Burtuk to be developed as ‘New Gangtok’: CM

BIJOY GURUNG

GANGTOK,: The sprawling constituency of Upper Burtuk, especially its lower belt, is planned to be developed as the ‘new Gangtok’ in the second SKM government. This much-needed Greater Gangtok expansion is proposed as the existing Gangtok capital town has reached its saturation point in terms of further infrastructural growth.

“Burtuk is close to Gangtok and hence, we are making a ‘new Gangtok’ here. In our last Budget, we have already bought 300 acres of land in Burtuk to establish the ‘new Gangtok’. Gangtok is already there as our capital but has no space for further growth and hence we are developing the ‘new Gangtok’ in Burtuk. We have already prepared a blueprint on this and will work accordingly,” said Chief Minister PS Golay on Wednesday.

Golay, also the SKM president, was addressing the SKM ‘Vijay Utsov’ celebration of Upper Burtuk constituency, at Reshithang ground. The constituency lies at the peripheries of Gangtok town on the northern and southern sides.

Responding to the demands placed by area MLA Kala Rai, the Chief Minister said the State government is developing a new campus for Burtuk Government College within the constituency. “The college was set up in a building which was earlier operating as a printing press and does not have the appropriate classrooms. It has the second largest number of students after Tadong college. In these five years, we will work to develop a new campus of this college within Burtuk constituency,” he said.

Many demands have been made and we will take them up on a priority-basis like developing ‘new Gangtok’ and campus of Burtuk College, said the Chief Minister.

In his address, the Chief Minister said the SKM, in its second term, remains committed to the promise of ‘Sunaulo Sikkim, Samridh Sikkim’ and the ‘Golay Ko Nau Gaurantees’. Our developmental model is ‘BiPaSa’ (Bijuli, Pani, Sadak) to ensure there are no shortages of water and power supply, and roads in Sikkim, he said. He stressed that the government is also focusing on generating more employment opportunities and tourism sector.

Whatever promises we had made during the election campaign, we will work to fulfil them, said Golay. He informed that the remaining instalment of Rs. 20,000 to each Ama scheme beneficiary will be disbursed before Dasai while construction works for the allotted SGAY and SUGAY houses are to commence in September after monsoon ends.

Regarding the regularisation process, the Chief Minister informed that August 1 will be the joining date for the 27,000 plus regularized government employees.

“More than 27,000 temporary employees have been regularized and they received their memorandums. Some got the regularisation orders early and some are now receiving. To ensure there is no injustice and to have the same criteria for the regularized employees, August 1 will be the joining date. This will be placed and approved during the upcoming cabinet meeting,” said Golay.

The State Budget session is scheduled from August 5 to 9, after which the Chief Minister plans to visit and spend three days in every constituency to meet the people there. He would be accompanied by the ministers and government officials.

“The government will come to meet the people at their doorsteps. People would not need to look for the government, the government itself will come to them. I will spend three days in every constituency and do the necessary work for the people there, and sort out their issues,” said the Chief Minister.