few for drukair thai flight

BAGDOGRA: Few for Drukair Thai flight

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Siliguri, July 31: The only foreign airline operating from the Bagdogra airport is struggling to get enough passengers at a time there are demands from every corner in north Bengal to accord international status to the aerodrome.

Drukair operates two flights a week on the Paro-Bagdogra-Bangkok route. The first and only airline to introduce international flights from Bagdogra uses the Airbus 319 for the service. While the flight from Paro lands in Bagdogra en route to the Thai capital on Tuesdays and Saturdays, the return trips are made on Wednesdays and Sundays.

“We are getting 20 to 30 passengers on the Bagdogra-Paro sector, but not even five seats on the Bangkok flight are booked,” said Chencho Dorji, the station manager of the Drukair at the Bagdogra airport. “The flights are regular. But considering that the number of people availing of the flight here is less, we are selling the seats reserved for Bagdogra in Paro itself.”

The airline is charging Rs 1,500 a passenger for the Bagdogra-Paro trip, which is 30-minute long, and Rs 6,500 for the Bagdogra-Bangkok route. For a return trip from Bangkok, the fare is Rs 10,000.

The airline launched its services in the sector on June 20.

The official, however, said almost all the seats for Bagdogra-Paro flight for the coming weeks had been reserved.

The abysmally low number of passengers to Bangkok has left the airline concerned. “We can’t run our flight empty and incur losses. We are thinking of alternatives like taking more passengers from Paro. However, there are chances that we will start getting more passengers as more and more people, particularly international tourists, learn about the flight,” said Dorji.
Officials at the Bagdogra Airport are, however, optimistic. “It is true that the number of passengers to Bangkok is less now. However, we are optimistic that the passenger traffic will rise, especially in the ensuing tourist season during the Durga Puja holidays. The steady number of passengers availing of the Paro-bound flight is an indicator that people have been making use of the facility to reach Bhutan,” said an official.

Those associated with the tourism industry in the region also spoke positively about the flight.

“We have been receiving several international enquiries on this new air connectivity, particularly from the monks in Thailand and other tourists who plan to cover the Buddhist circuit spread over north Bengal, Nepal and Bhutan,” said Samrat Sanyal, the secretary of the Eastern Himalaya Travel and Tour Operators’ Association.

SENSEX AT 25000 IN 2 YEARS

Vishal Kampani, managing director of JM Financial Ltd and son of India's billionaire investment banker, Nimesh Kampani, spoke in an interview about his father's views on the India growth story. Edited excerpts: What is your father saying about the changes that have happened in the Indian economy, markets and the corporate world?
He is more bullish than I am.

He has always raised this issue with me about the US. He has always felt there are excesses in the US. They will create pain and give pain to the world one day. That is when India should gets its track right, and India will get its track right, and will emerge as a superpower over the next 5-10 years, economically and financially.
So, his advice is pretty similar. His advice is that you are getting long-term capital, you've got to be long-term greedy, not short-term greedy.

There is a fantastic opportunity in India to execute and we should follow that.

What he said (in a conversation) is that the Indian corporate needs to understand why a foreign investor wants to invest in him. A foreign investor is coming to an Indian corporate and willing to pay a higher multiple and trust him with billions of dollars because he thinks that Indian corporates are the gateway to India's growth. So, if he is able to demonstrate and execute in India's growth, he will be a large-scale company. But if he's going to use my capital and invest that capital internationally, without synergies into India, then I am not going to give him that capital and I am not going to give him the price to equity multiple.

So his story is that the India domestic story is very strong.
Focus on the India domestic story; raise more capital for growing India, at least over the next three to five years. You will get your chance in the sun when you will be larger than most foreign corporates. It is easier than to go and acquire those corporates.

You said he is more bullish than you. You said the Sensex will be 18,000 points in the next two quarters. What is his number?
He never gives a two-quarter view. He is more bullish on the real economy.

What about in two years? He probably sees the market at 25,000 two years from now.
He's very bullish.

Is he upset that he is not around when so much is happening in his country (He is currently in Dubai)?

Of course. He practically tells me that every day. That he is missing India. He is missing the moves. He wants to be a part of this entire growth. He wants to drive JM. He wants to make sure we have larger and higher market shares. He wants to be there for his corporate who he has serviced for the last 35 years.

cnbctv18@livemint.com

SIKKIM BUDGET 09-10 PASSED

SIKKIM: ANNUAL BUDGET 09-10 PASSED We need to increase our revenue generation – CM

Rs. 828 crores project in government salaries this financial year
40 percent arrear to Govt employees with retrospective effect of Jan 1, 2006


Gangtok, July 30: Reiterating the need for increasing the State’s revenue, Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling today called for a ‘collective responsibility’ among all to cut down unnecessary expenditure even a major chunk of the State’s annual budget goes in paying salaries to Government employees.

In the last financial year alone, the State government had spent Rs. 514 crores in paying salaries which is a big burden for the State, said Mr. Chamling while presenting his vote of thanks on the concluding day of the budget session in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly.

Further, we are projecting that the sum in paying government salaries will increase this time due to paying of arrears and we are estimating that a sum of Rs. 828 crores will be spent this time in salaries, said Mr. Chamling. The House must take this seriously, he said. He also informed the House that provisions have been made to pay 40 percent arrear to the government employees with the retrospective date of January6 1, 2006.

We must balance the present rate of increase of government expenditure and salaries with a proportionate increase in the revenue generation besides instituting stringent policies towards curtailing non-plan expenditure and maintaining austerity measures in government expenditure, said the Chief Minister.

Only then we will have a sustainable economy or I fear that Sikkim will be like other States having a huge deficit, said Mr. Chamling. He also informed the House that Sikkim has only Rs. 86 crores as loans to pay. Sikkim has not become a loan defaulter and has this unique image in the nation, he added.

The Chief Minister said that the State government is already working on key revenue areas like hydro power, tourism and industries in the State.
Sikkim is assured of a minimum of Rs. 150 crores annually from the Teesta Stage V hydro electric plant which has started its operations, said Mr. Chamling. He added that Sikkim will get around Rs. 1000 crores annual from the power sector by 2015 and sought support from all sections of the society towards the hydro power projects.

Earlier, the annual budget of 2009-10 was passed today in the House.

Dedicating the budget to the development of Sikkim’s future, the Chief Minister said that the funds allocated in the budget to the departments must be well utilized on thrust areas and on Sikkimese people. He directed the departments to first fix their areas of priorities for the development of Sikkim and Sikkimese people.

“The people of Sikkim have a belief that the SDF government in its new term will do something new and better works this time. We must remain committed to the aspirations and expectations of the Sikkimese people”, said Mr. Chamling.

At the same time, the Chief Minister sought cooperation and support from the people in the developmental activities. He said that the State government is not limited to infrastructural development but wants to change the mindset of the people through inclusive development.

Mr. Chamling also spoke on the thrust given by his government to develop capable human resource in the State. We have allocated 10 percent of the budget for conducting capacity building programmes for the youths, he said.

In other list of business in the final day of the budget session, the demand for grants for various departments was passed in the House. The Sikkim Road Reserve (Protection and Preservation) Bill and Sikkim Online Gaming (Regulation) Amendment Bill were also passed in the House.

SOURCE;SIKKIM EXPRESS

WHITE PAPER ON HYDRO POWER IN SIKKIM LAID IN SLA

SIKKIM: ‘8000 MW, ONLY WAY OUT’ – White paper recommends expeditious harnessing of 8000 MW hydro potential of Sikkim

GANGTOK, July 30: A voluminous white paper on hydropower resources of Sikkim tabled by the State Government in the State Assembly today has opined that Sikkim must expedite the development of its 8000 MW hydropower resources as the ‘only way out’ to meet the Millennium Developmental Goals set forth.

