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January 2008

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Myriad blooms to add colour to Sikkim.

State racing against to add colour to Sikkim.

 

Gangtok, January 04:  The Saramsa Garden will bloom in full colour when it plays host to the first International Flower Show scheduled to being form March 14 to 16. 

Organised for the first time in the State, the State Agriculture and Cash Crop Development Department is spending Rs 5 crores for the event, especially in the management and landscaping of the Garden.

The Department has also chosen to tap its strength in horticulture by attracting international buyers, importers of roses, flower growers and domestic buyers to the flower show to bring more investment  in the floriculture sector.

More than 100 participants, including 20 international florists form 30 countries are expected to take part in the mega event, said R Telang, Secretary, State Horticulture  and Cash Crop Development Department.

Stating that the line Departments like tourism, PWD, PHE and Power are playing their respective roles, he said that they are also holding regular meetings to review the progress and preparation for the event and manage their own funds.

According to the official source, 10 international participants covering four countries, 30 participants form national level, seven from North Eastern States and 15 from Sikkim have already given their confirmation for the participation.

However, the final figures of the confirmed participants will be ready by the end of this month, it is learnt. The delegates and participants form Himachal Predesh, Uttaranchal, Jammu and Kashmir, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, North Eastern states and other major growing States are also expected for the event.    The participants form neighboring hilly regions like Kalimpong, Darjeeling and Mirik are also invited, officials inform.

While talking to SIKKIM EXPRESS  today,  Mr. Telang said that the focus  of the Flower show will mainly focus on Orchids although there will be no restriction.  “We have expecting latest hybrid varieties of various flowers including orchid in this show,” he added.

He further apprised that the three day international event will have a competition, exhibition, buyers-seller meet, conference and workshop at the venue.

Informing that the competition is categorized in different groups, Mr. Telang said there will be a competition for local florist as a part of annual flower show mainly for orchids.  Apart from the competition for best stall within the state, there will be competitions among the North Eastern States, other states and the countries.  The event will also have a conference most for people involved in a research work in floriculture.  The presentation on different topics will be tackled by the national and the international experts in the conference.   There will also be a workshop for farmers and learner in which they will be imparted knowledge by the experts on new initiatives taken by different countries in floriculture and the latest technologies used in floriculture industry.  For generating some business for the people in floriculture participating in the florishow there is also a provision for buyer seller meet. 

The most interesting part of the event would be the exhibition of vegetables of Sikkim. While asking about the idea behind the exhibition of vegetables in a florishow, Mr. Telang said this, “Farmers in Sikkim are not much engaged in Floriculture: so this is our attempt to invite them to encourage them in floriculture with the hope that they would take up floriculture.

“Construction of 120 stalls has speeded up along with conference and exhibition hall.  As far as possible we are using eco friendly materials without destroying the beauty of Garden.  We have a dateline to meet,” Mr. Telang added.

Source: Sikkim Express

Dated: 5th January 2008

 

International Flower  Festival brings cheers to the tourism sector.

 TAAS to pitch in with promotion and publicity of the event.

Gangtok, January 04: As International Flower Festival approaches nearer,  the State is in midst of frenzied activities.

To join the bandwagon is the Travel Agents Association of Sikkim (TAAS) primarily for the publicity and promotion of the mega event across the country and aboard.  This decision came up in a meeting held today.

Talking to Sikkim Express over the phone, president TAAS SK Pradhan said that although TAAS sends travel operators every year for promotional activities,  the trip this year would be more worthwhile due to the upcoming event.

Stating that the main idea being the Association is to promote Sikkim as a tourist destination and to attract more  numbers of foreign as well as domestic tourists, Mr. Pradhan said that TAAS is hopeful that the mega event will boast the tourist traffic manifolds. “We will be putting our best efforts and resources to promote the flower festival,” he added.

