Kalimpong Six eye Sydney music meet

(From left) Birmit, Prayash and Bidan at Prayash’s house in 7th Mile in Kalimpong. (Chinlop Fudong Lepcha) TT,Kalimpong, Oct. 8: Six young violinists from the hill town will participate in the Siliguri leg of the Global Youth Music Competition on Saturday. The winner of the contest, organised by Lions Club International, will get to participate in the Calcutta leg of the event. The top position holder from Calcutta will compete at the national-level, which will be held at Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh. The victor from Hyderabad will get an opportunity to compete at the main event in Sydney in Australia, which will be held next year. Bidan Biswakarma, 17, Prayash Biswakarma, 11, Ankit Rai, 18, Dipen Sunwar, 19, Birmit Lepcha, 19, and Savitri Khawas, 18, will perform at the event in Siliguri. The music competition is open for all below the age of 25 years. Bimal Agarwal, a member of Lions Club of Siliguri Magnum, said: “This event will not only promote social and cultural understanding and appreciation among the people, but it will also underscore our commitment to the youth.” Speaking over the phone from Siliguri, Agarwal said, with this initiative, the Lions community hopes to reach a new target audience through music. While only the winner of the competition in Siliguri will qualify for the next level, there will be prizes and certificates for the second and third position holders as well. The six contestants from here are excited about the competition even though they hardly had any time to prepare. “I got to know about the competition today. But since the contest does not require us to play a particular genre of music, I will go there and play a piece of my choice, to the best of my abilities,” said Bidan, a former student of Gandhi Ashram here. Prayash has entertained audiences in many places within the country and abroad. The student of Dr. Graham’s Homes, whose forte is western classical music, has also practised with the Calcutta Chamber Orchestra. BLESS KALIMPONG Pix: Samiran Paul Mohan C. Lazarus was the main speaker of a programme Bless Kalimpong organised by Christian Community of Kalimpong at Mela Ground on 8th and 9th October for the prosperity and peace in Kalimpong. दुइ दिवसीय आनन्दको मोहत्सव सम्पन्न Samay dainik, Gangtok गान्तोक,7 अक्टोबर। सम्पूर्ण सिक्किमको शान्ति, सुरक्षा र समृद्धिको लागि सम्पन्न गरिएको राज्यव्यापी दुइ दिने आनन्दको महोत्सव 2009 सफलताका साथ सम्पन्न भयो। स्थानीयगार्ड्‌स मैदानमा भेला भएका 20 हजारभन्दा अधिक जनसमुहबीच राज्यका मुख्यमन्त्री पवन चामलिङ र मानव संसाधन विकास विभाग मन्त्री एनके प्रधान क्रमैले पहिलो र दोस्रो दिन मुख्य अतिथिको रूपमा उपस्थित थिए। यस महोत्सवका मुख्य वक्ता मोहन सी लाजरसले बाइबल धर्मशास्त्र सन्दर्भ झिक्दै मानिस सुखी रहनलाई भौतिक पूर्णताले मात्र होइन अपितुः मानिसले प्राप्त गर्ने शान्ति, आनन्दको बाटो डर र भयले बन्द गरिदिन्छ, डर र भय मानिसमा तबसम्म रहिरहन्छ जबसम्म उ भित्र पाप रहिरहन्छ भन्दै यसकै कारण समाज र देशमा समाजिक, विकृतिहरू जस्तै चोरी , हत्या, अहिंसा, शारीरिक, मानसिक रोग अनि लागू पदार्थको कुलत आदिको बन्धनमा पार्दछ, जसले गर्दा हामी पछौटे र अविकसित बन्दछौ भनी बताए। उल्लेखनीय छ, यस उत्सवको आयोजना यीशुले छुट्‌कारा दिनुहुन्छ सेवकाई चेन्नई र अखिल सिक्किम इसाई कल्याण सङ्घको संयुक्त तत्वावधानमा भएको थियो। North Point Assesses itself St Joseph’s College: Aiming high, ‘independently’ VIVEK CHHETRI TT, Darjeeling, Oct. 8: St Joseph’s College (North Point) has set up an independent committee to assess the institution and suggest measures to improve the overall standard of education. The three-member committee from Xavier’s Institute (Management and Development Studies), Jabalpur, started the assessment today and present and former teachers, students and the alumni will be involved in the initiative. “We want to look into various aspects of teaching and explore future initiatives that can be launched in the college. The assessment is the