Bengali-Oriya version of Karan-Arjun Monday, July 30, 2007 | AY
Veteran actor Victor Banerjee is currently busy shooting the Bengali-Oriya film Kali-Shankar , a remake of Bollywood blockbuster Karan Arjun on the theme of reincarnation. The most interesting part of the bi-lingual is the way the original is being turned upside-down in the remake. Instead of being the story of two sons (played by Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan in the original) this is about a pair of grandchildren and their grandfather's revenge on their wrongdoers.
Villagers protest fencing at Indo-Bangladesh border Monday, July 30, 2007 | AY
South Berubari (West Bengal), July 30 (ANI): The fencing work being carried along the Indo-Bangladesh border has created an islet of Indian villages cut off from either side.Residents of these villages, which are surrounded by Bangladesh, have expressed resentment over the fencing work, and are unwilling to vacate their land."We protest the fencing of the border. We were born in India, have been voting and are part of the country. After so many years of independence, why should we suffer?" asked Anukantu, a resident of the village, Berubari, in West Bengal's New Jalpaiguri District.The fencing work has affected about 25000 people, all of whom claim to be Indian citizens and possess Indian Voter ID cards, as proof of their citizenship.Sanjay Ghosh, another villager, said his family has been living in the area for generations, and warned that all villagers have pledged to give up their lives, if their land is taken away from them. Though officials of both nations met in May this year, the issue remains unresolved.India and Bangladesh share a 4,096-km border, which is regarded as most porous borders in the world. (ANI)
25 injured in Nandigram clashes Monday, July 30, 2007 | AY
Kolkata, July 29 (ANI): At least 25 people have been injured in a clash between ruling CPI (M) and opposition Trinamool Congress supporters that took place in Nandigram on Sunday.According to reports, trouble started after a victory procession of the Trinamool Congress that won seven of the 26 seats in the recently concluded Haldia civic polls turned violent. There are reports of bomb explosion in the area and a CPI (M) party office was also attacked.Trinamool along with Bhumi Uchhed Pratirodh Committee (BUPC), which is opposing the land acquisition for a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Nandigram, has called for a shutdown on Monday.Meanwhile, Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee demanded dismissal of the State government and asked the Centre to intervene. (ANI)
Moitree Express arrives in Kolkata Monday, July 30, 2007 | AY
Kolkata, July 30 (ANI): A Bangladesh train has arrived in Kolkata, marking the first trial run of bilateral rail services after a gap of 42 years. The train called the "Moitree" (Friendship) Express, carried 30 Bangladeshi officials, and reached the Gede Railway Station in India on Sunday. Bangladesh's Additional Secretary for Communications, A T K M Ismail, said: “This has been our long desire. Our people want to come, and their (India’s) people want to go. This is going to resolve many of the needed things. Both countries will be mutually benefited.” Ismail is leading a delegation, comprising of Home, Communication and Foreign Ministry officials.During their visit, the two sides are expected to discuss issues pertaining to the resumption of a trans-national train service between Kolkata and Dhaka, besides finalising the date for the official launching of the train service. Bangladesh hopes regular passenger train services will be launched by mid-August between Dhaka and Kolkata. The non-stop train service will link Dhaka's Cantonment Station with Kolkata's Chitpur Station. On July 26, the Indian Railways conducted a trial run of the train from Kolkata to Gede, the last station on India's international border with Bangladesh to check passenger facilities and security aspects.A trial run of the Indian train was held at the beginning of this month.A passenger train service between the two cities was introduced towards the end of the Awami League Government in July 2001. One train had run on trial basis, but the service was cancelled after the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led coalition came to power. Kolkata and Dhaka are currently connected by air and bus services. The train is expected to cover a distance of 345 kilometres between Dhaka and Kolkata in 12 hours. The train service was suspended during the 1965 war between India and Pakistan, when Bangladesh was a part of Pakistan, and was referred to as East Pakistan. (ANI)
Around 100 houses washed away in Siliguri flash floods Sunday, July 29, 2007 | AY
Siliguri (WB)/Guwahati, July 29 (ANI): Around 100 houses have been washed away in flash floods in Siliguri in West Bengal’s Darjeeling District, where streams and rivers are in full spate following spells of heavy rains in the past few days. Around 100 houses at Samarnagar and Lower Bhanunagar areas have been washed away by the swollen waters of Mahananda river. Several other houses on the river banks have been damaged at Matigara, Kawakhali, Bidhannagar and Ganganagar. The State Government has rushed relief for over 50,000 people affected by the flash floods. "Huge areas have already sunk. Relief is being provided by the Municipal Corporation and also by the Panchayat. I have already instructed the engineering department engineers to take proper measures and action to combat the situation,” state’s Urban Development Minister Asoke Bhattacharya said. Train services were also suspended after Balaran Rail Bridge was damaged at Matigara. In Assam and Meghalaya, at least 13 people have been killed in heavy rains, landslides and floods since Friday. According to a government statement, over 750,000 people have been displaced by the floods in 12 of Assam's 27 districts in the past one week. The Brahmaputra river is flowing at least a metre above the danger level and still maintaining a rising trend in several places in the state. Four flood-related deaths were also reported from Bihar, as heavy rains continued to add to the woes created by floodwaters. (ANI)
Jyoti Basu condemns Andhra police firing; demands inquiry Sunday, July 29, 2007 | AY
