Sikkim Unit

G. B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development

Post Box: 24, Gangtok, East Sikkim - 737 101, Sikkim, India

Ph: (03592) 237328/237189, Fax: (03592) 237415, E-mail: sikkimunit@gbpihed.nic.in

 

 

 

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Brief about Sikkim unit... 

Sikkim Unit of this Institute has been taking up projects/activities with research and extension thrust on the environment and development of the region. These have focused by and large on the issues relevant to the Sikkim Himalaya with due consideration of geo-environmental conditions, ecosystem approach, community participation, socio-economics, participatory/rapid rural appraisal, sustainable development and capacity building on low-cost mountain farming/allied technologies. Significant activities tie-up with governmental agencies, non-governmental agencies for State and people of Sikkim Himalaya. The area of Sikkim is 7,096 sq.kms and measures approximately about 110 kms from north to south and about 64 kms from the east to the west. The elevation ranges from 224 mts to over 8590 mts above sea-level which gives Sikkim it’s incomparable range of flora and fauna.

Manpower

 

Scientific Staff

 

Name

Field of Specialization

Dr. K.K. Singh

Scientist-'D' & In-charge

 

 Field of Specialization: Plant Physiology and Biotechnology, Ex situ Conservation of Sensitive species, Capacity Building on Rural Technology and Bioresource Conservation

Phone:03592-237328 (O), 03592-231627(R), Fax: 03592-237415

Dr. H.K. Badola

Scientist-`E'

 

 

Field of Specialization: Biodiversity Conservation, Habitat assessment

Phone: 03592-237189 (O), Fax: 03592-237415

Dr. Y.K. Rai

Technician-'B'

Field of Specialization: Sustainable rural ecosystems, Awareness generation and Marketing management

 

Phone: 03592-237189 (O)

Shri L.K. Rai

Technician-'B'

Field of Specialization: Plant Taxonomy, Ex situ conservation of plants

 

Phone: 03592-237189 (O)

Research Staff

Name

Designation

Mr. Ashok Sharma

Personnel Assistant/Technical Assistant (DMF-VJ)

Mr. Dilli Ram Dahal

Junior Research Fellow (Snow & Glacier-VJ)

Mr. Bharat Kumar  Pradhan

Junior Research Fellow

Mr. Manmohan Singh Rawat

Junior Research Fellow

Mr. Santosh Sharma

Junior Research Fellow

Mr. Bhusan Gurung

Junior Research Fellow
Ms. Sanjyoti Subba Junior Research Fellow

Support Staff

Name

Designation

Administrative Staff

 

Mr. R.K. Das

LDC
Mr. Jagannath Dhakal Tec-1 (III)

Mr. Prem Kumar Tamang

Tec-1 (III)

Mr. Musafir Rai

Peon

Mr. Shyambir

Peon

Contractual Staff

 

Mr. Shekhar Kumar Thapa

Office Assistant

Mr. Bimal Pradhan

Driver

Mr. Nirmal Pradhan

Driver

Mr. Sunil Tamang

Baidar cum Supervisor

Mr. Mohan Thapa

Lab Helper

Mr. Deoman Thapa

Senior Electrician

 Contractual Daily Labour 

 

Mr. Sher Bahadur Subba

Nursery Worker

Mr. Pratap Rai

Arboratum Worker

Mr. Khem Lal Basnet

Field Worker

Mr. Man Bahadur

Field Worker

Mr. Rajan Kumar Rai

Cleaning and Maintenance work

 

R&D Projects 

Completed

A.     In-house funded projects

  1. Population studies and multiplication trials of threatened medicinal trials of threatened medicinal plants in Sikkim Himalaya (H.K. Badola)
  2. Study on in vivo and in vitro growth development and micropropagation of elite plants of Sikkim Himalayan region (K.K. Singh)

