have made other communities also restive and even the marginalized Lepcha community now wants its own development board, which Mamata has agreed to set up under the state government.
कृषि एवं व्यवसाय मन्त्री कालेबुङमा थमाए कालेबुङलाई आश्वासनको पोका
मनोज बोगटी, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ, 14 अक्टोबर। चार दिवसीय भ्र्रमणमा कालेबुङ आएका कृषि एवं व्यवसाय मन्त्री अरुप रोयले पनि आज कालेबुङमा कृषि सम्बन्धि विभिन्न नयॉं योजनाहरूको घोषणा गरे। 2005 मा नै निर्माण कार्य शुरू भए पनि विभागीय अनदेखाको कारण जीर्ण बनिसकेको कालेबुङको रेगुलेटेड मार्केटलाई पुनर्थापना गर्दै वेरोजगारहरुको निन्ति रोजगारको अवसर निर्माण गर्ने मन्त्री रोयले घोषणा गरेका छन्। मन्त्री तीनदिनदेखि नै विभिन्न क्षेत्रको निरीक्षणमा जुटेका थिए भने आज मात्र पत्रकारहरूसित बोल्दै सुन्तला, अर्किड र सिन्कोनाको प्रदर्शनी दिल्लीमा गर्ने बताए। यो प्रदर्शनी दिल्लीमा नोभेम्बरमा (2012) हुने जानकारी तिनले दिए। तिनले कालेबुङमा पनि बोटानिकल गार्डनको निर्माण गर्ने घोषणा पनि गरे।
तिनले बोटानिकल गार्डन कसरी निर्माण गर्ने अनि कहॉं निर्माण गर्ने मात्र होइन यसको सञ्चालन कसरी गर्ने भन्ने कुरा कालेबुङका विधायक डा. हर्कबहादुर छेत्रीसित भइरहेको बताउँदै यसको निम्ति 49.9 ऐकर जमीन चाहिने पनि बताएका छन्। जमीनको निम्ति पनि विधायकसित कुराकानी भइरहेको तिनले जनाएका छन्। तिनले आज रेगुलेटेड र सिडफार्मको निरीक्षणपछि स्थानीय एक होटलमा महकुमा अधिकारी, विधायक, कालेबुङ कृषि विज्ञान केन्द्र, उत्तरबङ्ग कृषि विश्व विद्यालयका प्रतिनिधिहरूसित पनि बैठक गरे।
भेटअवधि प्रतिनिधिहरूले आ-आफ्नो समस्या पनि मन्त्रीसित राखे। कालेबुङमा अलैंची, अर्किड, अदुवा, विभिन्न प्रकारका फूल आदि व्यापकरूपमा उत्पादन हुने तर यसको बजार व्यवस्थित नरहेकोले व्यवसाय अघि बढ्न नसकिरहेको समस्या पनि मन्त्रीसित उनीहरूले राखे। मन्त्री रोयले प्रतिनिधिहरूलाई उनीहरूको समस्या भारत सरकारको कृषि मन्त्रालयमा राख्ने आश्वासन दिएका छन्। खासमहलवासीहरूलाई कुनै पनि ऋणमा सब्सीडी दिने प्रावधान रहे पनि सिन्कोना र चिया बगानका श्रमिकहरूलाई त्यो सब्सीडी किन उपलब्ध हुँदैन भन्ने प्रश्न गर्दा तिनले भने, यो समस्या देखिएको छ। म यो कुरा नेश्नल हर्टिकल्चर बोर्डसित राख्नेछु।
तिनले सुन्तलाको खेती उन्नयन गर्न मात्र होइन यसको रोग उन्मुलन अनि बजारीकरणको निम्ति पनि पहल गर्ने जनाए। तिनले भने, कालेबुङको विकास नै बङ्गालको विकास हो। म बङ्गालको विकास गर्न चहान्छु। जति पनि गरिने छ त्यसमा कालेबुङवासीको हीत रहनेछ। यता विधायक डा. हर्कबहादुर छेत्रीले पनि नयॉं सरकार परिवर्तनपछि दार्जीलिङको विकासको निम्ति यस्ताखाले पहल गरेकोमा खुशी व्यक्त गरे। तिनले भने, अब पहाडका व्यवसायले पनि राष्ट्रिय स्तर प्राप्त गर्नेछ। यस अघि कुनै पनि मन्त्रीले यहॉंको विकासको निम्ति उति चासो लिएको थाहा छैन। गुनासो अधिकारीसम्म मात्र पुग्ने गरेको थियो तर यसको सामाधान हुँदैन थियो। कुनै पनि समस्याको समाधान वास्तवमा राजनैतिकरूपले मात्र हुन्छ। मन्त्रीले जुन जुन आश्वासन दिएका थिए त्यसमा विधायकले अझ थप्दै भने, कालेबुङमा अर्किड रिसर्च केन्द्र हुनेछ। मोर्गेन हाउसलाई अर्किड सेन्चुरी बनाइने छ। सिडफार्ममा सॉंडे चौध ऐकर जमीनमा फ्लोरिकल्चर पार्क बनाइने छ।
दलहरू एक त हुने तर आन्दोलन क्षेत्रीय हुने कि राष्ट्रिय ?