However, there were bottlenecks in  the growth of the tourism industry in the State.  One such bottleneck is the recent shifting of the mainline taxi sand from the heart of Gangtok to the suburbs of Deorali thus creating problem for the tourism and hospitality industry as well as for the locals.  “We have placed our grievances before the State Government.  We are hopeful that it will be positively met with,” Mr. Pradhan said.

Since the international event is likely to draw a large number of visitors, the non-availability of hotel rooms is also a cause for concern.  It is now up to the State Tourisms Department as well a the private sector to ensure such bottlenecks are removed well ahead of the mega event.

Source: Sikkim Express

Dated: 5th January 2008

  

Sindrabong Khangchendzonga Eco-friendly Society surge ahead with eco plans.

 

Gangtok, January 04: The Sindrabong Khangchendzonga Eco-friendly Society (SKES), a registered society based in the Sindrabong village, West Sikkim,   recently underwent five days administrative training here at Abilasha, Development Area, Gangtok.

The training was a part of the project, “Communities initiatives for conservation of Biodiversity resources in Sikkim Himalayas”,  which was bagged by SKES when it emerged winner of the Indian Development Marketplace 2007 of the World Bank.

The Projects is in collaborative with the State Forest Environment and Wildlife Management Department, WWF-India,  Sikkim Office and funded by India Development Market-place 2007 of The World Bank.

In general the project plans to build the capacity of 60 Himal Rakshak, 30 Pokhri Rakshak, 3 Pokhri Rakshak, 3 Pokhri Sanrakshan Samiti and two state level federations so that  they can take up any new initiatives in biodiversity conservation.

A total of four participants participated in the training form December 24-28. Bimal Rai represented Yambong Eco-tourism Committee, West Sikkim, Laku Tsheing Bhutia form Sindrabong Khangchendzonga Eco-friendly Society,  West Sikki, Mingbutti Lepcha from Mutanchi Lom Aal Shezum, North Sikkim and Sangay Sherpa represented Pokhri Sanrakshan Samiti, Tsomgo, East Sikkim.

According to a press release, the training programme mainly focused on building the adm9nistrative management system of four active non governmental organizations working towards biodiversity conservation in the State with the objective to create a local data station for biodiversity conservation in the State with the objective to create a local data station for biodiversity monitoring or create a biodiversity information bank.  “It has been planned to equip this organization with computer facilities and also provide them a digital camera each, so that they could monitor and maintain a record of the wildlife status and also gather all sorts of information related to Biodiversity Conservation of the region, the release informed.

The training also focused on imparting technical knowledge on using computer and other hardware accessories including session on Window XP,  Desktop Management, systems tools, configuring hardware devices like printer, scanner, digital camera, pendirve, CD ROM/CD writer, operating Fax machine, Internet explore which include web browsing, using email communication and  a practical session on CPU hardware’s.

All the four participants also signed up an email ID of their own and promised to share any useful information at regular interval.  A book keeping training took place at the end of the day where various kind of book keeping system were imparted to the trainees and a local auditor hired as consultant  also briefed about the advantage and disadvantages of proper book keeping system.  He also talked about the need for Audit statement.

During the final day session, Secretary of the State Science and Technology M.L. Arrawatia who is also a leader/guide in the project, Project officers with WWF-India, Sikkim Programme Laktsheden and D. Banerjee chaired the valedictory session.

The trainees also prepared an action plan which was presented to the gathering.

All the trainees were given certificates and a pen drive each.

Likewise on December 30,   a computer was given to Mutanchi Lom Aal Shezum through DFO (T), North District Monalisha Dash as a start up of the local data station for biodiversity information.  DFO(T) also inaugurated the data station at Sangklang at the office of Mutanchi Lom Aal Shezum.  Other three computers at their respective office will be inaugurated in the following week,   the release informed.

Source: Sikkim Express

Dated: 5th January 2008

  

Centre to review safety & Security of tourists

 Gangtok, 10 Jan [PIB]:  The Centre has decided to review the safety and security of the tourists, particular women tourists, with the State Governments on 24 January 2008 and a communication in this regard has been sent to all Chief Secretaries of the State /UT Governments by the Secretary Tourism, Shilabhadra Banerjee today.

