A report from Gangtok in Sikkim said some buildings had developed cracks and people were out on the streets

An earthquake measuring 5.0 on the Richter Scale jolted Sikkim today, Regional Seismological Centre sources said here. The epicentre of the quake that struck at 11.43 AM was at a place in Sikkim whose latitude and longitude were 27.4 degree N and 88.5 degree E respectively, the sources said.

The latest estimates of the Planning Commission states the decline in the number of poor in Sikkim from 1,70,000 to 51,000 in the seven year period between 2004-05 to 2011-12.

Sikkim has become the only state to have increased its forest cover in the past two decades and has launched an ambitious Rs 31 crore project of plantation in additional 1,000 hectares in the next

With a forest cover 47.3 per cent of its total geographical area — more than double the national average of 21 per cent — Sikkim is India’s greenest State, official data shows.

Project, built at a cost of Rs 1,118 crore, will harness water flow from Rangpo, Rongli rivers

Gati Infrastructure Private Limited (GIPL), a Hyderabad-based company focused on generating non-carbon power, has commissioned a 110-Mw hydro-electric power project in the northeastern state of Sikkim.

A 25 KW micro hydroelectric project commissioned by Sikkim Renewable Energy Development Agency (SREDA) was inaugurated at Hee-Bermiok today.

Manipal University, which is known for its green initiatives, has bagged the Golden Peacock Environment Management Award for the second consecutive year.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday presented to Sikkim an award for “extraordinary and innovative” work done by the State’s Rural Management and Development Department.

The Prime Minister presented a medal, a scroll and cash award of Rs 5 lakh to DR Nepal, secretary, Rural Management and Development Department, Sikkim, for exemplary performance of civil servants in the organizational category for year 2011–12, said a statement issued by Sikkim’s principal resident commissioner here.

In the backdrop of two strong earthquakes rocking Sikkim, the capital city of which is witnessing haphazard growth and mushrooming of multi-storey buildings, the Geological Survey of India (GSI) ha

Himachal Pradesh, known for its wide variety of fruit produce, could soon have competition from the faraway state of Sikkim. The former princely state in the northeast is foraying into cultivation of not only exotic items kiwifruit, but also more common varieties like apples, pears, pomegranate, almonds and walnuts.

“Introducing and cultivating kiwifruit and strawberry in this state is one of our success stories,” Dr Ashish Yadav, senior scientist at Indian Council for Agricultural Research’s regional centre, here said. “Given the soil and climatic conditions, there is vast potential for kiwifruit cultivation in Sikkim as also in other areas of the northeast India,” he added.