Singur shutdown disrupts work at TATA’s car plant project Saturday, June 30, 2007 | AY
Hooghly (West Bengal), June 30 (ANI): A 12-hour shutdown by the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) following the arrest of its Hooghly leader has brought work at the Tata Motors small car project in Singur to a standstill. Work on sewerage lines of the project was reportedly disrupted after labourers abstained from work. Roads remained deserted. Market and educational institutions also remained closed due to the protest over the arrest of Party’s zonal committee secretary Suhrid Dutta for his alleged involvement in the murder of an anti-land acquisition protestor Tapasi Malik. Dutta was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and remanded to custody till July 11. (ANI)
One lakh common service centres to be set up across the state Wednesday, June 27, 2007 | AY
The Union information and technology department is planning to set up at least 1,00,000 Common Service Centres across the country including 6,797 in West Bengal by the end of 2008 to provide citizen-oriented services by various government departments. A CSC will reduce the time and cost involved in obtaining some of the basic services that are essential in daily life. When functional, one in every six villages will be part of a large national network of digital services. Similarly, a CSC proposes to offer a diverse portfolio of services that ranges from tele-medicine, rail-ticket booking, vocational training, and non-formal education. The CSCs would be implemented in phases and in a three-tier level. At the state level, there would be a Service Center Agency (SCA) which would be responsible for the overall profitability and sustainability of the CSC business. The SCA would manage a network of Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) who in turn would manage the operational business of the CSC at the village level. At the third level would be the State Designated Agency (SDA) to facilitate implementation, framing of policies and provide G2C services, and revenue support to the SCAs.
Kolkata has more people moving out Wednesday, June 27, 2007 | AY
Major cities in the world including Mumbai and Kolkata are witnessing a rare phenomenon as the number of people who are moving out of these metros are on an increase, contrary to what has been predicted. A UN report said these cities have far greater number of people moving out than into them and few of these cities will be of the size that doomsayers had predicted for them in the 1970s. Population of towns and cities in developing countries like India is set to double in the space of a generation, while urban population in developed world is expected to grow relatively lower, the 'State of the World Population 2007' report. In comparison to the urban population growth rate, the world's rural population is expected to decrease by some 28 million between 2005 and 2030.
Naxals besiege Birandih railway station in West Bengal Wednesday, June 27, 2007 | AY
Purulia (West Bengal), June 27 (ANI): Armed Naxalites besieged the Birandih Railway Station, 55 km from West Bengal’s Purulia District, this morning, disrupting train services on that route.The Naxals also manhandled the railway staff and forced Railway Protection Force personnel’s out of the station building at gun point.They were also reported to have damaged important documents and papers.All long distance trains on this route had to be diverted.Special Deputy Commercial Manager K S Mukherjee was quoted as saying that Purulia police and their Jharkhand counterparts have been informed about the incident and RPF personnel have rushed to the station.Today is the second and final day of the two-day nation-wide economic blockade called by the Naxals against the Centre’s economic policies.The protest call had evoked some response in Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Orissa on Tuesday.The rebels had damaged the rail lines on Bailadilla Hills in the Bastar forests hitting the movement of iron ore to the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant. The eastern Central railway had suspended train services as the blockade call affected Naxal strongholds of Gaya and Jehanabad. The Communist Party of India (Maoists) has been protesting against Centre and State Government’s globalisation, industrialisation and SEZ policy. (ANI)
Film fest begins today Tuesday, June 26, 2007 | AY
The city will be treated to a 3-day Bengali film festival from Tuesday. Jalsaghar (The Music Room) by Satyajit Ray, Neel Aksher Neechey (Under the Blue Sky) by Mrinal Sen and Jhinder Bondy (Prisoner of Zenda) by Tapan Sinha will be screened at the Students Centre, PMG Jn, on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday respectively. The festival is organised as part of the 30th anniversary celebrations of the Left Front government in West Bengal. The CPM district committee is organising the celebrations.
Hats off to Kolkata Doctors Tuesday, June 26, 2007 | AY
In an operation the first of its kind, a laparoscopic vaginal construction surgery was carried out on a Bangladeshi national in Kolkata. Mrs S Biswas suffered from Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser Syndrome, a developmental defect of the vaginal tract. She was missing an uterus and the vagina owing to the congenital condition. She will now be able to conceive genetically using eggs from her ovary through the created vagina and fertilising them. The developing embryo will then be transferred to a surrogate mother. Laparoscopic surgery reduces risks and complications and the recovery period is also shorter.