The State Tourism Secretaries will be meeting the Union  Tourism Ministry on the day to review tourism projects and related issues in New Delhi.  It has now been decided that the safety and security of the tourists would be one of the main topics of the agenda.

In his letter to the Chief Secretaries,  Mr. Banerjee  has referred to recent media reports of harassment of women tourists and reminded the State Governments about the concerns of the Centre on the safety and security of foreign as well as domestic tourists.  It said that the Centre had advised in the past about the need for deployment of Tourists Police at the places of tourist importance.

Source: Sikkim Express

Dated: 10 January 2008

 

  Wildlife Div to Recommend arms license cancellation of accused in Fambong Lho Sanctuary  poaching case

 

Gangtok, 10 Jan: The Wildlife Division of the Forest Department  is to recommend cancellation of the arms license to the Police Department of the two accused in the poaching case apprehended by a wildlife patrolling team on 25 December 2007 in Fambong –Lho Wildlife Sanctuary in East Sikkim.

            The Wildlife Division [East] patrolling team had arrested one member of a poaching group reported out on a hunt in the said Wildlife Sanctuary.  It was informed that on the day,  the group were carrying arms on them and the forest patrolling team being unarmed succeeded in apprehending only one of the suspects, while the rest managed to flee from the scene.

            Following investigations into the case,   the Wildlife Division arrested another suspect on 29 December from his house and during the course two guns, a double barrel gun and a single barreled were recovered from the tow suspects’ houses.

            The two accused, believed to be the masterminds behind the hunt, have been booked under the Section 31 of Wildlife Protection Act 1972, which carries a penalty of imprisonment for minimum 3 years plus financial fine on conviction, as informed by DFO [East] Wildlife Division, Karma Legsey.

            At present, both the accused have been released on bail bond after completion of the department process and the case is still under investigation.

            The DFO also informed that the accused have also violated Section 34 of the Forest Protection Act, which requires for arms holders living within the vicinity of the Sanctuary to register with the Chief Wildlife Warden of the Forest Department.

            “Most people are unaware of the Section 34 of the forest Protection Act and it is not taken seriously, but it is very important,” he added.

            He accorded full credit to the wildlife mobile patrolling team who had prevented the poaching and which was a major achievement for the department.

            “To prevent such illegal activities, the Forest Department.  “To prevent such illegal activities, the Forest Department has been organizing various awareness camps at different places and in case anyone is caught indulging in such activities, action would be taken as per the provisions of Forest Protection Act,” DFO informed.

            He further informed that the Fambong-Lho Wildlife Sanctuary had been declared as a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1984 with the primary objection being to offset the ecological loss due to rapid development in Gangtok and surrounding areas.  The Sanctuary is famed for migratory birds and the Tragopan Phesaant, Kaliz, Himalayan Back Bear, Leopard, Ghoral and other animals, while its southern folds are laid with Rhododendrons.

            Fambong-Lho Wildlife Sanctuary spreads over an area of about 52 square kilometers and falls within six constituencies.

            Fambong-Lho Wildlife Sanctuary is also an important drinking water source since it supplies to some parts of Kabi-Tingda, Khamdong, Rumtek  and Ranka constituencies,, while Sand-Martam and Rakdong-Tintek constituencies depend solely on this source; 

            The DFO also informed that there are total three wildlife sanctuaries in East District and that it is mandatory to take permission from the Chief Wildlife Warden of the Forest Department to enter the sanctuaries.  He emphasized that public awareness campaign are being conducted by the department from time to time to involve people in the protection of these wildlife sanctuaries.

