Sikkim Earthquake

Chief Minister chairs review meeting on relief and rehabilitation –

“Sikkim to emerge as model State on earthquake resilience and mitigation modules”, says Chamling

Chintan Bhawan, Gangtok, October 12, 2011: Sikkim falls under seismic zone which is a great disadvantage for us but Sikkim would rise up again to emerge as model State on earthquake resistance and mitigation. The Chief Minister said this at a function organized at Chintan Bhawan, today. He was addressing review meeting on relief and rehabilitation which was attended by the Ministers, MLAs, panchayat representatives and the entire state administrative machinery. We have to take preventative measures and act accordingly to ensure that less devastation is caused due to earthquake. Steps have to be taken from the panchayat level. In a democracy every citizen right from the Prime Minister of the country to the Gram Panchayat Ward member has his responsibility towards the society. Likewise, every government employee right from the Chief Secretary to the peon has his/her responsibility towards the society, the Chief Minister said. The administration is suffering in our state because no one wants to take the responsibility, he added. The people think that it’s the government job but government alone cannot do everything. Many decisions are to be taken in the people’s interest and these decisions are to be implemented in true letter and spirit by every member of the society for repair, reconstruction, rehabilitation and redevelopment of the state which has been devastated by the earthquake, the Chief Minister added.

Talking about the earthquake which hit the state during the previous years the Chief Minister said that the frequency of the earthquake in this region has increased in the recent past and to cope up with this we have to be very careful and plan accordingly to ensure that earthquake causes less devastation. It is time to take decision to construct only three and half storied building in the urban areas and two and half storied building in the rural areas. In this regard the Chief Minister directed the Urban Development and Housing Department to bring a concrete proposal after due consultation with the experts and by giving due importance to public opinion. Taking to consideration the frequency of earthquake in the state the 1000 bedded hospital should also be restricted to 575 beds, the Chief Minister said and added that too by giving due regards to public opinion, he added.

Stressing about the various activities undertaken by the government after the earthquake the Chief Minister said that till date sixty one crore sixty four lakhs have been handed over to the districts for the relief and rehabilitation and directed the field officers and panchayats not to wait for any orders and act according to the situation in the interest of the people. Expressing his dissatisfaction over the delay in the implementation of Chief Minister Kutcha House Free State Mission the Chief Minister directed the concerned department to ensure that the constructions of the houses are completed within three months.

Talking about the various rumours floating with regard to earthquake in the state the Chief Minister said that the Government of India has recognized our activities after the earthquake hit the state. The central government has shown their concern towards Sikkim and many VIP’s including the Prime Minister of the country visited the state. This is because of our good deeds which should be recognized by the civil society. This should have been appreciated by our civil society instead many miscreants are making various rumours which will subsequently damage the image of the state, the Chief Minister said.

The Chief Minister also declared that the Chardham at South Sikkim will be inaugurated on 8th November 2011 in the presence of Shankaracharyas of all the Four Dhams. Likewise, he added that the Buddha Park is being completed within this year, he added. – with IPR inputs

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