Suspected HUJI militants arrested in Kolkata Tuesday, June 26, 2007 | AY
Kolkata, June 26 (ANI): Kolkata Police have arrested three militants suspected of having ties with the banned Bangladesh-based Harkat-ul-Jehadi Islam (HUJI) terrorist outfit. The arrest followed a tip-off given by police in Lucknow. Two of the arrested militants have confessed to being trained in Pakistan, the police said. The arrested have been identified as Mohammed Ali Akbar Hussain, Mukhtar Hussain and Azizul Rehman. “The first two have confessed to being trained in Pakistan. We are verifying their other activities," said Rajeev Kumar, Deputy Inspector General (D.I.G), West Bengal Police.The arrested would be presented before a court today and after a transit is granted, they would be sent to Uttar Pradesh for further interrogation. HUJI, which follows the Deoband sect, has been active across India for the last four years and has been blamed for attacks, including one unsuccessful on the disrupted Ram Janambhoomi site in Ayodhya and the recent bomb blast at a mosque in Hyderabad. (ANI)
Leopard captured in Siliguri tea-estate Tuesday, June 26, 2007 | AY
Sukma (West Bengal), June 26 (ANI): Forest authorities have captured a leopard from the Matidhar tea-estate near Siliguri after being informed of its sighting by the Matidhar management.The leopard is presently lodged in the Sukma Animal Rescue Center. "We had laid the trap five days ago and we caught the leopard. The doctors have examined him and pronounced him to be fit,” said Neelanjana Mitra, Assistant Divisional Forest Officer, Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary.Last year, a five-year-old leopard and two cubs were captured in the tea-estate.The leopard population is distributed across India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh and southern China. (ANI)
Kolkata teenager fights social evils by sculpting dolls Monday, June 25, 2007 | AY
Sarenga (West Bengal), June 24 (ANI): A teenaged girl in Kolkata has turned her one time favourite pass time of sculpting dolls into a medium to highlight social evils like female infanticide and crime against women. Fourteen-year-old Ivy is a resident of Sarenga Village in Howrah District, 50 kilometres from Kolkata.She started making dolls during her childhood. But with the passage of time, she decided to draw people’s attention towards social evils that were affecting society at large. "Since my childhood, I have had a liking for dolls. Besides studies, I made these dolls. My dolls didn’t look proper initially, but with practice I mastered the right method. Through dolls, I try to convey social messages against female infanticide, female foeticide, and crime against women," Ivy says.Anindya, Ivy’s father, says that his daughter never received any formal training in doll-making."Having felt disturbed at the incidents of women exploitation, ill-treatment and especially female foeticide, Ivy asked me some way out to fight such social evils. I suggested her to raise her voice through artistic creations,” he says.Ivy earlier used to make dolls out of discarded scraps of clothes, but later she started using clay. Some of Ivy's works have been displayed at various exhibitions.A joint study carried out by researchers in India and Canada recently suggested that half-a-million unborn girls get aborted in India annually. (ANI)
Kolkata's gay film festival evokes warm response Monday, June 25, 2007 | AY
Kolkata, June 24 (ANI): A special film festival organised here to strengthen campaign against gay rights in the country and to introduce members of the gay community and the people of Kolkata to world-class films made on general awareness about gays' related issues evoked warm response. The two-day fest, organised by Pratyay Gender Trust and Sappho for Equality, organisations fighting for the rights of the alternative people, concluded on Saturday with most of the films screened here dwelt on the success and failures of people with different sexual orientations. Eight films directed by national and international directors that addressed the issues of lesbianism, homosexuality, bisexuality and transgender issues were featured in during the film festival. The festival, with the theme 'Ending Homophobic Violence' showcased films like 'The Investigator' by Chris Oxley, 'Licensed to Kill' by Arthur Dong and 'Breakfast on Pluto' by Neil Jordan, a Bengali film 'Being Mate, Being Koti' by Mahuya Bandopadhyay and French film 'Ma Vie en Rose'. The fest drew appreciation of one and all attention the event. Joydeep Jana, a film enthusiast, said: "I watched 'Breakfast on Pluto'. I really liked the film. It has a message on human survival against odds. It speaks about how one faces all the trying times and makes life a success. It is about achieving one's aims and spreading love."Aninda Hazra, a member of the Pratyay Gender Trust, said: "I think it (the film festival) not only helps the lesbians and gay community but also helps others in order to understand what we stand for, what are our rights and what are we saying. Primarily, in order not to alienate and create a bracket of the main stream and alternative." Activists said the festival was an attempt to use culture to help society recognize the rights of country's homosexuals. Many people, however, said the Bollywood has often used gays as characters of humour and ridicule.In the recent past, films calling for a sensitive approach towards gays or lesbians drew flak of hardliners and many social groups. Many gay activists complain, the existing law has become a tool for police to harass gay and lesbian couples to extort money. If couples refuse or are unable to pay a bribe, they are often put in dingy cells, brutally beaten and humiliated. In India, homosexuality is a crime and can invite a jail term of at least 10 years.The anti-gay law, which dates back to the 19th century, is now being questioned by gay rights groups who argue that not only is it an abuse of human rights but also acts as an impediment in the fight against HIV/AIDS in India. (ANI)
Darjeeling tea can be a history Sunday, June 24, 2007 | AY
The snowcapped hills of Darjeeling in the lap of the Himalayas produce tea with a distinct flavour. More than 70 per cent of the total output of Darjeeling tea was exported to Russia, Germany and Japan and the balance consumed by major blenders like the erstwhile Brook Bond, Lipton and buyers in Bengal. But the scenario has changed. Russia is not importing Darjeeling tea. Germany and Japan are not keen. The queen of all tea is Darjeeling tea. It is called the “champagne of tea”. The secret behind the aroma of Darjeeling tea is possibly the absorption of the sun’s “ultra-violate” rays. The flavour resembles the tea of the Nilgiri Hills. The production of Darjeeling tea is about 10 million kg. That means just 1.3 per cent of the total output in India, hovering around 900 million kg. The average price of Darjeeling tea at the Kolkata auction centre is around Rs 150 a kg. While the selling price remains the same for many years, the production cost is on the rise, making Darjeeling tea unviable costwise and vulnerable, too. The introduction of the Certificate of Trade Mark by the Tea Board for Darjeeling tea affects marketing. What is essential is that the quality of Darjeeling tea, free from extraneous ingredients, be maintained to allure foreign buyers.
Salman Khan's programme in Kolkata cancelled Sunday, June 24, 2007 | AY
A performance here today by film stars Salman Khan, Diya Mirza and Johny Lever was cancelled by police because its organisers had not obtained permission for the show. Police seized all tickets for the show, arrested four of the organisers and cancelled the programme at Netaji Indoor Stadium as permission was not taken for the event. Deputy Commissioner of Police P K Chattopadhyay said the organisers had even gone to the extent of printing an additional 700 tickets for the function.
