CPM-led rowdies unleash terror in Sujapur

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Dec 31: In the name of a ‘peace committee’ a group of people led by the CPI-M has been terrorising the Sujapur area with the help of hooligans, said the district Congress president and Sujapur MLA, Ms Rubi Noor. Addressing a press conference, Ms Rubi Noor said: “The CPI-M workers attacked at least 12 houses including that of our Congress gram panchayat pradhan at Masimpur and Bamongram villages last evening. The CPI-M workers harassed our people when they denied to attend a peace meeting called by them. The gram panchayat pradhan, Mr Ataur Rahaman did not attend their meeting yesterday”. According to the Malda SP, Mr Satyajit Bandyopadhyay, local villagers called the peace meeting to restore normalcy in the area yesterday afternoon. Trouble broke out when a group of people expressed unhappiness over the absence of the gram panchayat pradhan at the all-political party meeting. “A motor bike and a television set were damaged at the house of the pradhan. Police have asked him to lodge a complaint with Kaliachak police station. If they lodge complaint, police would start a case," the Malda SP said. According to him, locals took initiative to restore peace in Sujapur area. In fact hundreds of students took initiative to bring peace in Sujapur on Saturday. They took out a rally and staged a demonstration in front of the police station regarding the issue of a student who was shot at during exchange of fire between the two groups of criminals last week. Ms Noor alleged that police were silent spectators while criminals backed by the CPI-M continued to harass the Congress workers. Mr Bandyopadhyay, however said: “Police are very much active against these notorious criminals and their associates. Had police remained silent, local people would not have come forward to bring peace. A group of miscreants, who used to extort local traders there, are still absconding, fearing arrest by police.”“The Congress leaders were not involved in any anti social activities there. CPIM workers are trying to capture the Congress strongholds before the panchayat election,”, Ms. Rubi Noor told reporters today.The CPIM district secretary, Mr Jiban Moitra, is however of the opinion that unrest in Sujapur is not a political issue.“Common people including local traders led by Mr. Ketabuddin, CPIM local committee secretary, had protested against extortion and anti-social activities in the area. Recently three gang leaders, Mirajul Basni, Tuhur Biswas and Saharul Islam had united themselves to extort local traders and people in Sujapur area”, said Mr Jiban Moitra.

Panchayat seats to increase

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Dec. 31: The district panchayat and rural development are preparing a draft to delaminate segments of three tire panchayat seats mainly in the zilla parishad and panchayat simiti level. The department has planned to publish the draft of the fresh demarcation of seats on 8 January 2008 for public notification. Before final publication of the draft the department will be waiting for suggestions or any objections from people or political parties. The district administrative officials said that the department would finally publish demarcation of three tire panchayat seats on 7 February. Sources said that seats for Malda zilla parishad would be increased based on the number of voters. In case of zilla parishads, 60,000 voters per seat would be considered. At present Malda zilla parishad has 33 seats.

Civic body places revised budget

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Dec. 31: The Congress-led English Bazaar civic body was today able to place a revised budget, with the support of all the 11 Left Front councillors, while the seven rebel councillors did not attend the meeting for the third consecutive day today. It may be noted here that seven rebel councillors, had not been attending the board meeting since the past two months, expressing ‘no confidence’ against the civic body chief, Mr Narendranath Tiwari. On the other hand, the LF councillors had boycotted the budget in last two board meetings. When the seven councillors, followers of the English Bazaar Congress MLA, Mr KN Choudhury, did not attend the meeting, a total of 11 LF councillors today attended the meeting, extending cooperation to the Congress chairman, Mr Tiwari. Finally, the seven councillors, including the ones belonging to the Trinamul Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party placed the revised budget today under the leadership of Mr Tiwari. When the matter came to light, the rebel councillors alleged that the chairman did not send letters to them to attend the meeting. They termed the process of placing the revised budget as ‘illegal'. In the revised budget, the board today reduced nearly Rs 2 crore in its expenses. The English Bazaar Municipality had passed its budget of over Rs. 25 crore, at the beginning of the financial year. The civic body had to cut short its expenses of over Rs 2 crore because the board had not received sufficient funds from three Central government schemes estimated earlier. The civic body chief, Mr Narendranath Tiwari, today criticised the role of the seven rebel councillors for their non cooperation. The Opposition leader, Mr DN Chaki said: “Had we not extended cooperation, the board would have faced problem to continue service in essential sectors like water supply, conservancy and electricity”.

Malda horticulture department yet to disburse funds

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Dec 30: The director of food processing industries and horticulture, Mr PK Pramanik, held a meeting here today with the district administrative officials to review the scenario of the schemes implemented under the guidance of the National Horticulture Mission (NHM). At the review meeting, it was found that under the NHM, several schemes have been implemented, but the Malda horticulture department could not disburse due funds to the beneficiaries. It was found that a total of Rs 2 crore is still unspent. The district officials pointed out that due to inadequate manpower, the funds are yet to be disbursed among the beneficiaries. Official sources said that the director FPI&H, Mr Pramanik, has instructed to clear the amount by March 2008. It was decided that the department would appoint staff on contract basis for the immediate disbursement of the funds.The horticulture officials said that many beneficiaries had extended new areas for mango orchards under the scheme, but they did not receive the fund allotted for the project. Similarly some small farmers have made preparations for setting up nurseries under the NHM project, but they did not get the money on time. The Malda district magistrate, the Zilla Parishad sabhadhipati, the additional district magistrate and other officials attended the review meeting.

Land distribution on hold due to litigation

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Dec 30: The land and land reforms officials admitted that the department could not regularise land distribution among the erosion-hit victims who are still living on the vested lands due to litigation. The minister for environment and state parliamentary affairs, Mr Sailen Sarkar, pointed out recently that the land and land reforms department could not distribute land to the victims and as a result of this, they had taken refuge in the mango orchards belonging to big landlords. According to Mr Sailen Sarkar, hundreds of erosion-hit victims in Kaliachak II and Manikchak had been rendered homeless due to erosion of the Ganges. “It is a pity that the victims are now residing in mango orchards at Haddatola in Manikchak block under. We could not hand over the record of land rights to them,” Mr Sarkar said. The commissioner of land and land reforms, Mr PK Agarwal, said that recently the department could not vest nearly 6,000 acres of land in Malda owing to litigation in the court.

Agriculture before industrialisation : Minister

MANIKCHAK (Malda), Dec. 28: “When agriculture is our foundation, we need to make a strong base of agriculture and agro-based industries first to secure food guarantee before industrialisation of this state," said the land and land reforms minister, Mr Abdur Rezzak Molla. Addressing a government programme for distribution of land and its ‘record of rights’ (Patta) among the landless farmers at Manikchak block office today, the minister also said: “ If we do not have a strong agricultural base, the future of industry will not last on a weak foundation." “Industry does not provide food for all of us. We need to confirm food guarantee first, then we need to start the process of industrialisation," he added. “Out of the total agricultural land, nearly 82 per cent belong to poor people who has been providing us food guarantee," he claimed. Citing some agri-export zone in north and south Bengal, he said: “ We are inviting big industrialists to set up agro-based industries". Distributing 363.78 acres of agriculture lands and its record of rights to 638 farmers in Manikchak block today, the minister approached the government officials to stop bad practice to transfer record of rights.He said the panchayat official would take an initiative to inform the block officials if there was any report of illegal transfer of patta. SNS

Union ministers may be approached on islands

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Dec. 28: In response to the proposal of the Sabhadhipati, Malda Zilla Parishad, Mr Goutam Chakraborty, the land and land reforms minister, Mr. Abdur Rezzak Molla, today approached political leaders to conduct a mass convention of all the political parties in Malda, inviting Union ministers, Mr P R Das Munshi and Mr Pranab Mukherjee to bring back islands of West Bengal which is under the control of Jharkhand due to erosion of the Ganges. Addressing at a government programme, Mr Goutam Chakraborty approached Mr Molla to take an initiative to bring back lands, which were wiped out of West Bengal and are presently under the control of the Jharkhand government. Mr Chakraborty pointed out that the Malda people had lost their homestead lands and agricultural lands due to erosion, but they were not in a position to take possession legally due to resistance from people in Jharkhand with the help of the police. The land and land reforms minister, M Abdur Rezzak Molla said: “ We had taken several attempts by writing letters from our end. The chief minister, Mr. Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, took initiative and wrote to the Central government, following a note of the state parliamentary minister, Mr Sailen Sarkar. But nothing has been done”. The Malda district magistrate has got an invitation letter from his counter part district magistrate from Jharkhand to settle the matter and he told him that they would accept their proposal. “Why the Malda district magistrate would go to Jharkhand? The matter can be settled when two Union ministers are there and we are supporting their government," Mr Rezzak Molla said. “It would be better to call a mass political convention where the two Union ministers, Mr P R Das Munshi and Mr Pranab Mukherjee,” he added. “We will claim our area, nearly 100 sq km area ( 42 moujas ), from Jharkhand government based on the boundary line fixed in 1950”, the land and land reforms minister said.

Cops can't be bothered

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Dec. 28: The reluctance of the English Bazaar police authorities to act against illegal wetland filling near the Godrail bridge along the National Highway-34 has raised questions.Wetland filling was continuing for some time along NH-34 on the southern outskirts of Malda town allegedly by a section of real estate promoters. The matter came to the notice of the English Bazaar Municipality and the EBM chief subsequently, lodged a complaint, against the practice at the English Bazaar police station. No action was, however, taken to stop the practice.