“The considered opinion emerging from the analysis of this report is that Sikkim must expedite the development of its hydropower resources at a faster pace. Utilize the hydropower revenue for the social, educational, economic and other developmental aspects of its people. That is the only way out, if Sikkim wants to lead other States in the country in speedy development and meeting the Millennium Developmental Goals set forth”, states the white paper tabled by State power minister Sonam Gyasto Lepcha on the concluding day of the budget session today in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly.

Prepared by Entecsol International, the 209 pages white paper in its executive summary said that the white paper on the development of hydropower resources of Sikkim is aimed at examining the State of economy, hydropower resources and the status of their development in Sikkim.

The white paper claims that it also examines the steps taken by the government for facilitating and expediting the development of its hydropower resources and the constraints, issues and challenges faced by the government in exploiting this resource. It evaluates the potential financial and economic benefits that Sikkim can harness from the development of its hydropower resources and exporting the surplus energy to other parts of the country.

Out of the total hydropower potential of Sikkim of 8000 MW, the total installed capacity as on March 31 this year is only 610.7 MW.
The State government has awarded 24 hydropower projects at a total estimated installed capacity of around 4,694 MW to various developers out of which, 2,081 MW is expected to be commissioned within the 11th Plan and remaining within the 12th Plan.

All the projects are run of the river schemes.

In its recommendations, the white paper called for immediate structural changes in the State power sector for efficient management of the Sikkim power sector coupled with the need to manage a quantum jump in the development of hydropower resources from the existing level of about 200 MW to 8000 MW. The white paper has recommended that the State government should establish two corporate bodies fully owned by the State government-Sikkim Hydro Power Corporation Ltd (SHPC) and Sikkim Transmission and Distribution Corporation Ltd (SPDCL). It has also recommended that Sikkim Power Development Corporation Ltd which has not met the objectives for which it was set up should be wound up by transferring its assets to SHPC.

The SHPC will manage all the existing generation stations in the State and also handle the entire power allocation, sale and purchase of electricity presently handled by the State power department, the white paper recommends.

On the other hand, the proposed SPDCL will manage the existing and the proposed transmission and distribution systems in the State.

“The State should also come out with its Hydro Power Policy as suggested in the conclusions and recommendations chapters of this report”, states the white paper. It has also recommended that a State level Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy that matches the provisions in the Central government’s concerned policy should also be formulated.

“An Independent Monitoring and Evaluation Team (IMET) as detailed in the report should be constituted immediately to provide the government with an independent assessment about the project execution and to work as an impartial link between various stakeholders and the government”.

Regarding the harnessing of the balance potential of about 2736 MW which is yet to be awarded, the white paper has suggested that creating of shell companies by SHPC which will then award the projects after international competitive bidding. The white paper has stressed on the immediate need to set up a Project Review Committee to review the review the projects made by the developers in the establishing the projects already awarded.

“Projects where the progress is not matching with the targeted milestones as envisaged in the MoUs/project award agreements should be cancelled”.

The white paper has also recommended the State Government to reinvestigate the Chungthang region in North Sikkim where the Ministry of Environment and Forests have asked the State Government that projects above Chungthang region should not be considered for construction of dams due to its vast biodiversity. The State Government cannot abandon projects with 1050 MW capacity that have been awarded to the developers without a proper examination of the issues, the white paper said.

The State Government should, therefore reinvestigate the region to find the factual position and arrive at the final decision with regard of the development of these projects, the white paper recommends.

The State Government has also been suggested to give priority to development of wind and solar energy projects for serving the rural masses living in the deep mountainous region.

The white paper in its genesis of protests against hydropower development in Sikkim has attributed it non-involvement of the locals in the identification of proposed projects.

“For many of the local stakeholders who are affected (or likely to be) by these projects, the entire issue of power projects came like a bolt from the blue as they are clueless about, who was doing it and why and what will they get. The communication gap and absence of participation of local stakeholders was a major institutional failure, which could have been avoided through a massive awareness campaign before launching these projects”, the white paper said pointing to the protracted hunger strike carried out by anti-hydel body Affected Citizens of Teesta as a blatant example of this institutional failure.

One upfront challenge that needs to be met head-on by the State Government is to strike a fine balance in the developmental needs of the State, the natural resource need and biodiversity management, conservation of socio-cultural ethos and sustainability of ecological balance. The confidence in the minds of the people must also be instilled by adopting a fair-handed approach in developing the hydropower resource by issuing a State level Hydropower Policy.

Regarding the major issue of land procurement for the hydro projects, the white paper states the total land required for projects in North Sikkim is just 0.29 percent of the available land in North Sikkim.

The white paper also states that Sikkim will be getting annual revenue of Rs. 1337.79 crores during the first 15 years after the projects of current 4694 MW which is being developed is commissioned. In addition, the State government will earn about Rs. 22.3 crores as cess annually and Rs. 178.368 crores per annum as sale proceeds of 1 percent free power for local area development, the white paper adds.

These projects in Sikkim would provide employment to 3000-5000 skilled persons, 6500-10000 semi-skilled persons and 6500 to 10000 un-skilled persons.

The report has concluded that despite enormous advantages appreciated by all, there are undercurrents of dissatisfaction, misplaced apprehensions and misunderstandings created by lack of effective information flows. While genuine concerns need to be addressed immediately, the wrong apprehensions should be warded off by proper briefings, public hearings and disseminating the information and the steps taken by the government to address the issues, it is suggested.

In the backdrop of the national need for growth of electricity sector to 12 percent per annum, the white paper has concluded that Sikkim has to expedite the development of its 8000 MW hydropower potential so that then nation, state and locals benefit.

Source: sikkim express

CAN INDIA GIVE CONCESSION IN EAST TO RESOLVE RELATIONS-S.RAGHVAN

··············· A s India's new foreign minister settles into office, a major issue demanding his attention will be the boundary newill be the boundary negotiations with China. Despite 13 rounds of discussions since 2003, an agreement seems as elusive as ever.

The key point of contention is China's claim to the Tawang area of Arunachal Pradesh. The parameters agreed upon in 2005 state that the final settlement "shall safeguard due interest of...settled populations in the border areas". This suggests that populated areas such as Tawang would not be up for bargaining, and yet, Beijing persists. To understand China's stance, it would be useful to view the dispute from a historical perspective.

During their talks in April 1960, Chinese premier Zhou Enlai indicated to Jawaharlal Nehru that if India accepted China's claims in the western sector (Ladakh and Aksai Chin), it would adopt a reasonable stance on the McMahon Line boundary in the eastern sector (now Arunachal Pradesh). Beijing, he clarified, could not accept the McMahon Line, but could agree to a slightly different boundary.

China's position in this sector stemmed mainly from the fact that the McMahon Line was the product of the Simla Convention of 1914, where Tibetan delegates had participated alongside British, Indian and Chinese representatives. Accepting the McMahon Line would be tantamount to acknowledging that Tibet had then enjoyed some sort of independent status--a point that would buttress the Dalai Lama's case for an independent Tibet.

Nehru, in turn, called for a sectorby-sector examination of claims. In the western sector, Beijing not only claimed Aksai Chin, but also areas south and south-west of the region. Although the Chinese had occupied some of these parts in 1959, they were not in control of the entire area they had claimed. China occupied all of this area only after 1962.

When talks on the dispute were revived in the 1980s, New Delhi stuck to the position of sector-wise negotiations. The assumption was that once China acceded to India's position in the east, it would politically be easier for the Indian government to make concessions in the west. Domestic politics also mandated that India should secure China's withdrawal from the 3,000 sq.
miles (around 7,770 sq. km) annexed in Ladakh in 1962, as the government could not afford to be seen as acquiescing to the gains of war.