Kolkata students drum up support for President Kalam Saturday, June 23, 2007 | AY
Kolkata, June 21 (ANI): Schoolchildren in Kolkata are drumming up support for President APJ Abdul Kalam’s candidature for a second term at the Rashtrapati Bhawan. The students held a demonstration in the city under the banner of the Paschin Banga Sishu Unayan Committee today in support of President Kalam’s candidature for another term. They shouted slogans in support of the cause and carried posters hailing Kalam as the President. Kalam, the children said, was the best President India ever had. He was efficient, honest, sincere and noble, they said, adding that the fact that he made a special effort to bond with children across the country was the most defining factor. "We want Kalam to become our President as he would lead our country towards great progress and success…He is a scientist and a very learned person," said Amit Singh, a thirteen-year-old student. Recent surveys have shown that the majority of Indians, especially the youth, support President Kalam and want him to head the country for a second term. His term ends on July 24. The voting to elect the 13th President would be held on July 19 and counting is scheduled on July 21. (ANI)
Jyoti Basu rules out supporting Kalam for a second term Saturday, June 23, 2007 | AY
Kolkata/New Delhi, June 22 (ANI): Veteran Left leader and former West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu on Friday ruled out support for incumbent President APJ Abdul Kalam to contest for a second term. "No, we are not with the Third Front," Basu, who holds the record for the longest serving Chief Minister of a state in the country, told reporters in Kolkata. The Communists have said it is too late to change their stand on United Progressive Alliance (UPA) candidate Pratibha Patil. Meanwhile in New Delhi, UPA partner and Lok Janshakti Party chief Ram Vilas Paswan endorsed Patil's candidature, and expressed confidence of her victory. "The entire UPA leadership is campaigning for her. We are sure of our victory, but we are on a social awakening cause to tell people that for the first time in our country, a woman will become the President of India. “In the United States, from (George) Washington to (George W.) Bush, there have been many Presidents, but there has never been a woman President. It is of immense pride to us that we will have a woman President," he said. A number of leaders, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and other alliance members have already signed separate sets of nomination papers of Patil. The polls for the 13th President of India will be held on July 19. Kalam’s term ends on July 24. (ANI)
Nandigram killings: Probe report submitted to West Bengal Govt Saturday, June 23, 2007 | AY
Kolkata, June 22 (ANI): West Bengal Home Secretary P R Roy today said that reports of the probe ordered into the March 14, Nandigram killings have been submitted to the State Government.After a meeting with the Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, Roy informed reporters that Balbir Ram Divisional Commissioner of Burdwan Range had submitted the probe report. However, he did not divulge any details of the report.Roy also stated that the situation in Nandigram was gradually returning to normalcy, however, 300 people who had fled the village were yet to return and the administration was taking measures to ensure their return. Nandigram had witnessed a fresh spate of violence last week, but no major incident has been reported since Friday.On March 14, fifteen persons were killed in a police firing at Nandigram in East Midnapore District while protesting against police entry into their villages. Due to rising tension and clashes the Buddhadeb Bhattacharya Government has shelved plans for an industrial park to establish a 10,000-acre mega chemical hub (ANI)
Online birth certificates helps residents Thursday, June 21, 2007 | AY
Residents of Kolkata can now get birth certificates from the borough offices in Alipore, Manicktala and Hogg Building near Kolkata Municipal Corporation headquarters. So far, parents could get birth certificates only at the respective borough offices, where the baby was born. State health minister Mr Surjya Kanta Mishra today launched an online service which enables parents anywhere in the city to get birth certificates of their babies from these offices of borough III, VI and IX. The first copy of a child’s birth certificate from online centres will be available for free. But if those having hand-written birth certificates want to get computer prints, they will have to pay Rs 100 for each copy. Money will also be charged for copies sought after a year of a child’s birth, though searching data from computers has been made free.
Famous Eden Gardens In Kolkata gets a facelift Thursday, June 21, 2007 | AY
The magnificent Eden Gardens in Kolkata, for its giant seating capacity and the cricketing tradition it beholds is all set to get a facelift. The venue is set to host an India-Pakistan Test in November as a new pitch it to be laid at one of the biggest centers in world cricket. The Cricket Association of Bengal plans to revamp and modernise all the facilities at the Eden Gardens, stated Cricketnext.com. The ground will be dug up and a new drainage system will be put in place.
Kolkata registers its young street dwellers Wednesday, June 20, 2007 | AY
Kolkata, June 19 (ANI): Civic authorities in Kolkata have registered thousands of its street children enabling them access to the state's social security system.Civic authorities handed out birth certificates to about 50,000 street children in the city, a pre-requisite for access to any government welfare scheme.The initiative was taken by voluntary organizations in collaboration with United Nation Children Fund, UNICEF."The aim of the programme is to register street and slum children who have not been registered and give them birth certificates," said Eimar Barr, Deputy Director Programmes, UNICEF. The State civic authority handed over the certificates after verifying the list of children provided by the voluntary organization."This is a scheme undertaken by an NGO who works with street children. After a rigorous survey exercise they have provided us the name of these street children. We have cross-checked the names and found that they had no certificates," said Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, city's Mayor.The children said that the certificate would entitle them to things they were deprived of."I have come here for my certificate. I need a birth certificate to make my voter identity card, to register myself in the State's social security schemes and school admission," said Muhammad Aslam, a street boy, receiving a birth certificate.The scheme was launched in 2005 when Kolkata Municipal Corporation and UNICEF joined hands with 74 city based voluntary organizations to identify street children who are eligible but not registered in Kolkata.(ANI)
West Bengal Govt announces package for Singur farmers Wednesday, June 20, 2007 | AY
Kolkata, June 19 (ANI): West Bengal Industries Minister Nirupam Sen on Tuesday announced a rehabilitation package for the people affected by the Tata Motors car project in Singur, but rejected the demand of returning the lands.The affected persons would be provided training and employment in the Tata project, Sen added.The package includes identifying employment opportunities in coordination with the Tata Motors Limited in various sectors and preparing a socio-economic database of the persons affected by the project.The scheme would also ensure that at least one person from each affected family was included for training. The Trinamool Congress has been spearheading a campaign for better compensation for the farmers whose lands were acquired by the State Government for the project.Tata Motors started to build its factory in Singur in January 2007 to make what the company claims will be the world's cheapest car for 100,000 rupees.There have been regular protests in West Bengal this year over the acquisition of agriculture land for industry. (ANI)
Tiger run over by train in West Bengal Tuesday, June 19, 2007 | AY
A full grown male Royal Bengal tiger, was somehow run over by a train, at Dolan rail bridge near the Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary in Cooch Behar district of West Bengal yesterday. Local residents found the tiger lying dead near the railway tracks and informed the forest department officials. West Bengal Forest Minister Ananta Roy said that, since the last few years there has been a change in the nature of tigers and now they frequently come out of the forest area. The West Bengal forest department is trying to find out why they often come to areas inhabited by people in north Bengal. Recently, a full-grown leopard was found dead in the Phulbari-Patan tea estate near Siliguri, about 600km from the state capital. According to forest department officials, the leopard presumably died due to poisoning as no external injury marks were found on its body.
