What a toad-do!

Statesman News Service

MALDA, June 30: Perhaps it was raining and sunny at the same time somewhere, for two giant toads were married off in true traditional Hindu style, complete with a lavish celebration at Haridaspur village in Gazole by villagers today. The unusual wedding was a bid to appease the rain god and end the long dry spell. The prospective bride and groom were caught from the village pond by villagers, who did not ask the duo their opinion before marrying them off. The marriage ceremony followed all the Hindu traditions. The bride toad’s foster father, Mr Nirapada Sarkar, even fasted the entire day to maintain authenticity. Wedding songs were sung by the women of the village; they went to the village pond to take an auspicious dip as well. The “chhadnatala” was made following Hindu customs and turmeric paste was applied the happy couple. The bride ven wore vermilion. The father of the bride, Mr Sarkar requested the groom’s foster father, Mr Nityagopal Das, to treat his “daughter” well. Earlier, villagers collected money to meet the expense of the traditional Hindu wedding. Elderly villagers said marriage between two trees and toads was the practice in their village during times of drought. This would appease the rain god and bring showers. This year’s heat wave and receding water level speaks of another drought in the area. The happy toad couple are not the first to be married off in this way; in June last year, a similar marriage was organised at Khochakandar in Habibpur block of this district. Gazole block development officer, Mrs Susmita Bhttacharya, was informed about the wedding, but refused to comment.

AIDS patient not alone , after all

Statesman News Service

MALDA, June 29: While persecution of an AIDS patient is a common phenomenon in rural Bengal, where health officials face an ordeal trying to keep the identification of such persons under cover, the residents of English Bazaar town are setting a welcome precedent by extending a helping hand to an AIDS victim and her nine-month-old son.Members of the Manasa Mandir Committee are playing a prominent role.They have supported both the woman and her son by offering moral and financial support. It was learnt that the woman’s husband, who was a migratory worker, died of AIDS in Malda a few months ago.Doctors said her husband transmitted the deadly virus to her sexuallyDoctors lamented that such a sad thing occured despite the fact that the man worked as a medical assistant in a pharmaceutical shop in New Delhi. The woman, who is at present staying at her in-laws’ house, said: “I am not sure about my fate but I am happy that I received all-round support under such circumstances.“I will be happier if my in-laws, who have extended full support till now, take same care of my son in my absence.”#

New Malda DM takes charge

Statesman News Service

MALDA, June 29: Mr CR Das, the new district magistrate of Malda, assumed charge today, seeking full cooperation from his colleagues so that he could execute his duties efficiently.While handing over the charges to Mr Das, the outgoing DM, Mr Abhijit Choudhuri, today introduced him to all the district officials and briefed him on the flood situation in Malda. Mr Choudhuri said Mr Das is an expert on land and land reforms. He urged all concerned to cooperate with Mr Das and communicate to him any problems related to land and land reforms here. Mr Choudhuri also threw light on the erosion problem of the Ganges and the Mahananda and how the shifting of the rivers’ course was creating land disputes with Jharkhand and Bangladesh.The additional district magistrate (General), Mr BP Barat, has been transferred to the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority.

Youth Congress ultimatum

Statesman News Service

MALDA, June 29: The Malda Youth Congress is planning to launch an agitation against Malda Railway Division officials, demanding the scrapping of the personality test which the candidates have to undergo during recruitment for group D category staff. Mr Narendra Nath Tiwari, Congress leader and the new civic body chief of the English Bazaar Municipality, said today that the agitating candidates had submitted a memorandum to the Malda Divisional Railway manager on this issue on 24 June, demanding cancellation of the ongoing recruitment. Mr Tiwari said the Malda Youth Congress will launch a new agitation if authorities concerned do not scrap the personality test within seven days from the date of the submission of deputation. Youth Congress leaders alleged that it was impossible to examine accurately over 700 answersheets in a single day. The divisional railway manager, Mr R Misra, however, said the entire procedure of conducting the written examination and the publication of its results was perfectly executed. About 780 candidates appeared in the written examination for three Group D posts reserved for the physically handicapped.The standard of examination should have ideally been of Class VIII, but this time tough questions were set in the examination, Mr Tiwari alleged.Mr Tiwari added that a good number of candidates holding Masters’ degree and post-graduate candidates from other states had been enlisted for the personality test this year. Thirty-one physically handicapped candidates had been selected for three Group D posts for the Malda Railway Division. The same recruitment test was cancelled twice earlier following allegations from locals that the recruitment rules framed by the Indian Railways were being violated.

Rs. 45 lakh to farmers for damaged crops

Statesman News Service

MALDA, June 29: The state government has sanctioned Rs 45 lakh to compensate farmers who lost their crops in a hailstorm, a few days before the recently concluded Assembly election. According to the district agriculture department, the hailstorm caused an estimated loss of Rs 12 crore. During an election campaign at Pakuahaat on 5 May, the chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had assured the farmers that they would be provided adequate compensation for their damaged crops. “The farmers will be compensated in kind and not in cash,” Mr G Ahmed, principal agriculture officer, said, adding that requisitions had been placed for 15,000 mini-kits (6 kg each) for pre-kharif paddy seed, 21,000 mini-kits (6 kg each) for aman paddy seeds and 5,000 mini-kits (3 kg each) for high-breed maize cultivation. Mr Ahmed said the Malda farmers have started sunflower cultivation by adopting new, agriculture techniques. Mr Ahmed said the district plant protection officer has been asked to identify at least two areas in Manikchak and Gazole for setting up a bio-village for producing vegetables, using bio- fertilizer and pesticides. After its finalisation, the agriculture department will develop its infrastructure by notifying the area as a bio-village, Mr Ahmed said. #

Malda's silk industry surfaces

Statesman News Service

MALDA, June 28: The state’s smallscale and cottage industries minister, Mr Manab Mukherjee, has decided to develop the handloom industry of Malda by boosting production of high-quality coarse silk yarn.

At a recent meeting with officials of the sericulture department, the minister announced his decision to take up the challenge of producing export quality textile, using coarse silk yarn in Malda.

The minister had said that if Bhagalpur in Bihar could produce export quality fabric by using coarse silk yarn, the Malda silk industry, too, should also give it a try.

Mr Mukherjee was reportedly taken aback when informed that the Bhagalpur traders manufactured high-quality textile by using coarse silk yarn (dupion silk) procured from Malda.

It was learnt that many traders in Malda produced coarse silk to cater to the high demand in the markets of Bhagalpur and Nepal.

A good percentage of silk yarn producers here had shifted from production of fine silk to coarse silk to make more profit.There are a number of weavers from Malda who have joined the handloom sector in Nepal and Bhagalpur.

To boost the local sericulture industry, the deputy director of sericulture in Malda, Mr Bijan Mandal, and his colleagues will soon visit Bhagalpur and thereafter submit a market survey report to the government.

Mr Mandal said: “We can implement the new project through private entrepreneurs who produce other varieties of silk in Kaliachak.”

Mr Mandal said that local traders are interested in producing coarse silk owing to its low production cost.

Citing an example, Mr Mandal said that local producers invest Rs 1,000 for producing four kilogram of fine silk yarn, but to produce six kilogram of coarse silk yarn, they invest only Rs 250.

