SIKKIM - STATE ANNUAL PLAN 2001-2002URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING DEPARTMENTDEMAND NO. 42According to the 1981 census, 16.65% of Sikkim’s population reside in urban areas comprising of mainly 8 towns including Gangtok. The percentage of urban population according to the 1991 census was however only 9.15%. This reduction was due to the exclusion of certain areas from the previous notified area. If the census area of 1981 is taken into consideration the urban population would have been around 20% as it is now. The high rate of population growth in the urban areas has not been matched with equal development of infrastructure and urbanisation. Developmental activities are being undertaken only when problems have been posed by population growth. There has never been an anticipatory development based on future population projections and requirements. As a result either the infrastructures are inadequate or over utilised or therein no place vacant for addition of new infrastructures and civic amenities. The development that has resulted in the rural sector due to the massive dose of financial inputs it has been provided with has increased the agriculture and related productions. These products are required to be brought for sale to the urban areas if they are to be converted into cash and to activate the rural economy. Secondly, once people have a surplus with increased purchasing power, they prefer to shift to the urban areas and they demand for house sites with an eye on the income and convenience that the asset will create. With the population increase, number of consumer and durable shops have to be enhanced and consequently infrastructure and civic amentities have also to be created or added in proportion to the population increase or even projected. The Government of Sikkim, every year collects revenue about Rs 13.00 crores by way of sales taxes from the shops. Once shops and consequential trading increase the revenue generation also will enhance. It is however, to be indicated that since no priority is being given to the urban sector the infrastructure development has been very low and the existing ones are getting over utilised as it has not been possible to match the infrastructure with the population increase. There has been no concerted effort to evolve a long term policy regarding urban development, nor it has received any priority so far despite the need to do so if urbanisation is to be in proportion with the population influx form the rural areas. Formulation of a long term policy cannot be staggered any further. Introduction of legislative measures and establishment of statutory bodies have to be undertaken. These are the items in the priority list of the department. Objective And Thrust In The Ninth Five Year Plan Taking into consideration the achievements and shortfalls of the planning process in the past as well as the birth of new challenges and needs in the process, unless the urban sector is given priority, for even a short term, the gap between the infrastructure requirement created by the present high degree of urbanisation and what can actually be provided with the meagre allocation will naturally widen. In the absence of Industries in the State, towns and bazaars have been the only areas where economic activity is concertrated. Due to higher quality of goods and services that the capital town provides the urban concentration of these town has been quite high unless the smallest towns in the other districts could be developed and its infrastructure and services upgraded, chances of urban population dispersal will continue to remain remote. The main thrust during the next plan therefore is proposed to complete the existing schemes and now new schemes have been agreed by the working group as this being close of the Ninth Plan. The total allocation and expenditure under Ninth Plan upto 2001-2002 are as under:
The activities which will be necessary to implement these strategies in phases where necessary, the financial dimensions involved etc. are briefly given below: A. Revenue Section
Eighty percent of the urban population of Sikkim is in the capital town of Gangtok only. The rapid and high degree of population shift from rural to urban areas on the one hand, the non existence of any notified Master Plan with prescribed land use pattern on the other has forced the capital town to grow in a very unplanned and haphazard manner. Although the Government has stopped the allotment of sites in the town, the existing infrastructure and civic amenities like parking areas, marketing yard, alternative footpaths, recreational parks etc, are too inadequate for even the existing population, as the capital of the state. Gangtok is also the centre of administrative, cultural, social and educational activities in the State. As a result of the recommendation of RITES, a firm of consultants, the Government has decided to introduce ropeways in the city to reduce the movement of vehicular traffic and decongest the Highway. Drains still continue to remain open and garbage disposal is being undertaken in very crude manner, number of vecies are increasing. Where no space is available for horizontal expansion for parking space optimum use of the available space is proposed to be undertaken by way of vertical expansion depending upon the stability fo the area. As a hill station with tremendous tourist potential, Gangtok could have arrangements for regional or international meetings and conferences, but suitable space for developing the required infrastructure is not available, briefs on the break up of components for State Capital Development are given below:
With the increase tourist traffic and population increase there has been proportionate increase in the quantum of garbage and wastes in the town and bazaar areas. The fleet of garbage disposal trucks have to be kept always on the road and replacement of old vehicles by new ones is routine. Public demand is increasing for removable of garbage even from peripheral rural areas. In an attempt to introduce scientific disposal of solid degradable waste by converting them into composts, the department has already purchased land in Marcnak for development of a dumping yard and necessary infrastructure for their segregation and conversion into composts. Similar exercise has to be undertaken for the district headquarters towns also. A sum of Rs 25.00 lakhs is to be allocated for the year 2001. Due to inadequate fund, the area has not been, so far, developed as necessary.