first-of-its-kind in the college,” said the principal, Father K.L. George. The panel is being headed by Father Sebasti L. Raj, director, Xavier’s Institute, and his colleagues, Father Sanjay Kujur and Mehul Chauhan. “The committee will speak to the students, faculty, retired teachers and members of the college alumni association. The team will be in Darjeeling till October 13,” said George. North Point — a co-educational college — is considered one of the best in the Darjeeling hills and offers self-financing courses like BCA, BBA, mass communication, microbiology and computer sciences, apart from courses in the regular arts and science streams The University Grants Commission carries out assessments of colleges across India every five year through the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). “We have the NAAC accreditation but we want an independent assessment to be better equipped for the future,” said the principal. During the last NAAC assessment, the college had been graded B++. The UGC determines the volume of funds to be released to colleges based on the grades the institutions are given. The college which is being run by the Darjeeling Jesuits of North Bengal was initially affiliated to Calcutta University. Now it is under North Bengal University. Shower boon for gardens in Dooars TT, Alipurduar, Oct. 8: The incessant rain that has been lashing the Dooars for the past two days may be a cause of concern for the tour operators in the region but it has made the managements of tea gardens very happy. The rain will help extend the period of plucking the season-end crop by at least a month. S.K. Pathak, the chief advisory officer of Tea Research Academy in Nagrakata, said: “A long and dry spell had prevailed over the Dooars for few months. But the rainfall in the past 36 hours will be beneficial for the tea bushes. The area has received 10 to 12 inches of rainfall, which is rare during this time of the year. The rain will increase the moisture in the soil.” Amitangshu Chakroborty, the secretary of the Indian Tea Planters’ Association (ITPA) of Birpara, said: “Rainfall during this time of the year will be good for the bushes. This year, the plucking of the season-end crop will be extended till December instead of ending in November. This means that the gardens will be able to pluck the leaves for at least an extra month. The tea market is very good now and the rain will also improve the quality of the produce.” Chakroborty said a balance of moisture, humidity and temperature is essential for good quality produce on time. Last year after pruning, the first flush was delayed as the bushes took a lot of time to grow. However, the leaves are expected to sprout early this year, as the soil is likely to retain moisture after receiving more than adequate rainfall, he said. Chakroborty added that on many tea estates, the irrigation begins in November. But because of heavy rain this year, irrigation will be required only at a much later stage. “Chamurchi Tea Estate has received 14 inches of rainfall in the past 36 hours. During the dry spell last month, the bushes were attacked by insects. The shower at this time will minimise the damage caused by pests to a large extent,” Chakroborty said. ABAVP demands leader’s release SNS, JALPAIGURI, 8 OCT: Akhil Bhartiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad supporters today held a protest rally at Satali gram panchayat area near Hasimara demanding immediate withdrawal of all cases against an ABAVP leader lodged by the RSP on 6 October. The police have arrested ABAVP leader, Mr Bikash Oroan in connection with the murder of an RSP leader Heera Lohar on 25 September. According to the ABAVP Hasimara-Jaigaon zonal committee president Mr Raju Bara, the RSP leadership has filed false cases against 15 AVABP leaders implicating them of an attack on the RSP office at Old Hasimara. “On 25 September, RSP