मनोज बोगटी, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ, 14 अक्टोबर। पहाडको राजनैतिक केन्द्र अहिले भुइँचालो भइसकेको छ। यता तेलङ्गना अर्कोतिर जीटीए। दुइटैले झक्झकाउँदैछ गोर्खाल्याण्डलाई। पहाडको ठूलो दल भनेको नै गोर्खा जनमुक्ति मोर्चा हो। तर यो दलले बङ्गालमा नै बस्ने स्पष्ट पारेको छ। बङ्गालमा बस्ने मात्र होइन गोर्खाल्याण्डको आन्दोलन नै नगर्ने पक्षमा पनि छ। भनाइ र गराईमा फरक देखियो भने त्यसलाई राजनीति होइन कुटनीति मानिन्छ। कुटनीति पनि मुद्दापक्षमा हो भने जनस्वीकार्य हुन्छ तर कुटनीति गोजीपक्षको हो भने त्यसले अर्को विरोधी शक्तिलाई उपार्जन गर्छ।
राजनीति गर्नेहरूले नै आफूले के को निम्ति राजनीति गरिरहेको छु भन्ने कुराको परिभाषा हरायो भने त्यस्ता राजनीति गर्नेहरूलाई राजनीतिजीवी भनिने गरेको छ अथवा राजनीति गरेर जीविकोपार्जन गर्ने। जीविकोपार्जनको निम्ति राजनीति गर्नेहरूको संख्या दार्जीलिङमा कम्ति छैन त्यही माथि अब गोर्खा जनमुक्ति मोर्चाले पनि त्यसै लहरमा आफूलाई उभ्याएपछि देशमा गोर्खाहरूको राजनैतिक सुरक्षाको सवालमा उठिरहेको मुद्दा क्षेत्रीय कठघरामा थुनिने सम्भावना नब्बे प्रतिशत नै बढ्यो। उता नथाकी, इमान्दाररूपले केवल राज्य भन्ने तेलङ्गना आन्दोलनकारीहरूको त्यागको हरहिसाबको परिणति निस्कने स्थितिमा छ।
कंग्रेस चारैतिरबाट समस्याहरूको जालोमा परेकोले तेलङ्गानाको मुद्दाले निकास पाउने सम्भावनालाई नै बेशी संकेत गरेको छ। कुनै पनि परिस्थितिमा तेलङ्गाना भयो भने गोर्खाल्याण्डको निम्ति यतिञ्जेल आन्दोलन गर्नेहरूसित के रहन्छ? यसको सोझो जवाब हो जीटीए। राज्य नहुँदा हालत कसरी पत्ला हुँदोरहेछ भन्ने कुरा पहाडमा राजनीति गर्नेहरुलाई भुइँचालोले नै सिकायो। शिक्षा लिनेले यसैबाट शिक्षा लिएर जनताको आकांक्षालाई सम्बोधन गर्ने शक्ति निर्माण गर्छ। तर शिक्षा त्यसले मात्र लिन्छ जोसित इमान्दारिता छ। विकासको संस्था जीटीएले गोर्खाल्याण्ड पुग्ने कुरा जति सजिलोसित भनिने गरिएको छ उनीहरूको कार्यशैली अनि कार्य संरचनाले उति नै गाह्रो रहेको अध्ययनशील र इमान्दारहरूलाई छर्लङ्ग हुन्छ।
किन भने छुट्टैराज्य हुनको निम्ति राष्ट्रिय सहमति र स्वीकृति चाहिन्छ तर यो नै भएन। जुन कुरा छुट्टैराज्यको निम्ति गर्नुपर्छ त्यो भएन भने उसको उद्देश्य के हो भन्ने कुरा बुझिन्छ। गोर्खा जनमुक्ति मोर्चाले मुद्दालाई क्षेत्रीयकरण गर्दै राज्य केन्द्रित आन्दोलन गरेपछिको फलस्वरूप पाउनुपर्ने कुरा पाइएको छ-जीटीए। यसलाई सकरात्मकरूपले लिएर पहाडको विकास कार्यमा मोर्चा जनमुक्ति मोर्चालाई समर्पित गराए अनुचित हुँदैन। यो क्षेत्रीय कुरा हो गोर्खाल्याण्डको मुद्दासित मोर्चा र जीटीएको वास्तवमा कुनै सम्बन्ध छैन। गोर्खाल्याण्ड देखाएर जीटीए थाप्नु मोर्चाका बुद्दिजीवीहरूको राजनैतिक कौशल हो। मोर्चाले के गर्यो के गरेन भन्ने कुरातिर नफर्कि वास्तवमा नै छुट्टैराज्यको निम्ति गरिनुपर्ने काम हजारौं छन्। किन भने जीटीएसित देशका अन्यप्रान्तमा बस्ने गोर्खाहरूलाई कुनै सरोकार छैन। दार्जीलिङको समस्या समाधान भएकोमा उनीहरूलाई खुशी नै छ किन भने दार्जीलिङलाई त्यही राज्यले सानीआमाको व्यवहार गरेको थियो जन सरकारसित मोर्चाले सहमति बनाएर पहाडको विकासको निम्ति जीटीएमा सम्झौता गयो। दार्जीलिङको तीनवटा महकुमाको निम्ति मात्र हो भने जीटीए फाइदा जनक नै हुनसक्छन् यदि यसको कार्यप्रणाली एकपाखे भएन भने। यति बुझ्नुपर्यो कि जीटीए गोर्खाल्याण्ड पुग्ने सिँडी भने होइन।
