Showing posts with label mirik live news. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mirik live news. Show all posts

मिरिकमा फुटबल कोचिङ शुरु हुने

4:44 PM

१ अगस्तदेखि मिरिकमा फुटबल कोचिङ शुरु हुनेछ । प्रत्येक शनिबार र अाईतबार बिहान ७ बजेदेखि ८ बजेसम्म कोचिङ हुनेछ ।

कोचिङ क्लास यहाँको अाले खेल मैदानमा हुनेछ । कोचिङ क्लास सिलगढीको प्रसिद्ध क्लब डायनमिक फुटबल एकाडेमी अनि कञ्चनजंघा फुटबल क्लब ( केएफसी ) को संयुक्त अायोजनमा कोचिङ क्लास हुने मिरिक स्पोर्टस हाउसले जनाएको छ । ८ वर्षदेखि १९ वर्ष उमेरसम्मको ईच्छुक खेलाडीहरुलाई अंश ग्रहण गराएर फुटबल कोचिङ क्लास हुने जानकारी दिदै यी उमेरका खेलाडीहरुले भर्ना लिन सक्ने पनि बताए ।

तृणमूल स्तरबाट नै बलियो अाधार दिन अनि फुटबलको सठीक ज्ञान दिन फुटबल कोचिङ क्लास अायोजन गरिएको अनि कोचिङमा उत्कृष्ट हुनेहरुलाई इण्डियन अाई लीगमा पठाउने लक्ष्य राखेको अनि अण्डर १९को लागि पनि खेलाडी तयार पार्ने उद्धेश्य राखिएको केएफसीले जनाएको छ । फुटबल एकाडेमी पनि सुचारु हुने जानकारी दिदै एकाडेमी ३० जना खेलाडीहरु लिएर शुरु हुने जसकोलागि १२ जनाले भर्ना लिइसकेको अब १८ जनालाई भर्ना लिन बाँकी रहेको पनि मिरिक स्पोर्टस हाउसले जनायो । एक अगस्तदेखि शुरु हुने फुटबल कोचिङ क्लासको निम्ति मिरिक बजारको स्पोर्टस हाउससंग सम्पर्क राख्न अाह्वान गरिएको छ ।कोचिङको लागि २२ जुलाईसम्म नाम दर्ता गराईसक्नु पर्ने पनि स्पोर्टस हाउसले जनाएको छ ।

via Voice of Mirik

Lights-off protest call in Mirik against bengali language imposition

5:26 PM
TMC

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today asked the residents of Mirik to switch off lights for two hours tomorrow evening when Mamata Banerjee will attend a government programme there.

The Morcha also appealed to students and people to wear black badges during the chief minister's tour of the hills as part of an intensified agitation against the state government's decision to make Bengali learning compulsory at schools.

Binay Tamang, the assistant secretary of the Morcha, said: "We call upon people to switch off lights for two hours from 6pm tomorrow to protest against the imposition of Bengali language on the hill people. We will think that those who don't switch off lights are against Gorkhaland and our language."

The chief minister is slated to attend a government programme at Mirik from 5pm tomorrow.

Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri said the blackout would be restricted to Mirik.

Morcha president Bimal Gurung, along with senior leaders, took part in a march from Ghoom railway station to Chowk Bazar in Darjeeling, a distance of about 8km, today to protest against the language issue.

Mamata will be in Darjeeling for four days from Tuesday. The state cabinet is scheduled to meet in Darjeeling on Thursday.

The Morcha has lined up marches across the hills during the chief minister's tour of the region.

"We request students from Class V onwards to wear black badges at schools till June 9. We also appeal to general public to move around with black badges," said Giri.

Amit P. Javalgi, the superintendent of police, Darjeeling, said permission would be denied to the Morcha to take out processions in Darjeeling and Kurseong on June 6, 7 and 8 "since there will be the movement of a lot of ministers for a government event".

"They could hold processions at other places," added Javalgi.

The police chief said: "We had given permission to hold rallies today. We are giving them (Morcha) permission to organise marches tomorrow (even in Mirik) on condition that they should be peaceful and democratic and should not disturb any government programmes."

Giri said the marches would be peaceful and the Morcha would seek permission for the same in Darjeeling and Kurseong on June 6, 7 and 8.

He asked people to attend a rally from Gorkha Rangamanch Bhavan to Chowk Bazar in Darjeeling on June 6 in traditional attire. Gorkha Rangamanch Bhavan is about 1km from Richmond Hill where Mamata would be staying during her visit.

In Siliguri, BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijavargiya said the state government should have held talks with those who had reservation about the language decision.

"Instead, the state decided to impose a language on the hill people which led to the agitation. Their sentiments have been hurt. The state has made an undesirable move in a democratic system," he said.

Minister Gautam Deb today said in Siliguri: "People are not supporting the Morcha's agitation. Trinamul supporters are relentlessly working to build opinion against the movement. Bimal Gurung is fast losing his support base in the hills and is trying to retain it by duping people."