Kolkata, July 29 (ANI): Condemning the police firing on a protesting mob at Mudigonda village of Andhra Pradesh's Khammam District, which claimed eight lives yesterday, former West Bengal Chief Minister and veteran Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader Jyoti Basu today demanded an inquiry into the incident."I hope there will be an inquiry to find out whether the firing was unprovoked or absolutely necessary. I hope that our party's Andhra unit will raise demand for an inquiry into the incident," Basu told reporters here. Basu said this at the state party headquarters, where he came to attend the state committee meeting. The Left parties are observing a daylong shutdown in Khammam district to register their protest against the police firing. The Andhra Pradesh State Government has already ordered an enquiry into the incident. Andhra Pradesh Police fired at a protest rally of Left parties against the State Government's land policy turned violent.Protestors in the village started pelting stones on police, who retaliated first with a baton charge, and then with firing on the 1000-strong mob. The CPI-M said in a statement that police resorted to "brutal" firing on people participating in a "peaceful rasta roko" as part of the bandh to protest police repression and the refusal of the government to concede their "genuine demands." The CPI (M), CPI and 195 mass organisations have been conducting a movement for house sites and land for the poor, since May 2 this year. "Instead of discussing and settling the issues, the Congress government in Andhra Pradesh resorted to brutal attacks against the people. Hundreds of people were seriously injured in police lathicharges in different parts of the state and thousands were sent to jail," the party said. The Congress Government had promised distribution of surplus land to the landless poor. The state has so far distributed about 450,000 acres of land to about 300,000 beneficiaries. (ANI)
Indian Railways readies passenger facilities for train service to Bangladesh Sunday, July 29, 2007 | AY
Gede (West Bengal), July 27 (ANI): Indian Railways is putting together passenger facilities ahead of the start of a trans-national train service between Kolkata and Dhaka for the first time in more than four decades.The service is expected to begin in August, though no exact date has been announced.The Indian Railways conducted a trial run of the train from Kolkata to Gede, the last station on India’s international border with Bangladesh, on Thursday to check passenger facilities and security aspects.Birendranath Biswas, a Bangladeshi, said that this service augurs well for ties between both countries."The way I have taken the trouble to come from Bangladesh by road will not be there. We will be able to go to Kolkata from there,” Biswas added.Besides immigration facilities, facilities for the scanning of passenger baggage and security checks are being set up at the Gede railway station.Swapan Kumar Mondal, the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Eastern Railways, said: "This will be the border's first station. The obligatory checking, like customs, security checking and immigration will be done.” As far as other arrangements are concerned, Mondal said: “We have developed all arrangements, and fencing has also been done.”A high- level Bangladeshi delegation is scheduled to visit Gede on July 29, before finalising the train service.A trial run of the Indian train was held at the beginning of July. Bangladesh will also soon send a train to Kolkata for a similar trial run.The train service between India and Bangladesh was suspended during the 1965 Indo-Pak War, and Bangladesh was then a part of Pakistan, and was referred to as East Pakistan. (ANI)
Elephant calf killed by train in West Bengal Saturday, July 28, 2007 | AY
Mahananda Sanctuary (West Bengal), July 27 (ANI): A two-year old male calf was run over by a train that was passing through the Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary in West Bengal’s Darjeeling District."We got information from the Gulma Railway Station that one elephant calf was hit by the Guwahati-Jhajha Express. It was part of a herd," said Sumita Ghatak, Divisional Forest Officer, Darjeeling.Engine drivers are supposed to reduce speed while passing through the elephant crossing zone.Last month, a Royal Bengal Tiger was run over by a train. According to the 2005 national wildlife census, there were 25,000 to 28,000 elephants in India, including only 1,500 male tuskers of breeding age.Elephants are also a protected and endangered species in India, with the country having nearly half of the world's 60,000 Asian elephants.But conservationists say the pachyderm population has fallen rapidly in recent years because of a loss of habitat brought on by human encroachment into forest areas, leading to human-elephant conflicts.(ANI)
Aseem Merchant in bengali film Thursday, July 26, 2007 | AY
Aseem Merchant is going regional. He has signed a Bengali film which is an adaptation of the novel Aashima, with Gracy Singh in the lead Role . He's been in the news for the big films in his kitty - URU PATEL's Hanuman and the SALMAN starrer Wanted Dead or Alive (Pokhiri remake), but now ASEEM MERCHANT is going regional. He has signed a Bengali film which is an adaptation of the novel Aashima, with GRACY SINGH in the lead.
Kolkata traders sell exotic birds, despite ban Thursday, July 26, 2007 | AY
Kolkata, July 25 (ANI): Despite a blanket ban on the trade of exotic birds, traders are openly selling them on Kolkata's Galif Street.The pet market comes alive every Sunday, where sellers display exotic birds in cages. Several breed of birds like badri, lovebirds, cocktails, silky hen and pigeons of different colours and sizes are sold in this market.Pranab Mitra, Secretary of Bird Lovers' and Breeders Association said that those birds are sold here on which the government has no restriction, adding that "These birds don't come under any law. So, we sell them." The prices of these colour-feathered birds range from 20 to 62 dollars depending on its colours. The residents, who possess exotic birds, also sell their eggs and chicks to traders to reap rich dividends.Breeding of birds in captivity is a clinical process, which requires careful handling and hygienic surroundings, especially during the breeding season from November to February.Amarnath Kaga, a seller said: "They are all cage breeding birds and don't survive in open air. We breed these birds here and then sell them in the market."These birds have their origins in countries like Australia, Africa, Holland, and Java, Kaga added. Apart from exotic birds, rabbits and fish of different colours are also sold in Galif Market.India is known to be home to 1,225 bird species, including 257 water birds. It also supports 81 species of migrant waterfowls, which arrive from central Asia and Europe during winter.Hunting or caging endangered wildlife is banned in India but with lax laws and enforcement and mild punishment, poaching and smuggling rare species is rampant.In India, parrots are used by fortune tellers to forecast the fate of people. The displaying of the birds specially parrots in cages is considered illegal and punishable by a fine and imprisonment up to five years.Birdlife International, a worldwide conservation group, recently warned that some 300 Asian bird species face extinction, particularly in India, Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia and China, due to poor protection and habitat destruction. (ANI)
New technology for tea processing Wednesday, July 25, 2007 | AY
In a bid to totally overhaul the century-old Indian tea-processing techniques, the Tea Board has tied up with the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, to evolve a process that was in tune with times and would save on costs, time and space. The Rs. 15-crore project with a five-year timeframe, also carries a mandate on increasing workers’ efficiency and developing value-added product-derivatives that concentrate on the cosmetic, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical value of tea. The Union Minister of State for Commerce, Jairam Ramesh, will visit the premier institute to view the ongoing work in this respect.
