Sikkim Shuts Out Polluting Industry

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Gangtok: Sikkim will not allow any industry that may pollute the environment, according to the state’s chief minister, Pawan Chamling.

“My government does appreciate the need to set up industries here. But under no circumstances shall we allow polluting industries,” Dr Chamling told FE recently.

According to him, Sikkim’s people are heavily dependent on tourism for their earnings, and it is the pollution-free environment that draws tourists.

“In such a situation, we will allow only those industries that do not pollute the environment,” Dr Chamling said. The chief minister added that agro-products and agri-based industries along with tourism have been identified as priority areas.

To help industry, the government is building a growth centre. “My government will acquire and develop the land and then give it to the different parties on lease,” Dr Chamling said. He said the proposed growth centre will be set up at a cost of around Rs 25 crore. “Out of the Rs 25 crore, Rs 12 crore will be provided by the Union government and the remaining Rs 13 crore by the Sikkim government,” he said. Work will begin after the general elections.

As for tourism, the government has worked out the unique concept of tourist villages. “We are setting up one model village in each of the 26 assembly constituencies in Sikkim. Each of these model villages will have unique tourist attraction centres depicting the art, culture and folklore that is typical of Sikkim,” Dr Chamling said. He said the government is also improving the basic infrastructure in the state to attract more roads. To begin with, the 144-km road from Sevak in the plains to Nathu La is being widened into two lanes.