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Sikkim to be inducted into NEC: Advani

Union Home Minister Lal Kishinchand Advani has informed Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling that the Centre has in principle decided to induct the state into the North Eastern Council, official sources in Gangtok revealed.

A proposal to this effect would be submitted to the Union Cabinet and a Bill introduced in Parliament shortly, he informed a high-level delegation from the state which included the assembly speaker, members of the Cabinet and ruling Sikkim Democratic Front legislators.

Advani also assured that the Centre would soon decide on the reintroduction of helicopter services in the state with a 75 per cent subsidy. He was well aware of the recurring incidence of landslides which severs the state from the rest of the country for weeks on end.

The delegation had raised several developmental issues, including the final approval and clearing of bottlenecks regarding the Sikkim Manipal university. The home minister assured that he would take up the matter with the ministers concerned.

Chamling requested the Centre for the inclusion of Limboo, Tamang, Gurung, Manger and Sunwar communities in the list of scheduled tribes. Further, he asked for the inclusion of Bhuitia, Lepcha and Limboo languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.

The home minister informed the delegation of the Centre's decision to further relax the restricted area permit for foreign tourists, thus promoting tourism in this picturesque state, the home of the world's third highest peak, Mount Kanchenjunga.

He told the delegation that a notification to this effect has been issued, and handed the chief minister a copy.

Sikkim tourism sources said the Centre's decision to relax the RAP would open up new areas to tourists. These include the famous Yumthang valley, home to hundreds of varieties of rhododendrons in the tribal dominated North Sikkim, the Dzongri trekking route, the Mount Khanchenjunga base camp areas in West Sikkim and the famous Mein-Moi-Tso lake situated at an altitude of over 14,000 feet near the famous Indo-Tibet border post of Nathula.

Chamling, for his part, was not pleased with the RAP relaxation. He was concerned about the increasing influx of foreign nationals, mainly from Nepal and Bangladesh, in the strategic border state, and felt that this would eventually disturb the peace and tranquility there.

In order to protect the Sikkimese, the chief minister urged Advani to use the Sikkim subject certificate as a criteria to identify locals from foreigners.

Meanwhile, sources said Defence Minister George Fernandes has assured Chamling that the Centre would augment the resources of the Border Roads Organisation's project Swastik, and take up the restoration work of national highway 31A, the state's life line.

Chamling is learnt to have requested Fernandes to ensure the revival of the helicopter service and construction of an airstrip in the state.

UNI

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