Mobile health vans for Behala, Garden Reach Monday, July 23, 2007 | AY
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) is planning to set up a mobile medical van for the residents in added areas such as Behala, Garden Reach and Jadavpur. Civic officials said that residents in other parts of the city avail more healthcare facility from their respective local healthcare units in comparison to the residents in the added area. The approximate cost of the medical unit will be 15 lakh, which will be entirely funded by KMC. The mobile unit will work from 8 am to 2 pm. Residents can get their blood samples tested free of cost in the pathological unit of the mobile van. The unit will also provide medicines like quinine and ORS. The vehicle will contain a medical unit comprising pathologists, pharmacists and an expert medical team, which will handle emergency cases.
Jalpaiguri villager nurtures 15,000 birds Monday, July 23, 2007 | AY
Saptibari (West Bengal), July 22 (ANI): Sashi Bhushan Roy of Saptabari Village in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri District has raised a huge garden that provides a shelter to over 15,000 birds on a piece of land that he primarily wanted to use for agriculture. On watching a number of birds arriving almost everyday at his land measuring 13,068 square feet, he quit the idea of using the land for any other purpose than a home for his winged friends. Today, over 15,000 birds bear testimony to 65-year-old Sashi Bhushan's immeasurable love for the feathered friends in Jalpaguri. He claims to have developed a special relation with these friends.Bhusan said: "We have gradually become friends. The numbers of the birds is also increasing. They listen to my directions. If I am inside, they don't make noise but if any outsider enters the garden, they get restless and start hovering."Bhusan, nick-named 'Pakhiburo' (an old lover of birds) loves to interact with the birds in his mother tongue Bengali and claims that they very-well understand it.He has at least 10 species living with him that include Egret, Night Heron, Dove, Cormorant, Robin and Barbet, Drongo, even Bat and others.Bhusan's son Paritosh Roy helps him everyday and the duo makes the birds feel at home. Whenever a bird falls ill, the father-son duo gives it loving care.His neighbours too seem to have been inspired from his love for the birds and appreciate his deep sense of care for them.Sashi Bhusan and his son believe that they have no problem if the government intends to convert the other part of their land into a bird sanctuary. But they are unwilling to give away their garden and want the government to make an alternative arrangement for them. Despite living a poor man's life, Bhusan doesn't wish to cut or sell trees for money, as he doesn't want to part from this family of friends. (ANI)
Kolkata’s ‘Project Sukanya’, a helping hand for poor women Sunday, July 22, 2007 | AY
Kolkata, July 21 (ANI): A Kolkata woman has launched a project to provide employment to poverty-ridden women.Apartna Banerjee’s Project Sukanya is essentially a chain of stores managed by women, selling wares made by them.The mobile outlets are called 'Bou Carts' (daughter-in-law's carts) and are visible at key points in the city.Women self-help groups in Purulia, Bankura, Birbhum and Burdwan Districts make products like terracotta sculptures, packaged spices and small gift items.Banerjee says the project serves as a platform for liberating women economically, especially those hailing from financially poor backgrounds. Selected women are given training in sales and can choose their work timings from 9.00 a.m. and 9.00 p.m.Gargi, who has a daughter, says she is earning some additional money to give herself and her child a better style of living.Banerjee has patented her project to prevent retail outlets from stealing her idea.She claims that some big brands had approached her, but she refused on the ground that the concept of providing employment to poor women would be lost.The project, which started with just one cart, has now gone up to four carts.Banerjee wants to open such outlets across the State. (ANI)
Mamata declines Left's offer of talks over Nandigram, Singur Sunday, July 22, 2007 | AY
Kolkata, July 21 (ANI): Trinamool Congress, the main opposition party in West Bengal on Saturday declined the State Government's offer for talks on farmland row in Nandigram and Singur. Trinamool Congress Chief Mamata Banerjee, held a public rally in Kolkata and rejected the State Government's offer for talks on the issue unless the acquired land is returned to farmers. "I want to clarify the principle stand of our party. Unless those involved with Nandigram killings are punished, until the farmers in Singur are given back their farmland, Trinamool Congress will not get down to talks with anyone," Banerjee said. "The government might have influenced many, but they cannot influence our party. So long we live we will continue to fight for our rights," added Banerjee.This is the second time Mamata declined to held talks with the Left Front government in the State. Earlier, she had stormed out of a meeting stating that Left leaders were not sincere towards resolution of the issue.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 acquisition of agricultural land for setting up industries in the State.The State Government had planned to set up an industrial park for Indonesia's Salim Group in 14,500 acres of Nandigram, located 150 kilometers from Kolkata. However on March 14, at least 14 people were killed in a police firing at Nandigram, which forced the State Government to shelve the plan. (ANI)
Calcutta HC stays Dalmiya’s expulsion; says he can contest polls Saturday, July 21, 2007 | AY