In Malda, 1,124 MT of silk yarn (including the fine and coarse varieties, motka, among other types) is produced. The target is to produce up to 1,500 MTs of silk yarn in the next three years. #

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EBM chairman sworn in, at last

Statesman News Service

MALDA, June 28: After waiting for nearly a month, Mr Narendra Nath Tiwari of the Congress was sworn in as the new chairman of the English Bazaar Municipality, at a simple function here today. The Director of Local Bodies had sent a letter to the Malda district administration yesterday, instructing it to take the initiative to organise Mr Tiwari’s swearing-in ceremony. The instruction came a day after the Congress, Trinamul Congress and the BJP councillors of the municipality staged a demonstration in front of the district magistrate’s office to protest against the delay in holding the ceremony.The agitating councillors had also burnt the Malda district magistrate, Mr Abhijit Choudhuri, in effigy yesterday to voice their concern. The councillors had threatened to launch an indefinite strike from tomorrow to press the district administration to enable Mr Tiwari to assume office. Even the state minister for municipal affairs, Mr Asok Bhattacharya, discussed the matter at a meeting of all civic body chiefs and executive officers of local bodies in Kolkata yesterday. The Congress councillor of EBM, Mr Ashis Kundu, had raised the matter in the meeting. Mr Tiwari was elected chairman of EBM on 3 June, defeating the CPI-M-backed Independent chairman, Mr NR Ghosh. His swearing-in ceremony had been delayed for unknown reasons. #

Inquiry into CMOH's action

Statesman News Service

MALDA, June 27: An inquiry into allegations against the local chief medical officer, Dr Gopal Sarkar, relating to irregularities in sanctioning licences to pathological laboratories and nursing homes, has created a ripple in the health department here.

The allegations, if proved, would be tantamount to violation of the Clinical Establishment Act, health officials said today.

It was learnt that the violation of norms was one of the 13 complaints lodged against him.

The state health department had assigned the assistant director of health services, Dr SP Basak, to investigate the matter.

The matter came to light from an anonymous letter sent to the state health minister, accusing the CMOH of violating the Act.

Dr Basak, who has reportedly completed his investigation, said before leaving for Kolkata today that he had checked the papers and documents relating to departmental procedures.

“I cannot reveal the results of the inquiry for the time being,” he said.

Officials concerned with the maintenance of departmental procedures said Dr Sarkar had signed in two places on the application form, seeking a licence for opening a clinic.

The officials also said he was not authorised to put a double signature on the licence form, without putting a counter signature.

According to departmental rules, if a pathological lab or a clinical establishment applies for a licence or for the renewal of a licence, the application form first needs to be verified and recommended by officials in the rank of assistant chief medical officer and then forwarded to the CMOH, who is to give his consent on the health department’s behalf.

Dr Basak had also investigated papers pertaining to the purchase of medicines and medical equipment over the last few years.

He had even checked papers related to the purchase of life-saving drugs and their distribution to health centres.

Reportedly, the Malda treasury officer II and other officials had objected to the passing of a bill, amounting to about Rs 1 crore a few months ago because laboratory test reports had not been submitted to the treasury along with the bill.

Despite objections being raised by the treasury officer and other officials of the civil administration, including the Malda zilla parishad, the papers revealed that a large amount of drugs had been purchased and distributed but no papers pertaining to laboratory test reports were found, in view of the patients’ safety.

District officials were allegedly forced to pass the bill, after receiving orders via telephone from higher authorities of the health and finance departments.

The matter was then laid to rest. Dr Sarkar said: “I have extended full cooperation to the investigating officer by providing him all the papers he had asked for.” #

Amusement tax slash urged

Statesman News Service

MALDA, June 26: Members of the Indian Association of Amusement Park and Industries (IAAPI) have urged the state government to slash the amusement tax here, to develop the sector. The IAAPI general secretary, Mr Arijit Sengupta, said they had posted a letter to the chief minister, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, on the issue, which has now been forwarded to the state finance department. At a Press conference here today, Mr Sengupta said: “The state amusement tax is higher than that in states like Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. The government should consider lowering the entertainment tax rate, with a motive to develop the sector, which is an integral part of the tourism industry.” “The state entertainment tax rate is 20 per cent, whereas the tax rate in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu is 10 per cent,” Mr Sengupta said. Mr Ravi Bhatia, IAAPI chairman, eastern region, and its vice-chairman, eastern region, Mr Sanjoy Maheswari, said Maharashtra scrapped the tax five years ago to develop the industry. Mr Sengupta said the last few years have witnessed a record investment of Rs 3,000 crore in the sector. Highlighting the problems created by the high entertainment tax, Mr Sengupta, who is also the director of Nicco Park, said two water parks were closed down at Howrah and Behala recently. Mr Sengupta explained that the maintenance cost of these parks was high as the water had to be treated regularly for public health and hygiene. To follow the set of international standards for the parks’ upkeep, he stressed that it was necessary for the government to slash the entertainment tax. Mr Sengupta said: “IAAPI members had visited Malda’s water park. Mr Ranjan Pasak and others are satisfied with its maintenance. It was the first park to be set up in this district.” He said that soon, another water park will come up in the Siliguri region.

Probe into power theft begins

Statesman News Service

MALDA, June 26: Senior officials of the West Bengal State Electricity Board, Malda, have started an inquiry into allegations of power theft against some WBSEB workers here. It has been alleged that a group of Intuc-backed WBSEB workers is involved in the power theft racket, as a result of which the WBSEB has been incurring huge financial losses for the past few years. The divisional engineer of WBSEB, Malda, Mr AK Ghosh, said: “We have completed the spot inquiry in four places after receiving the complaints.” To stop the power theft, WBSEB officials have formed a vigilance team for monitoring the areas, besides formulating policies to curb the menace. WBSEB officials provided meters to many consumers who run their business on the pavements of PWD land. Officially, no one is entitled to a meter without having a permanent building or a plot. But the SEB officials had to provide a meter to them just to collect revenue when they started to avail of power illegally. A senior engineer said the present system is critical and it would be difficult to provide a power connection and a meter in a simple manner. Sources said WBSEB workers backed the consumers for illegal power use. So no one complained against them. It was reportedly found that a domestic building had been converted into a multi-storeyed hotel at 320 More here, but the electricity bill is still being issued in the name of the old owner of the house. As a result, the present hotel owner can easily evade Rs 1 lakh a month, by paying just Rs 30,200 as security deposit to the WBSEB. Similarly, the accused WBSEB workers had showed that another leading hotel consumes 3.7 KW of electricity, whereas the hotel actually consumes 20 KW of electricity. A meter, earlier in the name of an ice factory owner, was transferred illegally in the name of a nursing home owner at Hyderpur in English Bazaar town. The ice factory owner had died a few years back. There are plenty of instances where WBSEB workers were found to be hand in glove with illegal consumers. Mr Ghosh said: “There are some procedural mistakes. We have completed the initial investigation into the allegations and have decided to install a static meter to monitor proper power consumption.”

