Gorkha Mela in Mumbai to begin on 11 January

10:30 AM

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news

SNS,Gangtok:To bring the Gorkha community staying in Mumbai under one platform, Basibiyalo ~ an organisation engaged in promoting literary excellence in the community all over India ~ would host Gorkha Mela next month.

Gorkha Mela in Mumbai 

The two-day long Mela that would begin on 11 January, would stage literary and cultural programmes along with exhibitions of various traditional food, attire and article in Mumbai. Informing about the Mela, its publicity in-charge, Sudesh Khati informed it aims at uniting the Gorkha community people either working or staying in Mumbai. “For these two days, we will make them feel at home in Mumbai,” he said.

The Mela is being organised in collaboration with Mumbai-based Sunakhari Nepali Mahila Samaj at Trivedi Hall, Mira Road in the Thane district.

“During the Mela, three books in English, Hindi and Nepali will be released. Besides, the programme will also witness poetry recital in Marathi, Urdu, Maithili, Urdu, Telugu, Hindi and English besides Nepali,” he added.

Prabin Khaling, representing Sikkim chapter of Basibiyalo, informed the programme will have the participation from Kalimpong, Siliguri, Darjeeling, and Dooars.

“We appeal to all the Gorkhas staying in Mumbai to be present at the Mela as we will be presenting different cultural performances and the ethnic cuisine will also be there,” he added.

The two day long literary-cultural programme will be graced by the literati from Darjeeling Hills and Sikkim. Kavita Lama and C K Shresta are among others litterateurs to be present at the Mela in Mumbai.

Source - SNS

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Kurseong Municipality fails to dump garbage at dumping ground

9:58 AM

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With the failure of the Kurseong Municipality administration to dump garbage at the Dhargaon dumping ground since past one week, garbage and wastes have again amassed at different nooks and corners of the town. The reason for the failure being the pathetic road conditions in Dhargaon and protests by the locals for the construction of dumping ground there.

Garbage heap in Kurseong due to dumping ground issue.

It has been learnt, when the construction of dumping ground at Dhargaon was initiated, the Municipality had assured the locals of constructing a metal road in the area connecting the dumping ground site.  However, no signs of metal road construction are apparent in the area. Demanding immediate initiation of construction of a metal road, the resentful residents of Dhargaon have been opposing and obstructing dumping of town garbage in their area.  

Following the unfavorable developments, garbage bins across the town are overflowing with wastes. The town possesses a degraded and smelly atmosphere with all kinds of wastes lying in heaps at road sides.  Even in the prevailing freezing weather the horribly stinking garbage has created an unhygienic atmosphere causing inconvenience to the locals pedestrians here.  This has also multiplied the fear and chances for the town to develop various diseases.

Notably, the Kurseong populace had been living in such unhygienic atmosphere due to lack of proper dumping ground in the region. But after the formation of new municipality board a proper dumping ground site was located at the China OG in Dhargaon. It can be mentioned here that the site was already being used as a dumping ground for town wastes since one year before the construction works began.

On being asked about the matter KM Sanitary officer Ramesh Subba said the wastes are not being dumped properly since the road to the dumping ground is in shambles added to the protests being staged by the residents of Dhargaon. However, he said the municipal administration is working on the relevant formalities to begin construction of proper road to the Dhargaon dumping ground.

Source- EOI

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Bimal Gurung gets new office in New Year 2014

11:04 AM

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news

Darjeeling, Dec. 31: Bimal Gurung has decided to start his second innings as the chief executive of the GTA Sabha from a new office, the Gorkha Rangamanch Bhavan from January 2 as his previous office cannot be accessed easily by the public because of transport problems, said sources in the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha.

(Left) The Gorkha Rangamanch Bhavan, where Gurung will resume
his second innings as the GTA chief executive; Lal Khoti, the building where he sat earlier. Telegraph

Gurung’s office during his earlier stint as GTA chief was at Lal Khoti. Even though Gurung had an office at the Rangamanch Bhavan, he operated from Lal Khoti.

“Bimal Gurung will take charge on January 2 but unlike in the past, he will work from a new office at Gorkha Rangamanch Bhavan,” said a Morcha source.

“The chief’s decision to shift to a new office is to ensure that the public is not inconvenienced. The fact that transport is not easily available to the Lal Khoti area has prompted the chief executive to shift his office. From now, anyone can walk to his new office,” said the source.

While Gorkha Rangamanch Bhavan is situated at Mall, the heart of Darjeeling, Lal Khoti is about 3km away from the town.

Lal Khoti had been the administrative headquarters of the DGHC. Subash Ghisingh, the chairman of the erstwhile DGHC, had his office at Lal Khoti, a bungalow formerly owned by the royal family of Cooch Behar.

After taking oath as the chief executive in August 2012, Gurung, too, set up his office there.

He, however, asked the GTA officials to allocate the room used by Ghisingh to the principal secretary of the GTA. The chief executive’s office was set up in the room that was being used as a conference hall by Ghisingh.

However, Gurung hadn’t gone to his office since January to protest the perceived interference by the state government in the functioning of the GTA. He resigned from the post on July 30 to concentrate on the agitation for Gorkhaland in the wake of the Congress’s green light to the formation of Telangana.