17 injured in villagers-police clashes over land acquisition in Burnpur Tuesday, June 19, 2007 | AY
Burnpur (West Bengal), June 18 (ANI): At least 17 people were injured when irate villagers clashed with police personnel on Monday over acquisition of land for Indian Iron and Steel Company’s (IISCO) factory in West Bengal’s Burnpur District.The incident took place in Purushottampur village of Burnpur District when the villagers tried to prevent authorities of the steel company from taking possession of 240 acres of farmland.The injured included six policemen and a legislator.The land was formally acquired by the state-run IISCO in 1989 but the actual taking over was initiated recently.The protestors alleged the compensation received in 1989 for their non-agricultural land was grossly inadequate. They were demanding compensation to match the current market rates and job security for each affected family."We want them to give us our due. It is not that we oppose the setting up of the industry here. But we want our dues. We want them to provide jobs to members of each families and due compensation for the land," said Radha Rani Chanda, a protestor. The villagers said they would continue to protest till their demands were met."We will continue the agitation till our demands are met. It will continue till jobs are given and the price for the land is paid," added Soma Mitra, another protestor.At least six persons, including a policeman, were injured in clashes on Sunday at Purushottampur village over the same issue.In 1989, the villagers were given Rupees 13.5 lakh (1.3 million rupees) per acre by the IISCO. But villagers claim the Asansol-Durgapur Development Authority, which is overseeing the acquisition, has passed on only Rupees 5.6 lakh (560,000 rupees) to them.The villagers' resistance has blocked work on the Rs 10,000-crore (100 billion rupees) expansion and modernisation of the IISCO steel plant in Asansol.Over 290 families stand to lose their homes. Nearly 340 acres are to be acquired for the expansion of the steel plant, which was declared sick unit in 1999. The Central Government has sanctioned 100 billion rupees for the plant's revival. For the State Government, IISCO is a premier project in the current drive towards industrialisation. (ANI)
Trinamool seeks Prime Minister’s intervention in Nandigram Tuesday, June 19, 2007 | AY
Kolkata, June 18 (ANI): Trinamool Congress on Monday sought Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s intervention in Nandigram, where violence continued for the fourth day.Trinamool General Secretary Partha Chatterjee asked the Prime Minister to "intervene and save the constitutional rights of the citizens of Nandigram” and see that “state-sponsored terrorism” is stopped. He said if the violence was not stopped “it may bring another disaster like that of March 14 when 14 people were killed in police firing".Earlier today, the Trinamool Congress activists took out a torchlight procession in Kolkata against the continuing violence in Nandigram.They shouted slogans against the State administration and the CPI (M).The Trinamool claimed that despite efforts by its leadership to restore peace in the area, the apathetic attitude of the State Government and the CPI(M) was obstructing the peace process. According to Trinamool leader Madan Mitra, party leader Mamata Banerjee had held meetings with the Left Front leadership in an effort to solve the problem. Meanwhile, sporadic violence between supporters of the Bhoomi Ucched Pratirodh Committee and the CPI(M) cadres continued in Nandigram.Over 25 rounds were fired and bombs hurled from a brick kiln at Kejuri on Sunday allegedly by CPI-M cadres.However, none was injured or killed in the incident.BUPC is spearheading the movement against acquisition of farm land for a SEZ in the area.The ongoing peace process between BUPC and the West Bengal Government received a setback on June 15 when fresh violence erupted at Nandigram injuring four police personnel.On Saturday, five persons were injured in exchange of firing between the BUPC and CPI-M cadres.On March 14, fifteen persons were killed in a police firing while protesting against police entry into their villages. Due to rising tension and clashes the Buddhadeb Bhattacharya Government has shelved plans for an industrial park to establish a 10,000-acre mega chemical hub. (ANI)
Cinemax plans invests in Kolkata Monday, June 18, 2007 | AY
The Rs 110 crore Cinemax chain of multiplexes, a Kanakia Brothers promoted venture, is foraying into Kolkata with an estimated investment of Rs 45 crore and has identified 5 properties here. Cinemax's first 4-screen-1000-seater property in Kolkata, that required an investment of Rs 10 crore, would be up and running in another 3 months. It is planning to invest close to Rs 45 crore in its 5 identified properties in Kolkata, all of which would be located inside shopping malls. Tickets, at the Kolkata properties, would be priced anything between Rs 50 and Rs 150 depending on peak hours and locations, Cinemax multiplexes are also expected to score on recliner sofas that could tilt upto 150 degrees, massage chairs, any time tickets machines, luxurious and expensive interiors and the best of customer service.