He said Mamata would reach Bagdogra tomorrow and head for Mirik.(TT)

Mirik: Trinamul's launch pad in hills

12:21 PM

Bireswar Banerjee

Mirik, May 29: From today, Mirik will be Trinamul's new signpost in the Darjeeling hills.
The party is expected to announce and implement a slew of schemes for the hill town and showcase Mirik before the hill people as the example of Mamata Banerjee's development agenda.

"So far, Bengal ministers and Trinamul leaders have highlighted the projects taken up by the state government in the hills. But from now onwards, the new civic board will implement projects in Mirik. The entire Mirik subdivision will witness comprehensive development. It is because of the mandate of Mirik residents that our party is tasting power in the hills," a Trinamul leader here said today, soon after the party's L.B. Rai was sworn in as the Mirik chairman.

He said Mirik would provide Trinamul with a launch-pad to penetrate the rest of the hills, especially before the coming polls to the GTA Sabha.

The Morcha will be under pressure to perform at the three other civic bodies in the hills. Morcha president Bimal Gurung had said after the civic poll results that people had given them "one last chance".

If the civic body in Mirik can establish that it is performing better than the three other boards, there will be more trouble for the Morcha.

Trinamul leader and minister Aroop Biswas affirmed that Rai and his colleagues would have a tough task at hand. "People here have huge expectations from Trinamul councillors and our party. It is obvious that they will have to perform and prove that the peoples' mandate was right. We will constantly monitor the civic body's functioning and extend all necessary help to them," Biswas said.

The hill town today wore a look of celebrations, with the flags of Trinamul and GNLF fluttering across Mirik. The six Trinamul councillors were taken to the municipality building in a bike rally organised by the party supporters.

Some of the councillors were riding pillion.

After the chairman and the vice-chairman were sworn in, the Trinamul supporters took out a procession in which the councillors and minister Biswas took part.

The march ended near Sumendu lake.

The three Morcha councillors left soon after they had taken oath and didn't wait to attend the first board meeting.

[via: Telegraph ]

Alert‬ taxi driver foils alleged trafficking bid, 4 Darjeeling girls rescued

10:43 PM
NGO
Writes Amitava Banerjee, 
7 Jul 2016, DARJEELING: Four local girls were rescued from Darjeeling Hills on Saturday just as they were about to be trafficked, thanks to a vigilant taxi driver who alerted authorities in time.
The incident happened at Mirik, a scenic tourist town in Darjeeling surrounded by tea gardens. However, the economically backward condition of people of the tea gardens and surrounding villages makes it highly vulnerable to trafficking. A number of sex rackets operating from private residences and guest houses were unearthed in SIliguri and other towns of North Bengal recently.
Sailesh Subba, the taxi driver at Krishnanagar taxi stand in Mirik, noticed the four girls talking to a man, who looked like an outsider.
“Recently I had attended an anti-trafficking awareness programme conducted by MARG, an NGO, and police,” Subba told HT. Suspecting something wrong, he approached the girls and learnt that they were going to Bangalore for jobs in a beauty parlour and that the man was escorting them to Siliguri railway station.
He immediately informed the NGO which in turn alerted the police. The four girls and the man were taken into custody for questioning.
Alert‬ taxi driver foils alleged trafficking bid, 4 Darjeeling girls rescued
Sailesh Subba, the taxi driver at Krishnanagar taxi stand in Mirik. (HT Photo)
The girls, aged between 18 and 24 years, revealed that they had undergone a beautician course and were offered jobs in a salon in Bangalore through a manpower placement agency in Kolkata. (The name of the manpower agency and the salon has been withheld for investigation purposes.)
“We found a lot of anomalies in the documents,” investigating officer R K Diyali said. “The Kolkata placement agency document claimed that seven girls would be joining as stewards in F&B service department of the Bangalore based organization. However, the girls had no clue they were joining as stewards. The offer letter from the Bangalore salon claimed they would be joining as hairstylists and beauticians.”
Nirnay John Chettri, president of the NGO, Mankind in Action for Rural Growth (MARG), said they got in touch with “our partner NGO, Justice and Care, in Bangalore. They paid a visit to the salon posing as customers. Except for a massage bed, the single room did not have any equipment used in a salon.”
50-year-old Prabal Mohan Bhattacharya from North 24 Parganas has been arrested and charged under Section 370 IPC (trafficking). “We are thoroughly investigating the case,” the Investigating Officer Diyali said.
Recently four students of Darjeeling Hills had unearthed an international flesh trade racket resulting in the arrest of its kingpin from Gurgaon in Haryana. “Along with the four students we will felicitate Sailesh Subba also,” Chettri said.
Source: hindustantimes

Drinking water crisis in Barakothi in Mirik’s Panighatta tea estate

1:11 PM
 Queuing up entire nights for a pail of water

PRASHANT ACHARYA

PANIGHATTA (MIRIK) 27 Mar 2016 The apathy of the political leadership and local administration has left the residents of Barakothi in Mirik’s Panighatta tea estate with no other option but to fetch drinking water from a considerable distance as the water available locally is too contaminated to drink.

