Water tax hike in Malda opposed

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Oct. 29: Malda Merchants’ Chamber of Commerce has raised serious objection to the hike in water tax on commercial establishments and has sent a letter to the English Bazaar civic body saying that they are not going to cough up extra money as per the new rate to be implemented from November. The civic body is also planning to hike water tax in the domestic sector as well. The LF board had reduced the rate of water tax which was introduced by the earlier board led by the Trinamul Congress and the BJP but after coming into power, the Congress, Trinamul Congress and the BJP-led board recently revised the water tax rate. The secretary of MMCC, Mr Jayanta Kundu, said: “ We are going to stick to the present rate.” He said that traders are also not going to accept the hike. It was also alleged the civic body did not bother to inform the traders’ body before adopting the decision to increase the rate of water tax. The water tax for hotels and restaurants was fixed at Rs 300 for a month when it was implemented for the first time. Then the association had lodged a protest. The civic body chief, Mr Narendranath Tiwari , said: “They have every right to raise objections. But they will have to pay the tax fixed by the civic body.”

Clashes rock Malda killing two wounding several

Family feud kills 2

MALDA, Oct. 27: Two persons were killed and several others injured in a clash between two groups of villagers at Bhawanipur village in Malda’s English Bazaar police station area today.Police said the villagers held a kangaroo court today over a fight between two brothers of Mirja family at Bhawanipur yesterday. Trouble broke out when the villagers found that the two brothers did not turn up at the kangaroo court. Although the duo’s father was present at the kangaroo court, the village judges refused to pronounce the verdict. As a result, the kangaroo court ended without any result.Hundreds of villagers then barged into the house of Mirja family. Soon, the villagers anger snowballed into a clash. Members of Mirja family allegedly attacked the villagers with sticks and stones in self-defence. The villagers retaliated by hurling bombs, killing Mirja Bhagir (70) and his elder son Mirja Mahidur (35). Angry villagers then set the house of Mirja family on fire.Senior police officials rushed to the village immediately after the incident. Fire tenders were also pressed into service to douse the flames after the house of Mirja family was set on fire. The Malda SP, Mr DK Mondal, said Lalu Mirza, prime accused of the clash, had been absconding. The SP, however, said the situation was under control in the village now.

12 injured in CPM, Cong clash at Jalalpur

MALDA, Oct. 27: At least 12 persons were injured, seven of them seriously, in a clash between CPI-M and Congress activists at Jalalpur in Malda’s Kaliachak police station area today. Police had to open fire in the air to disperse the mob. According to police, the clash broke out during a meeting on no-confidence motion raised by the Congress against Mr Ataur Rahman, the CPI-M pradhan of Jalalpur gram panchayat, today. Activists of the two parties allegedly attacked each other with lethal weapons. Eyewitnesses said the agitating activists of the two parties also used crude bombs. The seven seriously injured persons have been undergoing treatment at the Malda district hospital, police said. “We had to fire 10 rounds in the air to control the situation,” the Malda SP, Mr DK Mondal, said. The agitating activists of the two parties also attacked the police, eyewitnesses said. Eight persons have been arrested in connection with the clash. Police patrolling has been intensified in the area to defuse tension. The clash broke out after the no-confidence motion was passed against the CPI-M pradhan, police said. The CPI-M members of the board became furious after they found that memberships of two CPI-M leaders, who had recently joined the Congress, were not cancelled, official sources said. The CPI-M members of the Jalalpur GP board had recently appealed to the SDO to cancel the membership of the two members on “reasonable ground” under the Panchayat Act. The SDO, however, refused to do so on several grounds. English Bazaar MLA and senior Congress leader Mr KN Choudhury, alleged that the CPI-M hired miscreants to the attack the Congress activists today. The Malda district secretary of CPI-M, Mr Jiban Moitra, on his part, said: “The CPI-M members of the GP board were not present at the meeting.” n SNS

NH-34 repair on the cards

Manas R. Bannerjee
Statesman News Service
MALDA, Oct. 26: The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) officials today claimed that the repair work of N H-34, lifeline for the people of north Bengal and south Bengal districts would commence soon.