यो सिँडीको एक फड्कोको दुरत्व दसवर्ष हुने लक्षण त सबैले पाएका नै छन्। जसको अघिल्लो चौतारीको एक फड्को 15 वर्ष रह्यो। दागोपापको 15 वर्षे फड्को नै जीटीए हो। यस्ता हजारौं फड्को मारिए पनि गोर्खाल्याण्ड पुग्न सकिन्न किन भने यो गोर्खाल्याण्ड पुग्ने सैद्धान्तिक कार्यरूप नै होइन। मोर्चा र जीटीएले जनतालाई भुल्यायो भनेर कराई बस्ने पहाडका विपक्षी दलहरूलाई अहिले फेरि तेलङ्गानाले झस्काएको छ। यी दलहरूलाई आफ्नो दलीय अस्तित्वको आभास जनतामा दिलाउन यो झस्काई उपयुक्त नै छ। यसपाली यी दलहरूको झस्काई फेरि मोर्चा र जीटीएबाट नै शुरु हुने हो भने यसको उद्देश्य पनि फेरि दस वर्षे अर्को फड्को निर्माणसम्म कै रहने पनि स्पष्ट छ। यसकारण तेलङ्गानाको कारण एक हुने पहाडका अन्य दलहरूको अबको गोर्खाल्याण्ड आन्दोलनको कार्यसंरचना जनविश्वास योग्य, तक्निकीय र इमान्दार कार्यसोंचले निर्माण भएको हुनु अनिवार्य देखिएको छ।
अहिले दलहरू फेरि एक हुने हल्ला चलेपछि सबैले एउटै प्रश्न गरिरहेका छन्, दलहरू त एक हुनु राम्रो हो तर उनीहरूको आन्दोलन पनि क्षेत्रीय नै हुने कि राष्ट्रिय सहमतिपूर्ण हुने हो? यो सजिलो प्रश्नको उत्तर यी दलहरूको निम्ति टाउकोभरिको भारि देखिएको छ। किन भने राज्यकेन्द्रित आन्दोलनको परिणति दुइपल्ट नै पहाडका जनताले देखीसकेका छन्। अबको पुस्ताले पारम्परिक राजनीतिबाट माथि उठेको कार्य संरचना हेर्ने सबैलाई थाहा छ। फेरि जनतालाई सडकमा उतार्ने, बङ्गालको पुलिससित भिडाउने, फेरि जनतालाई आमरण अनशनमा राख्ने, उनीहरूको किडनी विगार्ने, फेरि कुनै ठूलो नेताको हत्या हुने, त्यसको हत्याराहरू पक्राउ नपर्ने, फेरि असहयोग आन्दोलन गर्ने अनि बीलको मार जनतालाई दिने, फेरि पहाडका संसाधनहरू नष्ट गर्ने अनि पुननिर्माणको बाटो हराउने, फेरि सरकारी भवनहरू जलाउने, फेरि जनतालाई आर्थिक नोक्सानीमा राख्ने, फेरि जनतालाई थकाउने किसिमको कार्यक्रमहरू हो भने तेस्रो चरणको आन्दोलन नभएको नै उत्तम हुने आजको पुस्ताले सोंच्ने विषय बनेको कुरा अब आन्दोलन गर्ने कुनै पनि दलले बुझ्न अनिवार्य देखिएको छ।
यति जम्मै गरीसकेर त्यो आन्दोलनको निचोड अन्तमा जनताको असुविधासित ठोक्किने गरेको छ अनि जनताको असुविधालाई नै देखाएर कुनै न कुनै व्यवस्थामा सम्झौता र हस्ताक्षर गर्नुपर्ने परिणति ल्याउने दुइदुइपल्टको आन्दोलनदेखि सचेत र बुद्धिजीवी( दलीय बुद्धीजीवीहरू होइनन्)वाक्कै बनिसकेका छन्।
फेरि पनि यस्तैखाले कार्यनीति अघि लगाएर कुनै पनि दल वा गठबन्धन दलहरू अघि आए ती दल पहिलेबाट नै सचेत र वुद्धिजीवीहरूको विचारबाट बाहिर पर्ने स्पष्ट छ। अबको आन्दोलन राष्ट्रिय सोंचबाट निर्माण गरिएका कार्यसंरचना र सिद्धान्तबाट निर्माण गरिएको हुनु अनिवार्य मानिएको छ। तेलङ्गनाको कारण एक हुने भनिएका दलहरू र यी दलहरूले गर्ने आन्दोलनको नीति कुनखाले विचारबाट जन्मिएको हुने हो त्यो हेर्न गोर्खाल्याण्डपन्थीहरू धेरै नै उत्सुक देखिएको छ।
जीटीए सूनको पिञ्जडा-आरबी
मनोज बोगटी, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ, 14 अक्टोबर। विधानसभा चुनाउको बेला भत्किएको विपक्षहरूको गणतान्त्रिक मञ्च फेरि सङ्गठित हुने सम्भावना बढेको छ। केहीदिन अघि गोर्खालीगले पनि यस्तै संकेत दिएको थियो भने आज क्रान्तिकारी मार्क्सवादी कम्युनिष्ट पार्टीले पनि सही संकेत दिएको छ। क्रामाकपा अध्यक्ष आरबी राईसित यसबारे प्रश्न गर्दा तिनले भने, चलिरहेको दलीय एकताको कुरा ठीकै हो। यसबारे पार्टीको बैठक हुने छ अनि असङ्गठित शक्तिलाई एकिकरण गरिनेछ। तेलङ्गानाको कुरा इमान्दाररुपले अघि बढिरहेको बेला समस्त गोर्खाहरूको चिह्नारीसित जोडिएको गोर्खाहरूको छुट्टैराज्यको सवालसित किनबेच हुने काम भइरहेको छ। अब सङ्गठित बनेर छुट्टैराज्यको आन्दोलनलाई अघि बडाइनुपर्छ।