Kolkata, July 20 (ANI): The Calcutta High Court on Friday stayed the expulsion and suspension order of Jagmohan Dalmiya, which was issued by the BCCI on December 17, 2006, paving the way for him to contest in the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) elections to be held next week. Delivering the verdict in Dalmiya’s favour, Justice Indira Banerjee observed that the former BCCI and ICC president is now free to contest elections to any cricket body and can also participate in any board meeting. The court said that the rule under which he was suspended was not registered, so it was illegal. The timing of the verdict is significant as filing of nominations for the CAB elections to be held on July 28 closes this evening. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had suspended Dalmiya in December last year following allegations of embezzling funds during the 1996 World Cup held in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Following his suspension, Dalmiya resigned as CAB president, and Kolkata Police Commissioner Prasun Mukherjee was elected unopposed to the post. After his expulsion, the anti-Dalmiya lobby had claimed he could no longer function as CAB president as per the article 38 (V) of the BCCI Constitution, which debars a person expelled from the board from being associated in any capacity with any affiliate unit. Dalmiya's expulsion was cleared at a Special General Body meeting of the BCCI in Jaipur on December 16, where 29 members of the board voted in favour of expelling him. Two members voted against the move. Dalmiya was accused of misappropriating Rs. 21.74 lakhs from PILCOM, the organising committee of the 1996 World Cup and running up lakhs of rupees in phone bills. Dalmiya, a former president of the International Cricket Council (ICC), was suspended from the board's membership by its Disciplinary Committee on April 9. Born in Kolkata on May 30, 1940, Dalmiya is a well-known cricket administrator. He studied at the Scottish Church College in Kolkata. He started his association with cricket as a wicketkeeper in cricket clubs, including his college team in Calcutta and had once made a double-century. He joined the BCCI in 1979 and became its treasurer in 1983 - the year India won the Cricket World Cup. Later, along with Inderjit Singh Bindra, he helped to win the right to stage the World Cup in South Asia in 1987 and 1996. He has been the President of BCCI several times. He was unanimously elected chairman of the ICC in 1997 for a period of three years. In 1996, the BBC declared him to be one of the world's top six sports executives. When Australia and West Indies refused to play in terror-scarred Sri Lanka during the 1996 World Cup, he conjured up a united India-Pakistan team in a matter of days to play friendlies against Sri Lanka there. In 1991, when the boycott of South Africa officially ended, he arranged a tour of the South African cricket team to India that went a long way in helping them shed the stigma of apartheid. In 2005, he was presented with the International Journal of the History of Sports Achievement award for administrative excellence in global sport. (ANI)
Tension grips Singur: Police fire teargas to disperse mob Saturday, July 21, 2007 | AY
Kolkata, July 19 (ANI): Fresh tension gripped Singur on Thursday as police fired teargas shells to disperse a mob of villagers who were trying to demolish a wall of Tata Motor's proposed car factory.Around 25 rounds of tear gas shells were fired to disperse a mob of about 100 villagers trying to break the wall, claimed Hooghly Superintendent of Police Rajeev Mishra, adding that there was no damage to the wall.Mishra further said that no one was injured in the incident.However, villagers owing allegiance to Trinamool Congress-led 'Krishijami Raksha Committee' claimed that a portion of the wall was damaged. The Committee's convenor Becharam Manna alleged that the police had baton-charged the villagers and lobbed teargas shells.Police is investigating the incident and a police picket has been stationed at the site. The committee has been agitating against forcible acquisition of farmland at Singur for the proposed car factory. Recently West Bengal Industries Minister Nirupam Sen had even announced a rehabilitation package for the people affected by the project, but rejected the demand of returning the lands.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)
JBIC offers crores for Kolkata revamp Thursday, July 19, 2007 | AY
The Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) has offered a slew of projects to modernise and smooth out Kolkata chaotic transport system into one resembling Tokyo or Bangkok. The projects, which add up to a whopping Rs 5809.2 crore, include the East-West Metro and no less than 72 flyovers. Modelled on the traffic systems in Tokyo and Bangkok, the recommendations emphasise the integration of transit systems through 'easy modal shifts' (switch from one mode of transport to another), integrated fare and ticketing systems. The most important and the biggest project is, of course, the East-West Metro. Both the state government and JBIC are upbeat about the implementation of the project. The other high priority projects include doubling of circular railway, Joka-Panihati mass rapid transit system, rationalisation of bus routes, feeder network for intermodal transfer points, development of ferry services. High priority projects in traffic management sector are parking study, transport demand management, area traffic control and traffic signal an removal of slow-moving vehicles from major corridors.
Kolkata lawyers protest police high handedness Thursday, July 19, 2007 | AY
Kolkata, July18 (ANI): Lawyers in Kolkata on Wednesday disrupted work at courthouses in Alipore, protesting against an altercation between their colleagues and police a day before.Work came to a grinding halt at the Alipore Police Court and the Alipore Judges Court, some lawyers attacked police vans that were trying to enter the court campus.The police does not have the authority to arrest people without following the rule of law, said Prasanta Ranjan Guha Ray, a Bar Council member.The lawyers had objected to the re-arrest of a man who was granted bail after serving a prison term of eight years, but the police responded by assaulting them. Three lawyers were injured in the scuffle. The lawyers sought the intervention of State Law Minister Rabi Lal Moitra and Kolkata High Court Chief Justice S S Nijjar. (ANI)
Lawyers on strike Wednesday, July 18, 2007 | AY
Work has come to a standstill at Kolkata's Alipore Police Court with 3,500 lawyers stopping work to protest alleged high-handed behaviour of the police. A police van trying to enter the court premises was stoned by angry lawyers, who say the strike will continue, till the police offers an unconditional apology for its behaviour. On Tuesday evening an accused was given bail in a case but as he emerged from the court, the police arrested him in connection with another case. The lawyers protested and claim that in the scuffle, the police manhandled them.