Speaking to this correspondent of over telephone, Mr. S Bhattacharjee, superintending engineer, Malda NAHI, said: “ Union minister Mr. Pranab Mukherjee has assured us that he would extend his cooperation for the allotment of funds for the permanent repair of the N H-34. Mr. Mukherjee told us at a meeting at Berhampore in Murshidabad on 14 October that funds would be not be a problem for the repair of the road”.

Mr. Bhattacharjee, in charge of Malda, North Dinajpur and Murshidabad NHAI division, said: “ Mr. Mukherjee had also assured them that he would take initiative to engage defence personnel for setting up a bally bridge along the damaged railway over bridge (ROB) at Ballapur in Murshidabab”.

However, since Mr. Mukherjee has now been shifted to the external affairs department, the NHAI officials a worried lot.

“ We are going to erect a bally bridge at Ballapur within two months with the help of defence personnel as assured by the former defence minister”, the S E said.

He hoped that the new union defence minister would follow Mr. Mukherjee’s path.

It may be recalled the ROB was damaged two years back, just a few years after its completion and since then it was not replaced, causing a traffic congestion on NH-34, that connects the north-eastern states to West Bengal.

During monsoon, just before Durga puja, the entire road was severely damaged. As a result, several vehicles remained stranded on the NH-34 on either side of the Farakka barrage.

The problem was resolved after puja following the initiative taken by the state authorities to repair ROB temporarily.

But after the recent rains, the conditions of the roads including the ROB became the same.

“ We should boycott paying of road tax to the government if the condition of the N H-34 does not improve soon”, said Mr. R Biswas, a private car owner. #

Eid celebrated in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Oct 25: Thousands of Muslims today observed Eid-ul-Fitr in English Bazaar town and some other parts of the region. Amid tight security, hundreds of women offered Eid prayer separately, ignoring the “verdict” of local clerics, at English Bazaar Model Madrasa play ground. The group has been organising Eid prayers for the past three years. A large section of people of this district mainly in Kaliachak and Sujapur celebrated Eid yesterday. Muslims were divided over the decision of Atkoshi Anjuman Society in Malda and the leaders of the society had decided to observe Eid yesterday. It was also learnt that another section of the same community had objected the decision and alleged interpretation of Islam on some issues. On the other hand, a minority group blocked a state high way in protest against alleged teasing by people from the other community. Police rushed to the spot to stop flaring up of any communal tension. The Malda SP said that Id celebrations were more or less peaceful.

Clash leaves 10 hurt in Kaliachak

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Oct. 24: At least 10 persons, including a policeman, were injured when hundreds of migrant labourers attacked a group of miscreants allegedly involved in extorting, exploiting and torturing women, at Nayagram village in Malda’s Kaliachak police station area today.Authorities said the migrant labourers attacked the miscreants during Id Namaj at the village today. It was alleged that the miscreants used to exploit the women taking advantage of their husbands’ absence who work in different states. When their wives told them about the activities of the miscreants, the migrant labourers, who had come to the village to celebrate Id, went berserk and attacked the miscreants, police said. The situation worsened when the miscreants threw bricks targeting the women at the village today, in a bid to tease their (the wome’s) husbands, police said. A woman brought the matter to the notice of the migrant labourers who became furious and declared war on the miscreants.“The angry villagers threw stones and even burst crude bombs targeting the miscreants. They also set a house on fire,” the Malda SP, Mr DK Mondal, said. Senior police officials, including the Malda ASP, rushed to the spot to control the situation.The SDO, Malda Sadar, Ms Arunima De, also accompanied the police officials. The police have so far not been able to arrest the members of the criminal group.The SP, Mr DK Mondal, however, said the situation was under control in the village now.“We have launched a combing operation to nab the accused miscreants,” the SP, said.He appealed to the residents of Nayagram village to maintain peace. “We are trying our best to arrest the accused persons.Strict action would be taken against them if they are found guilty,” Mr Mondal, said.