Malangi gram panchayat member Heera Lohar was assaulted by some youths at Haldibari Tea Estate near Kalchini and died of his injuries. The police have arrested ABAVP leader Mr Bikash Oroan in connection with the RSP leader's death but he is not involved in the incident,” Mr Bara claimed. Demanding immediate release of their leader and exonerating him of all charges, the ABAVP supporters organised a rally at Old Hasimara area on 6 October and subsequently ransacked the local RSP party office. According to Mr Bara, the ABAVP is not involved with the ransacking. “The people were excited and ransacked the RSP office but the RSP and police are targeting us to demoralize our movement before the forthcoming Kalchini Assembly by-poll,” he alleged. “If the police do not withdraw the cases against Mr Oraon, we would launch a political movement in the Dooars,” he threatened. Commenting on the matter the RSP Opposition leader in Kalchini panchayat samiti Mr John Philip Xalxo said that the police should immediately arrest the accused ABAVP activists. “They have killed our leader Heera Lohar and ransacked our party office as well. We would not allow them to create any nuisance anymore and hence if the police fail to arrest them we would launch a movement to mount pressure,” he said. The SDPO Alipurduar Mr Pradip Dutta said that they have already deployed sufficient force at Hasimara to avert any breach in law and order. Trinamul vows to secure Kalchini & Raiganj this bypolls SNS, JALPAIGURI, 8 OCT: The Trinamul Congress Jalpaiguri district leadership today stated it would claim both the Kalchini and Rajganj Assembly seats in the forthcoming bypolls in the state. According to the Trinamul Congress district president, Mr Krishna Kumar Kalyani, they would send an official letter to Miss Mamata Banarjee within 11 October informing her to stake claim for both the segments. “The Congress does not have a support base at Rajganj. The Trinamul Congress is the dominant partner in the segment and so there is no question of sacrificing the seat to the Congress. We have started campaigning at Rajganj and held our first election campaign at Takimari today,” Mr Kalyani said. According to him, the Congress has lost its dominance at Kalchini. “The former Kalchini Congress MLA Mr Paban Lakra has joined the Trinamul along with his supporters. He was also the Trinamul candidate for the Alipurduar Parliamentary constituency in the Lok Sabha polls this year,” Mr Kalyani added. Along with that former Alipurduar RSP MP Mr Joachim Buxla has brought great support strength to the Trinamul. His joining has eroded the RSP support base at Kalchini and swelled the Trinamul vote bank instead. Moreover, Mr Buxla's wife and Opposition leader of Kalchini panchayat samiti Mrs Malati Buxla has joined the Trinamul with her supporters as well. “All these developments have turned the Trinamul stronger than the Congress at Kalchini, which is why we would claim the Kalchini Assembly seat as well,” Mr Kalyani claimed. “I would visit Alipurduar tomorrow and hold an election meeting at Kalchini the day after with the local Trinamul leaders on the issue. “However, Ms Mamata Banerjee would take the final decision on the matter,” he added. The Congress is but against relinquishing the Kalchini Assembly seat to the Trinamul. The Jalpaiguri Congress district president Mr Biswaranjan Sarkar today said that they would not “sacrifice” Kalchini to the Trinamul. “We are ready to give up Rajganj to the Trinamul as we do not have organizational strength in that segment but Kalchini has traditionally been a Congress stronghold. There is no question of giving up Kalchini,” Mr Sarkar claimed. The Trinamul district leadership today sent a memorandum to the SP Jalpaiguri Mr Anand Kumar requesting him to withdraw the cases that police had started against the party’s Rajganj block president Mr Khageshwar Roy along with five