Six injured in villagers-police clashes in Burdwan Monday, June 18, 2007 | AY
Kolkata, June 17 (ANI): At least six people, including a policeman, were injured when villagers protesting against the Indian Iron and Steel Company’s (IISCO) expansion plans clashed with police in West Bengal's Burdwan District.Police have arrested 70 people in connection with the clashes that occurred at Purushottampur in Burdwan District.As soon as the company’s work began this morning some of the villagers tried to stop it. They demanded that they should be given permanent jobs in the company in return for their land being taken away.The villagers resorted to violence when the police tried to stop them.The company’s expansion work had been suspended for last three days following villagers’ agitation.The Asansol Sub-Divisional Officer during a meeting with villagers, on Saturday, said providing temporary jobs would be considered, but ruled out the possibility of permanent jobs.Meanwhile, tension continued in Nandigram in East Midnapore District for the third day. Over 25 rounds were fired and bombs hurled from a brick kiln at Kejuri this morning allegedly by CPI-M cadres.However, none was injured or killed in the incident.Trinamool Congress-backed Bhumi Uchhed Pratirodh Committee (BUPC) is spearheading the movement against acquisition of farm land for a SEZ in the area.The ongoing peace process between BUPC and the West Bengal Government received a setback on June 15 when fresh violence erupted at Nandigram injuring four police personnel.On Saturday, five persons were injured in exchange of firing between the BUPC and CPI-M cadres.Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee has been opposing the acquisition of farmland for industries in the State. On March 14, fifteen persons were killed in a police firing while protesting against police entry into their villages. Due to rising tension and clashes the Buddhadeb Bhattacharya Government has shelved plans for an industrial park to establish a 10,000-acre mega chemical hub. (ANI)
Kolkata’s second metro project Sunday, June 17, 2007 | AY
East-West Metro, the much-touted second metro railway project to connect Kolkata’s twin city Howrah in the west with IT hub Salt Lake in the east, was cleared by the West Bengal cabinet yesterday. Officials said the work on the project would begin in December 2008 and is likely to be completed by 2014. The Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) will contribute 45 per cent of the project cost — approximately Rs35bn ($856.40m) — and the state and central governments will bear the rest. Of the total 13.7km route under the metro expansion project now, about 8km will be underground and the rest overground.There would be 12 stations in the entire stretch between Church Road in Howrah and Salt Lake’s Sector V-Rajarhat point in northeastern Kolkata. At present, the metro runs on the city’s north-south axis from Dum Dum to Tollygunge, a stretch of about 16.5km. JBIC recently submitted a feasibility report to the state government. Unlike the existing metro rail network, six stations of the new project will be elevated up to a height of 5.5 metres from the ground level. Six stations will be underground. The project will involve boring tunnels beneath the Ganga at depths of 15 to 20 metres.
Standard Chartered Bank opens all-women branch in Kolkata Sunday, June 17, 2007 | AY
Kolkata June 16 (ANI): Standard Chartered Bank opened an all women branch in Kolkata predominantly targeting women customers.This branch has women manning all its operations - from branch manager to the guard.Though the branch makes efforts to cater to the special banking needs of women, it does not discriminate male account holders either."We are basically looking at providing solution to the special needs of our customers, the women folk. Keeping this in mind, this has been done by the management of Standard Chartered Bank," said branch manager Anasua Raman.About 33 percent of the account holders in the branch are women and it is looking forward to replicate the experiment in other metros also."Today was the first time I came here; it was nice to see all women running the operations. I was a bit surprised as well, because I have never seen a bank which is run only by women," said Manjuri Roy, a woman customer.Both nationalized and private banks in the country offer special packages to women customers, but all-women branch is a new concept, to cater to women, who are becoming increasingly conscious about their personal financial planning. (ANI)
Pranab embarks on four-day visit to Indonesia, Singapore Sunday, June 17, 2007 | AY
Kolkata, June 17 (ANI): External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee embarked on a four-day visit to Indonesia and Singapore on Sunday morning to boost India’s Look East Policy. In his first leg of the tour, Mukherjee will visit Jakarta for two days to co-chair the third India-Indonesia Joint Commission meeting along with his Indonesian counterpart Wirajuda. The two sides will discuss economic and trade relations, investment, industrial cooperation, agriculture, tourism and defence and security matters at the meeting among other issues. In Singapore, Mukherjee will launch Indian Business Forum. The Minister is also scheduled to release a book "The 12th volume of Chalo Delli" - the collected works of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. During his stay there, which is aimed at strengthening economic ties and cooperation in Information Technology, tourism, defence and security matters, Mukherjee will call on President Sellapan Rama Nathan, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Deputy Prime Minister Professor S. Jayakumar and his Singapore counterpart George Yong-Boon Yeo. Developing ties with the ten member-countries of ASEAN has been a principle objective of India’s Look-East policy, which was conceived in the 1990s and has been pursued consistently and actively for the last decade and a half. According to the External Affairs Ministry, multi-faceted relationships have been developed with the countries of the ASEAN region, both in the bilateral context as well as in the multilateral context. The relationship between India and Indonesia is endowed with certain unique characteristics. Over the years Indonesia has been a key strategic partner of India in the ASEAN and particularly in the Look-East policy. (ANI)
Nandigram erupts again Saturday, June 16, 2007 | AY
Kolkata/Haldia, June15 (ANI): Fresh violence erupted today at Nandigram in East Midnapore District injuring a police inspector , even as peace talks between Trinamool Congress led-Bhumi Ucched Pratirodh Committee and the West Bengal Government was underway.Police Inspector, Prabhat Sarkar, was on duty near Bhangbera, close to Sonachura, when a bullet hit him on his head causing serious injury, said Inspector General of Police (IGP) of West Bengal, Raj Kanojia. Prabhat Sarkar has been shifted to the SSKM hospital and his condition is reported to be critical. Kanojia has charged the Bhumi Ucched Pratirodh Committee for opening fire at the police. Additional forces have been rushed to the site and senior police officials were taking stock of the situation.Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee has been opposing the acquisition of farmland for industries in the State. On March 14, fifteen persons were killed in a police firing while protesting against police entry into their villages. Due to rising tension and clashes the Buddhadeb Bhattacharya Government has shelved plans for an industrial park to establish a 10,000-acre mega chemical hub.(ANI)
Lightening kills six people in Kolkata Thursday, June 14, 2007 | AY