यसको निम्ति सबै दलबीच सरसल्लाह हुनेछ। तिनले मदन तामङको हत्यालाई अघि राखेर गोर्खाल्याण्डको मुद्दासित किनबेच भइरहेको आरोप लगाउँदै भने, जनाकांक्षा हो छुट्टैराज्य, त्यही छुट्टैराज्यको निम्ति बङ्गाल विभाजन नहुने घोषणा ममताले बारम्बार गरिरहेकी छन्। गोर्खाल्याण्ड राज्य विरोधी राज्य सरकारसित गोर्खा जनमुक्ति मोर्चाले बाध्यताको कारण मुद्दा बेचिसकेको छ। तिनले मोर्चा अहिले सूनको पिञ्जडामा पसेको बताउँदै भने, पिञ्जडा सूनको होस्, तर त्यो पिञ्जडा नै हो। जति नै करोडको कुरा गरेपनि आखिर त्यो छुट्टैराज्यको निम्ति होइन। तिनले भुइँचालोले गोर्खाल्याण्डको आवश्यकता अनुभव गरेको भन्ने नेताहरूले भुइँचालोलाई नै अघि राकेर पैसाको कुरा गर्नु दुर्भाग्यको कुरा रहेको पनि तिनले बताए। तिनले भने, अहिले मुद्दालाई छिन्नबिन्न पार्ने काम भइरहेको छ। मोर्चाले सोझै किनबेचको कुरा गरिरहेको छ। बङ्गालले दार्जीलिङ र डुवर्सलाई दासत्वमा राख्न करोडौंको चारो फ्यॉंकिरहेको छ अनि मोर्चा पनि चारोमा फँसेर सूनको पिञ्जडामा परिसकेको छ। भुइँचालोको निम्ति हजार सय करोडको कुरा गर्नु ठीकै होला तर आइलाले मोर्चाको आनिबानी देखाइसकेको छ।
मोर्चाले आइलाको पैसाले पार्टी चलाएको थियो अहिले भुइँचालोलाई अघि राखेर फेरि त्यस्तै दाउ हेरिरहेको छ। वास्तवमा भुइँचालो पीडितहरूलाई हेर्ने काम सरकारको हो। मोर्चाले मौका पायो कि मुद्दालाई होससेलमा बेच्ने काम गरिरहेको छ। तिनले ममता व्यनर्जीको रबैया पनि पहाडका जनतालाई विकास भन्दै गोर्खाल्याण्डको मुद्दा दबाउने नै रहेको बताउँदै भने, ममतालाई तलदेखि माथिसम्म नै स्वागत गरियो। मोर्चाले ममताको मुद्दा दबाउने चलखेललाई सहयोग गरिरहेको छ। ममता व्यानर्जीले प्याकेज फ्यॉंकेको होइन मुद्दा बेच्ने पैसाखोर र भोकमरी नेताहरूको भोक मेटिदिएका हुन्।
किन भने उनीहरूले तिनलाई गोर्खाल्याण्डको मुद्दा दबाउनमा भरपुर सहयोग गरिरहेका छन्। तिनले अझ भने, स्वीट्जरल्याण्ड विश्व कै सबैभन्दा ठूलो गणतन्त्र रहेको ठाउँ हो, तर ममताले दार्जीलिङमा कुन गणतन्त्रको कुरा गरिरहेको छ? जुन ठाउँमा ठूलो नेताको हत्या हुन्छ अनि हत्याराहरूसित मुख्यमन्त्रीले हात मिलाउँछ, यो कस्तो स्वीट्जरल्याण्ड हो? जहॉं उभेर पनि मदन तामङको हत्याराहरूको कुरै गर्दैनन् मात्र होइन योबारे कुराकानी गर्नै पनि चहान्नन्। यस्तो गणतन्त्रवादीले कुन स्वीट्जरल्याण्डको कुरा गरिरहेको हो जनताले बुझ्नुपर्छ। तिनले पहाडको बुनियादी विकासको कुनै कुरा नगरेर केवल काम टार्ने अनि जनतालाई झुक्याउने योजनाहरूको कुरा मात्र गरिरहेको बताउँदै भने, बाटो, बिजुली र पानी समेतको राम्रो व्यवस्था गर्न नसक्ने सरकारले कुन स्वीट्जरल्याण्डको कुरा गरेको हो? मोर्चा र राज्य सरकार मिलेर नै गोर्खाल्याण्डको मुद्दालाई पछिपार्ने जुक्ति गरिरहेको भए पनि सबै दलहरूको सहमति र कार्य योजनामा पहिले क्षेत्रीयस्तरमा आन्दोलन गर्ने अनि राष्ट्रिय कार्यसोंच र विचार रहेका सहयोगीहरूसित मिलेर राष्ट्रियस्तरमा नै आन्दोलन गर्ने दिशामा अहिले दलहरू रहेको समेत तिनले जनाएका छन्।
गाडी चोर्ने प्रयास गर्दा पुलिसको पञ्जा
मनोज बोगटी, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ, 14 अक्टोबर। कालेबुङमा गाडी चोरीको घटनाले तीब्रता लिइरहेको छ। हिजो गुम्बाहट्टा निवासी जसना छेत्रीको गाडी पुलिस थाना अघि नै चोर्ने प्रयास गर्दा चासिले तिरुवा गाउँ निवासी बताउने 23 वर्षीय युगेन पञ्चकोटी पुलिसको पञ्जामा परे। जसना छेत्रीको वेगनर डब्ल्युबी 74 भी 4679 चालकले मालिकलाई सिलगडी पुर्याएर थाना परिसरमा राती 9 बजी राखेका थिए।
केही क्षणको निम्ति चाबी गाडीमा नै छोडेर चालक नजिकैको पसलमा पसेका मात्र थिए, त्यसै बेला अज्ञात युवक आएर तिनको गाडी गुडाए। चालकले देख्ने वित्तिकै त्यसलाई पछ्याउँदा युवकले केही पर पुगेपछि गाडी भित्तामा ठोक्काए। गाडीको अगिल्लो भाग यसैबेला क्षतिग्रस्त बनेको थियो। युवकलाई त्यसैबेला चालकले पक्राउ गरेर थानामा सुम्पिए। थानापक्षले बताए अनुसार आरोपीलाई कोर्टमा पेश गरेर पुलिस रिमाण्डमा नै राखिने छ।