Dairy farmers peturbed over rising milk prices, Reliance Retail moves into dairy sector Wednesday, July 18, 2007 | AY
Kolkata/Hyderabad, July 17 (ANI): The price of milk may have gone up to around Rs 3 per litre across India in the last year, but dairy farmers are yet to benefit from it. According to National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) figures, the procurement price for cow milk has increased by only 0.7 percent during the nine months from September 2006 to May 2007. From Rs 9.54 per litre in September 2006, the price increased to Rs 10.10 on April this year and then declined to Rs 9.61 in May. However, procurement price for buffalo milk increased by 5.6 percent during the same period, from Rs 12.86 in September 2006 to Rs 13.58 on May 2007, mainly because buffalo milk is used to make skimmed milk powder (SMP). Prices of cattle feed and other inputs have increased, making it more difficult for the farmers. Dairy officials were quoted by the Financial Express as saying that rising SMP prices have forced dairies to increase price at least three times in last one year. Exports of SMP have also helped push up local prices. SMP now costs Rs 140 per kg and upwards, and contributes to 20 percent of the price increase of milk. Meanwhile, Reliance Retail has decided to venture into dairy products. After fresh vegetables, fruits and fast moving consumer goods products, Reliance Retail has stepped into the dairy products sector with a national ‘pilot’ launch of its liquid milk (family milk segment) in Hyderabad. Available across 43 Reliance Fresh stores in Andhra Pradesh, the liquid milk branded Reliance Dairy Pure has a launch price of Rs 9 for half-a-litre packet. Reliance Retail is at present procuring 10,000 litres per day at its procurement centre in Atmakur in Nellore district. The packaging, which is outsourced, is being done at Vikarabad in Ranga Reddy district. The national plans of Reliance Retail include launching 3 variants of liquid milk — family milk, low fat and whole milk. It would also diversify into a range of value-added dairy products. Moreover, Reliance is planning to roll out the liquid milk brands across the country in a phased manner. It is also firming up plans to enter the cheese-making sector. (ANI)
Fire in Telephone Bhawan in Kolkata Tuesday, July 17, 2007 | AY
A fire broke out today in the battery room of the multi-storey Telephone Bhawan, the BSNL headquarters in the heart of this city. Fire brigade officials said the fire, which broke out in the second floor of the building at bbd bag area, was yet to be brought under control at 2 pm. Eight tenders were being used to fight the blaze, the cause of which had not yet been ascertained.
Queen Victoria Memorial getting stained Monday, July 16, 2007 | AY
Poisonous fumes, dust and smog are staining the white-marbled Queen Victoria Memorial, one of India's best-known landmarks from the days of the British empire. The monument, built a century ago when Kolkata - then known as Calcutta - was the capital of British-ruled India, is turning yellow, according to the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI).Built in the early 20th century, the memorial houses one of the world's longest paintings and elephant procession, among some 3,000 exhibits in 25 galleries. This is not the first Indian monument to face problems from growing air contamination. A parliamentary report this year warned that the Taj Mahal was turning yellow due to pollution.
Bengal IIIT to specialise in cyber-security Sunday, July 15, 2007 | AY
The proposed West Bengal Indian Institute for Information Technology with an investment of Rs 200 crore would be specialised in cyber-security related research and technology. It cannot come up in a city as it would require more than 100 acres. The investment will be about Rs 200 crore and it might be developed in the PPP model. Meanwhile, the National Cyber Security strategy was likely to be in place shortly as it has now been debated at the ministerial level for the final blueprint.
Two killed in Kolkata hospital fire Sunday, July 15, 2007 | AY
Kolkata, July 14 (ANI): Two persons were killed and two others severely burnt when a gas cylinder in a canteen at the SSKM Hospital exploded on Friday.The incident occurred at Amantran, a private canteen, at the hospital premises when a gas cylinder exploded apparently due to leakage.Dipak Panda, an eyewitness, said: “We saw the whole kitchen engulfed with fire. Out of five people caught inside, two came out and three couldn't.”State Fire Minister Pratim Chatterjee said after preliminary inquiry the fire was caused due to illegal storage of gas cylinders in the canteen. Home Secretary Prasad Ranjan Roy had announced an inquiry by the State Health Department.The deceased were identified as Apurba Ghosh (17) and Laltu Mandal (26), who was in the canteen, when the incident took place. Balaram Mandal (14) and Barun Ghosh (30), who was severely burnt, are undergoing treatment.There are three private canteens situated at hospital premises including Amantran, none of which, according to Kamala Paul, a class IV staff of the hospital, have any fire safety measures. (ANI)
Arrested HUJI militant was involved in human trafficking Sunday, July 15, 2007 | AY
Kolkata, July 14 (ANI): Suspected Harkat-ul-Jehadi Islami (HUJI) militant Noor Islam Mandal, who was arrested in Kolkata was involved in human trafficking.Police also claimed that they had proof of Mandal’s involvement with the Bangladesh based HUJI and his role in subversive activities"His home is on the Bangladesh border, so there is definite contact with Bangladeshis. He was definitely helping in bringing people from Bangladesh," said Shubhankar Sinha Sarkar, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) of Crime Investigation Department (CID) in Kolkata.The arrest came after a tip-off by Lucknow police, where another suspected HUJI militant Babubhai had been arrested a few days ago. Babubhai had named Mandal in his confession, which led to Mandal’s arrest on Friday, said Kolkata police. "Last month the Uttar Pradesh police had arrested a terrorist Babubhai. On the basis of his statements, the UP police sent us information, which led to the arrest of Noor Islam Mandal. He is a close associate of Babubhai and an active member of HUJI," added Sarkar.HUJI has been active across the country for the last four years and has been blamed by security forces for various attacks, including an unsuccessful attempt on Ram temple in Ayodhya and a recent bomb blast at the Mecca mosque in Hyderabad. (ANI)
WB govt to give 2 pc subsidy on crop loan Saturday, July 14, 2007 | AY
The West Bengal government would provide a subsidy of two per cent on cheap crop loan to co-operative banks in the state from 2006-07 onwards. During 2006-07, 17 district co-operative banks and three regional offices of state co-operative bank disbursed crop loan of Rs 835 crore. The annual liability of the state government for interest rate subsidy would be around Rs 10 crore. Farmers would be able to get crop loans at seven per cent per annum.