CPM plays dual role on water tax issue

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Oct. 23: At a time when the CPI-M leaders are opposing the hike in water tax rate at English Bazaar, the Left Front-led Old Malda civic body has introduced the same rate in the Old Malda town. The English Bazaar municipality is being run by the Trinamul-Congress combine and the CPI-M leaders were up in arms against the civic board’s move to introduce the new water tax rate. Senior Left Front leaders of Malda district are visibly embarrassed with the “dual role” being played by the CPI-M leaders. It may be recalled that in 2003, the then Trinamul-Cong-BJP-led English Bazaar civic board had introduced water tax at Rs 30 per month for each houses. The then civic body chairman, Mr Krishnendu Choudhury, had even defied his party supremo Miss Mamata Banerjee’s stand while imposing the tax.The Left Front leaders raised a hue and cry over the English Bazaar civic body’s decision and in the next municipality election the water tax issue played a major role. Eventually, the LF came to power at English Bazaar in the 2005 election and the civic board reduced the tax to half (Rs 15 for each houses). However, the LF-led board drew flak from the state urban development minister, Mr Asok Bhattacharya, for reducing the water tax rate. In May this year, the Congress-Trinamul alliance came to power at the English Bazaar civic board, ousting the Left Front. Mr Narendranath Tiwari, the chairman of the new board, once again increased the water tax rate for commercial buildings, much to the chagrin of the CPI-M leaders. Meanwhile, at the Old Malda municipality, the Left Front implemented the water tax rate of Rs 30, as per the government’s direction.The chairman of Old Malda municipality, Mr Biswanath Sukul, said: “We did not introduce the water tax, it was already there. We are only carrying out the same.”

Delhi girls rescued ... Infiltrators held in Malda

Delhi girls rescued
MALDA, Oct. 20: English Bazaar police rescued two minor girls of New Delhi from a bus at Malda town this evening, the Malda SP, Mr DK Mondal, said. The two youths accompanying the girls from Kushmandi in South Dinajpur, however, managed to escape. Mr Mondal said acting on a tip-off, they intercepted the bus and rescued the two girls. "Efforts are on to nab the two youths who had been accompanying the girls," Mr Mondal, said, adding that they would bring the matter to the notice of Delhi police. n SNS

Infiltrators held
MALDA, Oct. 20: Two persons ~ Md Hussain (18), a Pakistani national and Md Sirajul Islam (19), a Bangladeshi national ~ were arrested yesterday when they were illegally trying to enter the country through the India-Bangladesh border at Hilli in South Dinajpur, police said today. The police, however, ruled out the possibility of the duo’s connection with any militant outfit. “They were probably trying to enter the country in search of job,” the Malda SP, Mr DK Mondal, said. n SNS

Hilli bandh over BDR firing

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Oct. 19: Residents of Hilli, a tiny town situated along the India-Bangladesh border in South Dinajpur, observed a six-hour bandh, from 6 am to 12 noon today, protesting against the barbaric act of a BDR man who shot dead Sourav Poddar (27), a resident of Dakshinpara village, yesterday.“We have initiated a murder case against the Bangladeshi border guard,” the South Dinajpur SP, Mr Kalyan Mallick, said. The SP said they would request the BDR authorities to hand over the accused Bangladeshi border guard to India once the investigations complete. “The detailed investigation report would be sent to the Bangladeshi officials via the Indian government”, Mr Mallick, said. Meanwhile, RSP MLA and state jail and social welfare minister, Mr Biswanath Choudhury, has condemned the brutal act of the BDR man. It was learnt that chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee would draw the attention of the Bangladesh government via New Delhi about the BDR’s high-handedness in the border areas. Officials said the six-hour Hill bandh observed by the locals passed off peacefully today.Export of various items to Bangladesh via Hilli Land Customs station started after 12 noon today. The BDR officials, however, said Sourav was shot dead by their border guard inside the Bangladesh territory. The BSF officials, on the other hand, said they had enough evidence to substantiate their claim that the BDR man had entered the Indian territory at Dakshinpara village to kill Sourav.Security has been tightened in the India-Bangladesh border at Hill after yesterday’s incident, the BSF officials, said.

