Engineering faculty at most colleges Monday, July 31, 2006 | AY
Infosys Technologies has decided to work closely with the West Bengal government to beef up engineering faculty at most colleges under the West Bengal University of Technology (WB-UT). The company proposes to do this through ‘Campus-Connect’, its popular IT industry-academia initiative that enables engineering faculty at state colleges across India to get a fix on the latest industry best-practices, in tune with the needs of IT/ITeS companies. The Infosys Campus-Connect drive has a two-pronged mission. Toning up the engineering faculty at select state colleges and creating a pool of IT/ITeS industry-ready professionals who can be hired by the growing wave of IT and BPO firms setting up shop in Kolkata.
Multi-modal transport system launched Sunday, July 30, 2006 | AY
The country's first rail-air link multi-modal transport system got off the ground in Kolkata on Saturday. The multi-modal transport system inaugurated by Lalu Prasad Yadav now makes it possible to reach Dum Dum airport from the city centre by rail in half the time one would otherwise take to reach in a car. The Kolkata airport railway link has been built by Metro Railway at a cost of Rs 87 crore. By commissioning of this railway link, passengers alighting at the airports can reach their destination in the city without having to bother about traffic jams.
Soha likes doing bengali films Saturday, July 29, 2006 | AY
Bollywood star Soha Ali Khan says she prefers Bengali films to Bollywood as the former has strong roles for girls there. Her forthcoming films include Aparna Sen's film 'Jewellery Box' starring Konkana Sen Sharma, Sudhir Mishra's film, 'Bahut Nikle Mere Arman' with Shiney Ahuja. There are two other films which are ready - 'Postcards' by Rajshree Ojha and 'Meridian' a commercial film by Vinod Mitra.
Greenfield airport in Kolkata ruled out Saturday, July 29, 2006 | AY
Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel today virtually ruled out a greenfield airport for Kolkata, saying there was no need for it once the existing N S C Bose International Airport was modernised. Patel said that after modernisation of the NSC Bose International Airport, the greenfield proposal will not be viable. If land is made available, this airport will be good for the next 35 years. Patel said his ministry was in the process of updating 35 non-metro airports across the country at a cost of Rs 10,000 crores and the work was expected to be complete by 2009.
Lufthansa's sixth destination in Kolkata Saturday, July 29, 2006 | AY
Lufthansa will operate three non-stop flights a week between Kolkata and Frankfurt from December 1. With the regional network being extended to include Kolkata, India will become the only country in Lufthansa's Asia Pacific network to be served through six gateways. This now gives passengers a maximum choice of 45 weekly flights between India and Germany. Kolkata is an important economic hub in northeastern India, housing several mining and steel industries. With 13 million inhabitants, Kolkata is India's second largest urban centre and a major tourist and culture hub. Lufthansa will operate the route to Kolkata with an Airbus A340-300 offering a total of 221 seats. There will be eight first class, 48 business class and 165 economy class seats on the flights.
AIU unearthed arms factory in W.Bengal Wednesday, July 26, 2006 | AY
The Army Intelligence Unit (AIU), probing a possible arms supply route to Mumbai, has unearthed an illegal arms factory at Mathurapur in South 24-Parganas district. While AIU officials were taking the delivery of the arms yesterday, the local police, which accompanied them, arrested four persons three of whom belonged to the same family. Twenty-seven revolvers and nearly 500 rounds of ammunition were seized from the arrested. They were taken to the Eastern Command headquarters here for initial interrogation and later handed over to the police.
Panja files nomination for CAB president Tuesday, July 25, 2006 | AY
Union Minister Ajit Panja has filed his nomination for the post of Cricket Association of Bengal president election for which is slated on July 30. A top CAB source confirmed that such a nomination form has been received from Panja but said it was probably the result of a mistake committed by the Trinamool Congress leader. Panja had filed form to represent his club, high court club at the CAB AGM but he got confused and signed at the place earmarked for a candidate. However, Kolkata Police Commissioner Prasun Mukherjee, who has filed his nomination for the president's post against incumbent Jagmohan Dalmiya, alleged that there could have been some foul play.
Unique science institute in Kolkata Monday, July 24, 2006 | AY
The Scientific Advisory Council to the Prime Minister had recommended the creation of two new autonomous institutions under the HRD ministry devoted to science education and research to be named Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISER) and located in Kolkata and Pune. IISER-Kolkata, like its Pune counterpart, is a unique initiative in science education in India since it will be a research university of the highest caliber in which teaching and education will be totally integrated with state-of-the-art research, nurturing both curiosity and creativity. Though the foundation stone is being laid at the Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics at Salt Lake in Kolkata, the institute will be located in Kalyani on the outskirts of the city in Nadia district, about 40 km from here. IISER will be devoted to teaching of five-year integrated Masters and post-bachelors and post-Masters PhD programmes in integrative sciences in an intellectually vibrant atmosphere.