Source: Sikkim Express

Dated: 11th January 2007

                         POKHARI SANRAKSHAN SAMIATI DEBUTS WITH TSOMGO LAKE

 GANGTOK; 10 January: “Tsomgo lake is one of the sacred lakes out of the 227 lakes and wetlands in Sikkim and the conservation and preservation of such holy lakes should be taken utmost seriousness and top priority” urged Nima Tashi Bhutia of the Mountain Institute at the first stakeholders meeting of the Tsomgo Pokhari Sanrakshan Samiati(PSS), organized in collaboration with 13 Gnathang gram Panchyat Unit, today at forest conference hall Deorali. Mr. Bhutia is the Project Reader for Tsomgo PSS.

The Tsomgo PSS, headed by Chewang Norbu Bhutia as President, was constituted on 24 may 2007 during the 13 Gnathang Gram Sabha and marks the first such body in the state.

 The Pokhri Sanrakshan Samiti is  part of the Forest Department’s initiatives to promote nature conservation and ecotourism in the state and serves the purpose of protection and conservation of the lakes in the state in partnership with the concerned gram Panchyat Unit. As per the Department’s Notification No. 355/f[Sikkim Gazette No. 244Monday 11 August 2006], the initiative was deemed necessary in view of the fact that the lakes in the state have immense environment, ecological, cultural, spiritual and economic importance and are further important for ecotourism destinations, offering important livelihood opportunities to the local communities. Since most of lakes are situated in remote and high altitude areas, securing the long term future of these lakes is seen to largely depend on the active participation and involvement of the local community through the local Panchyat body. Hence, the PSS is required to be constituted by the Gram Sabha in consultation with the concerned ward Panchyat Member and Divisional Forest Officer(DFO). In case the Gram Sabha feels that it or any existing village-based institution is capable of performing the functions and duties of the PSS, this institution would be designated as the PSS, otherwise the PSS shall be constituted with those households who are living in the vicinity of the lake.  The lakes which need conservation action though such are to be identified by the DFO [Territorial], the local communities or NGOs where the local community is willing to offer cooperation in the protection and conservation of the lake.

“We provide ecotourism services and social services too, but our main aim remains the conservation and protection of the lake,” informed its office secretary, Sangay Sherpa.

It was informed that today’s meeting was organized to inform and update the stakeholders on the PSS and its functions to facilitate its active functioning and implementation of its objectives and aims.  It was presided over by Chief Conservator of Forest & Land Use, CC Lachungpa, CCF Wild-life, CS Rao, SDM II Gangtok, TAAS members,  SAATO members.   PSS members and the concerned department officials.

Under the aforementioned Notification, the PSS and the DFO are required to prepare and Annual Lake Conservation Plan comprising of the map, water quality, threats, wildlife, ecotourism and conservation action plan with the support of State Environment Agency, other government and NGOs.  Among the duties and responsibilities of the PSS are protection of the forests, environment wildlife and biodiversity within the Pokhari  Sanrakshan Shetra through  its members in collaboration with Forest Department staff, along with protection of the soil and moisture conservation works, afforestation works, signages and other infrastructure within  the boundaries and are required to bring into notice of the Forest Department any kind of development activity being initiated within or adjoining the Shetra at the earliest.

Source: Sikkim Express

Dated: 11th January 2008

 

Stakeholders meeting on Tsomgo Lake deliberate on conservation issues.

                           

 Gangtok, January 10: Representatives from different local NGOs, State Forest, Environment and Wildlife Management Department, Tourism Department and Gnathang Gram Panchayat Unit participated in the stakeholders meeting on the Tsomgo lake and its conservation here today morning at the premises of Conference Hall of the Forest Secretariat.

The meeting was organized by the Tsomgo Pokhari Sanrakshang Samiti (TPSS) in partnership with the Gnathang Gram Panchayat Unit, Forest Department WWF(World Wildlife Fund)- India, IDM (India Development Market) and SKES (Sindrabung Khangchendzonga Eco-Friendly Society).

The Samiti was formed during a Gram Sabha meeting on May 24, 2006, which was attended by its ward Panchayat and the Divisional Forest Officer from the territorial wing (east) of the Forest Department.