China agreed to this approach, but began emphasizing its claims over Arunachal Pradesh--particularly the Tawang area. Beijing's calculations were straightforward. If concessions in one sector would not be linked to gains in another, it made sense to adopt a maximalist negotiating position on each sector.
Besides, the earlier considerations persisted as the Dalai Lama's campaign for independence gathered momentum; the Tibetan leader was increasingly active internationally.

The negotiations that began in 2003 departed from the previous attempts in important respects. India assented to the idea of a comprehensive settlement, encompassing all the sectors. The parameters of the 2005 talks took into account the positions of both parties and sought to reconcile them. New Delhi needed a Chinese withdrawal by at least 3,000 sq. miles in the west; Beijing sought some concessions in the east. India has repeatedly stated that uprooting settled populations would be unacceptable.

Territorial considerations apart, the Chinese evidently want India to provide tangible reassurance vis-àvis Tibet. Indeed, China's hardening stance on Tawang has mirrored its increasing concern about Tibet.

The protests in the run-up to the Olympics heightened these concerns. China's defence white paper released last year notes that Tibetan separatism is a major challenge. In tackling this problem, the Chinese believe that time is their best ally.
Once the Dalai Lama passes away, Beijing will be in a position to appoint his successor, and so neutralize the Tibetan problem. But their success in this attempt also hinges on their ability to cut to size the Tibetan émigré movement, with the most important target in this regard being the Tibetan government-inexile operating out of India.

Established in the early 1960s, the government-in-exile has ramified into a sizeable organization. India has not recognized the governmentin-exile and has declared that it does not permit the organization to undertake political activities. But Beijing is not convinced of New Delhi's sincerity. As Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao stated last year, Tibet remains a "sensitive" issue in China's relationship with India.

In fact, China's suspicion of India's support to Tibetan dissidents goes back to the late 1950s. The evidence now emerging from Chinese archives shows that this misperception was crucial in China's decision to go to war in 1962. Thus, as part of a settlement, China appears to seek some move by India to curb the Tibetan émigrés--possibly by dissolving the parliament-in-exile.

But the dispute can be resolved if both sides are willing to make com promises. India has space to make concessions in the unpopulated ar eas in the east; China can relinquish some territory in the west. Similarly, New Delhi can provide robust reas surances on Tibet without having to entirely fulfil Beijing's desires.
- Striking an accord on these lines will take time. Furthermore, selling the agreement in India's domestic political market is unlikely to be simple. A boundary agreement will require a constitutional amend ment, which will have to be ap proved by a two-thirds majority in both houses of Parliament and by at least half the state legislatures.

The present government has the requisite political clout to settle this decades-old dispute. The question remains: Does it have the will?

Srinath Raghavan is associate fel low at the National Institute of Ad vanced Studies, Bangalore.

NH 31 A from Sevoke to Ranipool 600 crores improvement approbed by cabinet committee

Inclusion of 2 laning of NH-31 A and construction of a new 2-lane Highway in Mizoram to support Kaladan Multi Model Transit Transport Project of Myanmar in Phase ‘A’ of Special Accelerated Road Development Programme for North Eastern Region (SARDP-NE)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

21:13 IST 30 july 2009

The Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure approved the proposal to improve NH-31A from Sevoke to Ranipul to 2-lane standards on EPC basis under SARDP-NE with additional Budgetary Support of Rs.600 crore and also approved the proposal to construct a new 2-lane highway in Mizoram under SARDP-NE to support Kaladan Multi Model Transit Transport Project on EPC basis with Budgetary Support of Rs.680 core.

The improvement of NH 31 A will provide improved and uninterrupted connectivity to Gangtok, the capital town of Sikkim and the Highway in Mizoram will facilitate transportation of goods to/from Sittwe port in Myanmar.

PIB

TORRENT IS SETTING UP A PHARMA UNIT IN SIKKIM

AHMEDABAD:30 JULY 2009

Torrent Pharma, the Rs 1,600-crore pharma major, saw a 22% jump in sales for the first quarter ended June 30, 2009. The company, which
saw growth in its domestic and international formulations business, also announced it would expand its bulk drug and formulation manufacturing capacity in Chatral to meet the growing needs of regulated markets. Its new formulation production unit in Sikkim for the domestic market is in full swing and as per the plans.

The Ahmedabad-based pharma major has clocked Rs 474-crore sales during Q1, up from Rs 388 crore in the comparable quarter last year. The domestic formulation business surged by 15%, as the company recorded sales of Rs 198 crore. The sales outside India increased by 26% to Rs 225 crore.

The company suffered a 69% drop in net profit, which, it said, was mainly due to the hike in the minimum alternative tax (MAT). Excluding MAT credit entitlement adjustment in both the years, PAT grew by 55%. However, operating profit (PBDIT) for the quarter grew 41% at Rs 96 crore compared with Rs 68 crore in the corresponding quarter last year. Higher volumes, both in domestic and international markets, supported by expansion in gross margins, contributed to the growth in profits.

For its international operations, the company registered a 4% growth in revenue from Brazil, as the overall revenue grew from Rs 70 crore to Rs 73 crore. However, the company clarified that depreciation of Brazilian real affected the growth in that country.

Torrent Pharma’s German subsidiary Heumann was also able to clinch a 30% growth, as the sales touched Rs 68 crore. In Europe (other than Heumann), Russia & CIS countries and rest of the world, the operations grew 27% with sales of Rs 66 crore, up from Rs 58 CRORES.

824 CRORES FOR ONLY SALARY OF SIKKIM GOVT EMPLOYEES

SIKKIM: Chamling concerned at rising non-plan expenditure


Gangtok, Jul 30 (PTI) Faced with the prospect of Rs 824 crore expenditure on the payment of salaries alone to the government employees in 2009-10, Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling today asked the government departments to ensure fiscal management and generation of additional revenue.

“We would have to spend Rs 824 crore on salaries to the government employees this fiscal after implementation of the 4th pay commission as against Rs 514 crore in this head in the previous fiscal,” he said in the state assembly.

The state government must take measures for proper fiscal management, including reduction in various expenditure through austerity measures for keeping the non-plan expenses in control, he said.

The Chief Minister asked the bureaucracy to work for generation of additional revenue by development and promotion of tourism and other industries as part of the plan for financial self reliance long term.

The data with regard to number of ex-servicemen State-wise is given below:
as on 1 Jan 2009:

Sl.No. States EX- SERVICEMEN

Army Air Force Navy TOTAL
1. Andhra Pradesh 58703 10522 4479 73704
2. Arunachal Pradesh 284 0 0 284
3. Assam 30219 2184 872 33275
4. Bihar 64972 3075 1458 69505
5. Chattisgarh 4209 272 156 4637
6. Goa 1118 204 646 1968
7. Gujarat 16615 3818 607 21040
8. Haryana 215075 10432 8781 234288
9. Himachal Pradesh 95905 1989 3163 101057
10. Jammu Kashmir 65254 601 458 66313
11. Jharkhand 17064 1084 843 18991
12. Karnataka 53834 9167 2094 65095
13. Kerala 123380 20185 11048 154613
14. Madhya Pradesh 35630 1548 1057 38235
15. Maharashtra 132381 11239 13362 156982
16. Manipur 6225 74 33 6332
17. Meghalaya 2072 78 54 2204
18. Mizoram 4642 20 20 4682
19. Nagaland 2560 8 17 2585
20. Orissa 23629 4435 2085 30149
21. Punjab 266238 9837 5103 281178
22. Rajasthan 136664 6453 3554 146671
23. Sikkim 1094 1 8 1103
24. Tamil Nadu 105429 10886 3248 119563
25. Tripura 2107 101 51 2259
26. Uttarakhand 222314 19143 10533 251990
27. Uttar Pradesh 111922 2028 2088 116038
28. West Bengal 47657 9588 3512 60757
29. A & N Islands UT 435 103 140 678
30. Chandigarh UT 6047 2399 340 8786
31. Delhi 28294 6214 2709 37217
32. Puducherry UT 1272 327 89 1688

31. TOTAL 1883244 148015 82608 2113867

WHITE PAPER ON SIKKIM HYDRO POWER SUBMITTED

‘Set up separate bodies for Sikkim hydro power development’

GANGTOK:30 July 2009:

A White Paper prepared by an expert agency recommends setting up two nodal bodies - Sikkim Hydro Power Corporation Ltd (SHPC) and Sikkim Transmission and Distribution Corporation Ltd (STDC), to better harness the state's projected capacity of 80 00 MW hydro energy.