India’s first intellectual property school opens Monday, July 24, 2006 | AY
India’s first intellectual property rights law school was inaugurated in Kolkata. The new school will operate from the city’s campus of Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. The Rajiv Gandhi School of Intellectual Property Law is to start its current session with 55 students in its two programmes. It plans on ramping up the “headcount” to 800 by 2011, with the Kolkata campus accommodating at least 300 by 2009. The law school now offers two programmes: a six-semester, three-year, full-time residential course for a bachelor of law degree with specialisation in intellectual property rights, and a three-semester, one-and-a-half year, part-time non-residential programme for a postgraduate diploma.
Rituparno Ghosh busy with many projects Saturday, July 22, 2006 | AY
Titled 'SUNGLASS', the film will be made in two languages simultaneously, Hindi and Bengali and will star Sanjay Suri, Konkona Sen Sharma, Jaya Bachchan, Naseeruddin Shah and Raima Sen in principal roles. Shooting of this bilingual will commence from August 1. The film will have four songs, composed by 21 Grams [music band]. Rituparno Ghosh also started filming MITHYA, a thriller, starring Naseeruddin Shah and Neha Dhupia in key roles. Rajat Kapoor [MIXED DOUBLES] is directing this one. There’s one more film on the cards, a comedy -- this one will be an adaptation of Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’. “It’s set in Delhi. They might call the film "RANGEEN IN COLOR".
Gene responsible for salt intolerance Saturday, July 22, 2006 | AY
Scientists in Kolkata have discovered a gene responsible for salt tolerance in mangroves and copied it to produce wonder rice and mustard varieties that can survive unimaginable levels of soil salinity. The discovery, which comes after decades of research at the premier Bose Institute here, means that once patented the gene could hold the key to turning hundreds of thousands of kilometres of shore land into lush green paddy and mustard fields. By mimicking the action of the mangrove gene, plant geneticists have ensured that a key enzyme - inositol synthatase - works in the paddy plant and triggers the production of a chemical, inositol, which counters the adverse effect of salt. Chemicals, called osmoprotectants, belonging to a group of compounds named inositols, keep the physiological process of the mangroves going despite the abundance of salt in their surroundings.
Anil Ambani group invited to develop airport in WB Saturday, July 22, 2006 | AY
Even as the issue of modernising the airport here remains unsettled, the West Bengal Government is understood to have invited the Anil Ambani group for developing a greenfield airport in the metropolis. A senior State Government official, however, confirmed the State Government had started a feasiblity study for developing a greenfield airport on the outskirts of the city, but expressed ignorance about any particular business group being approached for taking up the project. The development came to light less than a week after Bhattacharjee told Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his visit to the city that he favoured a private party building the greenfield airport.
Global consultants to promote tourism Wednesday, July 19, 2006 | AY
W.Bengal is now all set to hire a global consultant who will showcase it as a global tourist destination and bring in investments in the sector. The department of tourism, has recently issued a notice, inviting Request for Proposal containing technical and financial bid from reputed consultancy firms for providing services for preparation of a sector strategy and implementation plan. The notice states that any consultancy firm having at least five years of operational experience with a minimum annual turnover of Rs 5 crore for the last three years and involved in preparation of sector strategy and theme papers including feasibility studies can participate in this process.
Special fund for minorities Tuesday, July 18, 2006 | AY
A special plan which involves funding for minorities is being planned by W.Bengal govt. Bhattacharjee urged Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia to consider this while preparing the final document. The Planning Commission today held a consultation on draft approach paper on the 11th five year plan with the chief ministers from Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Bihar and the finance minister of Jharkhand. Bhattcharjee also commented that the approach paper did not have any mention about land reforms, rural distress and collapse of the PDS system.
Kamal Bansan's films doing good Monday, July 17, 2006 | AY
A good number of Bengali films released recently seem to have generated an extremely amazing result. Two films produced by Kamal Bansal, made under famous RD Bansal banner, like Bibar and Tapasya, seem to have shocked everyone in the film industry. While Bibar is based on a very controversial novel by Samaresh Bose in the sixties, a product of rattling times and dwindling values, Tapasya is more of a chocolate-box type, showing no concern and love for the subject.