Schedule of power cuts needs to be known : MMCC

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Dec 27: The district secretary of the Malda Merchants’ Chamber of Commerce, Mr Jayanta Kundu, said today, that they had sent a letter to the general manager, Malda Electricity Distribution Company Limited, requesting him to inform about the schedule of load shedding. “We need to know about the time table of power cuts. If they fail to inform us within seven days, we will stage another demonstration programme in front the GM’s office with our members including industrialists,” said Mr Kundu.The industrial units are suffering from huge losses due to rampant power cut without notice. The WBSEDCL should issue notice publicly about the shedding time fixed by their management, he said. The MMCC has also demanded that industrial zone and growth centre located at Narayanpur in Old Malda should be included within the English Bazaar zone. But it is under the Gazole zone which has been identified as ‘loss making zone’ and its rate of load shedding is more than average of English Bazaar. Since Monday the district is facing rampant power cut. Tuesday and Wednesday it was beyond limit. “Yesterday the industrial lists faced nearly six hours power cut till evening”, said Mr Kundu. “Please contact top officials of Bidyut Bhawan to know about schedule of load shedding. We do not have information”, said Malda sector office of the WBSEDCL

All-party meeting likely for trouble-free land acquisition

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Dec. 27: So that no problems are faced while acquiring land to conduct a survey for the proposed ninth retired embankment, the executive engineer, Malda irrigation division, Mr S Misra has requested block development officer Kaliachak II to hold another all party meeting as soon as possible. The go-ahead for holding a grassroots-level, all-party meeting was received at a similar district-level meet convened by Malda district magistrate Mr CR Das on 4 December. The district administration has decided to construct a 5-km-long embankment on the left bank of the Ganges in Kaliachak II for flood protection next year. Mr Misra said political leaders were fine with the government's decision to acquire land for the project. “Political leaders said that villagers would not resist the land acquisition process if the thickly-populated Bangitola village also became a beneficiary of the embankment project," Mr Misra said. The chief engineer II of the state irrigation and waterways department, Mr B K De, has set 15 January as the deadline for completing the survey. Today, Malda irrigation engineers and surveyors met the officials entrusted with the job of acquiring land to get information about the new system of land acquisition. "We will try to send the final survey report to our headquarters by 31 January," Mr Misra said. The department has earmarked Rs 7.48 crore for the embankment project.

School boy commits suicide

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Dec. 26: Babul Akhtar, a class IX student, committed suicide consuming pesticide at his home in Malda. The police suspect the boy was suffering from peer pressure.The boy consumed pesticide at his home at Balutola under Kaliachak police station yesterday and disclosed the matter when he fell ill in the afternoon. Guardians brought him to Malda district hospital for treatment but it was too late by then. The poison had killed him. “Babul was reluctant to continue his studies from the hostel of a local residential school at Laxmipur village. His father had insisted that the boy would have to return to the hostel for his education,” Babul's uncle told the police. Babul had come home from the residential school before Id and wanted to stay back but his father had instructed him to go back to the hostel, the family members, said. Locals said that Babul threatened his guardians with suicide if they forced him to go back to the hostel.

Kaliachak tense after trees felled

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Dec 26: - Tension prevails in Sujapur areas under the Kaliachak police station since this morning after the opponent group of a CPI-M leader damaged his mango orchard at Bamongram village, Malda SP said. Police suspect that opponent groups belonging to Mirajul Basni or Saharul Islam committed the crime. Sources said that a group of people belonging to the Revolutionary Socialist Party cut down several three to four-year-old mango trees last night. To defuse tension police patrolling has been intensified there where a group of people belonging to the CPI-M local committee secretary (LCS) tried to take on. It may be noted here that there was a clash between people belong to the local CPI-M and Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) leaders in Sujapur areas over the past few days over the right of their area of operation. Today, the RSP district leaders held a meeting in Kaliachak in protest against the atrocities of the CPI-M leaders and they demanded arrest of the CPI-M LCS Mr Ketabuddin. A complaint was lodged against Mr Ketabuddin for allegedly attacking and damaging the house of the Mirajul Basni, a RSP branch secretary at Sujapur. The Malda S P Mr Satyajit Bandyopadhayay said: “We are inquiring into the matter. If he is found guilty police would arrest him. We will have to bring peace there. It is our first duty," he said. It may be noted here that the RSP leaders yesterday met the Malda SP and demanded impartiality of the police there. The CPI-M district leaders including the district secretary Mr Jiban Moitra told reporters “Ketabuddin was not involved in attacking the house of the Mirajul Basni. Hundreds of people, having failed to bear torture of Mirajul Basni, attacked his house on Saturday”.

Social audit for NREGS begins in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Dec. 25: Social audit for the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme has begun in Malda to make people aware of it. The rural team, comprising of local youths, will exercise the social audit and see whether people had applied for job cards or not. It will also look into the adult members of the family, especially the women members. There was a discrepancy between the number of workers who worked on a particular work as shown in the block office records and the muster rolls which are available with the gram panchayat. In many cases, though job cards are not transferable, yet people get work by being able to manage other job cards. Nobody objects to this practice. The district nodal officer said that through social audit, local problems, irregularities and discrepancies would be sorted out at the panchayat and the block level. “In case of any major violation in the implementation of the NREGA Act, we would conduct a hearing of the case at the district level to sort out the problem,” the nodal officer said. The social audit would also examine the muster rolls which reflect higher amounts being paid to the labourers. This is a common way of embezzlement of funds. In some places, it has been revealed that signatures and thumb impressions have been fudged on a large scale. Even people who can sign have put thumb impressions on the muster rolls. In practice, the participation of women and the physically challenged is not satisfactory in Malda.

RSP leaders demanded police impartiality

Statesman News Service

MALDA Dec. 25: The Malda Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) district leaders today met the SP, Mr Satyajit Bandyopadhayay, to demand an impartial involvement of the police at Sujapur under the Kaliachak police station to tackle the ongoing unrest. Speaking to the reporters, the RSP leaders said that the police could not arrest the Communist Party of India (CPI-M) local committee secretary, Mr Ketabuddin, despite an FIR lodged against him.” “The police should arrest Mr Ketabuddin,” said Mr Sarbananda Pandey, the RSP district leader. It may be noted that on Saturday night, the police had arrested Mr Mirajul Basni, the Sujapur branch secretary of the RSP, on charges of attacking CPI-M workers and planning to kill the CPI-M local committee secretary, Mr Ketabuddin. On the other hand, the wife of Mr Mirajul Basni had lodged an FIR against Mr Ketabuddin for attacking and damaging their newly constructed house. Following the clash between the RSP and the CPI-M leader, the Sujapur area has become tense over the past few days. When the CPI-M district secretary identified the RSP leader, Mr Mirajul Basni, as a criminal and a local extortionist, the RSP leaders claimed that their local committee secretary, Mr Ketabuddin was not above criminal activities in Sujapur. The CPI-M district secretary, Mr Jiban Moitra, said that the RSP leader, Mr Basni has connection with criminals, including Saharul, who is under the shelter of the local Congress leaders. “Mr Ketabuddin, is trying to stop their activities like extortion at Sujapur,” he said. The Malda superintendent of police (SP), Mr Satyajit Badyopadhyay said: “Local politicians have connections with criminals. Not a single politician is perfectly honest in Sujapur.” “We are trying hard to tackle the situation with an iron hand at Sujapur,” the Malda SP said. “The RSP leaders met me today and demanded an impartial role of the police to tackle the situation at Sujapur.”

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Food inspector beaten up

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Dec 24: - Although food inspector Mr D Basak was assaulted by a group of villagers at Pakuahat in Bamongola block late yesterday afternoon, he is yet to lodge a formal complaint. According to block official sources, villagers mistakenly assaulted Mr Basak in his office yesterday, as they saw modified ration dealers outside of his office and assumed that he was going to curtail the villagers’ food quota. On receiving information the block development officer tackled the situation. Interestingly, the official of the district controller of food and supplies admitted that the incident occurred, compared to the Malda sub divisional controller who denied the event and said: “I do not have the information.” The Malda sub divisional food controller said that the department was facing trouble in a few areas of Ratua I, II, Kaliachak II, and partly in Habibpur block areas. The food inspectors are working during the holidays to normalise the situation after conducting an inquiry based on a number of complaints from the villagers in the past two months.

Civic body chief to hold another councillors' meet

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Dec 24: The Congress-led English Bazaar civic body chief ~ Mr Narendranath Tiwari ~ will hold another councillors’ meeting shortly to pass its own budget. The Mr Tiwari had to adjourn the board of councillors meeting on Saturday when the seven rebel councillors and other 12 Left Front councillors decided to boycott it. This is the second time that the both groups of councillors had not attended the board's monthly meeting. “We will try to pass the budget if at least nine councillors are present”, Mr Tiwari said. The CPI-M councillors alleged that these seven members have been trying to press the civic body chief and his associate councillors to keep the interest of a contractor, who had been assigned to build a market complex during the tenure of Mr KN Choudhury as civic body chief.Seven councillors, all followers of English Bazaar Congress MLA Mr K N Choudhury, have not been cooperating with the civic body chief for the last two months. Though the Congress district president Mrs Rubi Noor started dialogue with them twice, they decided to stay away from the meetings. A group of rebel councillors today held a meeting with Union minister for I&B, Mr PR Das Munshi, regarding this issue when he arrived in English Bazaar town this morning. The Congress leaders and Mr Tiwari had earlier lodged complaints with the district president and Mr Das Munshi against these seven rebel councillors. Mr Tiwari, however, seems positive about the next meeting and hopes to pass the budget according to the Municipal Act.

