By Various Sources on August 13,2008
Constitution of Committees for Selection of Awardees for Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards 2007
The Government of India has constituted a Special Screening Committee and the National Selection Committee for the selection of Awardees for Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards 2007 which will be presented by the President of India along with the Arjuna Awards. The Members of the Special Screening Committee are as follows:
1. Joint Secretary (Youth Affairs) Chairman
2. Representative of the President, IMF Member
3. Representative of the President Aero Club of India Member
4. Representative – Swimming Federation of India Member
5. Director/DS (YS. IV) Convener
The National Selection Committee includes the following members:
i) Minister of State (IC) Youth Affairs & Sports Chairman
ii) Secretary, Youth Affairs, Government of India Member
iii) President, Indian Mountaineering Federation Member
iv) President, Aero Club of India Member
v) President, Yachting Club of India Member
vi) Shri Harish Kapadia, distinguished Mountaineer
and Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award winner 2003
Member
vii) Wg. Cdr. MIK Reddy, distinguished Skydiver
and Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award winner 2006
Member
viii) Joint Secretary (Youth Affairs) Member
Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards have been instituted as the highest national recognition for outstanding achievement in the field of adventure activities on land, sea and air. A provision has also been made for a Life Time achievement Award to persons who besides individual excellence have devoted themselves to the cause of promotion of adventure
Outstanding performers in the field of adventure activities on land, sea and air are selected for “Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards”. The Award comprises of bronze statue, a scroll of honour, a blazer with silken tie and a cash award of Rs. 3.00 lakhs. (PIB)
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LF to urge CM for early tripartite talks
Statesman News Service
SILIGURI, Aug. 12: The principal constituents of the Left Front in the Darjeeling district would raise the Darjeeling issue and press for immediate tripartite dialogue during Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s proposed visit to Siliguri on 16 August.
“No programme has yet been fixed for a meeting of the Left constituents with the CM, yet if such a meeting comes up we would try to convince the CM of the urgency of the tripartite dialogue on the Darjeeling dialogue,” the leaders of the Darjeeling district CPI, Forward Bloc and RSP said in unison today.
Mr Ujjwal Chowdhury, the Darjeeling district CPI secretary said that his party would try to convince Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee during his forthcoming visit to Siliguri of the urgency of the tripartite dialogue in view of the fast deteriorating situation in the Darjeeling hills.
“The sooner the dialogue takes place the better. The Chief Minister must take the initiative and prevail over the Centre. A delay, however inadvertent, may aggravate the problem further,” the CPI leader said.
Much in the same vein, Mr Smritish Bhattacharya, the FB Darjeeling district secretary said that the state government’s role in defusing the situation in the hills was paramount and the CM must do everything to ensure the holding of the tripartite negotiation at the earliest. “Mr Bhattacharya is well aware of the ground situation in the hills and so we are confident that he would listen to our appeal to take the initiative on the matter,” the FB leader said.
Mr Tapas Goswami, a district RSP leader also expressed the same view. “ If a meeting takes place with the CM, my party would definitely ask him to use his influence with the Centre to hold the tripartite dialogue at the earliest,” Mr Goswami said.
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Centre mulls NH31A alternative
OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT – The Telegraph
New Delhi, Aug 12: The Centre is considering a proposal from the Sikkim government to provide the state with an alternative to NH31A, which frequently witnesses blockades because of bandhs called by political parties in the adjacent Darjeeling district of Bengal.
“They have proposed several roads, but only the one through Chalsa, which skirts NH31A and reaches Sikkim by a BRO road, is a possibility,” said a home ministry source. Chalsa is a few kilometres from Malbazar on the way to the Dooars from Siliguri. The national highway connecting the Northeast with Bengal passes through Chalsa.
Sikkim has been at the receiving end of frequent shutdowns since 1986 when the GNLF launched a movement in Darjeeling — bandhs being an integral part of the agitation programme — to demand Gorkhaland.
The blockades prompted an individual from Sikkim to file a PIL in the Supreme Court in 2005. Last year, once again, the highway was blocked for several days after the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, which is now spearheading the Gorkhaland movement, called an indefinite bandh in the Darjeeling hills.
This time, the Sikkim government has sent a proposal that could circumvent the trouble. The new route is “under consideration”.
Sikkim, which survives on agro-food production and tourism, usually has only a week’s supply of essential commodities, including petroleum, at a given point of time. As a result, the national highway is a lifeline for the hill state.
“The Chalsa route can be used by Sikkim as well as by the army,” said the source.
A home ministry meeting today deliberated on the court case with reference to the road. Besides discussing the proposal of the separate route, officials prepared the government’s response for the case in the apex court.
The Morcha, too, is a respondent to the case. While the statehood problem is expected to have a solution only in the long-term, the Centre has felt that an alternative route is a viable solution. A detailed project report has not been prepared yet.