Kolkata June 13 (ANI): At least six people were killed due to electrocution caused by lightening, as heavy rains crippled normal life here today. One-and-half-hour of heavy showers and subsequent non-stop drizzle has resulted in flooding of large parts of the city, and exposing the hollowness of all claims made by Kolkata Corporation regarding their work on the drainage system."The civic body has not performed its task of cleaning the drains before the onset of monsoon, especially in this ward. That's why in just the beginning of rains, roads are flooded obstructing movement, "said Subhojit Bandhopadhyay, a resident.From Central Avenue in north Kolkata to Golf Green in south Kolkata, Park Circus, Jadavpur Connector, E M Bypass, Rashbehari, Lansdowne, Gariahat, all areas are waterlogged. The roads are deserted as taxis and auto-rickshaws are not plying. Public transport is minimal. Communters are stranded at bus stops and railway stations. In some places like Bowbazar and Amherst Street there is knee deep water. Several trains were delayed owing to signal problems and water logging on the tracks, railway officials said.Most schools, colleges and offices remained closed for the day as traffic snarls on the waterlogged roads stranded many for hours. Residents blamed the civic authorities for the water-logging.Another resident, Bishnu, said, "It's the civic body's duty to clean the drains before the rains. And these waterlogged roads are creating problems for office-goers disrupting transport."The Kolkata Municipal Corporation officials said work is being carried out on a war footing to clear the water-logged areas and they assure that the entire city would be back to normal in a couple of hours.The Metrological Department said the southeast monsoon was graduallyentering the Gangetic West Bengal belt and likely to be vigorous in the next48 hours. (ANI)
Darjeeling residents use toy train tracks to fetch water Thursday, June 14, 2007 | AY
Darjeeling (West Bengal), June 13 (ANI): To cope with water shortage, residents of Darjeeling have found a novel way. They are using the tracks of world heritage toy train to fetch water from a stream.Every year before the onset of monsoon, the town faces acute water shortage. People collect water from the stream and push the water pots up the track using a home made wheel cart -- wooden planks fixed with four wheels -- to bring the water to their homes."We collect the water from the stream or source and then put them in pots and push it on the tracks," said Jiban Chettri, a resident.The tracks runs zigzag along the hillside and cuts through the town providing an effortless way of transporting water.As far as fear factor is concerned, they remove the wheel cart once they hear the deafening noise of the slow moving toy train.The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR), which runs the Toy Train, was conferred world heritage status in 1999. It was the second railway line in the world to be declared a UNESCO heritage site. (ANI)
Police seizes human skulls from a Jalpaiguri village Thursday, June 14, 2007 | AY
Jalpaiguri, June 13 (ANI): Police has recovered 105 human skulls and 300 thighbones from Deragaon village in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri District. Three persons were also arrested in this connection.Based on an army intelligence reports, police raided a house at Deragaon village and recovered the bones, which were properly polished and few of them painted. They were hidden in gunnysacks.Police arrested the owner of the house and two of his tenants."We had received information that human bones were being kept at a house in Deragaon village. We sent our officers for investigation and found the skulls and thighbones. The bones were meant to be sold off," said K. B. Dorji, Additional Superintendent of Police.Their interrogation has revealed that the bones were meant to be sold off in Bhutan, said Dorji. The trio had procured the bones from a crematorium in Varanasi.While a skull fetched them 300 rupees, a thighbone was sold at 50 rupees.Trade in human bones and skeletons are banned in the country and even the medical students are asked to study bone structure with skeletons made of fibre or plastic. (ANI)
Swamp deer on the verge of extinction Wednesday, June 13, 2007 | AY
The swamp deer population in Jaldapara in North Bengal has reduced to just four now. The state wildlife wing is desperate to “re-stock” the species and prevent it from extinction form the north Bengal forests. It has launched a move to bring in at least six swamp deer all the way from Lucknow zoo in Uttar Pradesh and release it in north Bengal to infuse new blood. The four swamp deer at Jaldapara are now being kept at an “exclosure” — a “semi-protected arrangement”. They will subsequently be released into the wild only after the arrival of the next generation. The Central Zoo Authority has already given its nod for the project and the state forest department now waits for the final clearance from the Lucknow zoo authorities. Jaldapara has long been a habitat for the hard ground barasinghas, a variety of the swamp deer.
Darjeeling residents use toy train tracks to fetch water Wednesday, June 13, 2007 | AY
Darjeeling (West Bengal), June 13 (ANI): To cope with water shortage, residents of Darjeeling have found a novel way. They are using the tracks of world heritage toy train to fetch water from a stream.Every year before the onset of monsoon, the town faces acute water shortage. People collect water from the stream and push the water pots up the track using a home made wheel cart -- wooden planks fixed with four wheels -- to bring the water to their homes."We collect the water from the stream or source and then put them in pots and push it on the tracks," said Jiban Chettri, a resident.The tracks runs zigzag along the hillside and cuts through the town providing an effortless way of transporting water.As far as fear factor is concerned, they remove the wheel cart once they hear the deafening noise of the slow moving toy train.The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR), which runs the Toy Train, was conferred world heritage status in 1999. It was the second railway line in the world to be declared a UNESCO heritage site. (ANI)
Real estate sector booming Tuesday, June 12, 2007 | AY
According to estimates by the Confederation of Real Estate Developers of India, in the next five years 250 million sq feet will be added to greater Kolkata, requiring an investment Rs 37,500 crore. Rajarhat in the north-east, Dankuni in north-west, Howrah in the west, Diamond Harbour road beyond Joka and Batanagar in the south-west and the Garia-Narendrapur stretch in south-east are areas which will see more than 50 per cent price rise in the next one year. In Dankuni, a mega township by the DLF group along with a couple of infrastructure projects are pushing up property prices. In the west, Howrah is another developing area as it has emerged as a suitable destination for middle-income group housing and small businesses based in Kolkata. The Kolkata West project, a mega township project, is attracting a number of NRI investors in the area. Kolkata continues to be a tier-II location in terms of property and land valuation, and most experts think the city will take quite some time to catch up with developed markets like NCR and Mumbai.
Apollo's opens chest pain clinics in Kolkata Monday, June 11, 2007 | AY
Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals said that its recently launched Chest Pain Clinics in the city would make a difference and save lives of cardiac patients. The hospital launched a number of Chest Pain Clinics here last week to address the need of preventing the loss of time in order to save lives. Known as 'Apollo Gleneagles Chest Pain Centres', these healthcare organisations will have trained personnel and necessary infrastructure to diagnose the cause of chest pain, provide emergency treatment and refer the patients to a tertiary care centre for definitive management if heart attack is confirmed.