NAAC accords 'B' grade to Malda Women's College

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Dec. 23: The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), an autonomous body of the University Grants Commission (UGC), has accredited Malda Women’s College with a ‘B’ grade in 43rd executive committee meeting held in Bangalore on December 22. The NAAC has published its results in its own website yesterday, said the principal of the college, Dr Chaitali Chattaraj. Grade ‘B’ means that the college has secured 2.28 points out of four, deserving a ‘good’ rank according to cumulative grade point average (CGPA). The NAAC team visited the Malda Women's College on 19 and 20 December and interacted with teachers, students, alumni and guardians separately. The autonomous body has published results for accreditation of 19 colleges across the country on 22 December. The Malda Women's College is only one from West Bengal. Out of 19 institutions, the National Insurance Academy in Pune, Maharashtra, secured highest 3.43 points with ‘A’ grade. The NAAC team in its report appreciated ‘transparent democratic leadership’ of the Malda Women's College, said Dr Chattaraj. She said that the NAAC team also appreciated the effort to minimise the rate of drop out. While appreciating the performance of the geography department the NAAC suggested immediate introduction of science departments. The team suggested that the Malda Women's College needed to raise its own funds involving the society apart from providing more space for students and increasing faculty members. The team members also suggested introducing computer education and computerised management system in office and its library soon. “We are happy with the results of accreditation. We have achieved the rank ‘good’ due to equal contribution of all staffs of this college”, said the principal Dr Chattaraj.

RSP leader arrested for 'kidnapping' CPM man's relative

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Dec. 23: Malda police arrested Mr Mirajul Basni, a local RSP leader of Sujapur in Kaliachak police station last night on charges of attacking and kidnapping a relative of the CPI(M) branch secretary Mohammad Ketabuddin. Interestingly, police are looking for Ketabuddin following a complaint lodged by the wife of Mirajul Basni. She complained that hundreds of people led by Ketabuddin attacked their house and it was set on fire. Police said that hundreds of people raided the newly constructed three storied building around 12.30 p.m. yesterday at Sujapur and damaged the building by setting it on fire. Unrest has been prevailing in Sujapur for last few weeks owing to continuous clashes between two groups of miscreants led by the local political leaders. Police are looking for a criminal Saharul Islam allegedly close to local Congress leaders. The local CPI(M) leaders demanded arrest of Saharul for acts of hooliganism.A few days ago police recovered seven muskets from the house of a ration dealer at Sujapur and more than 30 crude bombs from a field of mulberry plantation.The district police asked the IC, Kaliachak police station to control the situation with iron hands.

Rebels boycott civic meeting

MALDA, Dec 23: The English Bazaar municipality chief Mr Narendranath Tiwari has failed to manage their seven rebel councillors. Owing to non-cooperation from seven councillors the Congress led board with the help of BJP and Trinamul councillors has failed to adopt resolution regarding some plans and programmes in last two board of councillors meetings. Despite interference of the district Congress president Ms Rubi Noor, the board has been facing crisis due to this internal feud among non-left councillors. Despite several requests the seven councillors Prativa Singha, Shantanu Saha, Surajit Das, Kakali Choudhury, Ashok Saha, Sandhya Das and Rama Prasad Banerjee did not attend board of councillors’ meeting yesterday. A month ago they did not attend the meeting. Taking advantage of this present crisis the Left councillors have been boycotting the board of councillors meeting in last two months. The upset civic body chief and Congress leader Mr Tiwari told reporters that those rebel councillors did not attend the meeting following the instruction of the Congress MLA in English Bazaar Mr KN Choudhury. “Councillors are not happy with the present chairman. He should start a fresh dialogue with the ‘rebel’ councillors to overcome the crisis”, said Mr Choudhury. It may be noted that Ms.Rubi Noor held meeting twice with Mr Choudhury to sort out the on going problem following complaints from civic body chief and other Congress councillors. “The rebel councillors are officially working in their assigned departments but did not attend yesterday's meeting. Even they did not explain the cause of boycotting meeting”, Mr. Tiwari said. The Trinamul district president and councillors Mr Dulala Sarkar said: “The rebel councillors and the Left councillors have jointly plan to dislodge the present board”. “We are boycotting last two board meetings called by the chairman demanding clarification about corruption charges on the present board. But they do not bother to invite us for discussion”, said the Opposition leader and CPIM councillor Mr DN Chaki.

Salary rules 'bent' for comrade teacher

Manas R Bannerjee

MALDA, Dec. 21: In a unique incident, a teacher of one school is being forced to draw salary from another in Malda.Mr Abul Bashar, history teacher of Sukanta Memorial Jr. High School in Kaliachak I and a CPI-M worker was barred from entering the school following political clashes two years ago. He was under pressure and his adversaries had threatened him with dire consequences. The conditions turned from bad to worse for the teacher and he could not attend school for two years. Now, on the direction of the director of education department he has been posted in the Mothabari Higher Secondary School in Kaliachak II block, which is close to his in-laws’ residence and comparatively safer.It was learnt that Mr Bashar had appealed to the director of education sometime ago urging for a transfer to a school close to his home so that he could continue with his service. The director in turn inquired about Mr Bashar from the district inspector of schools and sought police verification on him as well. On receipt of the reports, the director considered his plea and instructed the DI to take necessary action. It was then decided that Mr Bashar would work in Mothabari Higher secondary school as history teacher but would draw his salary from the Sukanta Memorial School.When asked if such an arrangement was being made for the first time in the state, the Malda district inspector of schools Mr Chinmay Sarkar said: “I do not know whether it is the first time or if it is permissible. I have simply carried out the instruction of the education director and posted him in Mothabari High school.”

Failed ones should not have been sent : Malda DI

MALDA, Dec. 21: The district inspector of schools (secondary), Mr Chinmay Sarkar, said today that the decision of the Malda Girls’ High School to allow 15 more students out of the failed 37 ones in the Higher Secondary examination following their agitation is wrong. Speaking to The Statesman Mr Sarkar said: “This decision will step up the agitation of failed students of many schools in different areas demanding promotion”. “We cannot support the decision of the academic council of the school for reconsideration of the failed students. The school authorities should take a firm decision before the publication of test results with a resolution based on particular criterion to maintain transparency,” Mr Sarkar said. It may be noted that a total of 37 girls and their guardians started an agitation from Saturday demanding promotion when the Malda girls’ academic council had decided to disallow 37 students who had failed in the test. Following pressure from guardians and local Congress leaders the academic council of the school reconsidered 15 more students to overcome the crisis. “We do not know why they disallowed the 37 students and lastly why they decided to reconsider 15 more out of 37. We did not ask them to allow some of the failed students. But a wrong message has been sent to the other districts through the media. It is a problem and it would boost the failed students’ movement in other schools”, the Malda DI said. He said that school authorities did not take any resolution before the final publication of test results for Class XII students and there was no selection criterion. sns

Clash over Id prayers in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Dec 21: Several persons were injured in a clash between two groups of people of the same community at Id prayer ground at Amrity in English Bazaar police station today. One person, critically injured in the clash was admitted to the Malda district hospital. Trouble broke out at about 1.30 p.m. over the system of Aajan recital during the Id festival, said the Malda ASP Mr Sujit Sarkar. “There was a difference of opinion regarding the recital of Aajan. While one group wanted to recite it from inside the mosque, another group wanted the recital outside of the mosque, which led to a row and the clash,” Mr Sarkar said. A large police contingent was sent to the spot from the English Bazaar and Manikchak police stations to control the situation which had deteriorated fast with either side hurling bombs at each other.The police succeeded in bringing the situation under control and no one has been arrested so far. “The situation is under control at Amrity now,” the ASP said. There is, however, tension in the area. Id was otherwise peaceful across the district including the Kaliachak and Sujapur areas where the administration had increased security in order to avoid any untoward incident. The Malda SDO, Ms Arunima De, the ASP Mr Sujit Sarkar and the Malda zilla parishad sabhadhipati were present in the big Id prayer ground.

Security tightened in Malda for Id

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Dec. 20: In order to curb violence and maintain peace during the celebration of Id festival today the Malda district administration has set up control room in Kaliachak under the leadership of a magistrate and the additional SP. Experiencing last year's violence at Sujapur in Kaliachak the Malda administration held block level meetings in 15 places of this district. The civic administration held another urgent meeting at Kaliachak block office yesterday where the Malda SDO Ms Arunima De and the additional SP Mr Sujit Sarkar were present with the Id prayer committee members and Imams. Last year administration had faced law and order problem at Sujapur in Kalaichak police station. Some one informed the religious leaders at Sujapur prayer ground that a group of people dressed like BSF had taken away cattle froms their homes. Following announcement hundreds of people turned violent and attacked police when they took initiative to investigate the matter. Police forces were beaten up, heckled and their vehicles were damaged by a group of miscreants at an interior village on this issue last year. At yesterday's meeting, the additional SP Mr Sarkar urged the present religious leaders to maintain peace at the prayer ground and requested them not to consider any political colour of a man who will come to join prayer. It may be noted that there is tension at Sujapur between the two groups of miscreants over the rights of area of operation backed by the two political parties CPI-M and Congress at Sujapur. The Malda SDO, Ms Arunima De told the religious leaders to keep control over the people assembled at the prayer ground tomorrow. She requested the religious leaders not to entertain any rumour or provocation so that any miscreant cannot use microphone of Id prayer where the thousands of people will be present. “If any untoward incident takes place at any prayer ground the administration will first seek clarification from clerics of the prayer ground and take necessary action against them,” she said. To maintain law and order, control room will be opened at Kaliachak from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Kaliachak and other sensitive places today.