other party leaders. According to the Trinamul leadership, the charges against Mr Roy and other leaders had been framed by the CPI-M. Trinamul may join Cong if ties with LF severed SNS, SILIGURI, 8 OCT: The Siliguri Municipal Corporation mayor issue is getting conditional between the Trinamul and the Congress by the day with the Congress today hinting a willingness to ask the Trinamul to join the SMC board. However, the latter have also kept a condition that the Congress have to “severe their ties with the Left Front.” Denying any tie-up with the Left Front, the Congress leadership, however, appealed to the Trinamul to join it in the SMC. According to the district Congress president Mr Shankar Malakar, the SMC Mayor is likely to send a letter to the Trinamool tomorrow offering the deputy mayor and seven MIC posts. “We have appealed to the Trinamul councillors to join the SMC board. We are ready to offer all MIC posts and the deputy mayor slot to the Trinamul. We contested jointly with the Trinamul and would like to keep the alliance intact,” Mr Malakar added. The Trinamul leadership seemed willing to join the SMC board but there is a rider. The Trinamul leadership wants the Congress Mayor to resign her post first and break ties with the Leftists. “Let them first snap ties with the CPI-M and then we would consider the matter. We would not accept any post under a Mayor, elected with the Left Front’s support,” the Trinamul Darjeeling district president, Mr Gautam Deb said today after a meeting with party leaders and councillors. The Congress leadership, however, rejected any possibility of the Mayor resigning her post. “The Congress did not seek any support from the Left Front. Our mayoral nominee won on the election floor. The question of the Mayor’s resignation therefore does not arise,” said Mr Malakar. The Trinamool would convene a mass convention on 24 October and seek the people's suggestion on the issue. The Trinamul would also organise a movement against alleged corruption in the North Bengal University and demand a white paper on the controversial Kawakhali land deal. The Trinamul would also gherao the Siliguri-Jalpaiguri Development Authority office, Mr Deb added. Siliguri under water as drains overflow SNS, SILIGURI, 8 OCT: Around 6,000 people were affected as several parts of Siliguri went under water due to torrential rain since Tuesday evening. Several houses, two culverts and a bridge were totally damaged in several Wards. The Siliguri Municipal Corporation mayor, Ms Gangotri Datta, along with other officials, visited the areas to take stock of the situation. The SMC mayor complained of poor maintenance of the drainage system. Delayed work of high drains caused water logging in some places near Bardhhaman Road. “The drains were not maintained properly and work of high drains in some places have not been completed on time. Initiative was not taken by the previous board to solve the problem,” Ms Datta said after visiting the affected areas. “I have asked the officials to take swift action in the affected areas. The damaged culverts and bridge would be partly opened soon. I have asked to make temporary arrangements to connect the areas, at least to allow the residents to cross the canals,” the mayor said. The corporation has set up a camp at the Samarnagar High School. The stagnant water has affected several areas of ward nos. 4, 5, 23 and 46. The water level is about a foot high in Netaji Nagar, Utpal Nagar areas of ward number 46. “I visited the area and almost every house has been affected by water. A camp has been set up and irrigation officials are taking action to clear the water,” said councillor, Mrs Sikha Roy. The mayor also held a meeting with the irrigation officials over the situation. “We are now trying to help the victims. “Later we would take proper action to improve the drainage system,” he said. THIS IS THE FINAL BATTLE