B. Externally funded projects 

  1. Ad hoc scheme productivity energetics and maintenance of soil fertility in Agro forestry system of Sikkim (ICAR funded project-E. Sharma/K.K.Singh)
  2. Genepool Preservation and Mass Propagation of Sikkim Himalayan Rhododendrons using Biotechnological Tools (DBT funded project-K.K. Singh and L.K. Rai)
  3. Kanchanjanga Biosphere Reserve- Landscape changes reserve status and human dimensions (MOE &F, KBR funded project-AP Krishna, K.K. Singh, YK. Rai and L.K. Rai)
  4. Demonstration & capacity building of mountain farmers & rural women on farm based simple technologies in Sikkim (DST funded project- K.K. Singh)
  5. Geo-environmental assessment of landslide hazards in parts of Sikkim Himalaya for Mountain Risk Engg. Evaluations using remote sensing and GIS Techniques (ISRO funded project-A.P.Krishna)
  6. Community Forest Management in Sikkim as part of the Environmental Law Capacity Building (WBNUJS funded project - A.P.Krishna)
  7. Climate, hazards and pollution (Natural disaster management in Sikkim Himalaya) II. Active Tectonics of the Darjeeling-Sikkim Himalayas using Global Positioning System (GPS) based Geodesy (DST funded project- A.P.Krishna)

 

Ongoing

A. In-house funded project:

   New Projects-Approved by Science Advisory Committee (SAC) 

  1. Optimizing hydrological responses in a functional land use model for mid elevation Himalayan watersheds: an attempt towards water sustainability (V. Joshi)
  2. Response assessment & processing of knowledge base to serve long term management and use of biodiversity in the Himalaya – focus on representative protected sites (H.K. Badola)
  3. Up-scaling applicability of ex situ mechanisms for conservation and utilization of high value plant species – focusing on promotion of conservation education & capacity buildings (H.K. Badola/ K.K. Singh)
  4. Stabilization of landslides through engineering and bioengineering measures in Sikkim (V. Joshi/H.K. Badola/ K.K. Singh)
  5. Development of propagation protocols, multiplication and field evaluation of selected economically important plants in the Indian Himalaya (K.K. Singh)

 B. Externally funded projects 

1.  Technology Vision 2020 Mission Mode Projects on Agriculture – Sikkim Project (TIFAC funded project-K.K. Singh)

2.   Snow and Glaciers Studies in Sikkim Himalaya in collaboration with Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad. (MoEF funded project-V. Joshi).

3.   Active tectonics of the Darjeeling-Sikkim Himalaya using GPS based geodesy. (DST funded project-V. Joshi/Kireet Kumar/Abdul Matin-Ashutosh College, Kolkata/Malay Mukul-CMMACS, Banglore/Sridevi Jade-CMMACS, Banglore).

4. 3-Dimensional image of the lithosphere and active deformation across Sikkim-Darjeeling Himalaya and a comparison with NW-Himalaya. (DST funded project-S.Mitra-IIT, Kharagpur, S.S.Rai-NGRI, Hydrebad, V. Joshi).

5.    Installation and operation of permanent GPS stations for quantification of tectonic deformations and assessment of stability of Himalayan urban centres. (DST funded project-Kireet Kumar/V. Joshi).

 

6.    Development of Early Warning Model for Landslide Using Remote Sensing and GIS: Case Study from Sikkim Unit. (Space Application Centre, ISRO, Ahmedabad funded project-V. Joshi).

 

7. In-vitro propagation and conservation of some rare and endangered Rhododendron species of Sikkim Himalaya. (CISR funded project-K.K. Singh).

 

8. Biodiversity Conservation in Transboundary Landscapes (BCTL). ICIMOD funded project-Dr. K.K Singh, Dr. H.K. Badola, Dr. V. Joshi, Shri R. Joshi, Dr. Y.K. Rai, Shri L.K. Rai)

 

 

Faculty

 

Ø       Disaster Management Faculty, Sikkim in collaboration with Land Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Govt. of Sikkim. (MHA, GoI, V. Joshi-Head, Disaster Management Faculty, A. K. Sharma, Technical Assistant)

 

Training Programmes

 

  1. State-level training-cum-workshop on disaster management (V. Joshi).
  2. District level training programme on disaster management (V. Joshi).
  3. Regional level training program on Comprehensive Landslide Risk Management (V. Joshi).
  4. Capacity Building through Training and Workshops on Form Based Simple Technologies in the Unit Campus in collaboration with GBPIHED and NABARD (H.K. Badola, K.K. Singh, V. Joshi, R. Joshi, Y.K. Rai and L.K. Rai)

 

Thesis (M.Tech./M.E./Ph.D)

 

Awarded

 

1.