Bodhayan takes up the challenge Monday, June 11, 2007 | AY
In an effort to strengthen its senior management team in Kolkata, BIG 92.7 FM India’s no1 Radio station has appointed Bodhayan Roychaudhury as the Station Head, Kolkata. He will head the overall the operations of Kolkata station of BIG 92.7 FM. A Master degree holder in Business Administration from S P Jain Management Institute, Mumbai, Bodhayan brings with him, years of vast experience in Brand communication, Sales & Marketing.
Demand for forensic hub to track terror Sunday, June 10, 2007 | AY
Central Forensic Science Laboratory has sent a proposal to the Union home ministry to set up a narco-analysis and brain mapping unit in Kolkata in view of the increasing need for brain mapping and narco-analysis tests to crack cases related to insurgency and terrorism. The director of CFSL, Kolkata, Dr CN Bhattacharjee, said the facilities for conducting these two tests were now available at forensic laboratories in Ahmedabad and Bangalore. There has been an increasing demand of conducting narco-analysis and brain-mapping tests on those accused of carrying out blasts, homicides and other terrorist activities in the eastern and north eastern states. Because of the lack of such facilities in Kolkata, all such cases are either being referred to Bangalore or Ahmedabad. The state police and the state Criminal Investigation Department had to deal with such cases recently. In the tests, the accused person is administered dosage of chemicals, most often Pentothal Sodium. The chemicals frees the accused of his inhibitions by interfering with his nervous system at the molecular level.
Bhutanese refugees will cause problems Sunday, June 10, 2007 | AY
Kolkata, June 10 (ANI): External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee has said that the demand by the Bhutanese refugees in Nepal for passage through Indian territory to return to their homeland would cause serious law and order problems in West Bengal. After a meeting with West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, Mukherjee said since Nepal and Bhutan have not sorted out the issue, it could be a problematic matter for India. "The Nepalese government say that they are Bhutanese citizens. But Bhutan says they are not. This argument has continued for a while now without resolution. Now, they have suddenly taken a decision to seek permission from India to let the refugees pass through our territories, through West Bengal. This would cause serious law and order problems in the state,” he said. Last month, around 10,000 Bhutanese refugees gathered at the India-Nepal border in a bid to return home using Indian soil, to participate in a mock election in Bhutan. The refugees, many of whom live in crowded camps in Nepal, want the right to return to their birthplace and take part in the democratic process, 17 years after being expelled for protesting against discrimination and in favour of democracy. India had sealed its border with Bhutan and stepped security on a bridge at Panitanki border with Nepal following protests by the Bhutanese refugees. Last month, at least 35 policemen and dozens of refugees were injured as they hurled stones at Indian forces, demanding passage to Bhutan. Following the incident, India and Nepal held a meeting to maintain peace along the international border. India agreed to lift a prohibitive order if the situation returned to normal. (ANI)
Hilton hotels to come up in Kolkata in 2-3 years Saturday, June 9, 2007 | AY
US-based Hilton Hotels will develop two hotels in Kolkata in joint venture with the real estate group DLF. DLF Home Developers Ltd said that they plan to open two hotels under Hilton brands--Hilton Garden Inn, amid market segment hotel, and Homewood Suites, which are service apartments, entailing an investment of around Rs 500 crore. The hotels would have 600 rooms altogether. The US-based Hilton Hotels is looking at ten-fold increase in the number of hotel property in India. Hilton Hotels would also open hotels in Delhi, Mysore, Bhubaneswar, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Goa and Kolkata. Homewood Suites, the longstay brand in Hilton’s portfolio, would debut at Kolkata, Bhubaneswar and Hyderabad.
Poor woman in Siliguri tries to sell her twins Saturday, June 9, 2007 | AY
Siliguri (West Bengal) June 8 (ANI): A 32-year-old woman tried to sell her one-month-old twins here due to poverty. After the death of her husband, who worked in tea estate, a month ago, Meena Debi, found it difficult to feed her children and decided to sell off her twins for 3000 rupees. "I have no food and home to raise them so they told me to sell one of the kids and get money. They asked me to sell one of the twins to them and keep the other, I agreed as they would take care of at least one of them and also provide him medicines," said Meena Debi, mother of the twins."She came here 10 days back. When I saw her today selling her kids for 3000 rupees each, I reprimanded her," said Utpal Ghosh, a local resident.Some residents of the town have now arranged for Debi and her children's upkeep.Meena Debi, a resident of Bihar and the mother of three children, was living with her husband in Siliguri. After the death of her husband, she had gone to her sister in Bihar soon after the delivery of the twins, but was refused shelter by them later. Being homeless and her family members turning their backs on her, she finally decided to sell her twins. (ANI)
Forest officials recover ten rare dead birds Thursday, June 7, 2007 | AY
Baikunthapur (West Bengal), June 7 (ANI): Officials in West Bengal’s Baikunthapur Forest Reserve have recovered ten rare dead birds from a poacher. The poacher was nabbed Tuesday night during a patrol in the forest. Two other suspects, however, escaped. "The birds included four Indian rollers, three Asian spotted owlets and other three Indian Pond Heron birds. All are Schedule Four animals," claimed Ashis Samanta, a forest official.India is home to about 1,225 bird species, including 257 water birds.It also supports 81 species of migrant waterfowls that arrive from Central Asia and Europe in the winter.The hunting or caging of endangered wildlife is banned in India, but lax wildlife enforcement laws ensure that poaching and wildlife smuggling is rampant and a lucrative business. (ANI)
Rolta Setting Up IT Park in Kolkata Wednesday, June 6, 2007 | AY
Rolta India Ltd. is setting up an Information Technology (IT) Park at Kolkata as part of its expansion plan. The IT park will have facilities for delivery of IT-based GeoSpatial services, Engineering Design services, Software Development and ERP implementation services worldwide. The facility will be set-up in phases with an investment of about Rs. 2,500 million. Once completed, it will provide an employment opportunity for about 5000 technical professionals and domain experts from talent available largely in West Bengal. The West Bengal Government has already allotted the requisite land to Rolta.
