GANGTOK: Union minister Arjun Ram Meghwal called on Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang at his office here and discussed a range of issues, including the Home Ministry’s move to open up 24 peaks to foreigners and introduction of electric vehicles in the state, a statement here said.
The Center, in a bid to boost tourism, has recently issued a notification, allowing mountaineering expeditions to 137 peaks across the country, including Kanchenjunga and 23 others in Sikkim, it said.
In a letter to the Center, the Sikkim government has sought immediate withdrawal of the notification, stating that the peaks are of sentimental and religious value to locals.
Tamang, better known as Golay, urged Meghwal during the meeting August 27 to apprise the central government about the sensitivity of the matter and spare at least 14 of the 24 peaks that have been opened to foreigners for expeditions.
The Union Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises assured the Chief Minister that he would talk to the authorities concerned on the issue.
Meghwal said that he was hopeful that the Center would try to protect local sentiments, the official statement said.
Talking about the need for industrialization in the state, the Chief Minister also requested Meghwal to consider his proposal for establishing ancillary units, if not manufacturing units, of heavy machineries.
It would solve the problem of unemployment to an extent, Golay insisted.
The Union Minister, on his part, asserted that he would discuss the matter with automobile companies.
Meghwal also apprised Golay about his ministry’s National Electricity Mobility Mission Plan 2020 – a mission document providing for a road map for faster adaptation of electric vehicles (EVs) in the country.
When the Chief Minister said that Sikkim’s demand for 50 electric minibuses was not approved by the Center on the ground that it did not fulfil all criteria, Meghwal gave assurances that he would advocate for relaxation of norms for the state. PTI
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