Dr. Ghanashyam  Sharma

Subject: Botany

Area of Specialization: Agroforestry

Thesis title: Productivity and Nutrient Cycling in an Age series of Alnus

Cardamom Agroforestry in the Sikkim Himalaya, 2003, North

Bengal University, Siliguri, W.B.

Supervisors: Dr. K.K Singh and Dr. E. Sharma, GBPIHED, Sikkim Unit,Sikkim

2.

Dr. Santosh Kumar Chettri

Subject: Botany

Area of Specialization: Biosphere Reserve

Thesis title: Impact of Anthropogenic Pressure on the Natural Resources of Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve with Particular Reference to Buffer zone, 2005, Kumaon University, Nanital, India

Supervisors: Prof. S.P. Singh, Kumaon University, Uttarakhand and

                  Dr. K.K. Singh GBPIHED, Sikkim Unit, Sikkim 

3.

Dr. Iyatta Maharana

Subject: Subject: Geography

Area of Specialization: Ecotourism

Thesis title: Economic Benefits and Conservation Linkages from Tourism Development in the Sikkim Himalaya

Supervisors: Dr. S.C. Rai, GBPIHED, Sikkim Unit, Sikkim

        Dr. M.M. Jana, North Bengal University, Siliguri, W.B.

4.

Dr. Alka Jain

Subject: Life Science

Area of Specialization: Limnology

Thesis title: Study  of  Sacred  Khecheopalri  Lake  Ecosystem in the Sikkim Himalaya

Supervisors: Dr. E. Sharma, GBPIHED, Sikkim unit, Sikkim

5.

Dr. Huidrom Birkumar Singh

Subject: Botany

Area of Specialization: Taxonomy

Thesis title: Grazing Impact on Plant Diversity and Productivity Along Yuksam- Dzongri Tourists Trekking Corridor in the Biosphere Reserve of Sikkim

Supervisors: Dr. R.C. Sundryal, GBPIHED, Sikkim Unit, Sikkim

6.

Dr. Nakul Chhetri

Subject: Life Science

Area of Specialization: Biosphere Reserve

Thesis title: Impact of habitat distribution on birds and butterfly communities along the Yuksam, Dzongri trail in Khanchendzonga

Biosphere Reserve.

Supervisors: Dr. E. Sharma, GBPIHED, Sikkim unit, Sikkim

7.

Dr. Manju Sundryal

Subject: Botany

Area of Specialization: Taxonomy

Thesis title: Distribution, propagation and nutritive value of some wild Edible plants in the Sikkim Himalaya

Supervisors: Prof. A.N. Purohit, GBPIHED, Almora, E. Sharma,

GBPIHED, Sikkim Unit, Sikkim

8.

Dr. Sanjebh Kundu

Subject: Earth Science

Area of Specialization: 

Thesis title: Landslide hazard characterization, using remote sensing and geographic information system-A case study in parts of west Sikkim Himalaya

Supervisors: Dr. A.P. Krishna, GBPIHED, Sikkim Unit, Dr. S.K. Nag, Jadavpur University, Kolkata  

9.

Dr. Rita Sharma

Subject: Eco-Physiology & Biochemistry

Area of Specialization: Nitrogen fixation and soil fertility maintenance Agroforestry

Thesis title: “Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation in Maintenance of Soil Fertility in the Sikkim Himalaya”.

Supervisors: Prof. A.N. Purohit,GBPIHED, Almora, Uttaranchal

 

Registered 

1.