The situation is expected to worsen in Barakothi in the coming months unless help comes by way of summer showers to replenish the area’s main water source, which is drying up quickly. There are 133 eligible voters in Barakothi from the 44 households in total, and they want to cast all the 133 votes to that candidate who would succeed in ensuring adequate and clean drinking water supply were he to win.

Barakothi has been deprived of potable water since October 10 last year, the day when the garden was shut down by its Kolkata-based owner. And there is no sign of the garden reopening anytime soon despite several rounds of meetings. When the garden was operational, a tractor used to supply water to Barakothi by fetching it from a source downhill some 1.5km away.
Drinking water crisis
Drinking water crisis- file photo
Now, the residents have to trek the entire distance down to the stream where they have to queue up for hours and sometimes even entire nights for their turn. "The water flows in a trickle and it takes nearly an hour to fill a 20-litre jar,” said 65-year-old Maili Tamangni. “Sometimes during the day the water runs dry due to the heat forcing us to fancy our chances at night.”

Anup Thapa, a government teacher with Sishu Siksha Kendra, said the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration has already sanctioned Rs16 lakh for a water project and engineers have inspected neighbouring Potong tea estate where the main source of water is located. He also informed that work is going on to connect a pipeline to the main source, which is about 20km from Barakothi. However, the locals said such assurances come only before elections and nothing changes afterwards.



Via EOI

Landslide victims block road in Mirik over rehabilitation demand

10:17 PM

Those affected by the July 2015 landslide that claimed 32 lives in several parts of the Darjeeling hills today paralysed Mirik and its surrounding areas by setting up a road blockade demanding speedy rehabilitation. The victims have come together under the Tingling United Victim Rehabilitation Committee to raise their voice.
On July 1 last year, heavy landslides due to incessant rainfall caused extensive damage to life and property across the hills, with Limbu Gaon in Tingling alone registering 19 deaths. The landslide in the area displaced more than 350 households of which 150 were directly affected and required rehabilitation. It was decided that the state government and the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration would work together to rehabilitate the affected people to a tea garden nearby. The GTA has already given away the compensation it had promised to the families of the Tingling landslide victims.
However, even after six months of the tragedy, the victims are yet to be rehabilitated forcing them take the agitation path. “We were promised to be rehabilitated but that has not happened even after so many months. Now, the monsoon will set in soon and this does not augur well for us. This has left us with no options but to agitate,” said Mani Rizal, the secretary of the rehabilitation committee.
According to administrative reports, the July 1, 2015 landslides destroyed 503 houses fully and 1,414 partially in Mirik and Kalimpong. With no rehabilitation, many victims still continue to take shelter in community halls while several others have started living with their relatives. Around 500-600 people from the eight villages in Tingling squatted on the road since morning with placards in their hands. Schools and government offices remained closed and vehicular movement also came to a halt.
According to the TUVRC secretary, the management of Tingling tea garden, which is owned by the Jayshree Group, had promised to shift the workers to another plot of land in block 10 of the estate. “Earlier, the management had assured to shift us to another area of the garden and we had agreed to the proposal. But the management is going against its promise now. And it wants to know whether the state government or the GTA would provide compensation to the residents for parting with their land,” alleged Rizal.
Meanwhile, the district administration said the issue of resettlement rests with the tea garden management and the government cannot intervene in the matter. “There are two issues that need to be addressed. Firstly, to provide a house building grant to the affected and this is already in progress. The issue of resettling the affected arises next. On this count, the state government cannot impose itself on the garden management as it is an internal matter,” said Darjeeling district magistrate Anurag Srivastava.
The district magistrate maintained that the state government leases out land to gardens and it is the responsibility of the management to rehabilitate workers whenever the need arises. The government is not liable to pay compensation to garden owners, according to Srivastava. “We cannot intervene directly but the management can table a proposal saying the workers are being shifted to another plot. If the proposal meets the lease agreement, the matter can be settled with no further hiccups,” he added.
Arun Sigchi, the GTA Sabhasad from Mirik, said he would approach the tea garden management to settle the issue at the earliest. “We are sympathetically looking into this issue as it is a serious matter. We will sit for talks with the management so as to reach to a conclusion,” he said. Neither the owners nor the management of Tingling tea garden were available for comment even after repeated attempts at contacting them.

Source EOI

MIRIK Landslide: Another Disaster in the Making

10:55 AM
MIRIK:The painful landslide event of last year is still afresh in all of our minds, and the people who were forced to take shelter in relief cams are yet to return to their homes, but the district administration is already starting to lay the ground work for another round of disasters.

Only two months ago Mirik Municipality had completed the drain along the main road leading upto Mirik, and now that drain has been dug up to lay cable for 3G and 4G communications. While we welcome the new technology, what we do not welcome ia the fact that after the cable is laid down, there has been no attempt made to cover the drain and bring it back to its original state.

Why did the government waste money in building the drains, if at the end of they day, they wanted to dig it up anyway? Now thst the cable is laid in many places already, shouldn't the government make sure that the drain is rebuilt?
MIRIK Landslide: Another Disaster in the Making
MIRIK Landslide: Another Disaster in the Making
It might be reminded that much of the landslide in Mirik region last year was due to clogged drains like these, which resukted in water seeling onto the hills, instead of draining out.