Indian researcher duo finds automated tailgating can save fuel, cut CO2 emissions Saturday, July 14, 2007 | AY
Washington, July 13 (ANI): Automated tailgating that allows cars to drive much closer to each other in heavy moving traffic, could save fuel and cut greenhouse gas emissions, according to two researchers at the University of Jadavpur, Kolkata. To test their theory, Debojyoti Mitra and Asis Mazumdar from the university’s Mechanical Engineering Department investigated the drag on platoons of four vehicles in the university's vehicle test wind tunnel. They found that cars moving in the same direction separated by a meter or so reduced drag and consequently saved fuel. "The leading car in the platoon experiences the highest drag as you would expect but no more than if it were driving alone. The second car has a much lower drag coefficient than the first car in a two-car platoon. The middle car experiences the lowest drag in a three-car platoon and the third car in the platoon, starting from the front, experiences the least drag in a four-car platoon,” said Mitra. According to the two, adding sensors and safety controls that allow vehicles to drive at such a small separation would make automated tailgating a real possibility. “As populations grow and the number of vehicles on the roads in cities and motorways across Europe, North America and the developing world, rises, traditional ways of tackling the problem, such as simply building more roads or improving public transport are becoming less and less effective,” said Mitra. "Automated highway systems are one of the many approaches that have been suggested to tackle the problems," he said. The findings appear in the current issue of Inderscience's International Journal of the Environment and Pollution. (ANI)
Two killed in Kolkata hospital fire Saturday, July 14, 2007 | AY
Kolkata, July 14 (ANI): Two persons were killed and two others severely burnt when a gas cylinder in a canteen at the SSKM Hospital exploded on Friday.The incident occurred at Amantran, a private canteen, at the hospital premises when a gas cylinder exploded apparently due to leakage.Dipak Panda, an eyewitness, said: “We saw the whole kitchen engulfed with fire. Out of five people caught inside, two came out and three couldn't.”State Fire Minister Pratim Chatterjee said after preliminary inquiry the fire was caused due to illegal storage of gas cylinders in the canteen. Home Secretary Prasad Ranjan Roy had announced an inquiry by the State Health Department.The deceased were identified as Apurba Ghosh (17) and Laltu Mandal (26), who was in the canteen, when the incident took place. Balaram Mandal (14) and Barun Ghosh (30), who was severely burnt, are undergoing treatment.There are three private canteens situated at hospital premises including Amantran, none of which, according to Kamala Paul, a class IV staff of the hospital, have any fire safety measures. (ANI)
Sunfeast Open Tennis In Kolkata Wednesday, July 11, 2007 | AY
The third edition of the $1,75,000 Sunfeast Open tournament will be held in Kolkata in September. Sunfeast Open 2007 will be bigger and better this year. We are confident this tournament will attract the best tennis players from across the world to put together some scintillating tennis action for the many tennis fans in Kolkata and rest of India, said Bhupathi, managing director of tournament organisers Globosport. Bhupathi also played beach tennis with young squash champions Trisha Krishnan and Dipika Pallikal at the Fortune Chariot Beach Resort here as the first of several promotional activities for the event.
Tripura celebrates 30 years of Left Front rule in West Bengal Tuesday, July 10, 2007 | AY
Agartala, July 8 (ANI): West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee today criticised his opponents for blocking the industrial reforms that he is determined to bring in his State, even as Tripura celebrated the 30 years of uninterrupted rule of Left coalition in his State here today. Thousands of Left supporters marched to the Stable Ground as they celebrated "30 years West Bengal government's land, agricultural and industrial reforms". CPI (M) leader and Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, hailing Bhattacharjee said, "It is a record as very rarely has an elected government survived for so long anywhere, where another government of totally the opposite pole has been ruling there at the centre."Bhattacharjee, who was present on the occasion, said that the Left government have made a series of remarkable achievements over the last three decades, including land reforms and agriculture and is presently concentrating on the industries for creating more scope of employment within the state. Referring to the recent violent incidents in Nandigram, Bhattacharjee said, "We wanted to set a chemical hub for the people of the state but if they don't want it there then we won't. However, in any case we have to set a chemical hub in our state or it will be a huge loss for us."Meanwhile, hundreds of people called on the veteran communist leader Jyoti Basu in Kolkata on his 93rd birthday. ''This seventh government that we have formed, it is a Left Front government, not a CPI (M) government only. Centrally and in the districts, we have the Left Front. I hope no one will ever be able to stop their victorious march,'' Basu said, who as served as Communist leader for 67 years. (ANI)
Former French PM discharged Tuesday, July 10, 2007 | AY
Former French Socialist Prime Minister Michel Rocard, who underwent emergency brain surgery after falling ill in India, was discharged from hospital on Tuesday. Rocard, 76, fell ill minutes before attending an event organised by the communist government of West Bengal on June 30 and was immediately rushed to the CMRI Hospital in Kolkata. A brain scan revealed a blood clot and he was rushed into surgery after a hurriedly called conference with French doctors in Paris. Rocard is scheduled to leave for France later this week in a special aircraft flown in from Paris.
Subhendu Chatterjee passed away Monday, July 9, 2007 | AY
Eminent Bengali actor Subhendu Chatterjee, who essayed significant roles in films of maestro Satyajit Ray, passed away. He was 71. Chatterjee, who will be remembered for his roles in several Bengali movies as a hero and second hero, including Ray's "Arannyer Dinratri" (Days and Nights of Forest), was suffering from heart and lung ailments and was admitted to the AMRI Hospital in south Kolkata since July 2. Chatterjee was also a doctor. His son Saswata Chatterjee is a successful actor. He has another son based in California. While Chatterjee will be remembered for his roles in films like "Chowringhee" (the acclaimed novel of writer Shankar now translated into English), since the 1980s he was seen in the roles of arrogant father or even villain in many a Bengali pot-boiler. Recipient of many awards, Chatterjee also was a successful stage actor and the play "Bilkish Begum" staged during the 1980s was a super hit.