The document, prepared by New Delhi-based agency Entecsol Internation presented in the state legislature on Thursday suggests the government entrust the task of management and supervision of the existing hydro power projects to SHPC.

The nodal agency should be the sole agency for the sale of power generated by its own plants, the state's share of power from the central pool and the free power on account of royalty, cess and local area development, the report said.

Similarly, the report says the state should consider setting up another nodal agency -STDC - for management of the existing and proposed transmission and distribution system. It says it is essential to have a dedicated entity for developing new transmiss ion lines for release of the generated power from the plants to the pooling point.

The paper further says the two proposed agencies should be run like corporates.

SIKKIM AIRPORT PROLONGED BY ONE MORE YEAR

SIKKIM: Pakyong airport completion prolonged by another 12 months


GANGTOK, July 28: The Union Minister of State for Ministry of Civil Aviation Praful Patel today said the completion date of the Pakyong Greenfield airport has been prolonged to another 12 months.

“The construction of runway and apron works has been awarded for an amount of Rs. 264.29 crores with a target of completion of this work within 24 months. However the entire project is likely to be completed within 36 months”, said Mr. Patel in his reply to a question from Sikkim MP OT Lepcha in the Rajya Sabha today.

This revision of the completion deadline of the Pakyong airport is contrary to Mr. Patel’s earlier enthusiasm on February when he had asserted that the airport will be completed by June, 2011.

While giving no reasons for the extension of the deadline, Mr. Patel said that manpower and machinery have been mobilized for the Pakyong airport project and earth excavation/filling is in progress.

At the same time, the Minister of State tried to put the ball in the court of the Sikkim Government.

“The work is likely to pickup once the removal of the present encumbrances like shifting of rural water pipelines crossing the airport project site, felling and removal of trees, shifting of electricity transmission lines, diversion of Dikling road, relocation of Chortens/Devisthans from the project land, removal of unauthorized construction around the airport boundary and construction of CC footpath upto Dikling school is completed by the State government”, said Mr. Patel.
Mr. Lepcha today also placed questions in the Rajya Sabha to the Ministries of Finance and Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises.

newspaper in North east- easy empanelment provision

16:45 IST
The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting Policy provides relaxed norms for empanelment of newspapers published in North-Eastern States and border areas. As per Clause 8 of the Advertisement Policy, newspapers in languages like Bodo, Garhwali, Dogri, Kashmiri, Khasi, Konkani, Maithili, Manipuri, Mizo, Nepali, Rajasthani, Sanskrit, Santhali, Sindhi, Urdu and tribal languages/dialects as certified by State Government or newspapers published in J&K, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and North Eastern States can be considered for empanelment after 6 months of regular and uninterrupted publication. Whereas, in the case of all regional and other language small & medium newspapers, the qualifying period is 18 months. Further, as per Clause 13 of the said Policy, a newspaper/journal should have a minimum paid circulation of not less than 2000 copies for being considerd eligible for empanelment, whereas, newspapers/journals in Bodo, Dogri, Garhwali, Kashmiri, Khasi, Konkani, Maithili, Manipuri, Mizo, Nepali, Rajasthani, Sanskrit, Santhali, Sindhi, Urdu and Tribal languages as certified by State Governments published all over the country and newspapers/journals published in backward, border, hilly areas or remote areas or tribal languages or those published in J&K, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and North-Eastern States need to have substantiated minimum paid circulation of only 500 copies per publishing day. 96 newspapers from North East are empanelled for release of Government advertisements through the Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity.

During the current financial year an amount of Rs. 87.95 crore has been allocated for North East Special Pakage–II. An amount of Rs. 37.00 crore is to be provided as Grants in aid and an amount of Rs. 50.95 crore as loan to Prasar Bharati for improving Radio and Television facility in North East.

SIKKIM: Excerpts from Governor’s address in the Budget Session

SIKKIM: Excerpts from Governor’s address in the Budget Session
July 28, 2009

FROM SIKKIM REPORTER

Gangtok: Addressing on the first day of 2009-10 Budget Session in Sikkim Legislative Assembly, Governor Mr. B. P. Singh said:

“At the outset, I take this opportunity to congratulate the Hon’ble Chief Minister Pawan Chamling and his colleagues for the unprecedented victory in the recently concluded general elections. The overwhelming mandate received from the people by Dr. Pawan Chamling for the fourth consecutive term is indeed remarkable. The results of the election are a testimony to the overall good governance, development and maintenance of peace and harmony in the State.

“Improvement in the social sector coupled with rapid infrastructure development has made Sikkim one of the model States of the country. The exemplary personal involvement of the Hon’ble Chief Minister and his able team and the overall development of the State in achieving a high growth rate is commendable.

“The Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) at current prices rose from Rs.545 crore in 1995-96 to Rs. 2612 crore in 2008-09 as per advance estimates. The net per capita income also increased from Rs. 10021 to Rs. 37553 in 2008-09. The index of GSDP increased by 379% and per Capita Net State Domestic Product (NSDP) by 275% during the period 1995-96 to 2008-09.

“In recent times, Sikkim has bagged a number of prestigious awards like the Nirmal Rajya Puraskar for being the first State in the country to achieve 100% sanitation and the 4th JRD Tata Award 2008 among the small States based on performance in key health indicators. These awards are undoubtedly, indications that the plans, programmes and policies of the Government are headed in the right direction.

“The State’s Annual Plan document has been guided by the 11th Five Year Plan approved by the Government of India. The thrust of our 11th Five Year Plan is the inclusion of various flagship programmes, viz a viz National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGA), Indira Awaas Yojana, National Rural Health Mission, Pradhan Mantri Grameen Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) and Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).
“I am happy to mention that the State Plan outlay for the year 2009-10 has been fixed at Rs. 1045.00 crores, which brings an increase of 22.65% from the allocation of the last financial year. Focus has been laid primarily on health, portable and safe drinking water, education, power and energy, agriculture, horticulture and tourism sectors and the youth. It is our endeavor to provide health security, food security and to better the status of women and children in the State.

“Apart from this, the Government aims to provide 10% of the total budget from the plan outlay for the capacity building initiative for the educated youth of Sikkim. This is being done with a view to honing up the skills of the educated unemployed in the fields of tourism and hospitality, mass communication and IT, modern methods of agriculture and animal husbandry, floriculture, cottage industry, trade and other skilled jobs. The aim is to create new opportunities for the youth, for purposeful and sustainable living. The State Government is in the process of building an institute for capacity building, thereby becoming the first State in the country to initiate such a policy”.