Delay in EBM chief's swearing-in protested

Statesman News Service

MALDA, June 26: The Congress, Trinamul Congress and the BJP councillors of English Bazaar Municipality today staged a demonstration in front of the district magistrate’s office here to protest against the delay in the swearing-in ceremony of the new civic body chief of the Congress, Mr Narendra Nath Tiwari. The agitating councillors later burnt the Malda district magistrate, Mr Abhijit Choudhuri, in effigy, alleging that the district magistrate had been intentionally delaying the swearing-in ceremony.They claimed that the deadlock has hampered the functioning of the civic body. The councillors, who have been protesting since last Saturday, turned violent today. They alleged that the DM did not want the new board to take charge.After a High Court order, the district administration had convened a meeting on 3 June to elect the new chairman. The move was necessitated after a no-confidence motion was passed against the then CPI-M-led board chairman. Of the 25 members of the board, 14 voted in favour of the no-confidence motion against the CPI-M chairman, thereby ousting him and the previous board from power. Mr Tiwari was then elected the new chairman of the civic body.But since he has not yet assumed office, he is not in a position to exercise his powers.Despite repeated requests by the 14 councillors, the district magistrate allegedly refuses to organise the swearing in of Mr Tiwari, citing “technical” reasons. Due to the impasse, the board is not in a position to pay its permanent and casual workers.Justifying the delay in the swearing-in ceremony, Mr Choudhuri said: “The process has been delayed for two reasons. First, the gazette notification to this effect has not yet been issued and, second, an earlier case is pending in the High Court.” The district magistrate added: “I wrote to the director of local bodies on 13 June, seeking his consent regarding the oath- taking ceremony.“The director has not responded yet. My hands are tied under the present circumstances. I am also a government servant. I cannot do anything until I get a nod from the authorities concerned.” Regarding the councillors’ allegation that he had been intentionally delaying the swearing-in ceremony, the district magistrate said the allegation was baseless.

Drive to eradicate wild polio virus

Statesman News Service

MALDA, June 25: After reported detection of the wild polio virus in a patient at Monirampur village in the neighbouring Jharkhand, health authorities today launched a special polio immunisation drive in Malda and Murshidabad. The objective of this special vaccination drive is to eradicate the deadly wild polio virus (P-1) from this area, the officials said. According to officials, the entire region may be affected by poliomyelitis if necessary steps are not taken immediately. The deadly virus was found in the body of a three-year-old boy at Minirumpur village in Jharkhand on 7 May. The victim is now under the supervision of the health authorities, officials said. The three-year-old boy, Sakil Ahmed, was left out of the pulse polio routine programme. Local authorities did not administer a single drop of pulse polio to him in the last three years, Dr Gopal Chandra Sarkar, chief medical officer of Malda, said. Parents of Sakil were also reluctant to attend the routine immunisation camps, Dr Sarkar said.Both the Centre and the state government faced difficulties in implementing the pulse polio immunisation programme in many resistance pockets of West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar and other states, where locals even attacked the health workers based on their misconceptions about pulse polio drops.

Cropping problems

Statesman News Service

MALDA, June 23: Border Security Force officials have urged the Malda district administration to allow farmers to trim sugarcane and jute along the porous Indo-Bangladesh border, to maintain border vigil. At a meeting with Malda district administration officials yesterday, BSF personnel said the crops, cultivated close to the barbed wire fencing, are making it difficult for border guards to monitor border activities. It also results in a security threat in specific areas, they said. BSF officials said jute and sugarcane cover the fencing and border guards find it difficult to watch the fence from border roads and towers. In yesterday’s meeting, MLAs representing border areas were also present. The meeting was called to resolve the dispute between the police and the border guards over seizure of cattle. The matter pertaining to area distribution for cattle seizure was discussed between the two sides, officials said. A senior district administration official said that to resolve the present stalemate between the BSF and the cattle owners, a block-level monitoring committee, comprising BDOs, ICs, MLAs, and COs of BSF, would be formed soon. The Malda SP, Mr DK Mondal, said BSF officials were requested to inform the police station concerned before conducting any raid on border areas. “This decision has been taken to maintain law and order in border villages”, Mr DK Mondal, Malda SP, said. To sort out the problem of having to show identity cards before crossing a fencing gate for cultivation on Indian land, the respective block development officers will issue identity cards to those who are below 18 and do not possess voter identity cards, officials said. CPI-M leaders are adamant mton preventing BSF officials from seizing cattle used for domestic or cultivation purpose along the India-Bangladesh border in Malda. Yesterday’s meeting was the second between the two sides, after the recent clash between villagers and the BSF at Kaliachak bus stand a few days ago, over cattle smuggling. Officials said that within eight kilometres of the border line, BSF personnel can seize cattle, but before conducting any raid, they should inform the police station concerned, in advance. #

Pic collected from site via Google .

TB stalks bidi-binders

Statesman News Service

MALDA, June 23: Highlighting the plight of bidi-binders in Malda at a recently held convention here, CPI-backed trade union leaders said nearly 66,000 child bidi-binders have been suffering from tuberculosis and malnutrition problems. The CPI-backed trade union leaders said the affected are unable to seek medical treatment due to poverty. They demanded that three medical centres be set up for them in Malda. The leaders complained that the Welfare Centre at Kaliachak was inadequate for the treatment of all bidi-binders. Senior CPI leader and MP Mr Gurudas Dasgupta attended the convention. The AITUC leader, Mr Malay Das, said: “Though the minimum wages fixed in the recent tripartite contract was Rs 40.80 against every 1,000 bidi-binding, bidi-binders were still being paid a niggardly amount. The monitoring committee has failed to solve the wage problem. The workers do not protest because they fear losing their jobs.” Mr Dasgupta said: “A rapport with ministers cannot shield those who deprive workers of their wages.” Though Mr Dasgupta did not name anybody, his speech was targeted at Md Mustak Hossain, proprietor of Pataka Bidi, who owns the biggest bidi-making units in Malda and Murshidabad and is on good terms with the chief minister, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. Mr Dasgupta said: “ Almost everywhere in the country, bidi workers are exploited either by factory owners or contractors. Even the Union minister, Mr Praful Patel, is in favour of protecting bidi factory owners’ interests.” Other speakers at the forum said that of the two-lakh bidi workers in the district, only half have been brought under the purview of the Provident Fund scheme. But in many cases, bidi-factory owners duped workers by illegally withdrawing Provident Fund money for their vested interests. Leaders speaking at the forum has demanded the inclusion of all bidi-workers under the PF scheme along with the setting up of a PF office in the district. Mr Dasgupta warned entrepreneurs willing to invest in the state. He said: “We are not against capitalists but we resist jobless growth. Workers’ interest should be upheld at any cost.”

IOC bottling plant reopens

MALDA, June 23: The IOC bottling plant, closed recently in the wake of labour trouble, reopened today after a tripartite meeting between the IOC authorities, contractors and protesting trade unions succeeded in temporarily resolving the dispute yesterday. Ceasework for the past two weeks at the IOC bottling plant by the Citu-led trade union forced the IOC authorities to issue a closure notice a few days back to avoid any untoward incident. Labourers had demanded a wage hike and enrolment of more labourers in the plant to reduce work pressure at the unit. The additional district magistrate of Malda, Mr BP Barat, said the workers resumed work today. He hoped that with the reopening of the plant, the present crisis of LPG cylinders in the market would end. Mr Barat added they plan to convene another meeting by 15 July. SNS

Rustler shot dead

Statesman News Service

MALDA, June 21: A gunbattle ensued between Border Security Force and Bangladesh Rifles personnel last night when a Bangladeshi cattle smuggler tried to cross the Indo-Bangladesh border. The incident took place near Mahadipur border outpost in Malda’s English Bazaar police station area, an officer said. Malda’s additional SP said the Bangladeshi cattle smuggler, Jakir Hossain (35), was shot dead in the firing and a mobile phone and 29 heads of cattle that he had in two were seized . Officials said that the Border Security Force has stepped up vigilance along the Indo-Bangladesh border following the “unprovoked” firing incident last night. Bangladesh government too is looking into the matter following a complaint lodged by the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, officials informed.#