RKM objects to traffic in front of school

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Dec. 20: - When the district administration is finally ready to inaugurate the Sahapur Bridge over the river Mahananda using the road in front of the Malda Ramakrishna Mission in English Bazaar town, hundreds of people lodged an objection with the district magistrate and urged him not to use the road for the safety of the students. Hundreds of the guardians of the students of the Vivekananda Vidyamandir and others sent a mass petition to the district magistrate and the state human rights commission pointing out possible problem of students of two schools if the administration takes the road for vehicular movement, said Malda RKM chief Swami Divyananda Maharaj. The district administrative officials have got into a problem to sort out the present problem, after objection lodged by the RKM devotees. It may be noted that a year ago the bridge has been completed but the administration could not inaugurate it3 due to lack of space.

Irregularities in road project of NREGS

MALDA, Dec. 19: Ministry of Rural Development of the Central government has sent an official to Malda to inquire into the financial irregularities of a rural road project under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) following a compliant lodged by the union minister for I&B Mr PR Dasmunshi.Mr Debendra Singh, a retired defence official and presently a member of national monitoring team for execution of NREGS, arrived here yesterday. After interacting with the district nodal official he visited the site under Bhagabanpur gram panchayat area in Chanchal-I block in northern Malda today. Mr Singh will stay here till tomorrow for inquiring into the case and visit some sites where NREGS has been implemented successfully along with the district officials. In April the district authorities had received a complaint from the local people of Bhagabanpur gram panchayat and a team comprising Sabhadhipati, Malda zilla parishad, additional executive officer and other officer bearers of panchayat had inspected the site for inquiry. According to the district nodal officer for implementing NREGS to provide 100 days job for rural unemployed, the district had detected that quality of stuff (moram) for construction of a rural road was worst. The inspection team had found that the poor quality morum was stacked at the site but not used, he said. The team had suggested floating fresh tender for supplying materials. sns

Inquiry into MR dealers after Id

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Dec. 19: The inspectors of Malda food and supplies department will begin inquiry against the modified ration dealers based on the specific complaints from the people after Id, the district controller of food and supplies (DCFS) said today. The department has selected a few complaints for inquiry out of hundreds of complaints received in last two months due to public outrage across the district. “It is not possible for us to inquire into all complaints. If we suspend all hundreds of dealers before inquiry, according to government’s rules, the public distribution system will collapse in the district before Id”, said Mr Asim Basu, the Malda DCFS. “Two to three more dealers will be suspended after Id,” Mr Basu added. It may be noted that the Malda food and supplies department had suspended nearly 30 MR dealers in last three months. In last fortnight the departmental officials did not continue inquiry after suspending dealers but started counselling for the aggrieved people and requested them to collect their due food and other materials following the system of the government displayed out side the ration shops. In Kaliachak a group of people organised reconciliation meeting against a dealer Subodh Sarkar yesterday and decided to go to the court for taking action against him due to irregularities in distribution system of food and other materials allotted for nearly 1,800 heads.They said despite several reminders to the authorities no action has been taken against the dealer. Mr Basu said that he would look into the matter and if necessary the department would take action after Id if consumers do not go to the court. According to Mr. Basu there is no special allotment for Id. “There is no extra sugar for the BPL consumers (no allotment of sugar for APL) for Id special. In fact the poor people cannot lift full allotment of sugar for their family at the rate of Rs 13.75. As a result the dealers can not distribute total stock allotted based on total heads of BPL”, Mr Basu said. The government has allotted 500 gram sugar per adult head per week. But a large section of dealers cannot lift sugar every week from the distributors. Though it is alleged that dealers sell off remaining stock of sugar in open market, the DCFS has brushed aside the allegation and said: “The market rate of such sugar distributed from ration shop is lower. There is no profit for dealers for selling such quality sugar in open market”.

Failed ones to appear in HS exam

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Dec. 18: Finally the academic council of the Malda Girls’ Higher Secondary School reconsidered 15 girls out of 37 failed students for appearing class XII examination following agitation of their parents to allow them for the exam. A total of 37 failed girls in test for Class XII and guardians backed by some local Congress leaders started agitation demanding promotion for appearing in the final examination from 15 December. The school authorities had disallowed 37 girls on merit out of 126 students appeared in the test. Yesterday, the agitators locked up the main gate of the school detaining all students and teachers outside the school and administration had to intervene to resolve the crisis. The headmistress of the the school, Ms Sutapa Chatterjee said: “Following the instruction of the Malda SDO and DI (secondary) we have reviewed the answer sheets of 80 girls who failed in one and more than one papers. Just to overcome the present crisis we have finally decided to ‘reconsider’ 15 girls for appearing Class XII exam out of 37 who had got very poor marks in the test.” “The result has been published this afternoon and the final results after review of the answer sheet and the copy of the resolution adopted by the academic council have been sent to the district administration today,” Ms Chatterjee said. Hope the guardians and students would accept the fresh publication of results, she added. Yesterday, the Malda sub divisional officer Ms Arunima De, asked the failed students and their guardians to lift their agitation and requested them to accept the decision of reviewing the answer sheets of all the 80 girls. The Malda SDO and the DI also warned them that unsuccessful girls would have to accept the final results based on merit after review.

Pulse cultivation stressed on

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Dec.18: The Malda agriculture department has stressed to develop cultivation of pulses in this district under the project of National Food Security Mission (NFSM). A month ago the district agriculture officials prepared several schemes for producing pulses like Kallai and Arhar and sent it to the director of agriculture for approval. It may be noted that NFSM on pulses has stressed to produce pulses, oil seeds and cereal. The Malda district has selected to develop areas for pulse cultivation including non-traditional areas like Habibpur and Gazole in Barind belt identified as rain fed zone. According to Dr. T K Sarkar, a senior officer of the Malda agriculture department, pulses are mainly produced in Diara belt particularly Manikchak areas. The islands in the mid stream of the Ganges in Manikchak and Kaliachak produce maximum pulses mainly Moog and Kallai. “Though the Manikchak and Kaliachak areas will be preferred to implement the schemes prepared under NFSM but other areas like Gazole and Habibpur will be coming under the schemes. We have been successful after experimenting production of Kallai pulse, Sarada variety in Gazole,” he said. The prepared schemes are yet to approved. In Kharif season we will be able to implement it if it is approved soon, Dr. Sarkar said. In Manikchak the local pulses produced in islands have great demand in South Indian market for its quality and the local farmers sell it at Rs 40 to Rs 50 per kg. Under the NFSM schemes awareness programmes for farmers on pesticides management and use of bio fertilizers have been suggested. Dr Sarkar said: “use of bio fertilizers and pesticides are yet to be popularised.”According to the Malda agriculture department, a particular area at Noorpur in Manikchak has been selected to build a model bio village, after success at Bomka bio village in Gazole, for producing vegetables like cabbage, cauliflower and tomato.

Bridge inauguration likely in January

MALDA, Dec.18: The district administrative officials hope that they would be able to inaugurate the newly constructed bridge over the Mahananda river in January 2008, connecting Sahapur village in Old Malda with Malda town.
The PWD engineers were not in a position to build an approach road on the part of the Malda town at Baluchar due to lack of land. There was also a controversy regarding the eviction of slum dwellers and the demolition of a primary school for building the road.
On 14 December, the additional district magistrate, officials of the primary school council, the civic body officials and the leaders of the district sports association held a meeting and came to the conclusion that a plot of land would be provided to the primary school council for building the school, which will be shifted after the construction of the approach road. The district administration has identified a plot of land close to the district sports association ground for the primary school. There was a difference of opinion for the approach road from the local people to local councillors. Even the members of the district sports association raised objection over the selection of route connecting Malda town under English Bazaar Municipality area. The PWD minister, Mr. Kshiti Goswami, held a meeting here with the local leaders and the officials to sort out the problem, when the project was stalled after the acquisition of a part of land due to objections from the locals.
The district magistrate had to convene all the political parties meeting to seek cooperation on this issue.
It may be noted that the blueprint of the proposed approached road has been changed many times due to objections. Even the local councillor of the Trinamul Congress has objected yesterday, after the decision to shift the primary school was taken. Finally, after the intervention of the district administrative officials, the problem has been resolved.
The second bridge on the Mahananda has been built as an alternative route for people who come from Habibpur and Old Malda areas. SNS