We request Mirik Municipality and Darjeeling District Administration to kindly ensure thst the drain is rebuilt as early as possible. Darjeeling cannot afford another round of landslides due to faulty administrative practices.

Arbin Angla Subba for TheDC


TMC kicked of its election campaign in the hills in Mirik

8:02 AM
BIRESWAR BANERJEE

Mirik, Jan. 20: The Trinamul Congress today appealed to the people of Darjeeling hills to give the party a chance in the coming Assembly polls and refrain from voting for the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha which had "fooled" them in the previous elections.

The ruling party today virtually kicked off its election campaign in the hills at Mirik, around 50km from Siliguri, which the state had said would be upgraded from a block to subdivision.

Trinamul secretary general Partha Chatterjee, MP Abhishek Banerjee, minister Arup Biswas and former footballer Bhaichung Bhutia spoke at a public meeting organised at Alley Ground here. The common tone was an appeal to the hill residents to support Trinamul so that development process could be expedited in the hills.

"Seeing the overwhelming response of the residents of the hills here today, I can assure the chief minister that we are going to win the upcoming elections here. I appeal to the residents here not to bow in front of the Morcha, which is trying to lure you with money power. The Morcha and the BJP have made false commitments regularly. Time has come to give them an apt reply. If leaders seek your votes, you just promise them votes. When the elections come, cast your vote against them and for Trinamul. This way, you can fool them, like what they did to you after securing your votes in the previous elections," Banerjee told a gathering of over 3,000 people.

Trinamul Congress TMC election campaign ‪Mirik‬
Trinamul Congress TMC election campaign ‪in Mirik‬
In their attacks, the Trinamul leaders focussed on the Morcha and S.S. Ahluwalia, the BJP MP of Darjeeling.

"Bimal Gurung has realised his ship will capsize soon and he will have to fly from the hills. When the chief minister had said she would turn Darjeeling into Switzerland, many people had laughed at her. But today, these people are singing a popular Hindi song ' Tum to thahre pardesi, saath kya nibhaogey.....' while they address the BJP MP here," minister Biswas said.

Source Telegraph

TMC's ‘show of strength’ in Mirik before Assembly election

11:24 AM

Darjeeling, 19 Jan 2016: Having managed to create a foothold in the hills, the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) now wants to test the waters ahead of the Assembly election and will be holding its first political seminar on Wednesday in Mirik.

To ensure an overwhelming turnout on the day, party heavyweights such as Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee, chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s nephew, Arup Biswas, the minister in-charge of youth services and housing, and former India team football captain Bhaichung Bhutia, will be some of the prominent figures. The TMC has been politically active in the hills, but Wednesday’s programme has been organised strategically since the chief minister will be arriving for a three-day tour on Thursday. The seminar, set to be held atAaley ground, is also likely to pave the way for the TMC’s forthcoming activities in the hills.

TMC's first political seminar on Wednesday in Mirik
TMC (Hills) spokesperson Binny Sharma said: “This is the first time that the party is organising such a political seminar in the hills. It will be a big boost for our hill based leaders and activists. We have mobilised supporters from all the three sub-divisions of the hills. We expect the attendance to be anywhere between 9,000 and 10,000 people.” The Trinamool-led state government, and in particular, the chief minister with her development dollies and boards, has managed to ensnare sections of the hill population. This is in spite of the fact that the TMC is against the statehood demand and politics in the hills revolve around this deeply embedded sentiment. “During the seminar, we expect party leaders from Kolkata to lay out roadmaps and strategies for future activities in the hills,” said Sharma.

“And most importantly, the Assembly election is just around the corner and we want to ensure our party does well in the region.” As a strategic ploy, the Trinamool had fielded Bhutia from Darjeeling constituency in the last Lok Sabha election. But the ace footballer lost to BJP candidate S.S. Ahluwalia, who was supported by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha. But the equations are changing now with the GJM caught blinking when the state cabinet approved the formation of Kalimpong district and Mirik sub-division. In all likelihood, the TMC will capitalise on this development; hence the decision to hold the political seminar in Mirik.

Sharma said: “Besides political activities, we will also deliberate on the state government’s role in developing the hills. Kalimpong will be a district soon and Mirik a sub-division. We will have to focus on the development of Mirik to bring it in the
mainstream because the area has long remained neglected.” Discussions will also be held on the role and work taken up by the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration in developing the hills since its inception in August 2012. “The GTA was formed to develop the hills. The people should be made aware of what exactly it has done in the past three years,” said Sharma. The GJM has been accusing the state government of interference in the independent functioning of the GTA and its reluctance in transferring the departments to the hill body as noted in the GTA Memorandum of Agreement and Act.

Senior GJM leaders were not available for comment, but Arun Sigchi, the Sabhasad from Mirik-Soureni constituency, said, “The TMC, or for that matter, any party, can hold political programmes wherever they want in a democracy. However, the Trinamool’s claim of having established a solid base in the hills will have to be proved when they hold their seminar on Wednesday. We would like to see their supporters from the hills and not the plains.”