Buddha seeks report on Hili
Statesman News Service

KOLKATA, Oct. 19: Chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today sought a report from IG (North Bengal) about the incident in which a 26-year-old was shot dead, allegedly by jawans of Bangladesh Rifles near Hilli International border in South Dinajpur on Wednesday morning.“I have asked IG (North Bengal) and the superintendent of police, South Dinajpur as well as BSF’s IG (South Bengal) to submit reports on the incident. I will take the matter up with the Centre after receiving these reports,” said Mr Bhattacharjee at Writers’ Buildings today. Local people alleged that Sourav Pal (27), a resident of Dakshinpara village near Hilli, was shot by BDR jawans as he tried to stop them from pushing two Bangladeshi people into Indian territory around 11 a.m. yesterday. Taken to Balurghat Hospital, Sourav was declared dead.

Malaria cases on the rise in Malda

MALDA, Oct. 19: Fifteen more malaria cases were reported in Malda district today. The affected persons, migrant labourers all, were admitted in the Malda district hospital, health officials said.A suspected dengue case was also reported at Baharal village in Ratua block today, the Malda CMOH, Mr RR Banik, said.Mr Banik today held a meeting with health officials from all blocks of the district and instructed them to activate block level “rapid action cell” to prevent the outbreak of mosquito borne diseases, such as dengue, chikungunya, encephalitis and malaria. The officials were also briefed on how to prevent chikungunya in the district. The deputy CMOH II, Malda, is likely to bring some materials, including kits for testing blood samples of dengue patients from Kolkata by tomorrow. It may be recalled that 12 persons, including nine children, died of encephalitis and malaria in Malda district hospital over the past 11 days. The CMOH said blood samples collected from some suspected chikungunya, dengue, and encephalitis patients would be sent to the School of Tropical Medicine in Kolkata for final confirmation. n SNS

BDR man goes berserk, kills Hilli youth

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Oct. 18: An Indian villager was shot dead by a Bangladesh Rifle (BDR) man at Dakshinpara village in South Dinajpur’s Hilli police station area around 11. 30 am today.According to BSF officials, a Bangladeshi border guard entered the Indian territory and shot in the head of Sourav Podder (27), a resident of Dakshinpara village, from point blank range.“We have lodged a strong protest with authorities of the 14 Battalion of the BDR, asking them to explain the cause of firing,” Mr Dharamveer Saraswat, deputy inspector general, Malda BSF sector, said. The South Dinajpur SP, Mr Kalyan Mallick, said Sourav, a graduate in English, succumbed to his injuries on way to hospital. “We have recovered the cap of the Bangladeshi border guard and empty cartridges of self loaded rifle from the spot”, Mr Mallick, said.Tension prevailed in the India-Bangladesh border in Hilli after the incident. A commandant level flag meeting was held between the BSF and BDR officials to calm the situation. The South Dinajpur SP, accompanied by senior police officials, rushed to the Dakshinpara village to take stock of the situation. Eyewitnesses said a Bangladeshi border guard entered the Indian territory, chasing Sourav and shot in the head of latter for unknown reasons.Both sides of the Hilli border are thickly populated and separated by a railway track, instead of barbed wire fencing, officials said.