Due to increase and influx of population to Gangtok the existing urban infrastructure are over utilised leading to continuous wear and tear. Gangtok being the capital town as well as the tourist destination has to be kept in good condition all the year round. Gangtok has unusually heavy rainfall as compared to its surroundings which necessitates continuous maintenance and restortion works for the protection of the infrastructures. A sum of Rs 18.00 lakhs is proposed for the year 2001-2002 for the project.
All the bazaars in Sikkim including Gangtok has squatter settlement particularly in areas otherwise not suitable for human habitation since such areas are generally in sleep slopes of are land slide prone/sinking. These settlements lack proper drainage and sewerage systems etc. and do not even have facilities for their basic minimum needs. Arrangements have to be made to provide these amenities to these dwellers since they are also an integral part in the urban society. The Government of India has been providing adequate allocation under NSDP (National Slum Development Programmes) to the state Government for slum development. The Department has so far been undertaking the scheme to the extent fund has been made available to the UD & HD under this allocation. Accordingly an allocation of Rs 55.00 lakhs is proposed for the year 2001-2002 although the need is for more under the programme. Land for the Project is being acquired and integrated projects in consultation with all the Departments like Health, Education being prepared.
Salary of Officers and Staff in the Town Planning Cell of the department is being met up from this head. In addition expenditure of office expenses equipments required for the cell like blue printing machine, scribers etc. are also being met from this head. Following the siyari disaster in 1996, the notified areas of Gangtok has been widened. Consequently the Cell has started receiving blue print plans for clearance of the department even from the rural areas, falling within the notified areas. The workload of the cell has accordingly increased, necessitating proportionate increase in the cost of stationeries and equipments. With a view of streamline the growth of towns and bazarrs in the state the Sikkim Urban and Regional Act has already been enacted. Rules under these Act are being framed and once the part of the function of the Town Planning division will be transferred to organisation/authority concerned. An Amount of Rs 23.00 lakhs is proposed in the year 2001-2002 under this Head.
The towns and bazaars of Sikkim have several interconnection arterial roads, footpaths, flyovers etc. which need to be maintained, improved or widened depending upon the increase in the number of vehicular traffic/pedestrians. These roads face continuous wear and tear and are to be kept in good condition. Side walks form part of these roads and often Rs 20.00 lakhs is proposed to be utilised in the year 2001-2002.
Sikkim has yet to formulate a strategy for balance regional urban development planning. If important towns in the districts are developed, it will help in decongestion of the capital town automatically. The department has instructions from the Government of preparation of Master Plans for each of the bazaars in Sikkim so that they grow in a planned manner and follow proper land use plan. The increase in the purchasing power of rural people as a result of continuous developmental inputs to the rural sector has enhance the demand for allotment of sites in urban areas of alternatively they have been purchasing private holdings for urban settlements. Marketing yards are to be expanded, hat sheds added, and regulatory measures undertaken. It is felt that if these bazaars are properly developed, it will help in activating the local economy of that area. Markets are to be expanded, proper land use has to be defined and construction regulated, and civic amenities are to be added. In addition the Model Village Scheme of RDD has also to be integrated under this scheme. A sum of Rs 24.00 lakhs has been proposed for the year 2001-2002.
Apart from the normal increase in the salary bills of the employees in the department, fees of the consultancy firms for preparation of various projects reports are also being met up from this debitable head. As directed by the govt. more urban master plans are required to be prepared in the near future. A sum of Rs 70.00 lakhs in being proposed in the Annual Plan 2001-2002 for these expenditure. 7. SJSRY:
Nehru Rojgar Yojana has been replaced by Swarna Jayanti Sahari Rojgar Yojana w.e.f. 1/12/97. All Poverty Alleviation Programmes under operation in urban areas are amalgamated and implemented through SJSRY. The pattern of Financing is 75.25 between the Centre and the State. The objective of the new scheme is to provide self-employment to the urban poor by setting up of Micro-Enterprise and to provide wage employment by creating Socially and Economically useful and durable assets. The provision of Rs 30.00 lakhs will be utilised as the state share of SJSRY.
According to the articles of Association and Memorandum of the Sikkim Housing & Development Board the establishment cost of the Board is to be borne by the State Government as grant-ion-aid. In the absence of Government land for allotment to the public and private lands being beyond the reach of those in the middle and low income groups. Creation of affordable housing stocks through the Sikkim Housing and Development Board is the only silver lining in the housing scenario. The activities of the Board has to be definitely expanded and proper strategies formulated. According a sum of Rs 70.00 lakhs is earmarked for the Annual Plan 2001-2002.