SE,DARJEELING, October 7: A resounding all round show by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, who has been spearheading the Gorkhaland movement, across the Darjeeling hills on the occasion of its second foundation day celebration despite poor weather conditions today have reignited great hopes among the people here.

Even as the rains showed so sign of relenting and fog sticking in the hills, GJM chief Bimal Gurung showed great enthusiasm while hoisting the party flag at Chowrastha at 11.19 am.

Matching their chief’s passion, Gorkhaland Personnel (GLP) gave a smart guard of honour to Mr. Gurung.

The incessant rainfall then compelled the organizers to shift the celebration venue to the indoors of Gorkha Rangmanch Bhavan.

In his address, Mr. Gurung promised to the 1986 martyrs that Gorkhaland will be achieved at any cost by his party.

“Gorkhaland by 2010 was my vision but unfortunately Bharatiya Janta Party could not form the government at the Centre and blame was leveled on us. But records of our issue are there at the Parliament. Now, our job is to make it successfully by approaching from all angles”, said the GJM chief. He pointed out that even though Darjeeling MP Jaswant Singh has been ousted from BJP, GJM still remains allied with the national party.

At the same breath, Mr. Gurung said that alliance with BJP is issue based and GJM could break bread with other parties. ‘We can also talk with Congress. Earlier, we are not allowed to ally with Congress due to the personal interests of few people’, he said.

The GJM president also announced several programmes of the party including appealing the people to wear their traditional attire on October 24. He said that college students and lectures should wear traditional attire on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays of every week.

“We had said that by wearing our traditional attire we want to show that nothing here matches with Bengal. Everyone wore their traditional attire last year. This time we did not force anyone but even our representatives did not wear traditional attire. This is a cultural revolution”, said Mr. Gurung. He added that the movement for Gorkhaland is not limited to Darjeeling interests only but is an issue of identity for all the Gorkhas spread across the nation.

“This is the final battle. We have said to all of them”, said the GJM president. He also highlighted the sensitiveness of Darjeeling area surrounded by four international borders.

Mr. Gurung also announced a protest rally tomorrow against the massacre of Nepali speaking people at Assam by NDFB militants.

“Assam government must give justice to the family members of the victims”, he said

Body found

Islampur: The body of an unidentified man was found near the Teesta Canal at Panjipara on Thursday. Goalpokhor police said there were several injury marks on the body.

Deaths

Siliguri: Tsheiring Lepcha, 25, a resident of Jorethang in South Sikkim, hanged himself in a hotel on Sevoke Road on Thursday. Police also recovered the body of an unidentified man from Hashmi Chawk on Thursday.

Hourly Forecast for Friday Forecast data derived from Weather Underground Forecast System. Kalimpong, India Friday 2 AM 5 AM 8 AM 11 AM 2 PM 5 PM 8 PM 11 PM Temperature / Dew Point (°C): 23 / 23 23 / 23 26 / 24 29 / 24 31 / 27 26 / 25 25 / 24 18 / 17 Heat Index: - - - 33 °C 40 °C - - - Humidity (%): 100% 100% 88% 74% 78% 92% 94% 95% Wind (km/h): 3 km/h West (270°) 2 km/h East (101°) 6 km/h South (181°) 5 km/h SW (234°) 8 km/h WSW (245°) 10 km/h SW (230°) 5 km/h SW (227°) 2 km/h SSW (192°) Conditions: Chance of Rain Overcast Mostly Cloudy Mostly Cloudy Chance of Rain Chance of Rain Chance of Rain Mostly Cloudy Probability of Precipitation (%): 20% 0.51 mm 10% 10% 10% 20% 0.51 mm 20% 1.27 mm 20% 0.76 mm 10% Cloud Cover (%): 51% 95% 86% 87% 39% 48% 36% 79%

Weather report dated 08.10.09

1. Local forecast for next 24 hours (Gangtok & its neighborhood):

Generally cloudy sky (.) Chance of moderate rain or showers (.) Maximum and minimum temperatures likely to be around 21°C and 15°C respectively (.)

2. Gangtok city forecast of Max., Min. & Wx. Condition.

Valid for the period	Max in oC	Min in oC	Rainfall in mm	Wx condition
Next 24 hours	21	15	016.0	Moderate rain or showers.
Next 48 hours	22	15	006.0	Light rain in some areas.

III. Met data dated 08.10.2009

Today’s Sun sets at (in IST)	17:11	Tomorrow Sun rises at (in IST)	05:30
Moon rises at (in IST)	20:56	Moon sets at (in IST)	10:27
24 hours rainfall (in mm)	104.0
Max Temp. (in 0C)	17.6	Dep. from normal	-4.4
Min Temp. (in 0C)	13.6	Dep. from normal	+ 0.6

SEASON's FIRST SNOWFALL

GANGTOK, October 7: Mother Nature generously spread white pillows atop the high altitude areas of Sikkim from yesterday night even as clouds opened up today playing a swansong of the last leg of this monsoon.