10 अक्टोबरको दिन पनि लाभाबाट पर्यटकलाई मालदाबाट लिएर आएको बोलेरोको पनि चोरी भएको थियो। राती चोरी भएको गाडी अनि चोरको अझसम्म पनि पत्तो लाग्न सकेको छैन। यस घटनाको दुइदिन पनि नपुग्दै कालेबुङमा अर्को गाडी चोर्ने प्रयास भएकोले गाडी चोरहरूको गिरोह ठूलो रहेको हुन सक्ने अनुमान कालेबुङ पुलिसले गरेको छ। पक्राउ परेका युवक कै माध्यमबाट गिरोह अनि यसको टाउकेसम्म पुग्ने सम्भावना रहेकोले युवकलाई केरकार गरिरहेको थाना सूत्रले बताएको छ।
च्याब्रुङ प्रतियोगिता सम्पन्न
मनोज बोगटी, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ, 14 अक्टोबर। बुधबारदेखि कालेबुङमा सम्पन्न तीन दिवसीय अन्तराष्ट्रिय इसाई लिम्बू पवित्र सम्मेलनलाई आज समापन गरियो। दुइ दिनसम्म पीएफसी चर्चमा विविध कार्यक्रम भएपछि सम्मेलनको आज अन्तिम दिन स्थानीय रामकृष्ण रङ्गमञ्चमा लिम्बूहरूको सांस्कृतिक च्याब्रुङ नृत्य प्रतियोगिता सम्पन्न भयो। सम्मेलनमा अंशग्रहण गर्न नेपाल, दार्जीलिङ, सिक्किम, मिजोराम, नागाल्याण्ड आदिका ख्रिष्टीय लिम्बू प्रतिनिधिहरुको उपस्थिति थियो।
मुख्यरूपमा नेपाल इलाका अध्यक्ष रेभरेन्ट दानियल सुब्बा, दार्जीलिङ इलाका अध्यक्ष मिकाहाङ सुब्बा, सिक्किमका टीबी टामलिङ आदि उपस्थित थिए। उत्तर सिक्किम, नेपालको पॉंचथर, इलाम, दार्जीलिङ आदिका प्रतियोगीहरूबीच च्याब्रुङ नृत्य प्रतियोगिता सम्पन्न भयो। आसामबाट प्रताप सिंह पोटी, सिक्किमबाट टीबी टामलिङ अनि इलामबाट विनोद साङदेन प्रतियोगिताका निर्णायक रहेका थिए।
How they tracked Dzongu after quake - Forest dept’s GPS mappings came to rescue of pilots without coordinates
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| The Teesta river flows through Namprikdang, the gateway to Dzongu. Picture by Prabin Khaling |
Crafted by the forest department to prepare maps meant for delineation, protection and management of wildlife areas, the Geographic Information System (GIS) and Global Positioning System (GPS) had been an immense help to both civilian and army helicopters. In aviation science, little can be done without co-ordinates, which enables every location on the surface of the earth to be specified by a set of numbers.
The picturesque village Lachen was inaccessible by road after the quake. But the army could identify it from the air because of the dual importance of security and tourism
More than a dozen villages scattered and hidden amid dense forests of Dzongu in North Sikkim, the worst hit in the September 18 quake, had been cut off from the rest of the state because of the innumerable landslides that followed. A remote destination, the protected Lepcha reserve of Dzongu had few landmarks to identify each village. Most of the hamlets in Dzongu have hardly a dozen houses.
Little information about the extent of damage in Dzongu had reached the government and North district administration at first, prompting the use of aerial reconnaissance by army choppers and Pawan Hans helicopters operating under the Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation (STDC). But the first stumbling block for pilots was lack of addresses, or co-ordinates, in terms of aviation language.