Bhagirathi , Pagla drown in misery

Statesman News Service

MALDA, June 20: There seem to be no takers for de-silting projects in the two tributaries of the Ganges ~ the Bhagirathi and the Pagla in Malda. It was Mr Samar Roy, the former English Bazaar MLA of the CPI-M, who put across the proposal to de-silt the Bhagirati and the Pagla. Later, even the late Congress stalwart, ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury, expressed his happiness with the initiative. But now, nobody seems enthusiastic enough to implement the project. It was learnt that Mr Roy took up the river-linking project that was supposed to connect the Bhagirathi, Kalindi and Pagla with the Ganges, with the motive of developing the rural economy and setting up a water project for irrigation and drinking purposes. Ghani Khan Choudhury, who was then the minister for state irrigation and waterways, had emphasised the gravity of the river silting problem, specially in the Bhagirati. The late Congress veteran leader talked about his pet project ~ the de-silting of rivers that failed to materialise as planned. But owing to flood prevention measures and the construction of long embankments on the left side of the Ganges river, the tidal currents from the tributaries Pagla, Bhagirathi and Kalindi have been cut off at several places. This has resulted in the three tributaries ~ Pagla, Bhagirathi and Kalindi ~ getting silted. The stagnant water in these tributaries has finally been polluted and its bank has been encroached upon by the locals. Mr Samar Roy stated that his project will bring back the natural flow of water from the Ganges into the Bhagirathi, Pagla and Kalindi for agri-irrigation and other projects. But the natural link between the Ganges and its tributary Pagla have been cut off by the Farraka Barrage Project (FBP) this year to implement anti-flood measures and there is no plan to open the closed mouth of the Bhagirathi and Kalindi in the near future.

Cops yet to trace violent CPM, Congress supporters

Statesman News Service

MALDA, June 20: Despite several raids, police have so far not been able to arrest those involved in the clash that took place between Congress and CPI-M supporters in Kasimnagar village, in Malda’s Kaliachak police station area, on 16 June. The Congress supporters allegedly set fire to the homes of six CPI-M supporters after a Congress supporter had been shot at in broad daylight. Such clashes between the Congress and the CPI-M are apparently a common feature in the region and a police camp had been set up to prevent them from occurring. Police say that after the latest altercation, male members of both the parties have fled their homes. Some police officers are reportedly hesitant to arrest female members of the rival groups in this connection. Mr D Boral, Additional SP of Malda, said: “Nobody has been arrested in connection with the CPI-M and Congress clash yet but we are confident of apprehending the accused soon.” Malda SP, Mr DK Mondal, said that the entire Kaliachak police station area, close to the Indo-Bangla border, was a criminals’ den. Many criminals living here are actively involved in inter-state crime rackets, illegal arms dealings and smuggling across the Indo-Bangla border, he said.

AIDS orphans seek aid

Statesman News Service

MALDA, June 19: Sangita Mushahari (17) and her younger brother, Manas Mushahari, whose parents died of AIDS a few years back want to continue their studies with the financial support of the government.

The duo had to take refuge in their maternal grandmother’s house in English Bazaar town after the death of their parents.

Sangita had discontinued her study in 2004 after passing the Madhyamik examination due to the death of her father.

The duo’s father, Manik Chandra Mushahari, a retired border guard personnel, died in Assam on 9 June 2004 at the age of 40.

Their mother, Juthika Mushahari, died on 15 March 2005, in Malda district hospital due to AIDS.

After destiny’s cruel hands snatched the lives of their parents, the duo became orphans and they live with their 60-year-old grand mother, Ms Radharani Karmakar, a widow.

Ms Radharani, a resident of English Bazaar, gets Rs 1800 as family pension. She finds it difficult to even feed her grand children with the money she gets per month. They have no money to study.

Sangita said: “We have to live without food for many days after the death of our parents owing to AIDS.”

She added: “After the expiry of my father, the government had granted a family pension to my mother. She received the amount just for a few months before she also died of the killer disease. After our mother’s death, the government stopped providing the family pension to us. I wish to continue my education and to look after my brother if the government grants family pension in our names. The BSF authorities have so far not responded to our request, despite several reminders from us.”

Dr Binay Bhusan Sen, a former gynoecologist of a government hospital here who is also a Rotarian, said: “AIDS not only ruins a family but also jeopardises the development of society. “The death of the Mushahari couple has now left their children in a state of insecurity. We have tested the blood samples of Sangita, Manas and their older married sister but no AIDS virus was found in them.”

Dr Sen added: “She (Sangita) tried to get away from the disease by setting all the medical documents of her mother on fire.”

Dr Subrata De, deputy chief medical officer of health (II), said: “The deadly disease has spread in this region via thousands of migrant labourers. Most of the pregnant women have abortions with the help of quacks in rural areas.”

Dr Gopal Chandra Sarkar, chief medical officer of health, said: “We find more HIV patients among pregnant women. An awareness campaign should be launched in the red light areas of the region to combat the disease.” #

Govt takes kitchen-shed stock

Statesman News Service

MALDA, June 19: The state government has asked all districts to prepare a list of primary schools which do not have a kitchen shed for mid-day meal preparation and distribution, in order to prepare a report for the Union human resources development ministry. The mid-day meal programme had been introduced under the Sarbo Shiksha Abhijan project, with a view to reducing the dropout rate. The state government wants to assess the situation to ensure the distribution of cooked food to primary school students, a district official said. Instead of distributing rice to primary school students, as was the practice earlier, the district administration here is trying to provide cooked food to students. The project has already been introduced in most primary schools here, but a lack of kitchen sheds has forced the members of the women’s wing of self-help groups, assigned to the cooking and distribution of the food, to use classrooms to carry out the job. Primary school authorities who do not have sufficient number of teachers, are facing problems in executing the mid-day meal programme as well. Earlier, the district administration had faced irregularities in the distribution of the mid-day meal due to unscrupulous distributors and alleged negligence by the government officials concerned. The administration had lodged an FIR against two distributors for mis-utilising the rice meant for the mid-day meal project. This had hampered the programme in Kaliachak and Ratua blocks, the additional district magistrate informed.

Meet today to ease labour unrest at IOC plant

Statesman News Service

MALDA, June 18: The Central Labour Commission has convened a meeting in Kolkata tomorrow to sort out the problem of labour unrest at a bottling plant of Indian Oil Corporation in Malda. The CITU-led labour union has called a cease- work over the past few days demanding an increment for the workers and recruitment of more labourers into the plant. Fearing law-and-order problem, the IOC authorities had closed down the plant on 14 June. Owing to the closure of the bottling plant, the IOC authorities find it difficult to supply LPG cylinders not only in Malda, but in other two districts ~ North Dinajpur and South Dinajpur ~ as well. LPG dealers fear that if the plant remains closed for more days, there would be an acute crisis of LPG cylinders in the region. The Malda additional district magistrate, Mr Bhabani Prasad Barat, said: “The administration is watching the situation. If the labour commission fails to sort out the problem, we will step in to end the deadlock.” Tomorrow’s meeting in Kolkata will be held between the management of the IOC, contractors and union leaders. The plant-in-charge of the closed bottling plant of the IOC, Mr S Mukherjee, said they were not in a position to increase the wages before the expiry of the existing agreement with the contractors. The labourers are not directly related to the IOC bottling plant as they work under the contractors. The CITU-led labour organisation has said the present wage structure for was not at all acceptable.