Classroom stabbing after youth spurned

Statesman News Service

KOLKATA/MALDA, Dec. 17: Campus violence reached the state today when a Class XI student at Hariharpara, Murshidabad, repeatedly stabbed a Class VII girl after she had turned down a marriage proposal. The boy consumed poison later on. Both the students are now in hospital. Police said Noorman Ali (19), a class XI student of Baruipara High School, today asked Ramjina Khatun (14), a class VII student of the same school, to meet him in a vacant class room around 10.30 a.m. Police came to know from locals that Noorman was having an affair with Ramjina over the past few months. But, of late, the girl was reportedly trying to keep distance from Noorman after her family members had objected. When the girl arrived in the vacant classroom, Noorman asked her to promise that she would marry him. But when the girl refused to make any commitment, citing her family’s objection, Noorman started stabbing her until she fell unconscious. When the girl fell down on the floor, Noorman consumed poison. Noticing that Ramjina was lying on the floor of the classroom, senior students drew the attention of their teachers. Teachers rushed to the spot and the girl was taken to a nearby primary health centre. The accused was then taken to the teachers’ room where he was asked to sit and the school authorities informed the police of the incident. Till then, the accused did not divulge that he had consumed poison. When police rushed to the spot, Noorman fell ill. On interrogation, police came to know that he had consumed poison. He was then taken to Berhampore Sadar Hospital. Meanwhile, relatives of Ramjina reached the PHC and took her to New General Hospital in Berhampore. When contacted, Mr Rahul Srivastava, superintendent of police, Murshidabad, said: “We are apprehensive about the condition of both the students. Currently they are under observation of the doctors and any legal step could be taken only after the accused is discharged from the hospital.”

Bangladeshi undertrials write to relatives

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Dec 17: Malda correctional home authorities have started counselling for Bangladeshi undertrials who have become frustrated languishing in jail for a long time where they are not in a position to meet their relatives like other Indian inmates. Lengthy process of trail and judgment, for such Bangladeshi inmates after amendment of 14 Foreigners Act in 2004, has prompted the jail authorities to organise such programme for them. The superintendent of Malda correctional home has inspired them to write letter to their relatives in Bangladesh informing them about their position here and to ask them to reply soon. Recently literate Bangladeshi under trials have received reply from their relatives from Bangladesh in response to their letters sent. They are now busy replying to their relatives encouraged by jail authorities. The jail authorities monitor all letters coming from Bangladesh. At present a total of 87 Bangladeshi under trails including two women are in Malda correctional home. A few of them have been engaged in jail work to earn Rs 18 per day remuneration so that they can buy their essential items including clothes. “Nobody can come to meet them in this correctional home and supply essential items, but local inmates get those items from their relatives. As a result they become frustrated failing to return to their home within a short period”, said superintendent of Malda jail. “I had asked them did you feel any discrimination in comparison with other Indian inmates here? They said no because we are always counselling them seriously so that they cannot feel unhappy here”, he said. According to the recent amended 14 Foreigner's Act 2004 the system of judgment of such Bangladeshi nationals have been changed. Earlier they were convicted for up to two years and the judicial magistrate used to deal with the matter but at present the period of punishment has been extended up to eight years rigorous imprisonment and only the district judges will be able to issue the order of punishment of those who violated 14 Foreigners Act. Almost all Bangladeshi under trails were arrested in Indian part for crossing Indo Bangladesh borders without valid documents and papers. More than 70 such Bangladeshis have been shifted to Behrampore central jail in 2007, who have been convicted by the session judges in Malda court. They have been shifted to central jail just to reduce the load from Malda jail. From Malda only two have been sent back to Bangladesh recently.

Mango regeneration programme on the cards

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Dec. 17: The Malda horticulture department would start regeneration programme of old mango trees along the highways to make farmers aware of cultivation methods from the first week of January. The department officials have planned to hold such programmes on government lands. Initially, they have selected mango orchards around the Malda airport field in English Bazaar. Orchards on both sides of PWD roads and in Manikchak block office have also been selected for demonstrations. A few private orchards have also been selected for the programme. The district mango development officer, Mr SN Khara said: “We will focus on how old trees can be nourished after cutting down some branches for producing more fruits. We have selected roadside trees because people would understand the system of regeneration of old trees.” It may be noted that the National Horticulture Mission have adopted several methods to boost quality production of mangoes in this region, and sanctioned huge funds in various schemes for its development, including regeneration programmes for creating new mango orchards. The horticulture department and the district administration organised a workshop for 75 mango cultivators on 11, 12 and 13 December at the Malda club conference hall. The National Horticulture Mission sponsored the programme. The experts mainly focussed on preparation of mango cultivation and the use of organic inputs for better production and quality yield. They held practical demonstrations about improved mango harvesting through video photography, collected from various research stations, including Bidhan Chandra Krishi Bishwavidyalaya. The experts suggested the mango growers to avoid traditional methods of mango cultivation. The department has distributed 75 modern implements free of cost made by a private company to mango cultivators. The department has planned to organise another programme for 175 growers, including labourers, who are usually engaged in harvesting. Mr Khara said that implements for mango cultivation would be distributed free of cost.

Parents' agitation concludes

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Dec. 17: Authorities of Malda Girls’ High School finally sought administrative help today to sort out the ongoing agitation of students and guardians demanding promotion for appearing in class XII examination. About 10.30 a.m. the agitators locked up the main gate of the school and started agitation demanding promotion. Hundreds of students and teachers including headmistress could not enter the school. Finally the Malda SDO and DI and police officials rushed to the spot and unlocked the main gate after interacting with the agitated students and guardians. The Malda SDO Ms Arunima De and DI (secondary) Mr Chinmay Sarkar asked school authorities about resolution adopted before taking decision to disallow a total of 37 students who were not qualified for appearing class XII examination. “The school authorities could not show resolution of their decision not disallow the 37 students who had started agitation demanding promotion,” said Malda SDO. The Malda SDO Ms De instructed the headmistress and the members of academic council to review the answer sheets of 80 students out of 126 ones. It was alleged that some students who have failed in many subjects had been promoted. It may be noted that out of 126 students, only 46 girls passed all subjects and qualified for appearing the class XII exam. The headmistress Ms Sutapa Chatterjee said: “We have started reviewing answer sheets according to the direction of the DI and SDO. We will be able to submit report of all results of 80 students to them with the resolution.” “We had disallowed a total of 37 students on the basis of poor marks. We have informed the matter to the district officials that some of the agitators have secured only 2 or 3 or 5 marks in a paper in test exam”, Ms Chaterjee said. The SDO has also instructed the school authorities to start form fill up process of 46 students who were promoted from tomorrow.

Boy run over on highway , locals block road

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Dec. 16: Hundreds of local residents today blocked a state highway for more than two and half hours near Milky in English Bazaar police station after the death of a class X student Azam Ali alias Sazzad today.Sazzad was run over by a state bus at around 7.20 in the morning and he was admitted to local health centre. In the Malda district hospital where he later got admitted he succumbed to his injuries. The Malda SDO Ms Arunima De and police officials rushed to the spot. They listened to the demands of the demonstrators and following that the blockade was lifted. The local residents alleged that unauthorised construction of the PWD on the roadside was responsible for the accident as it was obstructing vision. They demanded removal of the unauthorised construction at the meeting point of the two roads connecting Manikchak and Khaskol village in English Bazaar. They also demanded compensation for the death of the student. Ms De assured that she would try to persuade the government to pay the compensation from the government's transport department. Ms De met the executive engineer of the PWD roads and instructed him to take action for the removal of the unauthorised encroachment from that point. The executive engineer of the PWD roads has directed his assistant engineer to issue a notice to evict the unauthorised encroachment. There are many encroachments on the state highways across the district which are obstructing vision, creating problems for the drivers as well as common people.

Cong leaders plead for promotion of students

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Dec. 16: A group of Congress leaders in English Bazaar town launched a movement against a school authority demanding promotion of students who have failed in the Class XII test. Yesterday, the Congress leaders pleaded for the 37 girls who were disallowed in the test of Class XII by authorities of Malda Girls’ High School. Congress leaders like chairman of English Bazaar civic body Mr. Narendranath Tiwari, vice chairman Mr Biswanath Guho, Asim Maitra, Hassan Ali Shah, Madhumay Sarkar and other members of the town congress including Chhatra Parishad leaders went to the English Bazaar police station and in their presence a guardian Mr Anil Sarkar submitted a complaint with the police. It was alleged that the headmistress of the Malda Girls’ High School Ms Sutapa Chatterjee misbehaved with the unsuccessful girls and their guardians in her chamber and she allegedly slapped and beat up three of the girls. Last year the Congress and Chhatra Parishad leaders had launched a movement in support of the girls who had failed in class XI in some schools in English Bazaar town. The school authorities, however, denied the charges and admitted that one of students fell down at the door when the headmistress was trying to move out of her chamber. Yesterday, the headmistress had called 37 girls out of 126 and their guardians to inform them that the school authorities were not in a position to allow them to appear for the Class XII exam.

