EVICTION NOTICE TO 84 DZULUK FAMILIES FOR FOREST ENCROACHMENT
PANKAJ DHUNGEL/AJAY THAMI
GANGTOK/PAKYONG: The Forest department has issued eviction notices to 84 families in Dzuluk, a popular homestay tourism region in far East Sikkim, for allegedly encroaching in forest area. The families are alleged to have made illegal kutcha to RCC constructions ranging from 200 sq ft to 6,000 sq ft in reserve forest area.
In the notice issued on April 7, the Forest department has demanded removal of such ‘illegal structures’ within 15 days.
Forest minister Karma Loday Bhutia told media that settlements in Dzuluk and entire JN Marg (Gangtok-Nathu La road) has increased exponentially over the years. “They are mostly workers and over every election, given their voting rights. The number of voters has also increased, they were welcomed in the previous government. There are innumerable such illegal occupants upon those lands which belongs to Forest department. Under our government, we cannot welcome such illegal occupancy which is continuously increasing,”
Forest PCCF-cum-principal secretary M.L. Srivastava said the department had conducted an extensive survey on the encroached areas. “There is a directive from the Supreme Court of India as well as Forest Ministry, firstly to identify and later to remove or take action on encroachment. Many evictions have been done, but to others notices have been issued. The same notices were issued for months and not only this month, we may stall the date to May 15 keeping the lockdown in mind but eviction will happen eventually,” he said.
“It is lockdown period, but to avoid further encroachment of land, we have to take action. The Forest department is allowed to carry out such activities currently and it is not illegal on our part. There is no problem in eviction after the lockdown ends. Whoever has been issued a notice can delay the eviction process after the lockdown. After the lockdown we will shift them”, stated Srivastava.
The PCCF added that the concerns of the residents of Dzuluk who have settled there for decades would be considered as per the existing laws. We are preparing a solution or settlement with the Union government.
Forest joint director (territorial) Nischal Guatam maintained that encroachment in forest area increased during the 21-day national lockdown.
“We had tried to stop the illegal constructions but the families did not listen to us and we issued them eviction notice as per law. It is a summary eviction and is not a case of their households being removed right now, they can have representation on their behalf. They can place the reason for encroachment within these 15 days also adding the issue of lockdown,” said Gautam.
The whole land is Forest land and illegal settlements cannot be regularised without approval of the Union government, said the joint director.
Meanwhile, the Dzuluk families maintain that they have settled down in the region when Sikkim was still a kingdom and the JN Marg was being constructed then.
Sixty years down the line, the residents share there are 84 households with most being home and a homestay catering to the population of roughly 400 people. They contend that land initially belonged to State Agriculture department in 1978 taken up as a potato farm.
“The residents here date back to the 1960s, admittedly not all of us are Sikkimese citizens but when the Agriculture department closed the potato farm in 1997, the land along with an Agriculture Guest House and its resources were handed over to Self Help Group here”, stated local resident and homestay owner Gopal Pradhan.
At present, Dzuluk is one of the famous eco-tourism destinations in Sikkim. It falls under Old Silk Route and there are nearly sixty household operating home stays and earning their livelihoods.
Most households have a home and a homestay that functions commercially but even though the owner of the two properties is same, notices are issued for both the houses.
“I have been given notice for home and homestay hence the number is being seen as an increase. The government has given us 2 hectares of land through cabinet memorandum in 2017 for the landless people here in Dzuluk as a settlement. We are residing in the same land, and there is no encroachment beyond the allotted land,” said Pradhan.
He informed that in 2005, 60 families were selected under Chief Minister’s Rural Housing Scheme (CMRHM) with a 60 x 60 feet house being proposed. Later in 2016, the numbers increased to 67 houses but initially it was only 60 households.
The user agency for the same is Rural Management department for the 2 hectare land.
Gopal Pradhan further highlighted how seeing the landless people, half acre of land was proposed for all in late 1990s with the same in Dzuluk to be awarded to the 60 households here. “But that time there were no panchayats here and none of the land went to Dzuluk residents but went to others lower down the hill in Phadamchen and Lingtam, they were issued land documents for half acre. We took up flower cultivation for a few years under the State government’s guidance. They even told us to dismantle the guest house or to take up auction for the same. We kept the same and it still exists as a guest house, in 2008 we began tourism from that same guest house,” he said.
Similarly, younger generations who were born at Dzuluk, expressed their sorrows as being born and brought up in the place. They urged the government to take out proper solutions for the cause.