Clash between CPM, Congress supporters

Statesman News Service

MALDA, June 16: A clash broke out between Congress and CPI-M supporters at Kasimnagar in Malda’s Kaliachak area today after a Congress leader, Mr Barkat Ali, was shot at allegedly by CPI-M-backed ruffians in broad daylight. Furious Congress supporters allegedly set six houses of CPI-M supporters on fire at Kasimgar. Mr Ali, who sustained serious injury in the attack, is being treated at Malda district hospital, police said. A police contingent led by Malda SP, Mr DK Mondal rushed to Kasimnagar when the situation turned violent. Within an hour, fire tenders reached the spot to douse the flames. But by then, the six houses had been completely gutted. A temporary police camp has been set up at Kasimnagar to defuse tension. CPI-M leaders, however, said the clash was a “family” affair. “It is wrong to call it a political clash,” a senior CPI-M leader said. Congress leaders have blamed the CPI-M for today’s clash. “They are flexing their muscles against us,” said a local Congress leader. He condemned today’s attack on Mr Ali. The area where the incident occurred is a stronghold of CPI-M leader, Mr Abdur Rouf. A few years back, some of Mr Rouf’s supporters revolted against him. Later, the breakaway CPI-M leaders captured power at local gram panchayat by ousting the CPI-M. After this, clashes between the Congress and the CPI-M activists have been commonplace in the area.

Clash after BSF seizes cattle

Statesman News Service

MALDA, June 13: There was a clash between locals and BSF jawans today after they seized cattle at Kaliachak town in Malda. Five people, including two BSF jawans, were injured and some cattle killed. A mob allegedly challenged the jawans while they were trying to seize the cattle. A clash ensued and the BSF jawans had to fire in the air to disperse the mob. The BSF conducted a raid this morning at Kaliachak after getting information that cattle by the dozens had reached the town from different places by truck to be smuggled to Bangladesh. Seven calves were killed inside the vehicles during the clash, police said. Locals later staged a roadblock on the national highway, demanding punishment for the jawans for their alleged highhandedness. The Malda SDO, Mr Prassana Kumar Mandal, rushed to the spot with additional police force, to lift the roadblock. The SDO later held a tripartite meeting at the Kaliachak police station with BSF officials, senior political leaders and locals to bring the situation under control. The Malda SP, Mr DK Mondal, expressed his concern over the incident and lambasted the BSF jawans for seizing cattle from the national highway illegally. “The BSF should not seize domestic cattle from national highways. They can seize cattle only when they cross the border,” the SP said. BSF officers, however, said they seized the cattle because they were being smuggled. “We can raid any area within 15 km from the border line,” he said. When the Malda district administration requested the BSF to check border smuggling at a coordination meeting here recently, the BSF had proposed that the civil administration ask the police to seize the cattle en route to the Bangladesh border. A senior BSF officer alleged that since police were reluctant to seize cattle, they had to act today to stop the illegal trade. There is a misunderstanding between the BSF and the district administration over cattle smuggling. As a result, the menace persists in the region. Members of the district monitoring committee will hold a meeting with BSF officials tomorrow to chalk out a strategy on how to deal with cattle smuggling, officials said here today.

FBP asked to take care of Bhutni Diara

Statesman News Service

MALDA, June 12: Officials of the state irrigation department, Malda division, have approached the Farakka Barrage Project (FBP), a Central government unit, to take up anti-erosion work on Bhutni Diara island under Manikchak block. The executive engineer of Malda, Mr Soumen Misra, recently sent a letter to the superintendent engineer, north central circle of the state irrigation department, urging him to request the FBP authorities to take up the matter soon. Sources said that state irrigation officials would approach the FBP for anti-erosion work at Bhutni Diara to protect its bank line from the fury of the Ganges this year. Over 55 hectares of the island were eroded last year and the Malda irrigation department, with financial help from the Malda Zilla Parishad, had carried out temporary, anti-erosion work there to save its circuit embankment from the floods.This year, the department has approached the FBP to carry out anti-erosion work because the Bhutni Diara island is now under the FBP’s jurisdiction. Mr Misra said: “We will look after the circuit embankment at Bhutni Diara. There is also a vulnerable point at North-west of South Chandipur area where the distance between the Ganges and the circuit embankment is just 200 metres.” There is also a need to strengthen the circuit embankment in Bhutni Diara for flood prevention and construction of a road atop the circuit embankment, Mr Misra added. The FBP engineers are busy with anti-erosion work being carried out on the left bank of the Ganges in the Kaliachak II block, identified as most vulnerable and erosion-prone. At least Rs 14 crore has been allotted for this project. There is still doubt as to how the engineers of the FBP would manage time and funds for the protection of the bank line of the Bhutni Diara in Manikchak before the onslaught of the high floods.

Power eludes EB civic chief

Statesman News Service

MALDA, June 12: The new civic body chief of English Bazaar Municipality and a Congress leader, Mr Narendra Nath Tiwari, has expressed his helplessness in pacifying casual workers of the municipality who have threatened to launch a stir if the authorities fail to pay them on time. Mr Tiwari described himself as an “idle chairman” as he sits in his chair without any authority. “I am not in a position to take any decision in the absence of a nod from the directorate of local bodies (DLB). Without taking an oath, I am a handicapped chairman and it is difficult for me to discharge my duties towards the people,” Mr Tiwari said. The new civic board has not been able to make last month’s payment to casual workers engaged in cleaning drains, roads and maintenance of street lights, as it does not have the authority to do so, Mr Tiwari said. He said DLB officials told him that the oath-taking ceremony would be completed by Monday, but so far no initiative has been taken by the district administration. A senior official of the Malda administration, however, said that the DLB has taken up the matter and that Mr Tiwari will formally be sworn in as chairman soon. “Without the DLB’s consent, we cannot conduct an oath-taking ceremony. The ADM (development) has contacted the DLB and a decision will be taken soon. We have sent all resolutions to the DLB,” the official said. After retaining power of the EBM on 3 June, the Congress and Trinamul leaders met the SDO and requested him to conduct an oath-taking ceremony, but the officials allegedly turned down their plea based on the Municipal Act.

Inferior saline bottles in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, June 12: The Malda CMOH, Dr Gopal Sarkar, has instructed the officials of all health centres in the district to withdraw saline bottles, supplied by the district headquarters, after the saline bottles were found to be of inferior quality which may affect the patients, officials said today.This decision was taken after the CMOH received complaints from the medical officer of a health centre in Harishchandrapur block yesterday. The medical officer had reported to the CMOH that after injecting saline, they found rigor symptoms in patients.“We bought 5,000 bottles from a firm approved by the state-run central medical store. The expiry date was 2008. But since the bottles are now in question, we have ordered the officials concerned to stop their use with immediate effect,” Dr Sarkar said. Dr Sarkar added that they have brought the matter to the notice of departmental authorities, besides requesting the manufacturing firm to immediately replace the saline bottles. Some medical officials alleged that without sample testing, even life saving drugs were being supplied to the rural hospitals of the district.

Cell set up to monitor floods

Statesman News Service

MALDA, June 11: After torrential rain in the upper catchment of the Ganges, the Malda irrigation department set up a flood prevention cell yesterday to monitor the rising water levels in the three main rivers of the district as part of the flood prevention measure in the region. The flood prevention cell will monitor the water level in the rivers till the end of September, officials said. Irrigation department officials said upper catchment areas such as Patna, Gaya and Nalanda received heavy rain in the past two days. As a result, the Ganges’ water level at the Manikchak Ghat will gradually rise in the next two days. Irrigation engineers said the first flood may not affect the bank line and the ongoing anti-erosion work. But a second spell, particularly by the end of June-July, may wreak havoc in the region. Following heavy rain in Bihar and Jharkhand, the Ganges will drain out the accumulated rain water upstream and downstream in South Bengal.It was learnt that there is no fear of floods at present. The Falgu and Ajoy rivers will receive rain waters at Gaya, which will flow into the Ganges through the Bhagirathi downstream.The Sone will receive rain water at Nalanda and in turn discharge it into the Ganges in the upstream region of the district. Reportedly, the Malda administration is worried about the Ganges getting flooded because no major anti-flood work was initiated on its left bank this year. Irrigation department officials are, however, confident that up to 25.30 metres of water-level in the rivers can be tackled to prevent floods by implementing anti-flood protection measures in the Kaliachak II area.