Shortage of teachers in W.Bengal schools Sunday, July 16, 2006 | AY
Santhali medium schools in West Bengal are facing a shortage of teachers and the State Government is taking steps to tide over the problem. The Government was in the process of getting textbooks written in the Alchiki script for the Santhali medium schools and the work on it was prgressing in good speed. Despite the fall in the number of successful candidates in this year's secondary examinations, there has been a rise in the number of examinees securing star and first division marks. The number of students appearing for the secondary examinations has also increased by 22 per cent.
Borland-Pragati to train IT Pros Saturday, July 15, 2006 | AY
Borland India, a subsidiary of Borland Software Corporation, has announced that it is partnering with Pragati Software to offer training programs to IT professionals and students on optimizing software development and delivery through better processes and technology. As a Borland Learning Partner (BLP), Pragati Software will run extensive training programs in several cities across India including Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mysore, Pune and Thiruvananthapuram. Course offerings span the entire lifecycle of software development, helping IT professionals learn the processes and technology required for successful project delivery and automation.
Floods recede in W.Bengal Saturday, July 15, 2006 | AY
The flood situation in Birbhum and Murshidabad districts of West Bengal improved with major rivers receding in the absence of heavy rain. Rainfall of 450 mm on July nine and 10 had caused major rivers in the two districts to swell. Irrigation minister, Subhas Naskar, earlier said that improvement in the flood situation had led people sheltered in relief camps to return home.
Hingis plays in Kolkata Saturday, July 15, 2006 | AY
Swiss tennis star Martina Hingis will take part in the Sunfeast Open WTA tournament to be held in Kolkata from September 18. The youngest Gland Slam winner Hingis, who made a comeback to tennis last year and quickly moved up the ranking ladder to notch up the 13th spot among women players, confirmed her participation saying she is excited about prospects of playing in India.
Strategy for greener Kolkata Wednesday, July 12, 2006 | AY
In an attempt to increase the spread of the Kolkata's green belt, the department of forests in conjunction with the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, has drawn up a plan of planting saplings on the sides of 25 city streets and on an additional 20 hectares of land strewn across the city. The department also plans to distribute fruit trees through local councillors to schools and other institutions. These will include, among others, mango, papaya, jackfruit and guava trees. This decision will be finalised at a meeting on July 12th of bodies like the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, the Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation and Urban Development Corporation. This project will be implemented over a period of five years.
No:1 news channel of Kolkata Wednesday, July 12, 2006 | AY
Kolkata TV, the 24-hour Bengali news channel that launched just three months ago, is the number one news channel in Kolkata and West Bengal. This is what has come up from the television audience measurement (TAM) data for the week June 11-17. Kolkata TV, a venture of SST Media Pvt Ltd of the Xenitis group, logged overall television ratings (TVR) point of 0.21 and channel share of 2.16 in Kolkata (target group, CS ABC, 15+), beating Star Ananda to the second spot with TVRs of 0.14 and 1.44 respectively. While the news channel may be doing well, SST Media will take at least another year to come up with the general entertainment channel, newspaper and magazine that were announced at the Kolkata TV launch.
Air taxi operations from Kolkata airport Monday, July 10, 2006 | AY
With the modernisation of the international airport, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee held discussions with Airports Authority of India (AAI) officials for making it a hub for air taxi operations. Air taxi operations from the airport would ensure better connectivity with different growth centres and help promote tourism in West Bengal. The Coochbehar airport will be made operational by next month to enhance connectivity with north Bengal.
PM will be visiting Kolkata Sunday, July 9, 2006 | AY
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will arrive here on July 11, on a day's visit to Kolkata. The Prime Minister on his arrival at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport at around 1030 hours will drive straight to Salt Lake to lay the foundation of the National Institute of Science Education and Research. Later, he will come to Raj Bhavan where he will hold separate meetings with Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi and Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on different issues, including the future of Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council(DGHC), which had recently been brought under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
Asian Junior Masters to be held in Kolkata Saturday, July 8, 2006 | AY
The continent’s biggest junior golfing event will return to the city, with the Indian Golf Union (IGU) set to finalise Kolkata’s bid for hosting the Asian Junior Masters in another two days’ time. A strong contingent of 15 players will represent India at the Asian Masters that will see about 100 juniors from the continent’s top golfing nations vie for the honours. India, which will see current top names D Bajaj and Kanishka Surkiya take on the visitors, will face stiff challenge from the sport’s junior circuit powerhouses Thailand, Singapore and South Korea. While half of the total number of participants will hail from these three nations, China and Japan will field a few players.