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Cotton in woman’s body, glare on doc
– Hill NGO takes up cudgels for patient from Lebong OUR CORRESPONDENT – The Telegraph
Darjeeling, Aug. 12: A doctor of a government hospital here has been accused of leaving cotton wool inside a woman after a surgery, prompting the Darjeeling chief medical officer of health to form a committee today to probe the charge.
The curettage surgery on 20-year-old Prerna Gurung was conducted by Dr N.K. Gorai on August 8 after she suffered a miscarriage.
Navin Gurung said his sister was released the very next and they left for Lebong, 10km away, where she stays. “But she complained of pain on the 10th and was taken to the Lebong Army Hospital where some cotton wool were removed yesterday.” Authorities at the army hospital could not be contacted.
Prerna was expecting her first baby and her husband Sandu Gurung is an ex-serviceman who had been awarded with a Vir Chakra during the Kargil War.
The Naari Ekta Shakti, an NGO in Darjeeling, learnt about the incident following which they made a re presentation to CMOH S. Bhowmick.
“Some cotton wool had been left behind by Dr Gorai following the cleanup. We strongly condemn the carelessness on the part of the doctor and we demand his arrest,” said Sona Sherpa, the general secretary of the NGO. The organisation is expected to file an FIR at the Darjeeling police station tomorrow.
The hospital authorities have taken note of the representation and have decided to form a committee. “It will comprise three doctors,” said Bhowmick.
A gynaecologist said the incident could not be termed “life threatening”.
“When there is excessive bleeding, doctors do leave behind cotton to stop the bleeding. Such cottons do give discomfiture and are removed again anytime between 24 and 72 hours.”
The doctor also said even if cotton was left behind accidentally, in curettage, the chances are that it was left behind in the birth canal rather than the uterus. The vaginal paste removes the cotton over a period of time.
“If instruments had been left behind, it would have been an act of negligence and definitely life threatening. However, if a small amount of cotton is found, it could either be intentional and if it was not intentional, then, too, it is not life threatening,” the doctor said.
When contacted, Dr Gorai said he was trying to recollect the patient. “I have heard about it, but will not be able to say much unless I go through the (medical) papers.”
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For Pujas, Darjeeling to get a break from bandhs
Express News Service
Kolkata, August 11 In a goodwill gesture that will provide the much-needed relief to tourists, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) announced on Monday that it will not call bandhs during the Durga Puja.
“We welcome tourists during the Pujas and there will be no bandh in that period. If any emergency arises, we will make it public 20 days before,” said GJM chief Bimal Gurung.
GJM general secretary Roshan Giri said, “this human gesture underscores the fact that we are not against tourism.”
The statement is seen as a reaction to the pressure from locals to boost tourism during the Pujas — the movement may lose popular support if tourists shun Darjeeling.
The GJM agitation for a separate Gorkhaland had often caused blockades that hit the tourists hard. On occasions, , the police had to come to their rescue.
In a letter to Gurung on August 5, state tourism minister Manabendra Mukherjee had sought his cooperation to ensure that a tourism-friendly atmosphere was maintained in Darjeeling during in October and November. Terming Darjeeling as one of the most important tourist destinations, Mukherjee had said many tourists visit the area throughout the year and especially during festivals like Durga Puja and Diwali.
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Czech duo granted bail, money seized to be returned
Statesman News Service
DARJEELING, August 12: The chief judicial magistrate court today ordered the forest department to hand over the money seized from two Czech nationals arrested on 23 June for allegedly collecting rare insect species from the Singalila National Park in Darjeeling.
“The court has asked the forest department to return the cash seized from the Czech entomologist and his companion when they were arrested,” informed defence lawyer Mr Taranga Pandit. Czech entomologist Mr Petr Svacha and his companion Emil Kucera were granted interim bail on 25 July abiding by which, they had to report at the Sadar Police Station twice a week. But today the court confirmed their bail releasing them of the obligation.
“They will not have to report from now on but their passport will remain in court custody,” Mr Pandit said. “We had approximately Rs 12,000, $ 330, 300 Euros and 5300 Czech Korunas with us when we were arrested,” said Mr Petr Svacha today.
The APP submitted the Prosecution Report (PR) toady wherein the two have been charged primarily with Sections 9, 27 and 29 under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 that prohibits hunting, restricts entry in sanctuaries and prohibits destruction in sanctuary without permits respectively.
The court, however, declared that the entire trial would be heard from 25 August -29 August. “They are charged under Sections 9, 27, 29, 35, 39, 49, 51, 56 and 57 respectively of the Wildlife Protection Act. The trial will be conducted from 25 August to 29 August as declared by the court,” stated Mr Pandit.
The forest department submitted an interim report from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) today while the final report is awaited before the trial begins.
“The Forest department has been asked to return the currency seized from the two. While we submitted the interim report today, final ZSI report is due shortly,” confirmed Assistant Divisional Forest Officer, Mr Utpal Nag.
Darjeelingtoday 