Encephalitis , malaria claim 12 in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Oct18: Twelve persons, including nine children and four women, died of encephalitis and malaria at Malda district hospital over the past 10 days, the Malda district magistrate, Mr Chittaranjan Das, said today. "While ten persons died of encephalitis, the two others lost their lives due to malaria," the DM, said after receiving an official report from the chief medical officer of health, Malda, today. Mr Das sought a detailed report on fever patients from the district health officials and instructed them to take up preventive measures to curb encephalitis, malaria and dengue in the district. "No death has dengue death has so far been reported but we are in a state of alert," the DM said. He expressed concern over the "mismanagement" of information system by the district health department officials. It was learnt that only one pathologist functions at the Malda district hospital. Even the lone pathologist was on leave during the period when the hospital recorded 12 deaths.The state health officials have also expressed unhappiness over the incomplete report sent by the Malda health officials about fever cases in the district.The Malda district hospital sources said that the newly appointed CMOH, Dr RR Banik, who took charge on Monday, was not able to collect information properly about the total number of deaths caused by encephalitis and malaria. The Malda DM today ordered immediate appointment of an alternative pathologist at the Malda district hospital.

Maoist literature

MALDA, Oct. 16: Banned Maoist literature, devices used for making grenades and chemicals were recovered from the house of a tribal family at Rangapukur village in Malda’s Bamongola police station area today.Suspected Maoist activists had kept the trunk consisting banned items at the house of one Mrs Talamoyee Marandi. When Marandi’s son, a migrant labourer, returned to his home today and saw the trunk, he immediately brought the matter to the notice of the police and later handed over the trunk to the police, the Malda SP, Mr DK Mondal, said. n SNS

Tight security at Mahadipur after clash

MALDA, Oct. 16: The Malda SP, Mr DK Mondal, today said that armed police forces would continue to function at Mahadipur near Indo-Bangladesh border to defuse communal tension in the area. Though no fresh clash was reported in the last two days, people of Mahadipur are still in a state of panic. The Malda district administration had called a peace meeting on Saturday at the Maharajpur Junior High School ground, but the initiative flopped as only one group turned up at the meeting. It may be recalled that communal tension flared up at Mahadipur after two groups of people clashed over the matter of cattle grazing last Friday. Authorities said trouble broke out after one of the two groups demanded compensation for mango saplings damaged by a herd of cattle belonging to the other community. n SNS

Erosion shadow on Malda map

Manas R Bannerjee

MALDA, Oct. 13: The Malda district magistrate, Mr Chittaranjan Das, is planning to make a fresh map of the district highlighting the plight of erosion victims on the left and right banks of the Ganges, at the national level. The proposed map with a fresh alignment would point out the eroded areas since 1950 with view to claiming areas eroded away by the Ganges only to emerge on the right bank that has gone under the control of Bihar and then Jharkhand subsequently. “ The 1950 alignment would help us draw a border line between the two states and claim land from the Jharkhand government on its basis”, the district magistrate, said. According to him, the 1950 alignment would be treated as the borderline between the two states, not the mid stream of the Ganges as is treated now.Locals as well as political organisations including the CPI-ML (Liberation) have long been demanding back the areas of West Bengal that are now under the control of the Jharkhand government and where thousands of Malda people live as forced Jharkhand residents without basic amenities. The state land and land reforms minister, Mr Razzak Mollah, recently took an initiative to recover these areas. He also held several meetings with the people and local peoples’ representatives on the issue. Mr Mollah had also urged all political parties to launch a joint movement to resolve the problems of char areas located in the mid Ganges.The erosion victims and char landowners are, however, confused about the sections the Land and Land Reforms Act that would have a role to play in the exercise. “They do not need to worry about the Act,” assured Mr Biswanath Ghosh, the CPI-M MLA from Kaliachak. Owing to erosion, the width of the Ganges, touching the areas of Manikchak, English Bazaar and Kaliachak II has expanded over 10 km, but the width of it is still close to 2.5 km near the Farkakka Barrage. An optimistic district magistrate has also urged the leaders of all parties to adopt a political decision for recovering the lost land of the Bengal. “ We can easily demarcate and locate the land records,” he said.