Tourists are delighted with the snow, football lovers here at Gangtok feeling miserable with the rainfall. Rainfalls are expected to continue for the next few days, announced our local weatherman.

While moderate to rather heavy rainfall lashed across the State due the monsoon rejuvenated by cyclonic vibrations over Jharkhand, the ensuing dip in the temperatures led to first heavy snowfall of this season in high altitude tourism hotspots like Guru Dongmar in North Sikkim and Nathu La in East Sikkim.

Travel Agents Association of Sikkim (TAAS) general secretary Lokendra Rasaily told SIKKIM EXPRESS that heavy snowfall occurred in the mountainous corridor of Nathu La border while the holy lake of Guru Dongmar is already over a snow cover.

Tourists proceeding to the Nathu La boder could not reach their destination due the heavy snowfall but they are not complaining. Tourists are happy as they got the sight and touch of snowfall.

“It is the first heavy snowfall of the season and a welcome sign for tourists”, said the TAAS general secretary.

Normally in Sikkim, heavy snowfall occurs during the months of November, December, January and February. Snowfall in Sikkim during October is bit early, it is informed.

Though no tourists were standard but it is not sure whether vehicles can negotiate the slippery conditions of the Jawaharlal Nehru Marg from tomorrow.

Further down the border, heavy rains lashed across Tsomgo Lake, Gangtok and almost all parts of the State.

The Gangtok met office here informed that 38.5 mm rainfall was recorded in Gangtok town, 50.3 mm rainfall in Tadong area and 48 m rainfall at Majitar today morning at 8:30 am. In North Sikkim, 42.2 mm rainfall was recorded at Chungthang and 54.6 mm rainfall was recorded at Khamtar, South Sikkim.

Gangtok Metrological Centre director-in-charge K Sitaram said the rainfalls were due to the cyclonic vibrations over Jharkhand and neighbouring areas between 1.5 and 2.6 kms above sea level embedded in East-West troughs. The vigorous monsoons over Jharkhand influenced rainfall in most places including moderate to rather heavy rainfall in Sikkim, he said.

The showers are likely to continue for two more days, said Mr. Sitaram explaining the present weather condition is an extension of monsoons. The monsoons are expected to end by October 12, he added.

Sikkim draws record tourists

Himaliawaaj.com GANGTOK - Tourist arrivals in Sikkim record an increase due to its natural beauty and peaceful environment.

Around 2,80,000 tourists visited Sikkim in the first five months of 2009, which is nearly 35 percent more than the last year.

Some tourists even compare the scenic beauty of the State to some of the cities in Europe.We find Sikkim a very beautiful place. It is very neat, clean and lovely…. You can almost compare it with one of the cities in Europe,” said Arvind Dasyu, a tourist from Maharashtra.

“Just for natural beauty. The town is very much fresh and clean and the people are very much cooperative. So we had the intention to come here,” said Prosonjeet Sarkar, a tourist from West Bengal.

According to the local tour operators, Sikkim came under the focus of tourism from 1992. Since then, tourist arrivals have been increasing at a rapid pace.

“Earlier Sikkim was not in focus but since1992, Sikkim came under the focus of tourism because of its natural beauty. Sikkim has green forests, falls, rivers and streams, mountain peaks which tourists love to see and experience because nowadays people remain busy in their fast lives. So in order to attain peace, they come here,” said Deepak Kumar Rai, a local tour operator.

Sikkim has declared the year 2010 as the Year of Tourism and lined up as many as 13festivals to woo the visitors and develop the tourism sector as its main source of revenue and employment.

Fifty eight million rupees have been injected by the central Government in nineteen projects for infrastructure development of North Sikkim during 2007-08.

The Centre has funded twelve projects as Centrally Sponsored Schemes from Ministry of Tourism; six projects have been funded as the Border Area Development Programme (BADP) while the State government, as per official reports, has funded one project.

Nestling in the Himalayas, Sikkim is the least populous State in India and the second smallest in area after Goa.