Shri L. K. Rai, Technician-B

Subject: Botany (2005)

Area of Specialization: Plant taxonomy and ecology

Thesis Title: Tree diversity in Sikkim Himalaya with special reference to the composition of sacred groves (Final stage of submission).

University: North Bengal University (NBU), Siliguri, W.B.

Supervisors: Prof. Abhaya Prasad Das, North Bengal University, Siliguri, W.B.

 

 Technological Achievements

 

Ø       Nursery/arboretum development at Pangthang (spread over an area of 10 acres)

Ø       Agroforestry models development at sub-tropical and temperate sites with community participation

Ø     Execution of Integrated Watershed Management Project across 9 blocks covering 30 villages of South Sikkim covered extensively

Ø     Extension of Technology packages in the sub-tropical and temperate sites of the watershed, through training and capacity building of farmers/women on simple farm based technologies such as polyhouses, square-meter polybeds, polypits, biocomposting, water harvesting structures, improvised large cardamom curing kiln and bioglobules

Ø      Demonstration establishment under technology vision 2020: agricultural production potential – 3 locations in South and East Sikkim covered

Ø      Model site developed at Kamrang village with community participation through bio-engineering for gully erosion and small landslide preventions on upland farms

Ø       EIA surveys of minor road construction, soil erosion srudies, land use/cover change studies and other allied aspects of hydrology

Ø       Hydro-ecological linkages of carbon dynamics in relation to land-use/cover change in a Himalayan watershed

Ø       Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve project – 8 villages/settlements of North and West Sikkim covered extensively for socio-economic/human dimension as well as ecological perspectives

Ø     Global Positioning System (GPS) based research on crustal deformation to derive plate-tectonics vis-à-vis seismicity implications in the region

Ø       “Sodar studies of the mixing height in Sikkim”  in collaboration with IIT New Delhi and NPL New Delhi (2003-05)

Ø      Disaster management faculty on behalf of Govt. of Sikkim for state level capacity building through training, education and research

Ø       Biotechnology based conservation research on Sikkim Himalayan rhododendrons

Ø       Development of Rare and Threatened Plant Conservation Park in Gangtok-Sikkim

Ø       Contact programme on Science Motivation and Awareness for talented High School students of Sikkim

Ø       Interactive Meeting on ‘Identifying R&D Priorities and Possible Collaborations amongst Allied Departments in Sikkim’

Ø       Publications of leaflets in Hindi, Nepali and English on ‘Technologies for Mountain Farming Systems’

Ø      Training Module I & II and Pamphlets on disaster Management

 

 

 Infrastructural facilities available

 

·         Library

·         Internet

·         Laboratories

·         Herbal gardens

·         Medicinal Plants and Multipurpose Tree Nurseries

·         Arboratum and Smrit Vatica

·         Bioresource Technology Park:

Vermi-composting, Biocomposting, Weed Composting, Water harvesting Tank, Bamboo Propagation, MPTs Propagation, Rhododendron Propagation, Biogobule/Biobriqueeting, Large cardamom Improvised Cardamom Curing Kiln

·         Tissue culture laboratory

·         Green House/Mist house

·         Protected Cultivation, Polyhouse, Nethouse and Polypit

·         Disaster Management Faculty

 

   

 Membership in Technical Committees

 

  1. Member, Department of Science and Technology, Government of Sikkim (K.K. Singh)

  2. Institute Scientists serve on the Executive and Governing Council of various State Government constituted committees/boards

  3. Member, (Institute Faculty) of the Scientific Advisory Committee (for the XI Plan period), G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development (K.K. Singh)

 

 

 Awards & Honors

 

  1. External reviewer of Mountain Research and Development, Switzerland (K.K. Singh)
  2. External reviewer of World Journal of Agricultural sciences (K.K. Singh)
  3. External reviewer of Journal Hill Research (K.K. Singh)
  4. External reviewer of American-Eurasian Journal of Agricultural & Environmental Sci (K.K. Singh)
  5. External reviewer of International Journal of Biodiversity and conservation (K.K. Singh)

     

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