Gangtok: A dependable road link to stay connected with the country is all that Sikkim has insisted on with the Centre this year following a series of landslides in July-August.
The Centre's response came too late. In a statement during the Winter Session of the Parliament, the government said that there was a proposal to double-lane the 140-km long National Highway-31A.
Last monsoon, the state bordering China remained cut off from the rest of the country for days after NH-31A got blocked at several places. Result was obvious: essential supplies like petroleum products and LPG ran short for over a month as the prices of all commodities skyrocketed.
The Sikkim Democratic Front Government (SDF), led by Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling, sought to blame the Centre. Despite Centre extending a helping hand, the supply could be restored only by October-end.
Amidst the lack of road infrastructure, came the opposition to a proposed Hydel power project at Dzongu on the bank of Teesta river in south Sikkim. Ethnic lepchas and bhutias went on an indefinite agitation from June 20 last demanding scrapping of the 90 MW power project. They claimed the displacement would disturb their cultural and religious sentiments.
On the political front, the SDF government completed 13 years in power this year under 58-year-old Chamling. He now appears set for a longer term as the entire opposition finds it difficult to stand on their feet.
The lack of opposition agitated a former minister R D Poudyal so much so that he recently announced revival of his party. Poudyal was an influential minister in the first elected L D Kazi government in the late 1970s.
Bureau Report