Silence zones coming up in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Dec. 14: In order to give relief to people from sound pollution problem the district administration is planning to identify Silence Zone in at least 10 places of the English Bazaar town soon, the district magistrate said today. The Malda DM Mr CR Das has asked his two additional district magistrates and other officials to identify the notified areas in this town and chalked out a plan to notify the areas officially. The decision was taken following an objection raised by the Malda Ramkrishna Mission chief Swami Divyananda Maharaj. Since a year Swami Divyananda has been protesting against a particular culture of people for using the new ‘band party’ locally called Tasa Party with high volume microphone for any occasion from the immersion of idols to marriage ceremonies. On the other hand, a section of people of this town has been criticising the ‘bad taste’ culture for using Tasa Party terming it Chasa Party.Swami Divyananda Maharaj had lodged a complaint with the district administration a year ago.Though the then Malda SP posted a group of police personnel in front of his bungalow, which is located between two important schools Barlow Girls’ and Vivekananda Vidyamandir, on way to Mission Ghat, the organisers did not care about the restriction. Even they do not care of people and use Tasa party in front of district hospital, temples, and mosques and various schools. A few days ago the Maharaj vehemently protested and forced the organisers and family members of various marriage parties to stop such music performed by the Tasa Party in front of the Ramkrishana Mission and its own school Vivekananda Vidyamandir, on way to the Mission Ghat of the river Mahananda. Divyananda Maharaj urged the administration to stop such ‘menace’ and directly took help of a local cable channel and urged to the people through the channel not to use Tasa Party in all places to enjoy any occasion of their own creating problem of others. “The sound of the Tasa Party is unbearable and it cannot be allowed in all places in English Bazaar town. We are going to impose restriction in the silence zone to be identified officially soon. The people will have to follow the system,” said Mr Das.

Meeting to thaw doc-lawyer tension

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Dec. 14: The Malda district magistrate Mr CR Das will convene a meeting on Saturday with doctors, lawyers, police and government pleader to sort out the ongoing tension between doctors and lawyers following an incident in Malda district hospital. The hospital doctors and the bar association, are at loggerheads over the issue of the district hospital and both of them threatened to ‘cease work’ in their sectors demanding settlement.The lawyers are demanding punishment of the doctor TK Das and the doctors are demanding the lawyer will have to withdraw the FIR against the doctor. The district magistrate today discussed the matter with Malda SP and government pleader. The Malda DM, Mr CR Das held a meeting with the lawyers and doctors on Wednesday and Thursday respectively just to know the stand and attitude against each other. “If the doctors and lawyers cannot come down from their stand it would be difficult to sort the problem. We are trying to sort out the problem holding a meeting with the lawyers and doctors and other concerned officials,” said Das.It may be noted that on 3 December the district authorities had lodged a complaint against a lawyer Iqbal Hossian who allegedly assaulted a pediatrician Dr TK Das. Trouble broke out after the death of a baby in the Malda district hospital. Police had arrested the lawyer Mr Hossain. The lawyer got bail from the court on that day.But in protest against the complaint lodged against the lawyer the bar association had decided to lodge another complaint against the doctor and other staff of the hospital on the charge of assaulting the lawyer. Based on the complaints lodged by the lawyers police arrested two contractual cleaning staffs of the hospital. The lawyers begun cease work so that nobody could move for bail. As a result the contractual workers led by the local CPI-M leaders started cease work in Malda district hospital demanding release of their two colleagues. Finally the duo were released on personal bond according to the order of the chief judicial magistrate. But the tension between the lawyers and doctors still continues.

Malda reels under frequent power cuts

Statesman News Service

MALDADec. 14: -The authorities of the electricity distribution company limited has started rampant power cut in the district once again in last few days. From Wednesday the English Bazaar town is facing load shedding thrice a day. “To meet up the crisis and to continue supply and trading power in important areas of the state and other states the authorities have decided to cut power in the district for four to six hours phase wise,” said a senior officer of the Malda state electricity distribution company limited. On Thursday the department cut power from 8.20 a.m. to 9. 20 a.m., from 10.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. and finally they cut power from 5.20 p.m. to 6.20 p.m. in English Bazaar town. According to the departmental sources, the rate of load shedding is higher in rural areas than the Malda town. In the rural areas where the revenue-earning rate is low, the rate of power cut is unlimited. “Based on ‘loss concept’, considering revenue collection, the English Bazaar town belongs to Category-II. So, authorities cannot cut power for more than one and half hours at a time,” they said. Today, power cut started about 6.50 a.m. and continued upto 7.50 a.m. and second phase of cut was started during mid day today. “We do not know about the exact time of load shedding for execution. Every thing is controlled centrally,” said the Malda divisional manager Mr AK Ghosh. Except the traders body including the local industrialists, no political parties have protested against the rampant power cut in recent times.

Survey to settle border dispute

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Dec. 13: A joint team of India and Bangladesh today inspected Malda borderline along the banks of river Mahananda to sort out border land dispute owing to erosion between the two countries. The five member Bangladeshi team would visit Murshidabad border areas jointly, particularly Nimtita tomorrow. The team led by Mr Rafiqul Islam, deputy director Bangladesh land reforms held a meeting with the state officials Mr Jayanta Rath and Mr Dipankar Roy Choudhury, deputy director, Indo-Bangladesh boundary demarcation in West Bengal and others in Malda today. Speaking to the reporters Mr Islam said: “ We have been facing problem to keep land demarcation along the border due to erosion of the river Padma and Mahananda in this region. The river erosion sometime changes the borderline damaging border pillar in some places. It has create problem between Bangladesh Rifle (BDR) and BSF over the rights of land between the two countries”. “We have come here to settle border demarcation work in the remaining parts along the India-Bangladesh border, where the land survey has been completed,” he said. It may be noted that two years back BDR and BSF had exchanged fire for two days over the rights of land when BDR objected to continue temporary anti erosion carried out the Malda district administration in Muchia and Adampur border outposts in Old Malda block areas. After the incident top officials of the two countries had conducted joint survey to settle and land dispute. A large part of the areas were demarcated to erect pillars along the border. According to district officials and Malda sector BSF it was found after survey that a large part of Indian land has gone in Bangaldesh side on the right side of the river Mahananda. Similarly another part of Bangladesh land has come into the Indian side after the river has changed its course there. Mr Islam said that presently there was no dispute along Mahananda bank in Malda. “We would start construction of pillars in the remaining parts in January 2008. In Tripura there are more than six km stretch of border line with Bangladesh where the survey is yet to begin,” he added. “From 24 Parganas to Cooch Behar there is some dispute but it is being sorted out gradually,” said Mr Dipankar Roy Choudhury, Dy director Indo-Bangladesh border demarcation in West Bengal. Mr Choudhury told reporters that only the border pillars would be considered as borderline but river and its mid stream, which has separated two countries, would not come under the consideration as borderline.

Women kills self and two year old daughter

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Dec 13: Shiuli Mandal (23) committed suicide along with her two year old daughter by jumping in front of a train close to Chamagram railway station near Farakka Barrage last evening, Malda GRP said today. The railway driver of Balurghat bound train reported the incident to the Malda town station manager last evening. “The driver told authorities that one woman jumped onto the track just before the engine”, said Mr. S Das Gupta, the Malda GRP IC. The locals found the wounded woman on the railway track and brought her to Malda district hospital where she was succumbed to her injuries. On receiving information the GRP started a search operation at Chamagram area where they could not trace the body of Shiuli, but recovered the body her two-year-old baby. Later they came to know that the mother died in Malda district hospital.The Malda GRP registered the case of the baby and after inquest the body was sent for postmortem. While, the English Bazaar police station registered the case of her mother Shiuli. Shiuli was a resident under Baishnabnagar police station. No complaints have been lodged there in this connection till now.

Tender cancellation : High rates or Citu stakes ?

Statesman News Service
MALDA, Dec. 12: The health department has cancelled quotations from private establishments stating the rate of engaging ex-servicemen as security staff at the Malda district hospital. According to the health department authorities, the rates are exorbitant.The ground of cancellation has caused a flutter as according to the Malda district chief medical officer, health Dr Radha Raman Banik, the rate was lower than the one accepted for the Balurghat hospital in South Dinajpur. “I do not know how it was found exorbitant. The rate quoted by the contractors for Malda hospital is lower than that of Balurghat hospital,” the CMOH, said. The need for engaging ex-servicemen as security at the hospital arose following a series of doctor bashing incidents in recent times. According to the hospital authorities, the state health minister Dr Surya Kanta Mishra has also been emphasising on engaging ex-army men in the Malda district hospital.But the local contractors have been supplying contractual staff for cleaning, security and other jobs for the hospital for the past five years and now such staff, backed by the CPI-M and CITU stand united and are opposing the decision to appoint ex-servicemen as security. The CMOH said: “The health authorities did not accept the rate quoted for the purpose in 2005 by the former CMOH, Dr Gopal Sarkar. Another tender would be floated after March for engaging ex-Army men in Malda district hospital.” The situation in Malda district hospital is tense. The doctors expressed unhappiness over the insecurity they face at the hospital, more so following the assault of a pediatrician on 3 December. The Malda district magistrate Mr CR Das and the additional superintendent of police, Mr Sujit Sarkar, visited the hospital yesterday and posted police at the hospital gates for security, the CMOH, said.