50,000 ration cards await nod

Statesman News Service

MALDA, June 11: Nearly 50,000 ration card applications are awaiting the green signal from the authorities concerned here since January.While 50 per cent of the applications are allegedly lying with the district authorities of the food and supplies department, the rest are with the sub-divisional controller of food and supplies department. Unable to cope up with the pressure from ration card applicants, employees of the association of food and supplies department recently submitted a deputation to the district food controller.The delay in the issuance of ration cards is causing problems to new applicants from the seven blocks adjoining the Indo-Bangla border, who do not possess individual ration cards. In areas within 15 km of the border, the district magistrate is the sole authority for issuing new ration cards.It is only after receiving final approval from the DM’s offi ce that the sub-divisional food controller can issue new ration cards.The system of screening applications for ration cards is also different in the border areas of the district. Before 1999, many Bangladeshis had succeeded in acquiring ration cards for themselves in these border areas.The separate process of screening ration cards in the Indo-Bangla border regions was adopted to curb the malpractice.

Blast in Malda bar

Statesman News Service

MALDA, June 9: A powerful blast rocked a bar-cum-restaurant near Rathbari in English Bazaar town late last night, triggering panic in the area. There was, however, no report of any casualty as the blast occurred around 1.30 a.m. after the bar was closed. Police have not ruled out the possibility of the involvement of militant outfits in the blast. An expert team would probe the nature of the blast, police said. Although there was no casualty, the bar was badly damaged due to the explosion, said Malda SP Mr DK Mondal who rushed to the spot this morning. “The glass doors and windows got shattered in the blast and a part of the wall in the bar-room has come down,” he said. After hearing the loud sound of the blast, people came out of their houses in panic. Eyewitnesses said they saw a temporary glow of fire coming out of the bar after the powerful explosion. Suspecting the involvement of militants in the blast, a police team from Rathbari rushed to the spot immediately after the incident. Later, the Malda SP also inspected the site. The owners of the bar-cum-restaurant and the landlord of the building from where the bar functions, are being thoroughly interrogated by the police. Police, however, have not yet been able to achieve any breakthrough yet. When asked about the nature of the blast, Mr Mondal said: “It could either be accidental or planned. The blast probably occurred due to pressure in the airtight room of the bar where alcohol was kept. Since the investigation is at a preliminary stage, we cannot make a definite comment. We have sought the help of experts to ascertain the cause of the blast.”

Cloud over chamber poll

Statesman News Service

MALDA, June 9: The proposed election to form the new body of the Malda Merchants’ Chamber of Commerce (MMCC), scheduled for tomorrow, has become uncertain following a lower court order, MMCC members said today. Though the ruling MMCC board members are still optimistic about tomorrow’s election, the rebel group claims the MMCC election has been postponed due to the lower court’s order. The rebel group leaders said they have managed to get a stay order from the Malda Court on grounds of revising it’s voters’ list. A tough fight is on the cards between the ruling members of MMCC on the issue of conducting routine election this year.

Clash over patients's death in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, June 9: The death of a patient at a private nursing home in the English Bazaar town last night led to a clash between the locals who blamed the doctors for negligence and police. The Malda SP, Mr Dilip Kumar Mondal, finally apologised to appease the mob and bring the situation under control. Mr Mondal said that the altercation arose after agitated neighbours of a female patient who died after giving birth to a child assembled at the private nursing home last night. As per the statement of the attending doctors with the police, the patient died owing to heavy bleeding after the operation. The new-born was declared normal and healthy. Mr Mondal said that despite supplying two bottles of blood in the patient’s body, the profuse bleeding continued, as the blood would not clot. The SP said that on hearing the death news, angry neighbours of the patient started an agitation alleging doctors’ negligence. In order to avoid any untoward incident, the inspector-in-charge of English Bazaar rushed to the spot and conducted a lathi-charge to disperse the mob.

Malda faces erosion threat

Statesman News Service

MALDA, June 8: A senior member of the Central Water Commission, Mr SK Das, has allegedly expressed his dissatisfaction over the anti-erosion work being carried out by the Farakka Barage Project at Panchanandapur in Malda, an irrigation official said today. It was learnt that Mr Das visited the site of the anti-erosion work with FBP officials a few days back to inspect the 1.5 km long stretch along the left bank of the Ganges, identified as vulnerable. Expressing his dissatisfaction Mr Das said it was insufficient to stem erosion in case of a major flood in June. He further said that completion of the anti-erosion work would not be possible within 15 June, the official said. Local experts said that early monsoons might act as a hindrance to the timely completion of the anti-erosion project this year. A senior official of the state irrigation department said: “FBP authorities were instructed to construct the “apron” of the boulder-pitching work up to a height of 60 metres but have constructed it only up 20 metres to finish the work before flood.” The inadequate anti-erosion work is worrying the villagers too. “Kakribandha Jhobona”, the biggest gram panchayat of Kaliachak II block got completely eroded away in 1999 due to a severe erosion of the Ganges. A senior engineer of the state irrigation department said: “Due to erosion on the left bank of the Ganges new patches of land are coming up on the western side. But vast stretches of land at Panchanandapur, Bangitola and other gram panchayats in Kaliachak II block may be gobbled up due to severe erosion in the region.” The official pointing out the present configuration on the left bank of the Ganges said that the five-kilometre stretch from Khaskol at English Bazaar to Panchanandapur at Kaliachak II has been eroded away into a sharp concave shape. The stretch was identified as vulnerable by the Central apex body few years back. A FBP report pointed out that the water-flow concentration coupled with high velocity and high discharge rate along the left bank was the chief cause of erosion and formation of a big shoal on the right side of the Ganges. The state and Central engineers stated that the shoal has obstructed water movement of the Ganges here. The river thus carved out its own way by eroding away crop lands, schools and markets on the left bank year after year. As per official report of the Malda irrigation department, the ever-increasing width of the 17-km long shoal is two kilometres. This establishes that the Ganges has shifted two kilometres from right to the left on the eastern side. Interestingly, the average width of the Ganges is 2.5 km as per the Farakka Barrage. But the width of the Ganges in this zone is more than 10 kilometres comprising a number of shoals in the mid-Ganges. Villagers said that the recent erosion of the Ganges at Chetrutola on the left bank in Panchanandapur was due to a “wave dash”. They believe it is a signal for severe erosion in this zone this year.