Source : EOIC

Darjeeling Trinamul district conference in Mirik

9:10 AM
Siliguri, Jan. 13: Darjeeling Trinamul leaders today said the party's district conference would be held at Mirik on January 20.

This would be the first time that the party would hold its district conference in the hills.

"It has been decided that our Darjeeling district conference will be held at Mirik on January 20. Senior state leaders and ministers would be present at the event, along with district and local leaders and workers," Nantu Paul, a vice-president of Darjeeling district Trinamul, said.

Ministers Gautam Deb and Arup Biswas and MP Abhishek Banerjee would attend the conference.

Last week, state education minister and Trinamul's secretary general Partha Chatterjee had hinted that the party was planning to organise a programme in the district.

A senior party leader in Siliguri said the state leadership was focusing on Mirik as it forms a considerable part of the Kurseong Assembly seat.

"The state had said that Mirik will be a subdivision in Darjeeling district, the same day the announcement of forming Kalimpong district was made. We would focus on garnering support while highlighting the upgrade of both Mirik and Kalimpong," he said.
Darjeeling Trinamul district conference in Mirik

A Trinamul district leader said: "Mirik block is politically significant. First, Panighata, the tea estate, was the first place for the party to step into the region in 2012. Second, during the Left rule, when the GNLF had a hold in the hills, Mirik, which was under Siliguri Assembly segment then, always voted for the Left and not for GNLF."

According to political observers, Trinamul has taken a "good strategy". "In Kalimpong, Trinamul is surely to ally with Harka Bahadur Chhetri. Also, the announcement of several development boards by the party has created some base for it in Kalimpong, not to mention the announcement of a separate district. The leaders seem to have sensed a favourable situation in Kalimpong," said an observer.

Source Telegraph

Locals initiative to clean Polluted and toxic Mirik Lake

9:28 AM

TIRED OF WAITING MIRIK RESIDENT START CLEANING THE LAKE - GTA Fisheries Dept, GTA Tourism Dept, Mirik Municipality, Mirik Block Development Office Turn Blind Eye

On 18th Dec 2012, Bimal Gurung had invited all the social leaders from Mirik to Lal Kothi in the presence of then GTA Tourism Secretary, Mr. Sonam Bhutia, to discuss the issue of cleaning up the Lake. Bimal Gurung had invited people to inform that the lake water has become toxic, so we have to empty the lake, clean it up, and properly sanitize the lake.

However, nothing happened.

Later a boat (rumoured to have cost 9 crores) was bought, and it was expected to clean up the lake. However, the boat is useless and hasn’t really cleaned the lake, even Bimal Gurung had then (in 2012) agreed that it wasn’t helping the lake.

Since 2012, December the lake has continued to become more and more polluted and  toxic. In fact, back in 2012 itself, after the boat wormers started to get sick a test was done and it was found that the lake had become 75% toxic. Imagine the toxicity level after 3 years.

Well if you are in Mirik, you won't have to imagine, juat walk upto the lake and you will see hundreds of dead fishes floating, and the entire lake region stinks. Now the fishes have started to turn up dead in large numbers. All the big fishes are dying. There is one particular point, near the bazaar – Home Dara, where most number of fishes have died.

Thana Line resident Mr, Suresh Rai was the 1st one to notice large number of fishes turning up dead, he was horrified and worried, so he wanted to clean up the lake region. He then went and talked to his friend Phupu Tshering Bhutia from Nigalay and within hours a few other youths Mr. Shankar Pradhan from Nigalay and Arbin Subba, Krishannagar had joined in and agreed to help clean the lake.

Yesterday the volunteers toiled for over 5 hours and took out a large number of dead fishes from the lake, the water is so toxic, that the portion of body of the volunteers dipped in water while cleaning up, have changed colours. They have become darker and brownish in colour,

Speaking to TheDC, one of the volunteers Mr. Phoobtshering Bhutia said, "Tired of waiting for the authorities to do something, we took the initiative today and took out the fishes. But what we took out is only 10% of the number of fishes that are lying dead... there are lots of dead fishes and we fear more may die... the concerned departments need to wake up and deal with this situation at the earliest, otherwise not just the lake will die, but it will cause diseases here and people may start dying."

Another volunteer Mr. Arbin Subba said, “how can anyone see all of this happening and remain oblivious to these issues? Last time the locals got together and build the garden, it got politicized and the locals had to stop. Now this we waited for over 3 years, and no one did anything. We are ready and willing to clean the lake ourselves, we have the capacity and capability to change our own place, if we can help people in Nepal after the earthquake, if we can help people after the landslides, then we can definitely clean up our own lake.”

Following our reporting in 2014-15 GTA has sanctioned a project of Rs 37 crores, meant for renovating the lake region entirely. However, there is no visible sign of change. Locals informed us that the contractor has employed only around 35 labourers to undertake the renovations. Which roughly translates to each labourer having to do over 1 crores worth of work.

This is not just impractical, but also insane.