Malda promoters in land grab scam

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Oct. 13: The Malda district administration has decided to take action against a section of promoters if they are found guilty of grabbing six acres of government land, as alleged by the residents of Khidirpur. The locals had recently complained to the district administration that the promoters had grabbed the government land at Gobrahaat in Malda’s Harishchandrapur block II area. The Malda SP, Mr DK Mondal, said that the Chanchal SDPO had visited Gobrahaat yesterday to verify the allegation. “The SDPO would send me a detailed report soon,” the SP, said. He added that the SDPO had instructed the promoters to immediately stop illegal construction at Gobrahaat. The locals, including a member of the Daulatpur gram panchayat area, had submitted a written complaint to the Malda SP, alleging that a group of three promoters had grabbed the land that the state government had acquired for the construction of an embankment as a part of flood control measures. The copy of the letter was also sent to officials of the Writers’ Building. “The irrigation department officials had lodged a complaint with the Harishchandrapur police station but no action was taken,” Mr TN Mishra, a local, said.

Drive against illegal hoardings

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Oct. 12: In a bid to generate more revenue from advertisement agencies and make English Bazaar a clean town, the English Bazaar civic body, with support from the police, removed hundreds of “unauthorised” hoardings from the town today. The civic body chief, Mr Narendra Nath Tiwari, said the drive would continue for some more days. “We will not compromise with those who failed to deposit his dues on time,” Mr Tiwari, said.“Some advertisement agencies have continued paying Rs 20 as rent for a hoarding, a rate effected in 1972. More than three decades have passed since the rate was introduced. The ground realities have changed now and we are not in a position to continue with the old policy,” Mr Tiwari, said. The civic body has also decided to launch a drive against unauthorised rickshaws in the town. “Without registration and identity card, no rickshaw puller will be allowed to operate in the town,” Mr Tiwari, said. The civic body is also planning to launch a drive against the encroachers under the “clean city” project. If the planning materialises, a large number of shops would be demolished in the town. A few temporary shops, set up in front of the Malda Muslim Institute, where UTI Bank is planning to open its branch soon, would be demolished, Mr Tiwari, said.

Hike in water tax rate at English Bazaar

MALDA, Oct. 9: The water tax row is back to haunt the residents of English Bazaar town. The Congress, Trinamul and the BJP-led English Bazaar civic board has decided to enhance the water tax rate in the town. It may be recalled that the previous civic board, led by the CPI-M, had waived the water tax rate by 50 per cent. Mr Narendranath Tiwari, chairman of the newly formed civic body, said: “The previous board had reduced the water tax to earn cheap popularity. We have decided to increase the rate of water tax to make a balance between income and expenditure of the civic body.” Mr Tiwari said the new rate would be executed in specific commercial establishments soon. The former civic body chief, Mr NR Ghosh, however, said the decision to enhance the water tax rate was “anti-people”. In English Bazaar, dozens of unemployed youths were engaged to collect water tax on commission basis.The water tax collection concept was introduced in English Bazaar by the Trinamul-led civic body chief, Mr KN Choudhury. n SNS

Malda CPI raps state govt

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Oct. 6: Members of the Communist Party of India (CPI), Malda district committee, today faxed a letter to chief minister, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, informing him that the drought-hit farmers of the region would have to commit suicide if the state government failed to provide them mini kits for cultivating Rabi crops to make up the loss they incurred during the drought.District secretary of the Malda CPI, Mr Tarun Das, alleged that officials of the Writers’ Building were concerned about floods in south Bengal, but they had no time to worry about the farmers of north Bengal, who were hit hard by the recent drought and rains. In the letter to the chief minister, Mr Das pointed out that due to the recent drought, the estimated loss of aman crop was Rs 108 crore. He added that heavy rains had damaged crop worth over Rs 11 crore in Malda district alone. “The seeds for mustard, wheat and pulses have not reached the Malda agriculture office yet,” Mr Das, said. A copy of the letter has also been faxed to the state secretary, minister for water resources and investigation department Mr Nanda Gopal Bhattacharya, and the civil defence minister of the state, Mr Srikumar Mukherjee. It may be recalled that on 4 October, the CPI had routed a memorandum to the state’s principal agriculture officer, Mr G Ahmed, through the Malda district magistrate, informing him about the plight of the farmers.