Chungthang town and the regions above, like Lachen and Lachung, were inaccessible by road, too, and more densely populated than Dzongu. But the areas could be identified by the army from the air because of three pre-existing helipads, presence of security forces and the dual importance of border security and tourism.
In comparison, Dzongu is relatively unknown as outsiders are not allowed in this protected reserve for the indigenous tribal Lepcha community. Hence, the absence of aviation knowledge to reach and air drop relief material.
“Our pilots were familiar with the Chungthang area because of established helipads in North Sikkim and so they had had no problem reaching relief material and evacuating people. But we did not have any co-ordinates for Dzongu. Without co-ordinates, pilots don’t know where to go,” said STDC manager (operations) Tejpal Pradhan.
“Co-ordinates are like heart of aviation. Once you have the exact co-ordinates, things become much simpler and choppers don’t have to hover around, searching for the places and wasting fuel and time in the process. We got the co-ordinates of Dzongu villages from the forest department and our pilots were the first to tell the state government about the damage in Bey village in Upper Dzongu,” said Pradhan.
Bey is some 35km from Mangan, the administrative headquarters of North Sikkim. Seven villagers were killed after four houses were buried under an avalanche of rocks from the hillside following the quake. Bey and nearby villages of Sakyong and Pentong along with Tholung monastery were inaccessible because of landslides from Lingzya onward.
The coordinates helped the Pawan Hans choppers drop Sikkim Armed Police jawans, a doctor and relief material at Sakyong on September 22 in three sorties, said the STDC official.
The forest department’s knowledge of GPS and its subsequent use in Dzongu region has an interesting link. A day after the quake, state forest secretary N.T. Bhutia had been dispatched by the government to North Sikkim to oversee the relief operations and assess the damage. That was when Bhutia realised that the choppers were without co-ordinates, something that his department had.
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| The picturesque village Lachen was inaccessible by road after the quake. But the army could identify it from the air because of the dual importance of security and tourism |
By the third day of the earthquake, coordinates arrived from the forest department, enabling helicopters to land at Sakyong for the first time.
“We were lucky to have the joint director Karma Legshey who knew about the GPS technology. He was in constant touch with the army and the STDC. He used to calculate the required co-ordinates and pass it on to the pilots. The co-ordinates enabled a helicopter to land at Sakyong for the first time with rescue workers and relief material which were provided to 60 villagers there,” said the forest secretary.
Once word got around that forest department was providing co-ordinates to the STDC choppers, the army also started asking for them.