Kolkata street kids get birth certificates Sunday, July 8, 2007 | AY
For about 50,000 poor children, it was a celebration of their birth. Their gift was the birth registration certificate (BRC) - something they had struggled to get for years because they did not have the money to pay for it. Kolkata municipality has at least about 75,000 children who do not have a BRC, according to a survey conducted by the City Level Programme of Action (CLPOA), a networking body of about 300 NGOs. A joint initiative by Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), Unicef and a group of 74 NGOs led by CLPOA was launched in 2005 to identify children who don't have a BRC. According to Bhattacharya, birth registration is a fundamental right of every child as it confers a legal identity on the child and facilitates easy access to health and education delivery systems.
Thousands marooned in flood-hit West Bengal Sunday, July 8, 2007 | AY
Midnapore (WB), July 8 (ANI): Floods continued to ravage parts of West Bengal with at least 700,000 people being evacuated to safer places.About six districts in the State remained cut off from the rest of the country after surging rivers broke through mud embankments and swamped hundreds of villages.East and West Midnapore Districts of the State are among the worst hit areas, and army has been deployed at Ghatal and Sabanh Blocks of the Districts to rescue people."All our belongings have been washed away. We just manage to find something to eat," said Suchitra Rani, a flood victim. The government has ordered all State officers to work on a war footing to reach the marooned people.Rail services in the State were badly hit. Railway tracks over a 30-meter stretch between Tindharia and Rongtong in West Bengal’s Darjeeling district were left dangling since July 4 as loose earth caved in following landslide.Services on world heritage Darjeeling toy train have been disrupted for at least a week after heavy rains washed away railway tracks.Antonio Wage, a French tourist, said: “I feel a bit disappointed. I came to Darjeeling, especially for the toy train, but because of the landslide I couldn't make it".Northeast Frontier Railway (NEF) workers averted a tragedy on Wednesday as engine drivers and track supervisors asked passengers to get off before the train chugged across the slushy red mud, which caved in later during the day.Repairs on the landslide prone Paglajhora-Rongtong-Tindharia section were hampered by the heavy rains still sweeping across the region.Meanwhile, in Rajasthan water breached a portion of a century-old dam Jaswant Sagar dam, but authorities said they had the situation under control.Officials evacuated hundreds from 40 villages in Jodhpur District as the main wall of the dam built in 1889, developed cleavages.People of Bilara, Luni and Jodhpur tehsils have been advised to move to safer places.Three IAF helicopters have been kept on standby to meet any contingency while army too was alerted, officials said.The administration has declared high alert in the affected areas and food packets are being distributed to the flood victims. (ANI)
Former French PM recovering fast in Kolkata hospital Saturday, July 7, 2007 | AY
Kolkata, July 6 (ANI): Former French Prime Minister Michel Rocard, who had an emergency brain surgery in a hospital here, is recovering fast. "He is practically normal. He is out of bed. He is expected to be out of hospital coming Tuesday," said Dr. K Prusty, neuro surgeon of the hospital.Rocard, 76, appeared 'cheerful' and is following his regular routine said doctors of the Calcutta Medical Research Institute (CMRI). Rocard, an elder statesman of centre-left politics in France, arrived in India this week, on the invitation of the West Bengal Left Government, but suddenly fell ill on Saturday and was rushed to the hospital.A brain scan revealed a blood clot and he was whisked to the operation theatre after a hurriedly called conference with French doctors in Paris said doctors. Sylvie Rocard, wife of Michel Rocard, thanked doctors and nurses at the press conference, "You have wonderful doctors, nurses and people here. Everything is great and so nice and so helpful that we are really happy." (ANI)
Floods leave thousands in Orissa, West Bengal stranded Saturday, July 7, 2007 | AY
Balasore (Orissa)/Kolkata, July 7 (ANI): Thousands of people have been marooned as torrential rains hampered relief work in parts of Orissa and West Bengal. Most rivers in Orissa are in spate, forcing flood control authorities to open 20 sluice gates of the Hirakud Dam after water levels in the reservoir rose menacingly. At least 120 villages in Orissa’s Balasore and Mayurbhanj District are flooded.Authorities have shifted hundreds of people from low-lying areas to safer places."We have kept all our cyclone shelters, primary and high school buildings open round the clock," said Sarat Chandra Sahu, Director, Meteorology Department, Bhubaneshwar.A large number of people in West Bengal continue to remain cut off from the rest of the country after surging river waters, broke through mud embankments and swamped villages.At least 20 have died in floods and seven lakh affected in several districts, including West and East Midnapur, North and South 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hoogly and Bankura. Army and Air Force personnel have been engaged in relief and rescue operations in West Midnapore District.In Kolkata, civic authorities have been completely overwhelmed with relief work after it received 475 millimeters of rainfall in four days.Health workers travelled in boats to distribute medicines to the affected people. Many residents were seen cooking in knee-deep water in their kitchens. Some residents held angry protests, demanding clean drinking water. According to weather officials, the city faces the prospect of more rains as a storm hovered 50 km to its north."Deep depression is likely to give more rain towards Jharkhand and Orissa and adjacent districts of Gangetic West Bengal during the next 48 hours," said G.C. Debnath, Director, Alipore Meteorological Office.Recent floods caused by heavy rainfall during the monsoon season have forced another 100,000 out of their homes in south, southwest and western India.In Maharashtra, farmers assessed crop damage as flood water receded from fields. In Amravati district, crops spread over 13,000 hectares of farmland was destroyed. (ANI)
West Bengal seeks cooperation in fisheries with Vietnam Thursday, July 5, 2007 | AY