Action against child development official

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Dec. 12: After suspending two group D staffs of integrated child development scheme (ICDS) in Harischndrapur block for taking bribe in exchange of appointment letters for the post of helper in ICDS centres, the Chanchal sub divisional officer Mr Debashis Sarkar today asked the director of the ICDS to take necessary step against Mr P Tserring Lepcha, the child development project officer, who is absconding since Monday. The two group D staff Rabi Saha and Ganesh Das were suspended today. It may be recalled that police had arrested two group D staff Rabi Saha and Ganesh Das on charges of taking bribe offering appointment letter to the job seekers for the post of helper in ICDS centres. The appointment letters were reportedly signed and issued by the CDPO Mr Lepcha. “I have suggested the director of the ICDS in Kolkata, through the district magistrate, to take departmental action against the CDPO who is out of station on ‘unauthorised leave',” said Mr Sarkar. “Mr Lepcha is absconding and we have failed to contact him over his cell phone. So we requested the director to take action against him and ask him to report in Malda headquarters soon”, the Chanchal SDO said. “We will start another inquiry with the help of the cryptographer to prove that he had put his signature on the appointment letter which were sold off in exchange of money by the group D staff ," the SDO said. It may be noted that in Harishchandrapur II there was a law and order problem owing to public agitation over the issue of 72 helpers’ appointment in the ICDS centres when the CDPO had issued appointment letters three months ago. After inquiry it was revealed that 64 appointment letters, out of 72 were issued on merit and they were treated as valid but the CDPO did not follow the procedure for issuing appointment letters, the SDO said. The Chanchal SDO had placed the list of successful candidates for the post of helper before the selective committee and recommended them for fresh appointment.The 64 candidates are working at present in Harishchandrapur, the SDO said.

Criminals detained

MALDA, Dec. 12: - Two local criminals were detained by police today on charges of robbery in Harischandrapur police station limits yesterday night, additional S P, Mr Sujit Sarkar said. A group of 10 to 12 armed robbers raided the house of Mahabir Prasad at Tulsihata village in Harishchandrapur, close to Bengal Bihar border and robbed valuable ornaments and cash. The robbers after committing the crime fled the area and entered Bihar, which was five km from the place of of the incident, police said. The gang reportedly hails from Bihar. “Interestingly the robbers had left two-barrel guns there”, the additional S P, Mr Sarkar said. The police have detained two local criminals for interrogation and are trying to find out any connection with the gang, he added. The robbers attacked the house of the local trader Mr Mahabir Prasad by hurling huge bombs and fled. Mr Prasad was injured when he tried to resist them. He is undergoing treatment at a local hospital. Police faced public wrath when they reached the village. Locals alleged that police came after one hour despite several phone calls to the police station. n sns

RKM inaugurates school building

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Dec. 11: The Malda Ramkrishna Mission (RKM) today inaugurated a new building for primary education at Shyamdaspukur village in the English Bazaar block area. The Malda RKM had started education for the first generation learners belonging to the Paharia community here five years ago. The school has been named as the Nivedita Shishu Mandir affiliated to the Malda RKMToday the newly constructed building was opened in the presence of the district administrative officials and the senior representatives of HPCL. It was constructed with financial assistance from Hindustan Petroleum Corporation LtdThe Malda RKM chief, Swami Divyananda Maharaj, said that HPCL had donated Rs 2 crore for the development of such centres organised in different parts of the state. HPCL has allotted Rs 14 lakh for the free primary education centre at Shyamdaspukur. Besides this, HPCL has also allotted funds for RKM institutions in Jayrambati, Kharda, Tamluk and other areas, Divyananda Maharaj said. Ninety seven children are study here from nursery to class II. The Malda RKM provides them free uniform and books. There are 300 people belonging to 60 Paharia families and the parents are illiterate. A person called Kalipada Singh has donated a plot of seven decimals of land which he acquired from the government. Officially the plot was transferred to RKM for building the school. At present, though the area does not have electricity, the school building has electricity connection. The amazing thing is that “the Paharia people have electoral photo identity cards, but fifty per cent of them do not have ration cards," said Divyananda Maharaj. In Malda district, nearly 1 lakh tribals lack basic amenities.

Procedure against group D staff starts

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Dec. 11: Chanchal SDO, Mr Debashis Sarkar, said today that he has started departmental procedure against Ganesh Saha, a group D staff, of Harischandrapur-II child development project office. The latter was arrested on charges of accepting bribe from a job seeker in exchange for an appointment letter yesterday. Ganesh Saha would be suspended if he remains in police custody for over 48 hours. The police have been informed about the matter and they will let him know about his position. On the other hand, the SDO has started inquiry against Child Development Project Officer (CDPO), Mr P Tsering Lepcha for issuing appoinment letters without prior notice.The administrative officials are examining the signature to know whether it was forged or the original signature of Mr Lepcha. Though Mr Lepcha was asked to report the matter, he could not be traced. Even the administrative officials have failed to contact him on his cell phone. “I am trying hard to contact him and know as to how a group D staff got an appointment letter," said Mr Debashis Sarkar. Mr Lepcha had left the office three months ago. Fifteen days ago he came to Harishchandrapur II to take over the charges. But the CDPO of Harishchandrapur -I had already assumed them. The latter is ill now.

Students detain teacher

MALDA, Dec. 11: Students of the Malda Model Madrasa in English Bazaar town today confined the headmaster to a school room in protest against alleged financial irregularities concerning development funds. Inspired by a section of the madrasa teachers, the students staged an agitation against the headmaster shouting slogans against him and accusing him of misappropriating funds granted by the government. The helpless headmaster informed the police and the district inspector of schools (secondary). The police rescued the headmaster Mohammad Syed in the end. Later in the day, the English Bazaar block development officer, sabhapati English Bazaar panchayat samiti , police officials, members of the madrasa's managing committee and a section of teachers held a meeting to sort out the problem. Mohammad Syed, the headmaster later, said: “The students are innocent. They did not want to attack me. They were instigated by a group of teachers, who have some grievance over remuneration received from the Railway authorities for working as invigilators for its competitive examinations recently.”Stating that he was out of town, the district inspector of schools Mr Chinmay Sarkar said that he would go to the madrasa in the evening to inquire into the incident.A group of teachers, however, alleged that the headmaster allotted the madrasa's hostel rooms for some outsiders appearing in a railway examination, which has raised questions against utilisation of funds earmarked for the institution.SNS

Patients take the hit

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Dec 11: Patients at the Malda district hospital are suffering severe inconvenience following a cease work stir by contractual workers in protest against the arrest of two fellow workers. The workers were arrested on charges of assaulting a lawyer Mohammad Iqbal. They were released on personal bond later in the day.The release has turned the lawyers angry and alleging that the release process was illegal, the Malda lawyers have decided to launch an agitation from tomorrow.The police had arrested the two contractual workers Mrityunjay Ghosh and Sudam Mandal on charges of attacking the lawyer Mohammad Iqbal as he had allegedly assaulted a doctor of the hospital over the incident of a child death on 3 December.Lawyers of the Malda court observed cease work today to ensure the arrested hospital workers failed to arrange bail. The court rejected the arrested persons’ bail plea as well. The Malda district CMOH Dr Radha Raman Banik visited the Malda district hospital today and expressed unhappiness over the movement of the contract staff appointed for the cleaning the hospital. He set a deadline for the withdrawal of the movement in the interest of the public. “If they do not resume duty soon we would appoint other contract staff,” he said.Meanwhile, the contractual workers’ stir and now the proposed stir by the lawyers from tomorrow has made the Malda district administration sit up. The Malda district magistrate Mr CR Das has convened a meeting tomorrow to sort out the problems.

Man arrested for taking bribe from job seeker

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Dec. 10: Police arrested Ganesh Saha, a group D staff of the Harishchandrapur-II child development project office, today on charges of taking bribe from a job seeker in exchange of an appointment letter for the post of helper in the integrated child development centre, administrative officials said. The district intelligence branch was monitoring a complaint that the child development project officer Mr P Tsering Lepcha allegedly demanded Rs 10,000 for each appointment letter for the post of helper in ICDS. It was alleged that one Marzina Begum, a job seeker of Vitol village, had approached him and he told her to bring Rs 10,000 for appointment letter. Marzina informed the matter to district intelligence branch officials and fixed an appointment with the CDPO and came to his office with Rs. 10,000. Incidentally, the CDPO was not there and one group D staff Ganesh Saha preset in the office and came forward to make the deal. “Police caught him red handed when he delivered an appointment letter issued by the CDPO Harishchandrapur II after receiving Rs. 10,000”, said Mr. Debashis Sarkar , the Chanchal sub divisional officer. It may be noted that in Harishchandrapur II there was a law and order problem owing to public agitation over the issue of 72 helpers' appointment in the ICDS centres when the CDPO had issued appointment letters three months ago. Interestingly, the Mr Lepcha had left Malda after issuing 72 appointment letters without informing authorities of the Chanchal sub-division. Later he informed them that he was under tremendous pressure on the issue of recruitment and he had to leave the place. Following complaints the district magistrate Mr CR Das instructed the Chanchal SDO to inquire into the matter. After through inquiry it was revealed that 64 appointment letters, out of 72 were issued on merit and they were treated as valid appointments but the CDPO did not follow the procedure for issuing appointment letters. The Chanchal SDO had placed the list of successful candidates for the post of helper before the selective committee and recommended them for fresh appointment. “The rest eight appointment letters were held up due to technical causes because the candidates did not submit supporting documents of caste certificates”, Mr. Sarkar said.