Parties gearing up for Malda by-poll

Statesman News Service

MALDA, June 8: As the date for the Malda Lok Sabha by-poll is likely to be announced soon, political parties here have started chalking out their strategies.The CPI-M is planning to attack the Congress for its “unholy alliance” with the Trinamul Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party in Malda. The party is likely to unnerve the Congress, by accusing it of compromising with anything for political gains. “While the Congress is leading the UPA government at the Centre with LF support just to prevent the BJP and its ally, the Trinamul Congress, from coming to power, the Malda Congress leaders have joined hands with the BJP and the TMC to form the Malda Zilla Parishad and the English Bazaar municipal boards”, Mr Ambar Mitra, a senior CPI-M leader, said. “We will take on the Congress in the by-poll, by exposing their real face,” Mr Mitra said. Mr Goutam Chakraborty and Mr Narendra Nath Tiwari of the Congress have formed the Malda Zilla Parishad and the English Bazaar municipal boards respectively, with the support of the TMC and the BJP. The LF leaders, ousted from power at the English Bazaar Municipality, have started circulating leaflets here, terming the Congress an “opportunistic” party. The leaflet read: “Leaving the path of secularism, the Malda Congress, in its narrow political interests, has chosen the opportunistic way of politics and formed local boards with the support of the BJP and the Trinamul.” As ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury is not in the picture, the CPI-M leaders are hoping to bag the Malda seat this year. The seat has been under the control of the Congress since 1980. The state parliamentary affairs minister, Mr Sailen Sarkar, would contest the Malda by-poll as a CPI-M candidate this year. He has already started holding meetings with the party workers here. Mr Sarkar also met former Malda MP, Mr Dinesh Joardar recently to seek his suggestion about facing the Congress in the ensuing by-poll.

Indo-Bangla ministerial visit postponed

Statesman News Service

MALDA, June 7: The scheduled aerial visit of Union minister for water resources, Mr Saifuddin Soz and his Bangladeshi counterpart, Major (Retired) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, to the Indo-Bangla border areas in Malda, North Dinajpur and South Dinajpur districts on Friday has been postponed, said an irrigation official here today.The official said that the main motive behind the high-level meeting was to resolve territorial dispute between the two countries pertaining to certain rivers that regularly changed course. This in turn created problems in maintaining the zero-line of the two countries. BSF sources said that officials of the Joint River Commission from both the countries had discussed the matter in New Delhi. State irrigation officials said they would soon finalise the itinerary of both ministers.

EBM deadlock resolved

Statesman News Service

MALDA, June 7: The new English Bazaar Municipality chairman, Mr Narendra Nath Tiwari, finally managed to solve the EBM deadlock today after he announced that the present board would appoint 73 casual workers as permanent staff as per the former chairman’s order. He also agreed to promote a number of staff working with the EBM. For the last two days, the CPI-M-backed employees’ union were agitating against the decision of the new EBM chairman, Mr Narendra Nath Tewari, who had cancelled an appointment order for 73 casual workers, issued by the former chairman of the board.The agitating union members alleged that the cancellation order was passed on the basis of a government report rather than on a resolution adopted at the board of councillors’ meeting. On the other hand, it was learnt that the new chairman, who joined office on 5 June, without taking an oath, had cancelled the appointment order as it lacked the approval of the BOC. “I received an undertaking from the employees’ union, which the CPI-M backed and another which is non-Left. We informed both that the decision would be taken after a meeting of the board of councillors soon,” Mr Tiwari said. The new EBM chairman alleged that the administration was reluctant to arrange the oath-taking programme to prevent him from efficiently executing his job in the civic body. Mr Tiwai said: “I discussed the matter with the SDO. He said that without any gazette notification from the government, he cannot arrange the oath-taking ceremony.” Sources revealed that it would take some time before the government published a gazette notification after the ongoing scurry for municipal election in the state.

BJP plans to feild Karmamar for Malda by-poll

Statesman News Service

MALDA, June 6: Malda BJP leaders are planning to nominate Mr Adhir Karmakar, the former BJP district president in Malda, for the Malda Lok Sabha by-poll, party sources said. Malda BJP district committee leaders have sent the proposal to the state committee and are reportedly waiting for its approval on Mr Karmakar’s nomination. The district BJP president, Mr Dinesh Basak, said that they had demanded that a local BJP leader contest in the Malda by-poll and the district leaders were also adamant on this issue. Mr Basak explained that earlier the state had nominated candidates from the state-level for the by-poll but they could not fetch good results against the late Congress stalwart, ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury. Considering the population of the Malda parliamentary area that comprises the seven Assembly segments, the state had nominated Mr Majaffar Khan twice and Mr Badsha Alam, in Malda.

EB civic union starts agitation

Statesman News Service

MALDA, June 6: After coming to power in the English Bazaar Municipality, the Congress, BJP Party and Trinamul Congress councillors are facing a deadlock, owing to an agitation launched by the CPI-M backed employees’ union and their leaders yesterday. The CPI-M backed employees’ union of the EBM initated an agitation for an indefinite period, starting today, to protest against the cancellation order issued against the appointment of 73 casual staff.The local CPI-M leaders, who have an upperhand in this movement, have even circulated leaflets after losing the post of the EBM’s chairman, owing to a no-confidence motion called by the then Opposition. It was learnt that the outgoing chairman, Mr Nihar Ranjan Ghosh, had issued the appointment order for 73 casual staffs, who had been working in the conservancy, water and electricity departments for a long time. The appointment, however, was cancelled yesterday by the new chairman, Mr Narendra Nath Tiwari. At noon today, the casual workers, led by the leaders of the employees’ union, organised a protest against the new chairman’s decision. Mr Tewari informed that he had sought clarification from the executive officer regarding the appointment of these workers, and had found out that the decision had been taken without the resolution of the board of councillors’ meeting, and this was the primary reason behind the cancellation of the appointments. The new chairman clarified: “We will appoint them later, after a resolution is adopted by the BOC. There is no need to fear about the retrenchment of their services.” The CPI-M leaders and councillors, on the other hand, said that the long pending decision had been executed after being adopted by the civic board following a government order. Mrs Sutapa Das Ghosh, CPI-M councillor and former vice-chairman, said: “On the basis of the government order that we received a few days ago, we executed the proposed pending appointment of 73 casual workers of the EBM. There is no question of illegality”. CPI-M leaders, Mr Indrajit Mitra and Mr Ashok Bhattacharjee stated: “Without taking an oath how could the new chairman cancel the order of the former chairman?” Mr Ajit Kumar Saha, executive officer of the EBM, said: “ The appointment order issued by the former chairman was not valid as per the Municipal Act.” Congress MLA and former Trinamul Congress chairman of EBM, Mr Krishnendu Choudhury, said: “Being a caretaker chairman, he cannot issue appointments pertaining casual workers”.

CPM bid to snatch MP seat

Statesman News Service

MALDA, June 5: Malda CPI-M district leaders are gearing up organisational branch committee workers to snatch the local MP seat of the late Congress stalwart, ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury. The CPI-M workers were informed that the Malda by-poll would be held on 8 July, tentatively. The CPI-M has not yet announced its candidate officially, but it was learnt that the present state parliamentary minister, Mr Sailen Sarkar, would contest for the MP seat here. CPI-M district leaders are trying to gauge the workers’ opinion about the possible CPI-M candidate, Mr Sarkar. Party leaders said only Mr Sarkar could take on the Congress candidate and undertake responsibility for Malda’s development as Ghani Khan Choudhury’s substitute here. Mr Sarkar was defeated several times by Khan Choudhury. Finally, during the last election, CPI-M nominated Mr Pranab Das alias Lalu, against the veteran leader. But even Mr Das was defeated by over one-lakh votes by Khan Choudhury After Khan Choudhury’s death, family members announced the name of his brother, Mr Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury, as the candidate for the Malda by-poll. They are awaiting the central leadership’s verdict on the issue. District Congress president Mrs Rubi Noor had already declared this before the Press on the day of the funeral of the late MP. This information was let out to the media to win people’s sentiments for the respected leader in order to retain the Malda MP seat. Malda BJP leaders have asked for the state leaders’ approval to appoint a local as their by-poll candidate.This is for the first time that the Malda BJP leaders want to nominate an active local leader from the district, who has contributed greatly in gearing up BJP voters in the Malda parliamentary segment. The district BJP president, Mr Dinesh Basak, said: “We have decided to nominate a local BJP leader for the Malda by-poll.