The forest department had procured GPS (global positioning system) equipment and technology through a centrally sponsored Integrated Forest Protection Scheme. “Our staff also went to train at Forest Survey of India, Dehradun for two weeks on GPS technology. Selected forest staff members were sent to exposure trip at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, Kathmandu. Our primary objective was to use the GPS technology in forest management and protection. Nobody knew that it would be of such immense use in emergencies,” said Bhutia.
Joint director Karma Legshey explained that the forest department had used the GPS technology to map out the reserve forests and wildlife protected areas of Sikkim over the years.
“The reserve forests and wildlife protected areas of Sikkim have been delineated out in maps and have been digitised. Villages on the fringes of reserve forests were also marked during the process. This is an ongoing process. Our primary objective was to demarcate the forest boundaries and to manage and protect the forests along with its wildlife. The use of GPS helped settle boundary disputes and planting pillars along the forest border,” he said.
The isolated villages of Sakyong and Pentong are adjacent to the Kanchenjungha Biosphere reserve and had been marked out in the map. “From the map and the software, we can calculate its co-ordinates and also the aerial distance between two villages. All these data were provided to the relief teams and pilots,” said Legshey.
Co-ordinates provided by the forest department also enabled the central teams of experts who had come to assess the damage to land in Namprikdhang, the major gateway to Dzongu. From there, the central team made its way to Lingzya by road. Another central assessment team was dropped at Sakyong in a chopper.
Summing up his experience, Legshey said: “I believe that if this process is institutionalised and facilities like this put in place in the disaster management mechanism, then it will be of great help at the state and district levels. This has to be supported by reliable communication network,” he said.
NH trouble spot survey
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| The cave-in at Tindharia on NH55. File picture |
Officials said the study that will focus on the nature of the soil in the affected areas and its capacity to take load will be ready before Diwali.
“Our team is conducting a survey to assess the damage and prepare a detailed report on the present situation of the two major affected parts of NH55, one near Paglajhora and the other near Tindharia. On the basis of the report, we can start the restoration,” said Nirmal Mondal, the executive engineer of NH (division IX) of the PWD.
“Soil exploration would be one of the major areas that will be investigated during the survey as we have to find out the loading capacity of the soil in the affected places. Apart from that, the estimation of loss and budget for re-establishing the road will also be decided during the survey,” said Mondal.
Last year, a 500-metre stretch near Paglajhora, 35km from here, had caved in. The PWD officials had said the damaged part would be restored by September 25 and vehicles would be allowed on the stretch but the condition of the affected area deteriorated after the recent earthquake.
On September 28, a 150-metre stretch at Tindharia, 5km from Paglajhora, caved in.
“There is no option for temporary repairs (in these places). We need to prepare a report for permanent reinstatement work and we are planning to complete the report before Diwali,” Mondal said.
He added that in both the areas the road has to be build from below the highway level.
Survey on mobile tower radiation
SNS, KOLKATA, 14 OCT: The state environment department has carried out a survey to find out the adverse effects of mobile towers on human health in the state. The report would be submitted to the chief minister and later it would be sent to the Centre with the recommendations made by the expert committee to reduce health risks arising from usage of mobile phones as well as installation of mobile towers indiscriminately.
State environment minister Mr Sudarshan Ghosh Dastidar today said the state had engaged three experts ~ Prof. Sujoy Guha and Prof Sudarshan Niyogi of IIT, Kharagpur, and Prof. Girish Kumar of IIT, Bombay to conduct the survey. The prime objective of the survey was to find out what kind of health risks are being caused due to indiscriminate installation of mobile phone towers. The survey has found that the mobile towers installed in congested areas of the state are transmitting electro-magnetic radiation in alarming proportions. In India, the permissible electro-magnetic ration is 4.7 watt per square metre, which is much higher than in the European countries and other developed countries (as in China, the permissible limit is 0.1 watt per square metre). And in the state, the mobile towers are transmitting radiation at about 77,000 micro-watt per square metre in congested areas like the surroundings of the nursing hostel of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
The committee has recommended that the radiation should be brought down to 1,000 micro-watt per square metre. The committee has also recommended that installation of mobile towers should be restricted in the areas close to hospitals, schools etc. The committee has recommended that the permissible limit of electro-magnetic radiation should be brought down considerably from 4.7 watt per square metre in India as it may cause several health hazards.
Govinda ends two-day Darjeeling visit
SNS, KURSEONG, 14 OCT: Bollywood actor Govinda (in sns photo) and his wife, Sunita, today returned to Mumbai after a two-day visit to Darjeeling to check on the construction of their new home.
Govinda had bought a site in Darjeeling, on Gandhi Road (INA Road) near Pansi Pool Batasia Loop, about 7 km from the Darjeeling town; construction on a new house has already started.
Govinda also visited Darjeeling with his wife on 12 September, and the couple stayed in the Mayfair Hotel. In July, Ranbir Kapoor stayed at the same hotel during the shooting of film, Barfee. Govinda said: "I had heard about this place from my wife who is from Nepal, so she had come to see it. She liked this place and said that she wanted to have her home here and I agreed. When I came to see this place, I liked it. This place is peaceful and is filled with nature and is good for your health." Govinda said that he had made a trip last year also, to search for a place to build a house.