Let us assume 37 workers have been employed, so each worker is expected to complete Rs 1 crores worth of work. Even if the material cost + transportation + engineering + contractual profit stands at is at 90% (accounting for 90 lakhs out of 1 crore), given the wages paid to the labourers @ Rs 200 per day and assuming that the labourers work every day (365 days a year), it will require each labourer to work everyday for 13 and a half years to finish the rest 10% (10 lakhs).

So despite the funds allocation, we are not sure why the contractor or GTA have not begun the work in all seriousness? Who is profiting from dirty, dab, and toxic Mirik lake region?

After the clean up, as the volunteers brough the dead fishes onshore, local Municipality Councillor – Bikram Golay from Kauley had come and proposed that they will bury the fishes, however, after we went to have our launch and come back on our way to Dsrjeeling, nothing had been done.

Such is the apathy and indifference of our politicians and administrators.

We however, deeply THANK ALL THE VOLUNTEERS... Who despite such a severe cold day drove in to clean our our beloved lake... we hope that GTA and local Municipal Authorities will kindly continue the giid work these volunteers have started and clean up the lake entirely.

Via TheDC

23 Years and counting , Drinking Water Project in ‎Mirik‬ Still Incomplete

12:48 PM
23 Years - 7 Months and 26 Days Later Drinking Water Project for ‪Mirik‬ Still Incomplete

It has been 23 years since the then Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council started to develop the erstwhile Rai Dhap as the drinking water source for Mirik. The DGHC does not exist any more, it has been 4 years since the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) took over the administration in our hills. BUT people in Mirik are still devoid of clean and safe drinking water.

The project was taken up by Manjushree Company and construction started from the beginning of May, 1992 but the work got stopped, without completion.

In 2010 the work was restarted by Surya India Pvt Ltd but and the work was supposed to be completed by 2012, but its past half-way into 2014 and the project is no where near completion.
In the past one year we have highlighted around 10 infrastructural deficiencies that is plaguing Mirik, but there has not even been a word of response from either Bimal Gurung, Mamata Banerjee SS Ahluwalia, representatives from Mirik Municipality or any other politician.
Incomplete Drinking Water Project in ‎Mirik
Incomplete Drinking Water Project in ‎Mirik
It is a shame that the politicians who are supposed to take care of our place and thump their chest citing our place, have not even bothered to come and check out the situation for themselves or at get their minions to inquire and get the work done.

Pic and report: TheDC team


Mirik Celebrates Sub-Division Announcement

12:58 PM
GJM cadres in Mirik celebrated the announcement of Mirik as a separate sub-division.
A statement released by Mirik GJM, reads, "Gorkha Janamukti Morchko long standing demand of creation of Mirik Sub-division and Kalimpong District have been declared by Govt. of West Bengal and the Gorkha Janamukti Morch supporters are celebrating in Mirik with Firecrackers."

They thanked all the the public who have supported the Demand, as in the case of Mirik Gorkha Janamukti Morcha have supported Mirik as a Sub-Division since the year 2008 .
GJM cadres in Mirik celebrated the announcement of Mirik as a separate sub-division.
GJM cadres in Mirik celebrated the announcement of Mirik as a separate sub-division.
The supporters of Gorkha Janamukti Morcha have thanked Shri Bimal Gurung, on his success of creating the same.

Via TheDC

Friends and Family Pay Their Last Respect to ASI Amod Gurung in ‪Mirik

5:30 AM

‬Friends and family from across Mirik region and Darjeeling assembled to pay their last respects to Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police Late. Amod Gurung.

The 40-year-old assistant sub-inspector of police in Darjeeling's Mirik who was assaulted on Ashtami evening by a group of drunken youths over a road rule violation died today.

ASI Amod Gurung and other on-duty policemen had stopped two motorbike-borne youths at Mirik Bazaar, 50km from Siliguri town, for speeding.

"Gurung spotted a two-wheeler moving at high speed and stopped it. There were two youths on the motorcycle. They were warned against rash driving and told to furnish the two-wheeler's documents," said Darjeeling police chief Amit P. Javalgi.

According to Javalgi, an SUV carrying seven other youths pulled over next to the motorcycle."They were all part of the same group. As the policemen asked for the papers of the two-wheeler again, the youths hurled bricks and stones at the assistant sub-inspector," he said.

As other policemen rushed to Gurung's rescue, the nine youths ran away, leaving the vehicles behind.

Gurung was taken to the block health centre in Mirik and later that night, shifted to a nursing home in Siliguri.

Javalgi said a case had been registered at Mirik police station and all seven youths who were in the SUV arrested. ‪Police‬ sources said they were yet to ascertain whether the accused youths had any political links.

The police across the state have come under attack several times in the past two years. On most occasions, they have been targeted allegedly by Trinamul members or by groups instigated by ruling party leaders.

At least two policemen have died at the hands of Trinamul activists and supporters since 2013. Calcutta police officer Tapas Chowdhury was shot dead during a clash in front of a Garden Reach college over student union elections in 2013.

Amit Chakrabarty, an officer posted in Birbhum's Dubrajpur, died last year after a bomb was hurled at policemen during a Trinamul faction clash.