Tata rolls out new cars Saturday, July 8, 2006 | AY
Ratan Tata, chief of Tata Group, today said the ambitious Rs 1 lakh car will be manufactured from three-four places, including West Bengal and Uttaranchal. Tata Motors has already finalised a Rs 1,000 crore plant at Singur in West Bengal for the manufacture of the "people's car". The launch of the car would create a new paradigm in low-cost personal transport, carve out a new market segment and reach a broader base of the pyramid. The styling and designing of the car have been completed and prototypes are being tested in the plant. It will be a rear engine, 4-5 seat, four-door car with about a 30 horsepower engine. The car will be launched in early 2008 and we believe it will be extremely attractive to the Indian consumer, particularly younger families, at a price level of about Rs 1 lakh.
Japanese company planning a chemical unit in the state Saturday, July 8, 2006 | AY
Japan-based Osaka Gas and Chemicals Limited (OGCL) is planning to set up a chemical unit in West Bengal and has sought land from the government. Bhattacharjee said the government would identify the land for the project. Ostsu, however, declined to comment, saying that he had only preliminary talks with the chief minister.
Metro plans to expand Wednesday, July 5, 2006 | AY
Germany's Metro AG, the world's third-biggest retailer by sales, will spend "millions of euros" to expand its operations in India over the next year. Metro will open distribution centres in Mumbai, in Kolkata and Hyderabad. The Metro Cash and Carry chief executive was in Kolkata last week to scout for locations for up to five distribution centres. The company is looking at investing 4.5 billion rupees in West Bengal on these centres and on developing the back-end, including cold storage facilities and air-conditioned vans. Metro, Germany's biggest retailer, presently has two stores in India which operate on the cash-and-carry model. It also has two distribution centres.
Dengue claims its first victim in Kolkata Tuesday, July 4, 2006 | AY
Fears of a dengue outbreak in Kolkata have come true with the first death from the mosquito-borne disease reported from a southern neighbourhood. The victim’s family has alleged that he died due to negligence by the hospital authorities. The city’s civic authorities, Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), has decided to open more clinics to combat the dreaded, often fatal, disease. Though KMC has 141 wards in the city, the civic body has only 60 malaria clinics.
Jnaesh Mukherjee is no more Monday, July 3, 2006 | AY
Veteran Tollywood actor Jnaesh Mukherjee passed away following a massive attack. He was 79 and is survived by his son, daughter in-law and a grandchild. His wife died three years ago. He had figured in more than a hundred films and many serials in small screen in recent years. Ganga, Ajantrick, Meghe Dhake Tara are some of the movies made by famous directors where he etched out his name in character roles.
KMC on a new project Sunday, July 2, 2006 | AY
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) is taking up its promised project of constructing a water treatment plant at Dhapa. The water treatment plant, at Dhapa, will be built at a cost of Rs 100 crore, having Rs 50 crore flowing from the Union under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). The upcoming plant, shall help KMC in offering treated water supply to the new projects and estates coming up along the by-pass and in other localities of the eastern fringes. The work on the water treatment plant, is expected to begin with the next two months, as the 20 acre land needed for building the plant has already been located.
St. Xavier's college granted autonomy Sunday, July 2, 2006 | AY
The 146-year-old, St. Xavier's College, has become the first college in West Bengal to be granted autonomy. Autonomy means freedom to grow with responsibility, the freedom to revise the syllabus and make it more relevant and to make use of the new technologies available for more effective teaching. The authorities had applied for autonomy nearly a year-and-a-half ago. Post-graduate studies have already been introduced in the college, which has 45,000 students and a teaching staff of 135 members.
Bhalobashar Anek Naam Saturday, July 1, 2006 | AY
Tarun Majumdar’s new film "Bhalobashar Anek Naam" is out. Bhalobashar Anek Naam is an interesting casting coup that has disastrously misfired. Majumdar opted for Gaurav Chatterjee, grandson of the legendary Uttam Kumar and Megha, granddaughter of Hemanta Mukherjee and daughter of Moushumi Chatterjee in the romantic lead. The songs are beautiful and though the supporting cast is very good, the film is almost like a ghost of Majumdar’s wonderful repertoire of films like Dadar Keerti, Sreeman Prithviraj and Sansar Seemantey.
Battery run vehicles on the streets of Kolkata Saturday, July 1, 2006 | AY
Cars, cycles, mopeds and three-wheelers, all battery-operated, are set to hit the streets of Kolkata. Under an incentive scheme of the West Bengal Renewable Energy Development Agency, these forms of transport will be provided to individuals and institutions. Initially the scheme will cover 200 such vehicles.