When finished, the bungalow will have four bedrooms, a hall, a kitchen, an underground car park, and servants’ quarters. The entire plot measures about 5.5 poles. The actor, however, said that construction could take some more time. Govinda said that he has a few films coming out in the next six months. "I have been lucky and blessed as an actor and have seen a lot in my career, and I thank God for His blessings. A couple of films that I have acted in will soon hit the screens, like Mr Ravi Chopra's Banda Bindas Hai which also stars Sunil Shetty, which will be released in February, and another film named Loot, which will be released in November.
Mamata lacks political integrity, says Asok
SNS, SILIGURI, 14 OCT: The former state urban development minister and senior CPI-M leader, Mr Asok Bhattacharya, today charged the chief minister, Miss Mamata Banerjee with lack of political integrity regarding the continuing tension in the Darjeeling Hills and the Dooars over the GJMM land clamour. “She has been indulging in double standards and duping the people. This would ultimately exacerbate ethnic tension in the region,” he said.
He pointed out that the constitution of the land verification committee as per the clause of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration agreement was a roundabout admission on the part of the state government that the GJMM’s land clamour involving Terai-Dooars was justified.
“But, while in the Dooars, turning a somersault, Miss Banerjee assured the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Bikash Parishad leaders that there was no question of transfer of lands. This is errant hypocrisy,” he said.
Addressing a gathering at Malbazar in the Dooars on 12 October, the chief minister asked the people to refrain from taking recourse to agitation regarding the land transfer issue, saying that the matter was under consideration of the state government-appointed committee headed by the Mr Justice (retired) Shyamal Sen. She is also reported to have asked the people residing in the Terai-Dooars to lodge objection with the committee on the matter.
Ridiculing the chief minister, the Marxist leader said that she had created an impression in the Dooars that the land verification committee had been empowered to decide the question of the separate autonomous council as being demanded by the ABAVP leadership. “She casually asked the members of the ABAVP delegation to approach the committee regarding their demand for a GTA-type council for the Terai-Dooars. The matter is serious. It should not be dealt with in such a cavalier fashion,” he said.
“My party remains opposed to the GTA, yet we want prompt constitution of the GTA through free and fair elections,” he said, adding that the Darjeeling district Left Front would hold a meeting shortly to chalk out detailed strategy vis-à-vis the land verification committee.
He also slammed the chief minister for having refused to meet the AIGL president, Mrs Bharati Tamang and the representatives of the near extinct Toto community in the Dooars during her just-concluded Hills and Dooars trips.
Tea growers in trouble
SNS, SILIGURI, 14 OCT: Small tea growers in north Bengal are facing problems after a sudden fall in the price of green tea leaves. Although the Tea Board has framed a price-sharing formula to fix the price of green tea leaves and the amount payable to small tea growers, a section of them have suffered huge losses.
Small tea planters have started agitations in different places, including Bidhan Nagar in Siliguri, Islampur in North Dinajpur and in the Jalpaiguri area.
The United Forum of Small Tea Growers’ Association (UFSTGA) has faxed a message to the Tea Board and state commerce and industries minister Mr Partha Chatterjee seeking their assistance to resolve the present crisis.
The UFSTGA president, Mr BG Chakraborty, said that nearly 30,000 small tea growers had suffered huge losses after a sharp fall in price.
“Before Puja, the rate of green leaf was Rs 12 to 13 per kg. But after Puja, the present rate is Rs 3 to 4 per kg at bought leaf factories,” said Mr Chakraborty. “The production cost of green tea leaves is Rs 10.50 per kg,” he added.
According to Mr Chakraborty, small tea growers are producing at least 79 million kg of green tea leaves per year, which accounts for 37 per cent of total production in the region. A total of 89 bought leaf factories are running to procure green leaves from small growers. In 2004, there were 77 bought leaf factories.
“The previous Left Front government restricted the establishment of bought leaf factories from 2004 to 2009. After 2009, the state government gave permission to set up 12 more bought leaf factories. We have demanded more bought leaf factories be allowed to increase demand for green tea leaves,” said Mr Chakraborty.
The North Bengal Tea Producers’ Association president, Mr Sanjay Dhanuthi, said: “The small tea growers’ information about the price of green tea leaves is incorrect. During Puja, the tea plantations were closed and regular plucking of leaves was suspended. Since Puja, the production of green tea leaves has increased but the quality of leaves is very poor. We are unable to buy poor quality leaves at high rates.”
Mr Dhanuthi said: “The present auction price is less, at least Rs 40 per kg, than last year. And on top of this, Assam is producing high quality tea compared to our production. At present, we are paying Rs 6 to Rs 9 per kg of green tea leaves depending on its quality. We will pay a reasonable price when small tea growers are able to supply quality tea leaves.”
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