Security beefed up in Indo-Bangla border

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Oct. 6: The Malda district administration today urged the BSF officials to step up security in the border areas to avoid infiltration. The move comes a day after 24 Bangladeshi nationals were intercepted at Sustani More in Malda’s English Bazaar police station area on charges of entering the country without valid documents.“We have instructed the officials concerned to find out how the 24 Bangladeshis managed to enter the country. The matter will be brought to the notice of the BSF’s higher authorities,” the Malda SP, Mr DK Mondal, said.It may be recalled that a group of 24 Bangladeshi nationals had entered into the country looking for a job yesterday. The police intercepted them when they were waiting for the agent who had assured them of providing job. “Efforts are on to arrest the agent,” the SP, said.

BDR officials visit Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Oct. 3: Officials of the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) visited the Indian side of the border at Rishipur and Krishnanagar on Sunday to study the system adopted by the Malda irrigation department to stem erosion on the bank of the Mahananda, an irrigation official said today. “It was a friendly visit by the BDR officials. The two sides ~ BSF and BDR ~ discussed on many issues during the meeting. The BDR officials did not object to the work carried out by the Malda irrigation department to stem erosion on the bank of the Mahananda. They are now likely to adopt the same system in their country to save their properties getting destructed by erosion during monsoon”, the official added. It may be recalled that the border guards of the two countries had resorted to a massive gunbattle last year on the issue of palliative measures taken by the Indian officials on the bank of the Mahananda at Muchia and Adampur, close to the Krishnagar border outpost. On request of the BSF officials, the Malda district irrigation officials have continued the anti-erosion work on the bank of the Mahananda at Old Malda, Habibpur and Bamongola where two rivers ~ Mahananda and Punarbhaba ~ are eroding its bank line, thereby affecting the fencing work, crop lands and even a few border outposts of the BSF. The BDR officials reportedly told their BSF counterparts that they were facing erosion problem of on the banks of the Mahananda and the Punarbhaba on their side of the border. The Malda irrigation officials have prepared four schemes for permanent protection of lands on the Indian side and these are awaiting nod from higher authorities. It may be recalled that after last year’s gunbattle between the border guards of the two countries, a joint survey was conducted along the border and a new alignment had been finalised on the banks of the Mahananda.

MZP lambasts state govt.

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Sept. 29: Malda Zilla Parishad Sabhadhipati Mr Goutam Chakraborty has blamed the state agriculture department for the non-distribution of seeds for the Rabi crop cultivation to the drought-hit farmers of the district. Mr Chakraborty had also written a letter to the chief minister Mr Buddhdeb Bhattacharjee a few days ago regarding this matter. The copy of the letter was also forwarded to the finance minister, Mr Asim Dasgupta. However, the state government has so far not responded to the letter, Mr Charkraborty, said. In the letter, Mr Charkraborty wrote that seeds for the production of local pulses (Kalai) and maize had not been supplied to the Malda farmers despite of the demand placed at a meeting in Kolkata with agriculture officials including the finance minister. He also said that he had requested the finance minister to supply the two popular variety seeds for the drought hit farmers for Rabi crop cultivation, so that the farmers could make up their losses incurred in during the Aman paddy cultivation. It may be noted that more than 1000 mouzas had been identified as drought hit and its estimated loss in paddy and jute production was over Rs 100 crore.#