Last year, the then officer in charge of Parui police station in Birbhum, Prosenjit Dutta, was seriously injured after bombs were hurled at his vehicle at Chowmandalpur village by suspected BJP activists. Earlier this year, a Trinamul leader in the same district was accused of slapping a sub-inspector when the officer objected to his misbehaviour inside a police station in Bolpur.

In April this year, alleged Trinamul-backed goons shot at a sub-inspector attached to Girish Park police station during the elections to the Calcutta Municipal Corporation.

[With inputs from: Telegraph, Pics: Madan Bal Tamang for TheDC]

Via TheDC

‎Mirik‬ ASI Amod Gurung Killed Following an Altercation

4:48 PM

Assistant Sub-Inspector of police Amod Gurung died, after battling for his life at a private hospital in Siliguri. He was beaten up by a group of hooligans at Mirik on Wednesday (Oct 21) night.

Officers at Mirik police station said that assistant sub-inspector Amod Gurung was on duty when he was attacked by a group of youths at Picture Hall area in Mirik around 8 pm Wednesday.

Police are yet to ascertain the exact reason behind the attack but initial reports say that Gurung, who was patrolling to ensure law and order during the festivities, had confronted the youths who were drinking openly and had parked their vehicles by blocking the road.

Peeved at this, the 8-10 youths beat up the policemen badly with belts, stones and lathis and then left him bleeding on the road. He was rescued by other policemen after local residents called up the Mirik police station. He was rushed to the private hospital in Siliguri on Wednesday night itself.

The injured policeman had been put on ventilator, he succumbed to his injuries yesterday.

Mirik residents have condemned the attack and have called for immediate arrest of the accused, they are also holding a candle light vigil tonight.

Via TheDC

Sairaj Khati Zee Bangla Sa Re Ga Ma Pa gets a Warm Welcome in Mirik

9:30 AM
Mirik lad Sairaj Khati on his two day visit to native place witnessed mammoth gathering Zee Bangla Sa Re Ga Ma Pa top 10 contestant,Sairaj khati has been on his two days visit to home Manju,Dara Gaon since yesterday. Sairaj's irresistible voice and amazing performance made him grab limelight among fan followers.

On his first day of the visit,Sairaj Bhai was invited and welcomed at Phuguri High School where he studied before leaving for Zee Bangla singing competition.All the teaching staffs,students and his well wishers were present there to honour him with khadas and warm hugs with zeal and enthusiasm.





Sairaj Khati Zee Bangla Sa Re Ga Ma Pa  gets a Warm Welcome in Mirik
Mirik Lad Sairaj Khati Gets a Warm Welcome in Town
Mirik Lad Sairaj Khati Gets a Warm Welcome in Town

Sairaj Khati Zee Bangla Sa Re Ga Ma Pa
Sairaj Khati Zee Bangla Sa Re Ga Ma Pa

Meanwhile Soureni constituency GTA Sabhasad Arun Sigchi and the Various Artists Association of Mirik were also present to give him a bid welcome.


Photo - Yowan Gurung
Via - Voice of Mirik - VoM 

Dead body found at Mirik Don Bosco School, murder suspected

8:17 PM
The dead body of a man was found today under a tree at Don Bosco School in Mirik, from the first impression one can say that it looks like a murder and not suicide or an accident.

The deceased has been identified as Prabin Rai(34), a resident of Thana Line  area just below Mirik Tourist Lodge. The body sustained major head injuries which is why it is assumed to be murdered  and not an accident. The body has now been taken to Mirik police Station and the investigation are under probe.

Dead body of Prabin Rai(34)
Dead body of Prabin Rai(34)

Via Voice of Mirik - VoM

‎Dhruva‬ Tara - Mirik's 1st Feature Film - Releasing on 3rd October 2015

1:42 PM
DhruvaTara is a maiden film of Mughlan Films and Arvind Raj Productions from Mirik. Shot extensively in and around Mirik Valley, it tells the story of four horsemen and the lives they lead. With unemployment and illiteracy all around, these men have no other option but to work as farm labourers and porters, ferrying local produce like squash, cardmom and potatoes to the plains. On the way, through the jungles, they meet all kinds of people and each one of them is a character unto himself. The effervescent Kancha, the stubborn Purnay, the stoic Pasang Jojo and the quiet Dhruva, who falls for the ethereal beauty Tara. Love, as they say, comes in various shades, it is their unique love story that holds the film together.

Made over a period of one and half years, this film is a labour of love of its makers who have overcome numerous odds to tell this story unfolding in our villages between two unlike souls.
‎Dhruva‬ Tara - Mirik's 1st Feature Film - Releasing in 3rd October 2015
DhruvaTara is a maiden film of Mughlan Films and Arvind Raj Productions from Mirik.
Because the film is shot extensively in real locations with a minimalist approach, it has gained a shade of an art house film with underplayed emotions and subdued acting. What uplifts the film, however, is the realistic protrayal of its lead characters and its soulful music which transports the film into another realm.

Releasing on 3rd October 2015, this film holds a lot of promise to its makers and also the discerning film viewing public in the hills as they will witness that local language films too have come of age and the standard is slowly but steadily improving which is a positive sign for our fledging film market in our hills.