SIKKIM BUDGET 2009-2010

RECEIPTS
1. State’s Revenue - Tax Revenue (Rs.177.20 cr), Non Tax Revenue (Rs. 1172.29 cr)
2. Grants-in-Aid - Rs. 1266.04 cr
3. State’s Share in Shareable Taxes - Rs. 373.70 cr
4. Loans from other institutions - Rs. 419.28 cr
5. Loans from Central government - Rs. 1.2 cr
6. Recoveries from loans and advances – Rs. 0.42 cr
7. Public accounts - Rs. 2245.59 cr
Total Receipts-Rs. 5655.72 cr

DISBURSEMENTS
1. State’s Annual Plan (excluding non-plan gap of Rs. 25 cr) - Rs. 1020cr
2. Centrally Sponsored Schemes-Rs. 251.47 cr
3. Non-Plan Expenditure - Rs. 2072.60 cr
4. Non-Lapsable Pool of Central Resources - Rs. 109.67 cr
5. North Eastern Council - Rs. 79.07 cr
6. Public accounts - Rs. 2124.74 cr
Total Disbursement - Rs. 5657.55 cr

DEFICIT - Rs. 1.83 cr
SOURCE: SIKKIM EXPRESS

BUDGET SIKKIM 2009-2010

Budget to consolidate our vision to make Sikkim with the highest indices of socio-economic development: CM

GANGTOK, July 27: Chief Minister Pawan Chamling has made generous allocations to various infrastructural and people welfare projects and at the same time has not lost his sights to accord Sikkim the highest indices in every socio-economic sphere of development by 2015 while presenting the annual budget 2009-10 today in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly.
“We have set forth our dreams and defined our targets to be achieved by 2015. They include transforming Sikkim into poverty-free State, illiteracy free State, disease free State, corruption free State, ecotourism destination, zero unemployment zone, the land of opportunity, the producer State, the best welfare State and the happiest State”, said Mr. Chamling while tabling the budget. This budget has been focused to carry forward our developmental agenda to consolidate and spur the growth of economy of State towards realizing the visions by the year 2015, he added.
Sharing his government’s vision for Sikkim and Sikkimese people, the Chief Minister laid thrust on comprehensive development adding that all ongoing projects and schemes will be completed on a priority. He said that food security and water security is another field which State government is working to deliver.
In the budget 2009-10, the State Government has made a budgetary provision of Rs. 1 crore for construction of Bhaichung Stadium in Namchi with all modern sporting facilities. A sum of Rs. 1 crore has also been allocated for construction of a multilayered car parking in Gangtok.
A sum of Rs. 1 crore has been kept aside to fulfill the long-felt need to construct Soochna Bhavan in Gangtok.
The Chief Minister has also earmarked an initial sum of Rs. 1.5 crores for installation of Chenrejig statue and another Rs. 1 crore for construction of Tenzing Hillary Park and Lake at Utteray in West Sikkim.
Construction of Skywalk at Baleydhunga shall commence from the earliest with budget provision of Rs. 1 crore for this financial year, said Mr. Chamling also allocating Rs. 4 crores for construction of annexe building near Tashiling Secretariat.
Construction of a habitat centre, State art gallery and a State museum will be taken up at a total provision of Rs. 2.21 crores. A sumo of Rs. 1 crore has also been allocated in the budget as initial budget provision for one B.Ed college at Soreng and one more DIET centre at Namchi.
In his address, the Chief Minister also informed the House about the most recent schemes introduced to further make education broad based. These are free admission and full scholarship to best public school in the State for ten students from each district who tops Class V examination, free admission and full sponsorship to best public schools in the country for ten best students who top primary at the State level and full sponsorship to students able to secure admission in 20 best universities of the world under Chief Minster’s Free Scholarship scheme.
An initial sum of Rs. 4 crores have been allocated for the Financial Inclusion Project in the State which seeks to sponsor 1 lakh households for opening a no frill bank account.
Mr. Chamling has also announced to set up an orphanage in the State as the State government’s dream project for which a sum of Rs. 1 crore has been set aside for this financial year.
Earlier, the Chief Minister introspected on the earlier 15 year innings of his SDF government which he said was ‘the past well invested’.
“What has happened, as a result is that the central leadership across party lines have clearly noticed Sikkim Democratic Front running the most stable government in Sikkim for the last fifteen years. Our credential as the practitioner of democracy is firmly established at the Centre which has helped us build political capital at the national level in the most sincere manner. The people of Sikkim are witness to the fulfillment of number of demands which were earlier argued against on various grounds”, pointed out Mr. Chamling.

SOURCE:SIKKIM EXPRESS

LARGEST TEA GARDEN FIRM OF WORLD

TALK: We have built largest tea plantation firm in the world – Deepak Khaitan

FROM TIMES OF INDIA



The eldest son of the legendary tea baron Brij Mohan Khaitan, Deepak Khaitan, has inherited his father’s passion for tea and sports, but hasn’t quite stuck to the same protocol. In Eveready Industries India, Deepak has the country’s largest battery manufacturing facility as well, while in tea, the group’s flagship company, McLeod Russel India, is now the world’s largest tea conglomerate. n a interview with Anuradha Himatsingka of ET NOW, Deepak Khaitan dropped his guard and talked exclusively about his group, his passions and his family.

How has your group fared over the last five years and more recently, during the economic slowdown?

We have had a tough five years. We had to go through a massive restructuring. The change took place in 2005 when we demerged Eveready and formed two large businesses, battery and tea plantations. That gave a great a fillip to both the companies. Both grew. We went and bought BPL Power Cell. Battery grew to be the fourth-largest brand, pushing up our market share to about 55%.

Simultaneously, McLeod Russel went and acquired the Magors, Doom Dooma Tea and Moran Tea. Recently, we’ve gone and acquired 40,00,000 kgs in Vietnam. With these acquisitions, we have become the world’s largest plantation company with near 80 million kgs of tea, employing over 30,000 people and exporting about 25 million kgs. The second company is a very far second.

We have always believed in tea. Our family virtually grew from tea. We feel it is the cheapest drink in India after a glass of water, which is free. A poor man wakes up in the morning and drinks a small cup of tea. We feel as the country grows and as GDP grows, more wealth goes into the hands of the poor man. Tea consumption, which had been growing at 1.5-2 % for many decades, has suddenly picked up to about 3.5%. I feel that over the next five years, tea consumption will go up to something like 5% per annum on a consumption pattern of about 850 million kgs.
If you add 5% and compound it over a period of 5 years, you are virtually asking the crop to grow by 250%. That is, I think a very difficult task what with varying climate conditions and land-related problems. The government is not giving more land for tea, as there is land problem in every state. So tea price is bound to go up. Import of tea will have to take place one day and therefore, we hope to grow our tea business further, with acquisitions both domestically, if available, and abroad, whether in Vietnam or Africa.

You are the only group that is still acquiring tea estates, unlike other companies, who are moving out of the business altogether. Why?

My father had got into tea in 1963. We’ve been able to manage the environment and we have been able to manage the workers. We never really had a problem. Tea estates have gone through crisis in Assam in the 1990s, with the Ulfa. We had managed the situation. We had got security. We have got a very dedicated system, very dedicated people who are working on it. So for us, to expand or to take on something that is not good and redo it, is pretty normal.

Are you open to more acquisitions? Are you right now looking at something to buy within India or abroad ?

We are seriously open to more acquisitions. I do not know whether we will be able to. It is not easy at the moment because tea prices have shot up. Sellers aren’t quite there, and those that are there are asking for very high prices, which we are not prepared to pay. Therefore, right now we are basically looking for acquisitions abroad. Domestically, we are not.

Apart from EIIL and McLeod Russel, can you tell us about your plans for the other group company, McNally Bharat Engineering?

