Citizen Action Party questions mega construction projects in Gangtok

The Citizen Action Party (CAP), under the leadership of its president Ganesh Kumar Rai, visited several under-construction mega project sites in and around Gangtok to assess the ongoing work and its impact on the town’s fragile environment, local businesses, and residents. The party raised concerns about the scale and secrecy surrounding these developments and questioned whether Gangtok, a small hill town, can handle such large structures in the long run.

Ganesh Rai and his team began their inspection from Ridge Park and moved towards the construction site near Sadar Police Station. They then visited locations such as the West Point Mall and the upcoming Star Mall. While visiting these sites, Rai expressed strong concerns about the lack of transparency and information being shared with the public.

“There is no signboard. People don’t even know what is being built here. Even local authorities are not communicating with the citizens,” said Rai. “These projects are being carried out in complete silence, and no one knows who is behind them or how many trees were cut to make way for them.”

He added that Gangtok’s natural environment is being damaged, with greenery and trees disappearing from areas that were once full of life. The party fears that such large-scale construction could lead to long-term environmental damage, especially in a state that is prone to landslides, earthquakes, and heavy rainfall.

CAP also expressed concern about how such mega malls and high-rise buildings might affect small businesses and local shopkeepers. “These giant malls will not only affect the ecosystem but also harm the small businesses that have been serving people for decades,” said Rai. He stressed that the voice of local traders and residents must be heard before moving forward with projects of this scale.

During their visit, the CAP team noticed several construction workers at the sites, most of whom were not locals. Rai raised the issue of local unemployment and questioned why locals were not being hired for such big projects. “We have people here who are capable and skilled. Why are they not being given these jobs?” he asked.

He also spoke about the need for strict checks and proper approvals before such construction is allowed in a sensitive zone like Gangtok. According to Rai, the haphazard construction taking place without proper planning could lead to disaster in the future.

Another concern raised by CAP was the possibility of "crony capitalism" – a term used to describe a situation where a few big businessmen benefit from government contracts and development projects while ordinary people remain unaware and excluded. Rai pointed out that some of the same contractors who worked under the previous government continue to get work now, raising questions about fairness and transparency.

CAP has demanded that the government come forward with full details about each of these construction projects. The party wants to know who approved them, what their purpose is, how much land was used, how many trees were cut, and whether proper environmental clearance was obtained.

The party president concluded by saying that this is not a protest against development but a demand for responsible development. “We are not against development. But development must be sustainable, and it must be for the people, not just for a few,” said Rai.

The Citizen Action Party plans to continue its visits to other construction sites in the coming days and has promised to keep the people informed. The team also plans to file RTIs (Right to Information requests) to gather more details and has encouraged citizens to speak up and ask questions about what is being built in their neighbourhoods.