GANGTOK, March 4: Not exactly a Green Bonus as promised by Jairam Ramesh but Sikkim and other green States has something to cheer with the 13th Finance Commission recommending that much of the Rs 5,000 crores grants for forestry promotion in the country would be linked to the number of approved working plans which the State Forest Department prepares.

Gangtok, March 2: The 13th Finance Commission has recommended a package of Rs 400 crore during the next five years as grants-in-aid for meeting specific needs, including Rs 200-crore Bhaley Dhunga sky walk project, in Sikkim.

The work on construction of a new railway line to connect northern part of West Bengal with Sikkim was launched recently with the ground-breaking ceremony attended by Mr Shiv Kumar, General Manager, and other senior officials of Northeast Frontier Railway and IRCON International Ltd, a subsidiary of the Indian Railways, which is to execute the project.

Work on the construction of the railway line between Sevoke in West Bengal

Sikkim Human Resource Development Department has been providing the mid-day meal to the students of primary and upper primary level since 2002.

Under the scheme, the mid-day meals have been served to 69,758 primary students and 22,992 upper primary students of schools.

Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling laid the foundation stone of a new 575-bedded multi specialty STNM Hospital at Suchakgang (Sichey) in the city outskirts here recently.

The Hospital will be built at an estimated cost of Rs 400 crores with a plinth area of 6 lakh square feet, housing 18 departments and will be completed by March 2013.

GANGTOK, Feb 1: Endowed with spectacular scenic beauty, Sikkim is harnessing its natural bounty for sustainable development through village tourism. Sikkim is considered as one of the most peaceful and fastest developing States of Northeast India.