McNally Bharat Engineering, I think is a company that many people don’t know much about. It is an eastern engineering business, which three and half years ago, had a turnover of about Rs 300 crore. Over the last 3 years, we grew steadily. We have suddenly grown to about Rs 1,100 crore now. I think it will grow at something like a 50% CAGR for the next three or four years. We do have a vision of crossing Rs 5,000 crore by 2012. The sectors that McNally services, will have to grow if India has to have a 9% growth in GDP. Infrastructure will have to grow, whether that means power stations, coal, minerals, zinc, copper or iron ore. We are also in road building, in bridges, in cranes and in material handling.

We just finalised an acquisition in Germany which gives us technology in the coal mineral field. It will help us to make coal washeries. India needs coal washeries in a big way because of the ash content in coal. So with these projects in hand and opportunities coming up, even with acquisition of the German company, we will have an opportunity to grow outside India. I’m quite confident that we will become a Rs 5,000-crore company very soon.

Is McNally Bharat also looking at acquisitions?

We are always looking at technologies related to infrastructure and if we do find a good technology fit with McNally Bharat, and the company is available at a reasonably good price, we will buy it. We feel that McNally Bharat needs technologies to grow in this business. At the moment and for a year or so, we will have to consolidate the German acquisition and then take it forward from there.

Has your group created a war chest to part finance the group’s acquisition plans ?

We never really had a war chest anytime because I feel that if you have money, you don’t have opportunities and when opportunities come, you really don’t have a chest. But if it is a good opportunity, and it is structured well, we can easily create enough internal generation of funds.

MEMORANDUM ON ENVIORNMENT. CESS TO GOVERNMENT OF SIKKIM

SIKKIM CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

MG.ROAD, GANGTOK , SIKKIM 737101



10 MAY 2009


The Secretary
Finance, Expenditure & Revenue Department
Government of Sikkim
Gangtok, Sikkim 737101


Hon’ble Sir,



Sikkim Chamber of Commerce wants to draw your kind attention to the issue of Ecology & Environment Cess as under:


The business community of Sikkim was called upon to present its views on various economic issues on 29 Jan 2008 at Chintan Bhavan, Gangtok and a detailed memorandum was submitted to Honorable Chief Minister Dr Pawan Chamling.

Besides other important economic issues, we also raised issues regarding Ecology & Environment Cess duly submitting:


That the present economic order envisages larger realization with least hassles. In this context upholding the dictum “time is money” we request that the present system of collection of allied taxes like Ecology & Environment Cess be made more effective by simplification. Any Cess being essentially a tax on tax and not tax on gross should be computable relatively with any existing tax and not an independent separate tax by itself. Much of valuable time and effort on both sides could be saved if the realization is made simpler by surcharging the Value Added Tax payable by the dealer at the end of financial year in a manner that shall meet projections and targets set forth.


Taking up the issue in furtherance of sustainable growth and viable economy, this Chamber most humbly submits:

We fully appreciate the Government in this noble project and are to request simplification in administering the same making the process easier, keeping in view the targets and the projections of the revenue collection under this head.

As of now Cess is being collected on every single Sale /Purchase transactions singularly, giving effect of the levy on entire gross turnover, further requiring periodic returns to be filed separately. The system is viewed as very cumbersome, time consuming and difficult to comply in view of vast documentation required. Cess could be ascertained as a surcharge on any existing tax like VAT on annual basis at a befitting rate to match the revenue targets, such that the work load towards administration of the same and unnecessary maintenance of records by the office and the dealer both are done away with duly achieving the purpose


Further, in larger interest, may we add that:

1. Compliance of the provisions read with MRP regulations is not possible in view of various restrictions under the consumer laws. Under the MRP regime, again Cess cannot be collected from the consumer, though the Ecology and Environment Cess law directs so. Except for non MRP products, which are very few, collection from the consumer is not permitted under the MRP laws.

2. Cess in its present form tends to read as a second Sales Tax as the entire sale is in reference.

3. Much on the line of earlier sales tax system, there is a cascading effect on prices as a result of this levy.

4.In view of the latest trends of economy management/taxation/transparency and also to avoid unnecessary interpretations of class/schedule/category of goods or even terms like “sale” or “consumption”, a more realistic single slab rate would be much desirable.

5. This Chamber is to request your high office to take a new dimension with a broader perspective in achieving the targets of revenue collection as Cess by a simple process of levying a surcharge on existing tax like VAT as in the case of Education Cess being implemented by Union Government, doing away with separate registrations, filing of returns, assessments etc, the process of which is itself very taxing upon both the administrator and the dealer which could be escaped , thus realizing the same results.

We fully agree with the State Government view that more and more money is required for the development projects initiated by Government and appreciate that taxation is one of the important instrument for which citizens must contribute to the State Exchequer.

Any new tax as such would be more readily acceptable if the same contains the following features:

It should be simple to practice and administer at the same time

The law should be less cumbersome and users friendly.

The tax collection should not make the business unviable

The formalities should be simple and not lengthy and time consuming

The collection system should be such that it takes minimum time and efforts at both ends.


Further, we shall like to draw your kind attention that at the time of introduction of VAT, it was assured that no new form of taxes on sale of goods will be framed and all allied taxes like Sales tax/ Cess/ Octroi/ Toll/ shall be done away with.

As such, appreciating the dictum “the State should take so much as the bee takes Honey from flowers- Chankaya Niti”., this Chamber is to request your high office to take a new dimension with a broader perspective in achieving the targets of revenue collection as Cess by a simple process of levying a surcharge on existing tax like VAT as in the case of education cess being implemented by Union Government, doing away with separate registrations, filing of returns, assessments etc, the process of which is itself very taxing upon both the administrator and the dealer which could be escaped , thus realizing the same results.

Further, in case of distribution business the rate of 1% is very high for a distributor to pay, where the net saving varies from 1.5% to 2.5%. If this 1% Cess is levied on the net saving of a distribution business of 1.5% to 2.5%,
then, the actual rate of tax in percentage rate amounts to 40% to 60% of the net income, which is extremely high

and

which makes the whole business of distribution unviable and will lead to substantial reduction of VAT collection if the matter is not considered in the right perspective.

Further, it is difficult for a retailer to pay from his pocket 1% out of his net saving which may range from 4 to 5%. Here also the burden of Cess on retailer ranges from 20% to 25% of his net income.

It is, therefore, urgently requested that the matter be taken up in the right earnest to make the system of collection of ECOLOGY & ENVIORNMENT CESS as friendly as the noble thought itself and also be easy/simple/less time consuming and a tax on tax and not an independent tax.

The Ecology & Environment Cess should not be more than
1% OF THE VAT ( TAX ) AMOUNT

And should be charged at the end of financial year based on the VAT deposit of the dealer. This way revenue is collected for a good purpose without pinching too much the economic viability of the dealer.

With warm regards,

Yours Faithfully,

( S.K.Sarda)
President
Sikkim Chamber of Commerce

15% GROWTH OF INDIAN ECONOMY FOR NEXR 5 YEARS- AKASH PRAKASH

Fund manager and chief executive of SingaporePte Ltd Akash Prakash says he is cautious on global markets, but positive on India. In an interview, Prakash says he expects Indian markets to record a compounded annual growth rate of 15% in the next five years. Edited excerpts: Is there more juice in the global rally?

I am a little cautious on the global markets, actually. I think maybe the S&P 500 may hit 950-960 or 975, and I would be very surprised if it gets beyond that. Let's say maybe 1,000. But I am not of the camp that (says) you are going to see 1,100 or 1,250 on the S&P. I think the US markets will take a breather for some time here.
People are talking about those levels--1,1001,200--fuelled by li quidity and momentum. You don't agree?

I still feel that the US and OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) economies have a serious economic problem and I think the investors are getting a little complacent in those markets. So I don't think that it will get there. But again, it is very difficult to predict where the liquidity is going to take the markets. It can take the markets to levels that you cannot anticipate. So that is possible. But fundamentally, I don't think that can happen. I think the markets will stabilize or remain range-bound at these levels.