Malda traders defy PCB fine

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Dec 10: The Malda Merchants’ Chamber of Commerce has decided not to pay a fine charged against 30 traders for allegedly using plastic carry bags for business, violating norms of the state pollution control board. The Malda pollution control board officials had launched a special drive on 25 August and identified 30 traders who were selling plastic carry bags, which was below 30-micron thickness in the market and registered cases against them. The officials had claimed spot fine from Rs 2,000 to Rs 10,000 from retailers to whole sellers. Today the PCB officials are still continuing their drive in English Bazaar market places. Two medicine traders today sought help from the MMCC who were charged fine for using carry bags to deliver medicine in the interest of customers. On Saturday the MMCC members met Mr Sailen Sarkar, the environment minister, in Malda and requested them to organise awareness campaign before banning plastic bags. According to the MMCC district secretary Mr Jayanta Kundu: “We have also requested the minister to follow governor’s direction systematically. The direction given by the PCB officials is very difficult to follow for the retail traders here”. Mr Kundu said: “The PCB officials directed that traders would have to print the name of manufacturer and its address in each carry bag. “The size of each carry bag has been specified to maintain 12 inch by 16 inch size and its weight will be more than 10 gram with below 40 micron thickness of plastic”. “A retail trader is not in a position to print manufacturers’ name and address in each carry bag. The PCB should pay special attention in the manufacturing units from where carry bags are being supplied”, Mr Kundu said. “We will not pay the fine now”, he said.

Pending salary of teachers released

Statesman News Service
MALDA, Dec. 10: The Malda district administration has decided to allow salary for all teachers of a total of 333 schools and madrasas till February 2008 without objection.
The decision was taken on Friday after releasing the last lot of 44 schools’ salary bills for the month of October held up for violation of 21 points government rules for claiming salary.
The Malda treasury today released all salary bills for the month of November held up due to objections raised by the treasury officials for violation of the government system to claim grant in aid for secondary schools.
The additional district magistrate held a meeting on Friday with the concerned officials and took the decision to release the salary bills up to February 2008 despite irregularities, a treasury official said today.
It may be noted that the district authorities were strict to follow at least four points out of 21 including the updated audit report of the school. As a result a total of 333 schools and Madrasas could not get salary on time. The Malda treasury will look into all 21 points before clearing the salary bill for the month of February 2008, an administrative official said.
The treasury finally released salary bills for 154 schools for the month of October in the first phase. The district inspector of schools Mr. Chinmay Sarkar said that the decision has been conveyed to the government.
“This pressure was imperative to bring the whole matter within the system following the government’s directions”, Mr. Sarkar said.

Fresh twist to fake currency racket

MALDA, Dec 9: Uttar Pradesh police suspect that the Malda couple arrested in connection with fake currency circulation has a link with ISI and militant outfits in India. The Chief Judicial magistrate Malda court today remanded the couple in Uttar Pradesh police custody for three days. A UP police team from Aligarh arrived here yesterday and sought permission from the court to take them in UP for further investigation after registering a case. Acting on a tip-off from the UP police Malda police had arrested the couple Mr Liakat Ali and her wife Mrs Saqila Banu from Kalaichak police station area, close to India Bangladesh border, on Thursday night. Mrs. Banu was the pradhan of Alipur -I gram panchayat in Kaliachak. She is a Congress member of the GP. UP police arrested a total of seven people in Aligarh in connection with fake currency circulation and after interrogation tracked down the Malda couple. The inspector, special branch of UP police, Mr B Kumar told reporters here today that the couple had a direct link with a fake Indian currency circulation racket in UP. Mr Kumar told reporters: “ We suspect that the entire racket busted in Aligarh is involved in monetary transaction behind the serial blasts in UP and had a link with ISI”. “We need to interrogate the couple for further investigation to find out how far they are connected with foreign spy agencies in connection with subversive activities and circulation of fake Indian currencies to demoralize Indian economy”, he added. It was revealed that one Satpal alias Daoud arrested in Aligarh recently who was the think tank of the racket. Police seized more than Rs 12 lakh fake currencies from their possession. Investigation revealed that Mr Liakat Ali has connection with that group of people and regularly contacted over phone directly. UP police found two bank accounts of them in UP and where the couple has more than Rs. 75 lakh in their names. But Mr Liakat Ali has only a cycle shop in Kaliachak and a few acres of croplands. The members of the racket in U P used to come Malda to receive the fake currencies from Mr. Liakat Ali. Sometimes the group used to receive fake notes from a place on station road near Malda town station, police said. After tracking mobile phones and bank transactions through ATM, U P police traced the couple and after interrogating the arrested persons in Aligarh police got the address of the couple in Kaliachak. sns

Jansatabdi converted to Inter City Express

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Dec. 7: The popular train Jansatabdi Express from Malda to Howrah has been withdrawn. Instead, the railway authorities today converted it into Inter City Express from today. Though the railway authorities issued a notification few days ago for this change but the matter did not come to the notice of many passengers. As a result many passengers were taken aback today at Malda town station. “This is the same train but the name is different. The new feature is fare of Inter City Express is only Rs 100 from Malda to Howrah which is less than Jansatabdi”, the railway employees at the ticket counter told passengers this morning. The time table of this train has remained same in all stations and it would leave for Howrah from Malda town station about 6.10 a.m. everyday on the same route except Sundays. According to a staff of the reservation counter of Malda town station: “The fare of the Jansatabdi was Rs. 122. Though people were initially angry, they asked question about Jansatabdi angrily but they became happy, but were pleased with the fare”. Malda residents raised the question of facilities obtained from the Jansatabdi Inter City Express introduced suddenly. The local councillor of Malda town station area and the English Bazaar civic body chief Mr Narendranath Tiwari said that earlier the passengers were not satisfied with the facilities provided, butthe fare has decreased”.The Inter City Express has one AC compartment, according to reservation counter . It may be noted that Jansatabdi was running on this route since its introduction and the railway authorities reduced its fare and stopped supply of food pack, which was included within the fare to cope with the fare by bus services. The Malda people including the traders’ body had demanded the destination of the train would be Sealdah but the railway authorities did not accept the demand and did not change its route.

More hospital beds but no man power

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Dec. 7: The state government has sanctioned 100 more beds in Malda district hospital but the hospital is not in a position to provide that many number of new beds with the given manpower.According to the Malda chief district medical officer, health Dr Radha Raman Banik, the bed strength would go up to 599 once the 100 beds are added. “Although the beds were sanctioned in the month of November, we have not been able to introduce those due to a shortage of manpower. “We need more doctors and medical staff before the new beds can be introduced,” he said. About 700 to 725 patients are treated everyday in the Malda district hospital. “Due to the dearth of beds, often two patients have to share one bed,” said the hospital superintendent Dr Animesh Roy. According to the authorities, of the 57 sanctioned posts, the hospital at present has 46 doctors. Out of that number, five doctors have expressed the desire to avail of voluntary retirement. Similarly, of the 170 sanctioned nurse's posts 114 nurses are working in the hospital. “The matter would be discussed in the next district health monitoring committee meeting,” the hospital authorities, said. The Malda district health authorities have in the meantime, chalked out a plan to strengthen security from 1 January for the protection of on duty doctors and other medical staff inside the hospital. “One police outpost would be set up near the emergency department of the district hospital,” the Malda chief medical officer, health Dr Banik said. The decision comes following the attack on a pediatrician Dr TK Das a few days ago. It maybe noted that at least five government doctors in Malda district hospital have informed authorities that they would take voluntary retirement failing to bear the pressure in the district hospital.

Fake currency racket busted

MALDA, Dec. 7: Malda police arrested panchayat pradhan, Sakila Bibi, and her husband Liakat Ali in connection with fake currency circulation from Alipur village in Kaliachak police station area last night.Sakila, the pradhan of Alipur I gram panchayat fell ill after arrest and was admitted to Kaliachak hospital under police custody. She is undergoing treatment there. Police today produced her husband to Malda court. The Malda SP told reporters that the UP police had detected a racket of fake note circulation and after interrogation tracked down the couple. Last evening Malda police raided the house after being informed by UP police.UP police have asked the couple to be handed over to them. Both police and BSF had intercepted several persons and seized huge amount of fake Indian currency.

Arsenic free water for Kahala people soon

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Dec. 6: The Malda Public Health Engineering (PHE’s) arsenic division has planned to supply arsenic free treated water for drinking to the people of Kahala in Ratua after 15 January. Nearly Rs 23 crore was allotted for the construction of the plant at Kahala and its foundation stone was laid on 15 January 2006. Recently chief engineer of this department had visited the area to report the PHE minister Mr Goutam Deb to fix a date for its official inauguration. The chief engineer instructed the executive engineer to finish the work as soon as possible so that it can start trial run before 15 January. The executive engineer Mr A K Das is hopeful that he would be able to start trial run within the deadline.The department has set up a treatment plant of surface water collecting from the river Fulohar. At least 50,000 people will be benefited from this project at Kahala in Ratua, the departmental engineers claimed.It may be noted that the local Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) and minister for environment and state parliamentary affairs minister Mr Sailen Sarkar took initiative to set up an arsenic free water supply plant when the under ground water of that areas were identified as arsenic afflicted. In Malda, the Public health Engineering (PHE), arsenic division had taken up the same project at Mahadipur near Gour in English Bazaar, which is in progress to supply arsenic free water. At least seven blocks in Malda district have been identified as arsenic prone. The state Public health Engineering (PHE) spending more than Rs 125 crore had set two other big plants a few years ago at Dariapur in Kaliachak III and at Mathurapur in Manikchak with the help of the Central government’s financial assistance.