WB trying hard to get tourism spot status Tuesday, June 5, 2007 | AY
West Bengal wants to position itself as a tourist destination the way Rajasthan, Kerala, and Goa have. The Left-ruled state has earmarked Rs3.5 crore for advertising and public relations expenditure over 2007-08 towards achieving that goal. The state’s new tourism policy is being drafted by audit firm Ernst & Young Global Ltd. The Rs3.5 crore that West Bengal plans to spend is quite small as compared to Rs10-15 crore that Kerala spends every year, but the amount is almost three times of what the state spent last year. Gautama, West Bengal’s principal secretary, explained that this would involve restructuring its website to offer online booking, and build and offer holiday packages around themes such as handicraft and fairs, heritage, environment, tea gardens, villages and medical retreats. He added that around 12 tea gardens in North Bengal have come forward to convert a part of their property to enable tea tourism. The Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority is in the process of cleaning up the Hoogly river, which flows through the eastern metropolis, under the Ganga Action Plan, a scheme to clean up the Ganges and its tributaries.
Shemaroo plans a new strategy Monday, June 4, 2007 | AY
Shemaroo Films, the movie production and distribution arm of Shemaroo Entertainment, that was till recently focused primarily on the home entertainment space, is all set to revive Bengali movies in terms of digitally-made quality movie prints as well as offer its audiences quality spaces for comfortable viewing. People these days avoid watching Bengali movies because of two reasons. One because the prints are of poor quality, and second because there is perhaps not a single movie theatre right now in West Bengal which is in a good condition so people can watch movies in comfort. Shemaroo Films, therefore, has tied up with Inox Movies to not only offer quality viewing but also promote the movies on the national level. Another problem with promoting a Bengali or any regional language movie on a national level is the language itself since we cannot expect all other regions to understand it. Therefore, Shemaroo is going to use subtitles for its first Bengali venture, Anuranan.
Medha Patkar slams Centre for SEZ policy Monday, June 4, 2007 | AY
Kolkata, June 4 (ANI): Social activist Medha Patkar has described Special Economic Zone (SEZs) policy of the Central Government as unconstitutional, and criticised the West Bengal administration for going ahead with its proposed industrial hub in a location other than Nandigram. "The way they are increasing their hold over the livelihood of the people by allowing the companies to loot the people that is not acceptable to us. The SEZ act is anti-national and anti-people. This is a law, but it is against the Constitution. The constitution says that if the plans for the villages are not made then the plans of the districts can also not be made. Then, how can the SEZ be imposed on the people" Patkar said at a rally on Sunday. Carrying red flags, farmers attended the rally, which was organised by the All India People's Convention.West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattachrjee has already announced plans for three industrial projects, but said rehabilitation would be his prime consideration. The Left Front-led Government has eventually shelved plans for an industrial park at Nandigram that was to have been built with the help of Indonesia's Salim Group.Soon after the stay on the Nandigram project, Bhattacharjee reaffirmed his commitment for the project, but at another location in the state.Bhattacharjee came under fire from his Communist Party of India (Marxist) and alliance partners, who charged him with high-handedness and of not taking them into confidence on the matter.Earlier this month, the Central Government ended a two-month freeze on low-tax SEZs like the one proposed for Nandigram. (ANI)
Youth teach 'civic lessons' with song Sunday, June 3, 2007 | AY
By Ajitha MenonKolkata, June 2 (ANI): A youth brigade, concerned about Kolkata’s pathetic civic sense, catches offenders and gives them some civic lessons with song, dance and sattires .They are a part of a popular radio station, and as part of their cleanliness drive, they are trying to create awareness among the people regarding the rules and regulations and its strict enforcement.Using the punch line 'bajao' to mean educating the people, the brigade carrying cameras and tags,catches defaulters, who violate traffic rules, spit on roads or urinate publicly and make them swear not to repeat it. "We believe that we should "bajao" people in a musical way and improve them. We can make them realise that Kolkata is their city and they should love it. So every time we saw someone fiddling on the roads, spitting, or a taxi driver refusing a customer, we reach with our brigade to bajao them," said Sangeet Shirodkar, a team member.Many offenders were dumbstruck when caught red-handed, but promised to mend their ways in future."They are teaching every one how to cross roads, not to spit or urinate publicly. This is good," said Tridip Mitra, caught crossing a road on a green signal.Graffiti, spitting and urinating in public are common in the country, despite stringent laws against them, although critics say more public utilities should be built. (ANI)
Bad news for Bengalis Saturday, June 2, 2007 | AY
Kolkata, June 1 (ANI): Soaring prices due to short supply have made Hilsa- a traditional fresh water fish, out of bounds for an average Bengali, who consider the variety very special.Hilsa, rich in Omega 3 fatty acids, becomes available in the market during the onset of monsoon, but sadly, this time, short supply of this fish has made it elusive for the people in the State.People blame river pollution as major cause for fall in Hilsa population in West Bengal and vendors are importing it from neighbouring Bangladesh to offset the shortage. "Hilsa is only available during monsoons. These days one hardly gets to see West Bengal Hilsa fish in the market. Earlier the markets used to be flooded with Hilsa from Ganges this time of the year. But due to shortage, we have to settle for fish from Bangladesh," said Bimal Basu, a customer.Imports from Bangladesh, considered to be the best quality, have also fallen short of the demand thus skyrocketing the prices."Hilsa has become so expensive these days that its prices range from 300 to 350 rupees per kilogram. There is a shortage of the fish so its prices may even go up to 500 rupees per kilogram, but still people buy it because it is a delicacy in our cuisine," said Papia Mukherjee, a customer. Hilsa, an economically important tropical fish is an integral part of Bengali culture and is brought on auspicious occasions in the households.Retailers and vendors are hopeful that the supply would go up during the monsoon months, bringing down the prices."But after a month when all our importers start importing, then the rate will obviously come down," said Syed Anwar Masud, fish retailer.Hilsa is mainly caught in Kolaghat and Diamond Harbor in West Bengal. (ANI)
