Gangtok: Chandra Mohan Thakur, Deputy Secretary from the Prime Minister’s Office, conducted a comprehensive review of pressing issues in North Sikkim, focusing on the region’s readiness for Statehood Day celebrations, the ongoing challenges of Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) mitigation, the enhancement of tourism infrastructure, and the progress of the Vibrant Village Programme.
Upon his arrival, Thakur was greeted by Mangan District Collector Anant Jain and Chungthang Sub-Divisional Magistrate Arun Chhetri, who provided a detailed account of the devastating impact of the recent GLOF, including the extensive damage to road infrastructure. Officials from the Border Roads Organization (BRO) elaborated on the formidable obstacles posed by the region’s rugged terrain, which have significantly hindered road and bridge restoration efforts.
In Pegong, Chungthang, Thakur engaged with personnel from the 11th Battalion of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), where discussions centered on the intricacies of the Vibrant Village Programme, with officials outlining both the achievements and the persistent challenges encountered in implementing the scheme in such remote locales.
The District Collector briefed Thakur on a series of pending projects in Mangan district awaiting approvals from various Union ministries, noting that while some projects have been sanctioned, others remain stalled due to their strategic significance in border regions, with local authorities actively addressing government queries to expedite clearance.
En route to Lachung, Thakur received a presentation from Assistant Engineer Tenzing Lachungpa of the Mangan District Zilla Parishad, who detailed how strategic infrastructure projects could stimulate the local economy and encourage the native population to remain in these vital border areas.
During his interactions, Thakur also met with yak herders who traverse extreme border regions for grazing, listening to their concerns and requests for enhanced support under the Vibrant Village Programme, and assuring them that their issues would be escalated to higher authorities for more effective implementation.
In the days ahead, Thakur is slated to visit Yumthang and surrounding areas to inspect project sites and engage with local stakeholders, aiming to evaluate the viability of current and future projects.
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