No clues to baby theft

Statesman News Service

MALDA, June 4: Police have not yet been able to trace the female newborn, stolen from a government hospital at Bulbulchandi in Malda’s Habibpur police station area last Friday.The Malda SP, Mr DK Mondal, said Mrs Sanju Barman, who gave birth to the baby on 2 June, allowed an unknown woman to take care of her. “An unknown woman came to the hospital at dusk on Friday. She wanted to hold the newborn on her lap and was allowed to do so by Mrs Barman. Later, when Mrs Barman fell asleep, the woman escaped with the baby,” the SP said. Soon after the incident, hospital authorities lodged an FIR with police. Although police are leaving no stone unturned to nab the culprit, they have not yet been able to trace either the baby or the woman who committed the crime. Police, however, are not blaming the hospital authorities for the incident. “There was no negligence on the hospital staff’s part. No one expected the woman to leave with the baby. The incident was the first of its kind in the hospital and it has surprised us all,” the SP said. He said all police stations in the district have been alerted. Although police have given a clean chit to the hospital authorities, they could not answer why the security system was not tight in the maternity ward.Given that a similar incident had occurred at the Siliguri Sub-divisional Hospital in 2004, security ought to have been tightened in all the hospitals for safety of newborns. But the Malda administration has faltered on this count. After the Siliguri hospital incident, even the state government had ordered the authorities concerned of all districts to tighten security around government hospitals, but to no avail. The mystery surrounding the disappearance of the newborn of Mrs Champa Sarkar from Siliguri Subdivisional Hospital in 2004, is yet to be solved.

Opp combine edges out CPM civic chief

MALDA, June 3: Forming a mahajot, all 14 non-Left Front councillors today wrested the English Bazaar Municipality seat from CPI-M backed Independent chairman after 11 months. Mr Narendra Nath Tiwari, a Congress councillor, was elected the new chairman of Malda English Bazaar Municipality. In the election held today, Mr Tiwari bagged 14 votes against the caretaker chairman, Mr Nihar Ranjan Ghosh, in a 25-member strong board. Though disunity prevailed among the Congress, the Trinamul Congress and the BJP councillors, they united to elect Mr Tiwari on condition that he would keep the interests of two councillors in mind. On completion of six months, a group of Opposition councillors called a no-confidence motion against the chairman. SNS

Pic: Pralependu Sanyal

EBM chairman's election today

Statesman News Service

MALDA, June 2: Malda Left Front councillors are trying hard to secure "two cross votes" again to retain their power over the English Bazaar Municipality by taking advantage of the "disunity" among Opposition councillors.Trinamul Congress leaders, on the other hand, are confident about snatching the board from the Left Front in tomorrow's EBM chairman’s election. Though the Opposition councillors are confident about a majority support in the 25-member board, they have not yet proposed any name for the EBM election tomorrow. With a majority of the Trinamul Congress councillors having joined the Congress, the leader of the present group of Trinamul Congress councillors, Mr Dulal Sarkar, is reportedly finding it problematic to follow directives from the state leadership. When a group of Congress councillors decided to project Mr Narendranath Tiwari for the EBM chairman's post, Mr Biswanath Guho claimed the coveted post, expressing his resentment with the decision before the Press. There is still suspense about who shall contest for the post of the EBM chairman in the requisition meeting tomorrow against the candidate projected by the Left Front.

Ministerial border visit on 9 June

Statesman News Service

MALDA, June 1: Union minister for water resources development, Mr Saifuddin Soz, and his Bangladeshi counterpart, Major (retired) Hafizuddin, will pay an aerial visit to the Indo-Bangla border areas in Malda, North Dinajpur and South Dinajpur on 9 June, an irrigation official said here today. Senior officials of both countries will also accompany the two ministers during their visit. The meeting’s purpose, according to the official, is to resolve the territorial dispute between the two countries over some rivers, which have changed their courses creating problems in maintaining the zero line of both the countries.According to BSF sources, officials of the Joint River Commission from both countries also discussed the matter in New Delhi today. State irrigation officials said they would soon finalise the itinerary of both the ministers.The Union water resources department has informed local BSF and irrigation officials about the visit of the ministers of both countries.Sources said the two ministers might visit the river Mahananda that passes through Muchia, Adampur and other border outposts in Malda.The officials will also visit the river Nagar in North Dinajpur and river Atrayee in South Dinajpur. The officials may visit the adjoining areas of Malda and South Dinajpur where the river Punarbha has separated India and Bangladesh and created problems in the area of operation between the two countries.According to officials of the state irrigation and waterways department, JRC officials are trying to resolve the dispute to undertake anti-erosion work to save both the country’s crop lands, homestead lands and also the border outposts by executing bank protection projects permanently.

Watch on anti-erosion work

Statesman News Service

MALDA, June 1: Mr SK Das, an expert in the department of “design and research” of the Central Water Commission (CWC) will visit the ongoing anti-erosion project sites at Panchanandapur in Malda’s Kaliachak II block on 4 June, officials said today. During his visit, Mr Das will inspect the anti-erosion work being carried out by the Farakka Barrage Project, a Central government unit. The FBP is carrying out a 1.5- km bank line protection work on the left bank of the Ganges at Panchanandapur in Kaliachak II.It is a repairing and reconstruction job for bank line protection to save lands from severe erosion. The Centre has allotted Rs 14 crore.The FBP has taken up this job upstream, out of its 40-km jurisdiction from the Farraka Barrage. The decision was taken both by the state and Central governments.The state government had handed over the jurisdiction to the Centre during the tenure of Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi as Union water resources development minister.Last year, the state irrigation and waterways department had executed the 3-km bank line protection work in Kaliachak-II block, spending Rs 24 crore. But due to floods and severe erosion, the 1.5- km stretch was eroded.The villagers and local residents’ committee has started an agitation against FBP officials, raising the question of quality of work. Villagers alleged that the work’s progress was slow and that FBP officials had begun work after much delay.Locals have planned to submit a memorandum to Mr Das during his visit on 4 June, protesting against the “poor quality of work” being carried out by the FBP.Last year, the state irrigation officials had to face the ire of the villagers for alleged poor quality of work being carried out by the FBP.

PIL against Malda administration

Statesman News Service

MALDA, June 1: Members of Malda Roadways Daily Passengers’ Welfare Association are planning to file a public interest litigation (PIL) in court against the Malda district administration for its apparent reluctance to review bus fares according to accurate distance parameters.The members of the association took the decision as they allegedly got no response from the administration despite their several reminders to this effect.On 23 May, the association sent another letter to the regional transport officer on this issue, but to no avail.The secretary of the association, Mr D Lahiri, said: “The official distance from Malda to Nalagola was 55 km in 1999, it became 58 km in 2003 and 61 km in 2005. Later, the fare was increased. We cannot understand how the distance of the road could increase automatically.”Mr Lahiri said: “In the midway from Malda to Nalagola, the RTO did not rectify the fare chart despite several requests. The distance between Tajpur to Habibpur is 1.75 km but in the route chart for fare, it was 5 km. The common passengers are paying an extra Rs 1.25 for this departmental mistake.”