Sikkim order for buildings

TT, Gangtok, April 5: The Sikkim urban development department has issued a notification yesterday stating all the buildings under urban areas of the state should be painted in "natural green colour".

Speaking to The Telegraph , the department secretary G.T. Bhutia, said the notification is applicable in areas which fall under the purview of municipal corporations and nagar panchayats.

"Although there was no hard rule earlier to paint the buildings in "natural green colour" but owners of many houses have painted their buildings with the colour on their own. Sikkim is known for its natural beauty and greenery therefore, the decision to paint all the buildings in a uniform colour was also supported by the state government," said Bhutia.

He further said the notification would also be applicable to second class bazaars (which does not fall under the purview of municipal area) that has been identified by the department.

"The notification is a form of appeal to people to paint their residential and commercial buildings in "natural green colour". However, there is no specific deadline to paint the buildings to "natural green colour" and no fine would be charged from building owners if they do not follow the notification immediately," Bhutia added.

The state government last year took up a decision to paint all the Sikkim Nationalised Transport buses to green colour and the colour of maximum buses have been changed to green.

However, there are mixed response from the building owners on the notification.

"The notification should be applicable only in market areas where the footfall of tourists is more, the areas out of main market should be exempted from being painted green," said D.B. Chettri, a resident near Gangtok.

Govind Gurung of Deorali bazaar, welcomed the decision stating it would bring colour uniformity of the buildings.