Kolkata, July 4 (ANI): Visiting Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on Wednesday met West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, where the latter sought Vietnamese help in developing its dairy and pisciculture industries.Tan Dung, who arrived here today, is on a three-day visit to the country to boost trade and business relations between Vietnam and India.“We want our dairy and fisheries to be developed in collaboration with Vietnam. They have a great capacity to develop pisciculture. Nobody can match their standards in the production of crabs,” Bhattacharjee told reporters.A delegation from West Bengal is also expected to visit Vietnam soon to explore possibilities of investing there. Tan Dung will arrive in New Delhi on Thursday, where he is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and CPI (M) general secretary Prakash Karat. (ANI)
Rain abates, but water logging paralyses normal life in Kolkata Thursday, July 5, 2007 | AY
Kolkata, July 4 (ANI): Normal life continues to be hit in Kolkata as about 160 mm of monsoon rains received by the city during the past 24 hours has submerged roads, disrupting normal movement.Though rain abated today, normal life remained paralysed as water did not recede, and many residential colonies, office complexes remained flooded for the second consecutive day.Inhabitants of shanties had to go without food and water, and hundreds of people used lifeboats to move out of low-lying areas, as the weather department warned of more rains."We are facing a lot of problems, neither there is proper food nor proper water. The rickshaw pullers would straight away charge 100 rupees to travel any distance. We have made numerous calls to the electric board to cut off electric supply. A boy has got electrocuted, but they are yet to do that," said Shoaib, a local.Train services were disrupted, most universities postponed examinations and many office-workers took the day off. Schools and colleges remained closed along with hundreds of factories. Government officials said the army has deployed boats to help marooned people. (ANI)
Indian American professor, traces flight of primitive bird Wednesday, July 4, 2007 | AY
An Indian American professor, a graduate of Kolkata's premier Jadavpur University, has recreated the flight plan of an enormous bird that dominated the skies above the Argentine grassy pampas about six million years ago. Using software originally written for helicopters, Sankar Chatterjee and two colleagues of the Museum of Texas Tech University, Lubbock, analysed the aerodynamic secrets of the giant Argentavis bird to reveal how it took off, remained aloft and then landed. With a seven-metre wingspan the giant bird was the size of a Cessna 152 aircraft, had a formidable 20-inch skull and eagle-like beak. The bird was a member of the extinct bird family Teratornithidae, a predatory group of birds related to storks and vultures. However, it was an economical high-performance glider with a turning radius of 100 feet, short enough for it to circle around as it searched the plains of the Angentinian pampas for prey.
Cognizant to spend $200mn in new facilities Tuesday, July 3, 2007 | AY
US-based IT major Cognizant Technologies plans to spend $200 million by 2008-end to build new fully-owned techno-complexes across Chennai, Coimbatore, Hyderabad and Kolkata. The investment will be in phases. In the first phase, the company today announced a $46 million (Rs 188 crore) investment in Kolkata for a techno-complex. The complex will accomodate close to 4,000 employees. This new fully-owned techno-complex is coming up on 20 acres of land in Bantala, a special economic zone designated area. In addition to this facility, Cognizant will continue to lease additional facilities in Kolkata as required to meet its headcount growth requirements.
State to provide solar lighting in Belpahari Monday, July 2, 2007 | AY
The state Power Department will provide solar lighting to school hostels along with residential homes in rural areas of Maoist-hit Belpahari and Nayagram in West Midnapore district. The Power Department will illuminate 20 tribal school hostels along with 2,000 tribal residential houses under the new scheme. This scheme differs from conventional electrification programmes, as households will not be fitted with Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) tubelights. Each house will preferably have two light points in each room, fitted with Light Emitting Diode (LED) installations backed by solar energy. Each LED installation has the illuminating capacity of a standard 40-watt bulb. The installation can run for around eight hours a day, with a life span of 1,00,000 hours. Various companies, including Exide and Gitanjali Solar, will help in installing these lighting sets and the technology is being provided by WBREDA.
Former French PM Rocard takes ill Sunday, July 1, 2007 | AY
Former French prime minister Michel Rocard, who is in Kolkata to attend a programme organised by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), had to undergo a medical check-up in a city hospital on Saturday after he suddenly felt unwell. Rocard, 77, a member of the Socialist Party in France who served as prime minister under former president Francois Mitterrand from 1988 to 1991, later interacted with Assembly Speaker Hasim Abdul Halim among others. The French politician, son of nuclear physicist Yves Rocard, is currently a member of the European Parliament.
Singur shutdown disrupts work at TATA’s car plant project Sunday, July 1, 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)
Naval Chief rules out radiation fear from Nimitz Sunday, July 1, 2007 | AY
Kolkata, June 30 (ANI): Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Suresh Mehta today ruled out any fear of radiations from the US nuclear powered warship USS Nimitz."It is the government of India's job to see that the safety of the people is ensured. There are set procedures for it. These have been followed in this case and there is nothing to worry," Mehta told reporters. Nimitz is to dock in Chennai Port on July 1 and will remain stationed there till July 5. It is one of the world's largest aircraft carriers with 90 fighters and helicopters on board.Water Transport Workers' Federation of India General Secretary T Narendra Rao has warned that even if there was a small radiation from the USS Nimitz, Chennai and its surrounding areas could be affected.The Chennai Port Trust has reportedly made arrangements to face any eventuality in the wake of the ship's proposed visit, including vacating a hospital complex to treat people in case of a nuclear radiation.The Department of Atomic Energy has also sent a consignment of medicines as a contingency measure. (ANI)