During the course of today’s meeting , the executive members of TPSS highlighted on the identification of the lake, the constitution of the Samati, its conservation plan, capacity building and constitution of the State level federation on the Samati.

 It may mentioned here that as far as the protection and conservation efforts of the Samati is concerned, it will work chiefly to ensure protection of the forests, environment, wildlife and bio-diversity in the Pokhri Sanrakshan Shetra jointly with the staffs of the Forest Department, alongside to ensure that the migratory and residential birds and other flora and fauna or their habitat is not disturbed and to carry awareness and education drives, for sensitizing and capacity building of the local community for nature conservation.

 Meanwhile the  PSS members will also provide assistance in eco-tourism ranging from ensuring that the tourism within the Pokhri Sanrakshan Shetra does not cause problems related to garbage, firewood use, sanitation disturbance to birds, wildlife or their habitat and results in equitable economics benefits to the local community and to provide prompt and quality service to the visitors to explaining to visitors about the code of conduct to be followed within the lake.

 However, the Sikkim government has deemed it expedient to work in partnership with Gram Panchyat and Pokhari Sanrakshan Samati for the purpose of protection and conservation of the lakes in the state. This is consonance with the Notification number 355/F dated July 31, 2006 issued by the Department of Forest, Environmental and Wildlife Management which reflects on the clause(b) of section 33 read with sub-section (8) of section 35 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (53 of 19272) and clause (a) of sub-section (2) of section 26 of Indian Forest Act 1927 (16 of 1927)  and clause (i) of sub-section (2) of section 83 of the Sikkim Forests, Water Courses and Road Reserve (Preservation and Protection) Act, 1988(6 of 1988).

SOURCE ; SIKKIM EXPRESS.

Dated;11,January,2008

 

50,000 BLOOMS TO COVER SARAMSA GARDENS FOR THE FLOWER SHOW.

  

PAKYONG, JANUARY 15: With the plan to deck up the saramsa gardens and its vicinity for the upcoming international flower show with more than 1,80,000

varieties of flowers, the state horticultural department distributed more than 50,000 varieties of flowers like cineraria, petunia, phlox, antirrhinum, dianthus,helicrysun, pansy, aster, calendula, alyssum, primula and other seedlings to the people of dikling, chalamthang, namcheybong and samsing.Prior to this, at least 50 families were given the basic training about the flowers and its plantation.

However, only after gauging their capacity in the respective field, seedlings were distributed to the villagers./  Later, the department will be purchasing these flowers at Rs 25 for each stalk.

The additional director of the state horticulture department , PT Bhutia visited these places on January 14, primarily to provide technical knowledge medicines and spray machines to the people who are planting and taking car of the flowers in their respective places.

Talking to this correspondent, Mr. Bhutia said, “Pakyong area and its surrounding belts are bet for growing this type of flowers, so we have given this opportunity to the people residing in these places.”

The department has also sown the seeds of more than 60,000 varieties of these flowers in Saramsa Garden.

Meanwhile, the public of Pakyong area have requested the department to increase the price of the flowers form Rs 25 by few rupees stating that flower planting needs more time and extensive labour.

 Source: Sikkim Express

Dated: 16th January 2008.

GLACIER EXPERTS READY

 

Gangtok, 17 January: The Sikkim government today formally set up an eight-member commission to conduct a study on Himalayan glaciers and the impact of snow meltdown in the state. “Sikkim is the only state in the country to have taken initiative”, chief minister Pawan Chamling said during the inaugural meeting here.

 S.I. Hasnain, senior fellow, Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi, heads the panel, which has experts from ISRO too. Sikkim has 84 glaciers, extending to 691km and a snowfield of 251 sq km. These glaciers act as natural reservoirs and supply water to the major river systems in the state.

After its study, the committee will suggest measures on glacier management and draw up an action plan that will be submitted by December.

SOURCE; THE TELEGRAPH
 Dated: 18,January,2008.

            

 

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