Dzuluk resident Serep Gyalchen Tamang said: “When I came here at Dzuluk there were no road to the village, the road was constructed only up to a small stream. We had Rs. 115 as salary per month, we came across many struggles and made Dzuluk as of today. There were no such Forest rules at the time and we used to pay Re. 1 as a tax to forest personnel. Later, Agriculture department came for the potato farm in the 1970s. Now we have fear of disease (Covid-19), there is no way to go to bring essential commodities and now Forest department comes and ask to evict our house”, he added.
MINISTER HOLDS COORDINATION MEETING FOR SMOOTH CONDUCT OF AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE ACTIVITIES
GANGTOK (IPR): Agriculture and Horticulture minister L.N. Sharma today called a coordination meeting of the concerned departmental officials to gear up for reinvigoration and smooth conduct of agricultural and horticultural activities in the field, amid global COVID-19 crisis. The meeting was held at the conference hall of Tashiling Secretariat, Gangtok.
The meeting also had the presence of Agriculture and Horticulture principal secretary R. Telang, Agriculture secretary Rinzing C. Bhutia, Horticulture secretary M.T. Sherpa, Sikkim Organic Mission CEO Dr. S. Anbalagan and senior officials.
After a daylong brainstorming contemplation and discussion for notable improvement in the departmental activities, minister Sharma directed the concerned officials to train the manpower appointed under ‘One Family One Job’ scheme and make use of the available human resources for execution of the field exercise. He advised officials to educate farmers on technical aspects through training programmes in the field and also to formulate planning for marketing of the agriculture and horticulture produce.
The minister also anticipated for proactive role from the schemes heads and directed for time bound implementation and accomplishment of schemes without any delay. He urged them to act against challenges in the field for the benefits and welfare of the farmers in all districts collectively.
While interacting with the schemes in-charges, Sharma affirmed to carry out extensive exercise for surplus production of vegetables to meet up growing demands. He stressed to ensure availability of quality seeds to the farmers, sufficiently and further urged the officials not to compromise in terms of quality and quantity of seeds at any cost. He urged to put extra efforts to ensure marketing of the production of the farmers.
The minister also directed to identify interested and progressive farmers in the villages and to work out for replacement and repairing of existing structure of green house and to make every structures functional. He urged everyone to extend extra efforts and cooperation to resolve pending issues and administrative affairs for smooth conduct of assigned responsibilities.
The minister also expressed gratitude to the SIMFED and entire team members working in the field tirelessly during the period of Lockdown.
Principal secretary R. Telang urged to focus on motive and objectives of the existence of the department for the welfare of the farmers and their interests. He drew light on core purpose of the department and stressed on the need of improvement in execution of work and urged to shift work culture from reactive to proactive mode.
Telang advised to have proper planning and remain updated on the database of seeds and farmers inputs. He urged to work for increase in the production of seeds in the State. He also suggested to formulate a comprehensive action plan for the production of vegetables and to conduct inter-departmental review meeting on regular intervals for proper implementation of schemes like Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY).
The meeting thoroughly discussed on preparation of strategic planning for surplus production of vegetables, production and marketing practices of various fruits like orange, kiwi, strawberry, avocado, banana, etc., production of spices like cardamom, turmeric, chili, tissue culture of ginger and creation of water resources, integrated post-harvest management and establishment of marketing infrastructure, Integrated Nutrient Management, Integrated Pest Management, National Bamboo Mission under Horticulture department.
Sikkim Organic Mission CEO Dr. S Anbalagan presented a progress report and status of Mission Organic Value Chain Development (MOVCD) and its three components – production, processing and marketing.
Assessment of losses of cut flower in the farmers’ fields during the period of lockdown was also discussed during the meeting.
Liquor trade in Siliguri amid lockdown, accused absconding
Siliguri, 14th April: Multiple complaints regarding liquor trade amid lockdown surfaced from Ward No. 23 area of Siliguri.
The matter came to light when the locals nabbed Sumit Das red-handed selling liquor on Monday and immediately informed the police. Large quantities of liquor were recovered from the accused’s residence.
However, the accused has been absconding ever since the incident. The police visited Sumit’s house once again on Tuesday and learned that another man named Jyango is involved in the incident. Meanwhile, he too is absconding.
Naxalbari Police organizes a blood donation camp
Naxalbari, 14th April: The Darjeeling District Naxalbari Police organized a blood donation camp at the Naxalbari Community Hall under the leadership of Officer-in-charge (OC) Sujit Das.
Civic volunteers and police officials collectively donated 70 units of blood during the camp. The collected blood was then sent to North Bengal Medical College-Hospital.
The police personnel stated that due to the nation-wide lockdown, shortage of blood is being witnessed across the state. Therefore, such an initiative has been taken.sikkimexpress/siliguritimes/from, india