Last time when there was a cor rection--it was an 810% dip--and that dip got bought. Do you expect the (next) correction to follow similar patterns?
Yes. Which is why I think you don't have a huge downside.

I think the investors are caught in the sense that a large amount of the real money or the long-term money has been under-invested in equities. They need to rebalance allocations.

The other aspect is the amount of money lying in MFs (mutual funds), as a percentage of the market cap, is the highest ever.

So there seems to be a lot of money waiting on the sidelines, both in terms of asset allocation as well as in terms of sitting in cash or quasi-cash kind of instruments. So I do see that any significant drop will be bought into.

What about India? The Nifty went to 4,000 swiftly after the Budget and then bounced from there. Do you see a strong base there in case a correction materializes?
I think in the next three months India will catch a breath. I think we had a huge move and I think we are going to be in a trading zone for some time because of the quantum of the move.

We need to digest some of these gains. So for the next three months, we are in trading zone. But I think from a three-five-year perspective, India is one of the most exciting markets and I genuinely believe that.

The stars are aligning for India from a long-term perspective and I think a lot of investors are beginning to understand that and for next three months we are going to be stuck in a range.

By when do you think we will get into an earnings growth trajectory which is supportive of reasonably good expansion in valuation multi ples and a bull market?
The second half of this year.
Because the base effect is so negative for the last three quarters, in the second half of this year, you will come up against very easy comparisons.

So, on a year-on-year basis, you will start to see strong earnings growth, which will excite the markets.

Even if we do consolidate for six months, is it likely that in 2010, the Sensex can get back to a new high...around 21,000?
It is tough to say. In 2010, 21,000 may be difficult. I think we should assume that in the next five years if we do 15% compounded for the markets, which is what our long-term trajectory for India is, I think we can.

On the downside for the Sensex, do you think that sub12,000 is possible? Or is it 8,000?
I think it's difficult to be precise about numbers. But 8,000 is not what I think. I think the general awareness among the investors is that this is a different kettle of fish in terms of this government.

I think they are talking a lot of positive things and hopefully you will see some action...

So I don't think that the range that we saw in early March is relevant anymore, unless you expect a total meltdown in the US, which I don't expect.

source:cnbctv18@livemint.com

sikkim university completes two years- celebrations on

GANGTOK, July 25: Sikkim University has just completed two years and as part of its Foundation Day celebrations, the University is organizing a month long socio-cultural and academic programme starting from the July 27.

Participants from various schools and colleges from both within and outside Sikkim have been invited to take part in this month long programme.

The Foundation Day celebrations will start with an Inter College debate. Students of the affiliated colleges of Sikkim University will take part in this competition. The topic for the debate would be “Economic Development is more important than protection of the Environment’ and will be held at Sikkim Government College, Tadong, at 9.30 am. Padmashree GS Lama will be the Chief Guest and Sonam Wangdi, former Chief Secretary will chair the proceedings.

This will be followed by a SPIC MACAY programme on August 2, where Ms Malabika Sen, a well known Kathak exponent will perform. CB Karki, Minister, Department for Rural Management and Developments and Cooperation Departments will be the Chief Guest.

On August 10, there will be a day long Seminar on the theme- Higher Education : Problems & Prospects. NK Pradhan, Minister Human Resource Development Department, will be the Chief Guest.

‘Sawaney Jhari’ an Inter College Cultural show will be presented before a selected audience on the August 8. Neeru Sewa, Minister, Industry, Commerce and Information and Public Relations, will be the Chief Guest.
The valedictory function will be attended by the Chancellor of Sikkim University, Prof MS Swaminathan, the Father of the Green Revolution. He will be delivering the Foundation Day lecture at Chintan Bhawan in the forenoon. Chief Minister Pawan Chamling will be the Chief Guest. In the afternoon session, four eminent public intellectuals will discuss the books written by His Excellency BP Singh, the Governor of Sikkim.

SIKKITEX 09 IN SEPTEMPER 2009 IN SIKKIM

GANGTOK, July 25: The State Information & Technology department has announced its plans to host a two day IT fair cum exhibition ‘SIKITEX 09’ this September in tune with the State government’s priority on information technology.

With a view to make Sikkim a favorite IT destination, the ‘SIKITEX 09’ will be organized at Chintan Bhavan on September 17 and 18.

The broad objective of organizing this event is to bridge the gap between the companies and the customers of all segments.

‘SIKITEX 09’ will provide market exposure to various companies and enable them to set up business in Sikkim, it is informed

UTN CUMPULSORY FOR ALL IT ASSESSEES FROM 1.1.2010

13:51 IST
Lok Sabha

The Government has decided to make it compulsory to quote Unique Transaction Number (UTN) in the Income-tax return forms to be filed by all the assessees to whom such number has been allocated by the Income-tax Department. Since the UTN has not been communicated to the taxpayers, therefore, the requirement of quoting UTN in Income-tax return form for assessment year 2009-10 has been kept in abeyance.

Unique Transaction Number would be allotted against each transaction in which tax has been deducted or collected at source. It is proposed to make it compulsory to quote this Number in the Income-tax return forms so as to ensure prompt verification and granting of tax credits to the tax payers.

This system of allotting Unique Transaction Number is expected to become operational by 1st January, 2010.

This information was given by Minister of State for Finance, Shri S.S. Palanimanickam in written reply to a question raised in Lok Sabha today.

BSC/BY/GN-276/09

PROMOTION OF TOURISM IN NORTH EAST

Promotion of Tourism
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

11:46 IST
Lok Sabha

24 JULY 2009

The number of domestic and foreign tourist visits to the North-Eastern states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura during the years 2005, 2006 and 2007 are given below: -

Year 2005 2006 2007

Domestic Tourist Visits 3518671 4457275 4726218
Foreign Tourist Visits 36866 38572 43058

The Minister of State in the Ministry of Tourism Shri Sultan Ahmed said in the Lok Sabha today in a written reply that Providing of accommodation facilities to tourists is mainly a private sector activity. As on 31.12.2007, there were 739 rooms in 17 classified hotels in the North-Eastern States.

Development of tourism infrastructure at different places, including those in the North-East, is primarily the responsibility of the State government/ UT Administrations. However, the Ministry of Tourism extends Central Financial Assistance (CFA) to State government/ UT Administrations for tourism projects, under the scheme of Product/Infrastructure Development for Destinations and Circuits on the basis of proposals received from them which are complete in all respect as per the scheme guidelines, inter-se priority and subject to availability of funds. The amount and number of tourism projects sanctioned by Ministry of Tourism to North-Eastern States during 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09 were as under: -

Year
Number of Projects
Amoun (Rs. in Lakh)

2006-07
73
Rs. 14570.22

2007-08
86
Rs. 17468.72

2008-09
76
Rs. 19737.55


The safety and security of tourists is also primarily the responsibility of State governments/ UT Administrations. Some of the states have deployed Tourist Police at important tourist destinations, in one form or the other.

AD/DB

PLACE YOUR GRIEVENCE WITH PRESIDENT OF INDIA BY E MAIL

24 JUKY 2009

The President of India, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil inaugurated the Rashtrapati Bhavan Helpline Portal at Rashtrapati Bhavan today.

The portal at the internet URL http://helpline.rb.nic.in seeks to make the process of sending grievances to the President easier. The portal is user friendly and its highlights are as follows:

· Lodging of request/grievance by clicking “Lodge a Request/Grievance” from any place any time (24X7) basis.

· Generation of Unique Registration Number (URN) for every request/grievance.

· Citizen can track the status of their request/grievance real time online.

· Acknowledgement by e-mail, if provided.

· Instant and easy communication between nodal Public Grievance officers of Government Organizations.