At the moment, offices which are situated at Lal Khoti include those of Lt. Col. (retd) Ramesh Allay, the deputy chief of the GTA, and executive Sabha members Roshan Giri (school education), Binay Tamang (information and cultural affairs) and Anit Thapa (public health engineering).

The offices of the principal secretary, tourism executive director and the finance executive director are also situated at Lal Khoti. The meetings of the GTA Sabha are held at Gorkha Rangamanch Bhavan, where the offices of the chairman of the hill body and his deputy are also located.

“Gurung hasn’t yet taken a decision whether other offices should also be shifted to Gorkha Rangamanch Bhavan. The Lal Khoti office of the chief executive will not be closed down though he is shifting to a new building,” said the Morcha source.

The Morcha has decided to hold a public meeting at Chowk Bazar in Darjeeling on February 3.

“The meeting will be attended by central committee members of the Morcha and will be organised by the party’s town committee,” said Narayan Pradhan, the general secretary of the town committee.

“The meeting is being organised to talk about the present situation and the need to make the GTA fully functional so that development and jobs can be created through the GTA,” he added.

Source : Telegraph

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GNLF criticized GTA chief executive hosting initiation ceremony in Kolkata

10:37 AM

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The Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) has raised question regarding the hosting of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration's (GTA) chief executive initiation ceremony at Raj Bhawan in Kolkata.

Talking to the reporters, the GNLF spokesperson, Daya Dewan said “how can an oath taking ceremony of GTA chief executive be organised at the Raj Bhawan in Kolkata.” He pointed out the Raj Bhawan and the Governor are parts of the constitution and officials of an unconstitutional body like the GTA cannot be swore-in by him at the state house.

He further informed GNLF had for long been saying the GTA is an unconstitutional body and have even filed a case against its legitimacy. “As the GTA is unconstitutional, its authenticity is in doubt and begs a lot of question and hence under the circumstances we ponder how the oath was taken at Raj Bhawan when no constitutional amendment has been made on the GTA,” Dewan questioned. There are different cases and disputes against the GTA and so far whatever development has materialized from court it has come in GNLF’s favour, he claimed.

Notably, on 26 December, the GJMM chief, Bimal Gurung in the presence of the state CM Mamta Banerjee was sworn in by the Governor at Raj Bhawan in Kolkata to the post of the GTA chief executive.

Meanwhile, almost all the parties in the hills have criticized Gurung and the state government saying they have betrayed the people of the hills. The GNLF party had even termed the day as a black day for the Gorkha Community. But now, the GNLF party has also raised the question on the legitimacy of hosting the oath taking ceremony of the GTA at Raj Bhawan. 

Source:EOI

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Kalimpong CPM condemns rise in the taxi fares

10:07 AM

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CPM leader Tara Sundas in a press statement today complained of the exorbitant rise in the taxi fares from Kalimpong to other places in the Hills. He said the people are forced to pay twice the amount at the ticket counters. He added the agencies hide their taxis deliberately to increase the fare and has been affecting commutation as the people have to wait for long hours before their ride arrive.  Moreover, Sundas also complained about the shortage of taxis travelling from Kalimpong taxi stand to Siliguri and Darjeeling. He also appealed the concerned department to initiate an investigation on the Taxi Drivers Association and take necessary actions.

Further, he mocked the recent statement of West Bengal Tourism Minister Krishnendu Choudhury who had claimed of making positive changes in Darjeeling tourism. He questioned the activities of government and condemned the recent trend of rise in the taxi fares. He added the tourists who visit the Darjeeling Hills are being deprived of facilities from the government which might reduce the number of tourists in Darjeeling Hills. He further warned the administration that the CPM will take strict action if the current trend continues.

Source - EOI

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Kalimpong - Free eye camp at Bhagesong Busty

10:51 AM

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Kalimpong - Preservation of Humanities Buddhism in association with the Emmi Bhutia Association today organized a free eye camp at Bhagesong Busty, about 12 kms away from Kalimpong town. Around one hundred residents of the village benefited from the free eye camp which also included few other general medical check-ups.

Free eye cam in Kalimpong

Eye specialists from Jamgon Kongtrul Eye Centre conducted the eye check-ups in the camp today along with providing medicines to the patients with minor problems. Meanwhile those with major problems have been asked to visit Jamgon Kongtrul Eye Centre on January 15 for necessary tests and medicines. They will also be provided spectacles.

Emmi Bhutia Association’s regional president Jigme Bhutia lamented the people of the region are deprived of the medical facilities and the camp was organized to help the locals benefit from the free medical servic

Source : EOI

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Gorkha National Liberation Front holds meeting in Mirik

10:38 AM

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Politics

The Mirik constituency unit of Gorkha National Liberation Front today held a meeting under the chairmanship of unit head MK Pakhrin in its party office here. The meeting was attended by party’s hill coordinator Arjun Rai, spokesperson Ladup Ghising, VPC chief Santamani Rai, HPWU unit coordinator Janak Kharka among others.

Addressing the meeting Janak Kharka pledged to form HPWU units in all the tea gardens in the region and fight for the rights of the workers. Some GJM supporters also joined the GNLF in the meeting today, who were handed the party flag by Pakhrin and other leaders.

Source : EOI

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