Watch Dhruvatara Official Teaser

Synopsis:
In a far-flung village in the hills surrounding the Mirik Valley, where people are farmers and are dependent upon the mercies of nature and God, where young people work as farm hands or porters, a quite love story enfolds between two unlike souls. A quiet and a reserved man Dhruva and an equally beautiful and mysterious Tara. In this landscape of hills and rivers, men and their horses, joyous beats of Madal and Murali and far from the madding crowd, two people come to love each other as naturally as the forest spring, flowing eternally. But nature sets its own course and Time plays a helping hand. Will Dhruva and Tara be able to win over the adversities of love and be together forever? Is it possible to cross the limits set by time and nature upon love? Will love really concur all? Come and see for yourself...

Movie's official FB page: http://on.fb.me/1EZ3RoQ

Via Dhruva Tara FB page

Mirik college observes Nepali language Bhasha Manyata Diwas

6:26 PM
The Nepali Language Bhasha Manyata Diwas was today obesrved by Mirik College to mark the completion of the 24 years of the recognition of the Nepali language.

Principals from various schools, Journalist, Photographers, Mirik P.S SI Rabi Kumar Diyali and other prominent literature were present as the chief guest. The day stressed on the use of the Language which has got its constitutional long back.

Catch a glimpse of Mirik college observes Nepali language Bhasa Manyata Diwa

Mirik college observes Nepali language Bhasha Manyata Diwas






Via Voice of Mirik

Mirik lad Prabhat Thapa, was he a victim of injustice?

12:05 PM
Prabhat Thapa was an ambitious,hardworking and diligent son of Mirik who died yesterday. He was a helpful person always looking towards the upliftment of the society and fighting for the right of the people. The whole of Mirik is shocked at the sudden demise of a youth who could have contributed so much for the upliftment of our society.
Mirik lad Prabhat Thapa, was he a victim of injustice?
Mirik lad Prabhat Thapa
He was in Kolkata at the time of his death. He was there to file a case against what he thought was an injustice done to him.

Was he really a victim of injustice? I am leaving this decision at the discretion of the readers to decide.

The matter is related to examination for "Recruitment of SI/LSI in West Bengal Police - 2013" (Preliminary Examination).

Prabhat Thapa had appeared in the examination as an OBC (B) candidate.
On declaration of the result Prabhat's Roll No. was not in the list. As Prabhat was expecting good marks he filed an RTI application asking for the cut off and the answer key.

The details in the reply for his RTI were:
1.The cut off for the Unreserved Candidate was- 103.5
2.Prabhat had obtained 115.5

But still he had failed because the cut off for OBC(B) candidate was 119 i.e. more than the unreserved candidate. Whether the cut off of reserved OBC (B) candidate can be more than the unreserved candidate is a legal/constitutional matter and we are laymen. If any expert has a knowledge over this matter. It will be a great favor on us if they illuminate us over this matter.

This matter regarding cut-off is a different matter where a knowledge regarding legal/constitutional norms are to be known. Let the experts comment over it. The next part of the matter is where I would like everyone to pay attention to.

Prabhat matched the answers keys received through RTI with the Question paper. He found two keys wrong:

1. Question no.21 - A salesman sold 20 cars in the month of July and 40 cars in the month of August. What is the percent increase in the numbers of cars the salesman sold?
(A) 50%
(B) 100%
(C) 150%
(D) 200%

***The official answer key showed that option "D" i.e. 200% was the right answer Prabhat was of the opinion that option "B" i.e.100% was the right answer.

What do you think is the correct answer?

2.Question no.97 - Who was the first Indian Woman President of the Indian National Congress?
(A) Rajkumari Amrit Kaur
(B) Annie Besant
(C) Vijaylakshmi Pandit
(D) Sarojoni Naidu

****The answer key showed that option "B" i.e. Annie Besant was the right answer.
Prabhat was of the opinion that option "D" i.e. Sarojoni Naidu was the right answer.

Which do you think is the correct option?

If what Prabhat has argued as the correct answer was the right one in the two cases above then even after deducting the negative marks for other wrong questions his total score would have been 120.5.
That is he would have been qualified for the mains.

Prabhat thought an injustice has been done to him and it was against this injustice Prabhat wanted to appeal in the High Court/SAT and had gone to Kolkata for this. But as we now know destiny had other plans for him.

This article is not being posted to get justice for Prabhat. He is now beyond this worldly concept of justice and injustice.
This article is to highlight how unaware a person may be falling victim to some injustice. It is to highlight that one has the "the Right to Know" and how one can use the Right To Information Act to seek the information he wants. It is to highlight how to stand and fight against any injustice one feels has been done to him. It is to highlight how to have faith in justice and courage in one's heart to stand against an unjust adversary however mighty it may be.

Prabhat could not complete the fight. The Almighty had a different destiny waiting for him. But one day some one else will win the fight. Just will prevail over the unjust. That will be the day when we will find Prabhat once again smiling among us.

Via: MIRIK in Photos

 
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