The grant is proposed to be utilised for the development of data based and computerisation programmes. B. Capital Section
Whereas sixty percent of the project cost under the scheme was given by the Central govt. as loan under the previous guidelines, the revised guideline which came into effect from provides for 40% Central grant. 32% has to be pooled by the State Govt. and 20% to be borrowed from the financial institutions. As a result, the acceptability of the scheme has enhanced since the loan component has now reduced from 60% to 20%. The scheme is being implemented for development of important markets by way of creating assets to enhance the economic activity in the area. The department has already obtained the draft strategy paper for the various towns to be developed on priority. Towns which are identified for development can be brought under this scheme. As the strategy paper has already been accepted by the govt., the scheme can be extended to all the towns if the State Government is agreeable to provide the state share. The project at Singtam has already started and these at Pakyong and Jorethang area bout to start. A sum of Rs 140.00 lakhs is being proposed for the year 2001-2002.
Whatever land belonging to the Government in various towns and bazaars have already exhausted, but the demand as well as need for extension of bazaar areas continues unabated. There is no alternative than to acquire private holdings falling in the periphery of such bazaar/towns for bazaar extension, where new marketing yards, hard sheds, parking areas etc. could be developed. The land acquisition is also necessary to control the unplanned growth of the peripheral areas of the bazaars. Necessity is being felt for extension of at least 10 bazaars immediately where additional marketing centers are to be developed and infrastructure added a sum of Rs 20.00 lakhs is being proposed for the purpose.
The absence of public transport system due to opposition by certain quarters and the resultant increase in the number of local cabs, introduction of interstate taxis and buses in new routes, arrival of more tourist buses have created the demand for large parking space in the town. Government has often desired to convert the core area of Gangtok into vehicle free MALL. If this is to be translated into reality, several parking spaces have to be developed simultaneously. The department already has in the shelf of proposal to add one floor in the existing Children park taxi stand and to add one more floor in the old West Point School also Proposal is afoot to add three more parking stands. A piece of land has also already been purchased at Ranipool for parking space which is on the highway. A sum of Rs 140.00 lakhs will be utilised for the year 2001-2002 for taking up the work of developing additional parking areas.
The department has as far as feasible endeavoured to implement the Master Plan as prepared by the GILCON and revised by RITES and has already completed few schemes projected in the report. Due to demographic changes and increased human settlements, addition of new infrastructure has been felt necessary so as to contain the problems created by gradual urbanisation. To minimise traffic pedestrians confrontations it has become necessary to introduce flyovers across and along the Highways. Marketing areas need extension, civic amenities like sheds and toilets are to be added. With a view to improve the aesthetics of the town to make it compatible with the tourism development, urgency for beautification of Gangtok and places around is also being felt. For pedestrian despersal, additional link roads and footpaths are required. A sum of Rs 45.00 lakhs is earmarked for the Annual Plan 2001-2002 for the implementation of the schemes.
This is one of the schemes under the 20 point programme for those in E.W.S. and is implemented for providing low cost housing to the urban poor. Sikkim has no people who are shelterless, but there are people who live in sub-standard temporary houses. This category of people are found to have settled in areas otherwise not suitable for permanent human habitation like sinking areas or in steep slopes. Unless alternative arrangement for their housing in suitable areas are made, loss of life and property at any time can not be ruled out. This scheme is being implemented for providing low cost housing to this category of people and also for development of such areas so as to enhance their stability, a sum of Rs 30.00 lakhs is proposed for the Annual Plan 2001-2002.
Absence of proper drainage network particularly in Gangtok has been the frequent cause for damage of the and property. As and when cross drains are blocked along the National Highways rainwater can be seen flowing through the Highway itself. There has been severe disturbance on the existing natural drains due to human intervention. Since the natural surface absorption of rainwater through vegetation has greatly reduced, the volume of run-off has been gradually increasing necessitating diversion or introduction of new drainage network of the expansion of the existing ones. Gangtok further has more than twenty sanitary latrines under the Department. In areas where sewerage piupes have not been laid the old system of septic tanks still continues. The Department maintains a cesspool cleaner to encourage people not to empty their septic tanks into the streams and thus pollute river water. Addition of more such vehicles has become extremely necessary despite fund constraints. An amount of Rs 4.00 lakhs is to be set aside for 2001-2002.
A study on the problem of the present urban transport has undertaken the RITES, New Delhi who have recommended for construction of Ropeways connecting public places to avoid travel by taxis and avoid traffic congestion. As the first step towards fulfilment of this objective Ropeway connecting Deorali Bazaar to the Tashiling Secretariat has already been started. A sum of Rs 400.00 lakhs has been proposed under the Annual Plan 2001-2002 for the purpose. ABSTRACT(Rs in lakhs)
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