· Integration with Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS).

· Automatic Online Data transmission between Ministries/Department/Organization and the subordinate organizations.

· Constant update on the status of request/grievance received and acted upon by the President’s Secretariat.

Its special features are:

· Enables lodging of lengthy e-petitions.

· Enables supplementary attachment of scanned documents.

· Additional mode of acknowledgement through e-mails.

· On submission of registration form, petitioner gets a Unique Registration Number (URN).

Once the request/grievance is scrutinized by the Helpline Main Desk at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the following actions would take place:-

· Scrutinize requests/grievances and assign appropriate grievance category.

· Decide on action required.

· Online forwarding of requests/grievances to Ministries/Departments/State Governments.

· Reminders sent electronically.

· Action taken is update on the ‘Updates Action Form’ at Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) level.

· The action taken report is reviewed by the higher authority before closure under the Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS).

*****

DRINK WATER ON EMPTY STOMACH FOR HEALTH

Medical Benefits of Drinking Water On Empty Stomach.

DRINK WATER ON EMPTY STOMACH:

It is popular in Japan today to drink water immediately
after waking up every morning. Furthermore,
scientific tests have proven its value. We publish
below a description of use of water for our readers.
For old and serious diseases as well as modern illnesses
the water treatment had been found successful
by a Japanese medical society as a 100% cure
for the following diseases:

Headache, body ache, heart system, arthritis, fast heart beat,
epilepsy, excess fatness, bronchitis asthma, TB, meningitis,
kidney and urine diseases, vomiting, gastritis, diarrhea,
piles, diabetes, constipation, all eye diseases, womb,
cancer and menstrual disorders, ear nose and throat diseases.

METHOD OF TREATMENT

1. As you wake up in the morning before brushing teeth,
drink 4 x 160ml glasses of water

2. Brush and clean the mouth but
do not eat or drink anything for 45 minute

3. After 45 minutes you may eat and drink as normal.

4. After 15 minutes of breakfast, lunch and dinner
do not eat or drink anything for 2 hours

5. Those who are old or sick and are unable to drink
4 glasses of water at the beginning
may commence by taking little water
and gradually increase it to 4 glasses per day.

6. The above method of treatment will cure diseases
of the sick and others can enjoy a healthy life.

DEMAND FOR SPORTS ACADEMY IN SIKKIM- O T LEPCHA

GANGTOK, July 24: The lone Rajya Sabha MP from Sikkim OT Lepcha today requested the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs to establish a Sports Academy in Sikkim and help in establishing other sports campuses besides extending support to Sonam Gyatso Mountaineering Institute so that young boys and girls of Sikkim can show their potential in the international arena and enhance the prestige of the nation.

Moving his resolutions on ‘urgent public importance’ in the Rajya Sabha today, Mr. Lepcha urged the government to prepare an action plan for the all round development of the State of Sikkim, to connect the State with air and rail link at the earliest and also to improve the road infrastructure in the State by acceding to the proposal received from the State Government so as to bring the people of Sikkim in the mainstream of the country.

Mr. Lepcha has also urged the government to consider appointment of the people of Sikkim to Constitutional posts and in other higher authorities as well as to develop Sikkim as an international tourist destination in view of its vast potential and to reserve the natural reserves of the sTATE.

american dragons in sikkim

SIKKIM: American Dragons conclude their experiential trip of Sikkim

GANGTOK:22 JULY 2009: The Himalayan State of Sikkim has its fair share of dragon mythologies due its proximity with Bhutan ‘The Kingdom of Dragon’ and Tibet Autonomous Region. These legends are being brought to life by Directorate of Handloom and Handicraft where local youths are being trained in the traditional art of carving woodcrafts of the dragons.

Interestingly, Sikkim has attracted the attentions of an atypical dragon from the far West-‘Where There Be Dragons’, a commercial venture based in Colorado in USA which specializes in sending students for ‘experiential trips’ in several nations as part of Dragon programmes.

The company’s Dragons programmes are authentic, rugged and profound learning adventures that expose the beautiful and complex realities of the countries in which the students are sent for learning trips in exotic corners of the world including the Himalayan regions as part of ‘Himalayan Studies Semester’ which is a college accredited abroad programme focusing on culture and religion.

In this ‘Himalayan Studies Semester’, the company has designed a special Dragon programme for Sikkim during summer break and has been sending batches of students along with their instructors annually to the Himalayan State for experiencing and learning on ground levels.

“The students are here to learn about the culture, spirituality, religious practices and getting to know about the local communities through homestays in rural areas”, said Germaine Barlett-Graff, the instructor of the American study group sent by ‘Where There Be Dragons’.

As another instructor Dan Meyer puts it that earlier the company used to focus its programmes in Nepal but due to the political turmoil in the recent years, the company has now detoured to Sikkim where American students have been regularly visiting this State since 2004.

Due to the political circumstances in Nepal we started thinking alternatives, Sikkim was the logical choice for the Dragons programme and we started bringing students here, said Mr. Meyer.

A total of nine students which included seven girls in the age group of 15 to 19 years and studying in Grade 10 to first year in college had come to Kalimpong and Sikkim for a month long study trip this summer.

The trip concluded today and the students today packed up and left for Kolkatta from where they will catch a flight to USA.
Speaking to media today morning, Ms Graff and Mr Meyer said the students stayed for one week in Kalimpong for coming to Sikkim for a three week tour.

The participating students were Alex Henderson, Aaron Guggenheim, Ella Samuel, Birgette Barneto, Sarah Rundolph, Sarah Blau, Arnie Salzman, Oliva Marder and Cecila D’ Anastesio.

“We gave more focus on homestays as the idea of the programme was to have intimate connections with the locals and homestays were the best way to see how the daily lives unfold here. The students and the host families get to know each other more”, said Mr. Meyer.

“The students were given numerous lectures and talks by local people and through these lectures, the students have got a solid base. The feedback from the students has been positive who have food Sikkim at the top of most experiential tour”, said Mr. Meyer.

“Dragons will be back again in Sikkim next summer”, said Ms Graff.

Apart from the general course, each student took up a short apprenticeship in varied fields like Tibetan cooking, Indian sweets, jewelry making, Sarangi, NGOs, photo journalism, yoga and Muglai cooking.

Local photo journalist Vishal Cintury had given a five day training on photo journalism to the American student group.

During their stay in Sikkim, the American students toured parts of West and East Sikkim and also visited several monasteries like Tashiding monastery, Pemayangtse monastery and Chorten monastery.

Regarding the company’s name as ‘Where There Be Dragons’, the 15 year old company says in its website that on ancient maps dragons were drawn to symbolize the unknown and to travel beyond the familiar world was to go ‘where there be dragons’.

RAILWAYS TO REACH RANGPO BY DEC 2015

GANGTOK (PIB):24 JULY 2009:

The Railways have set a target of December 2015 for the completion of Sevoke-Rangpo rail project for which plan outlay has been fixed at Rs 10 crore in 2009-10.

The final location survey contract has already been awarded.

In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State in the Ministry of Railways, E Ahamed informed about the sections that have been completed during the last five years in North East States. These are Samuktala-New Bongaigaon of New Jalpaiguri-New Bongaigaon Gauge Conversion (61 kms), Alipurduar-Bamanhat Gauge Conversion (80 kms), Manu-Agartala of Kumarghat-Agartala New Line (89 kms) and Senchoa-Silghat Gauge Conversion (62 kms).

In all, 16 projects fully/partly in North Eastern Region are in progress which includes New Maynaguri-Jogighopa, Sevoke-Rangpo. Gauge conversion is also on which includes New Jalpaiguri-Siliguri-New Bongaigaon

sOURCE: sIKKIM eXPRESS