Approach road hurdle for bridge

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Feb. 25: Although the construction of a bridge for light vehicles over the Mahananda river that will connect Sahapur in Old Malda to English Bazaar town is nearing completion, its inauguration is uncertain owing to a dispute over approach road on the English Bazaar town side. A few days ago, the state PWD minister, Mr Kshiti Goswami, had visited the spot and discussed the matter with the officials and the political leaders. The minister found that three houses are obstructing the construction of the approach road. He instructed the Malda administration officials to acquire the land and, at the same time, take steps for the rehabilitation of the families who would be affected.Though it was decided that two separate single roads (for up and down separately) would be connected with the approach road, an objection raised by authorities of a reputed school made things difficult for the officials. Recently, an all-party meeting was held to discuss the issue and it was decided that a separate road would be constructed close to the District Sport Association field. The authorities of DSA, including some LF leaders, however, raised objections to the decision.They also organised a convention to protest against the move.“If the road is constructed, the DSA field would be affected,” they said. It may be recalled that chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee laid the foundation for the bridge nearly five years back.The PWD officials, meanwhile, are also facing difficulties in evicting the people for the construction of the approach road. #

Missing boy still untraced

MALDA, Feb. 25: Prakash Mondal (10), who was allegedly kidnapped from Manikpur village in Malda’s English Bazaar police station area last Friday, is still untraced. The English Bazaar police have detained three persons for interrogation in connection with the incident. “The family members of the victim have so far not lodged any complaint with us. However, we have collected necessary information regarding the incident. We are interrogating some people to trace the boy,” the Malda SP, Mr DK Mondal, said. It was learnt that Prakash was “kidnapped” last Friday when he was on way to home from his private tutor’s house. The father of the boy, a poor farmer, said he had no idea why his son was kidnapped. However, a neighbour of Prakash has been receiving calls on his cell phone from the kidnappers. “We would soon achieve a breakthrough,” Mr Mondal, claimed. SNS

L F leaders do a U-turn

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Feb. 23: The CPI-M chairman of Old Malda Municipality, Mr Biswanath Sukul, has finally managed to pacify three Left Front councillors out of the five who recently brought a no-confidence motion against him in connivance with the Opposition councillors from BJP. The three LF councillors have submitted written letters to the authorities concerned, claiming that they signed the no-confidence notice “without having any knowledge about its content”. Talking to The Statesman, one of the three councillors, said: “I do not know English and I was not aware of the content when I put my signature on that notice. Someone actually misled me.” Although the CPI-M-led board has managed to escape from the rift within the LF, the CPI-M leaders of the district have admitted that it was setback for them.“The no-confidence row has damaged the image of the party here,” a senior CPI-M leader of Malda, said.It may be recalled that four Opposition councillors from BJP had also supported the motion raised by five LF councilors ~ Mrs Gouranga Saha, Mr Paritosh Ghosh and Ms Minati Chakraborty (all from CPI-M), Ms Anjana Burman (RSP) and Ms Renuka Halder (Socialist Party). They had accused the chairman of the civic body, Mr Sukul, of failing to initiate any development work in the municipality area. The 17-member strong Old Malda Municipality has only four Opposition councillors, all from the BJP.The CPI –M enjoys eight seats, RSP four and the Socialist Party one.

Tough task for Farakka officials

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Feb. 22: One of the sluice gates of the Farakka Barrage that collapsed yesterday is yet to be repaired despite best efforts by the engineers. As a result, the water of the Ganges is flowing downstream towards Bangladesh. Authorities said they are trying hard to check the flow of additional volume of water to Bangladesh. “A part of sluice gate No 17 was damaged yesterday due to the water pressure and other technical problems. The repair work is on,” Mr MU Ghani, the general manager of Farakka Barrage Project (FBP), said. “These gates need repairs at regular intervals. The vibration of heavy vehicles that ply over the barrage makes the sluice gates vulnerable to such damages,” Mr Ghani, said, adding that efforts are on to ensure that the plant of National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) is not affected due to the collapse of the sluice gate. “The period between March and May is a tough time for us. We face difficulties to provide required water to the NTPC and the Kolkata Port”, the GM, added.An NTPC official claimed that their plant is functioning properly. “We faced no water scarcity today. Generally we start facing the scarcity from March.Last year, our water canal had dried up, prompting us to shut down two units for a few days.” The FBP authorities today tried to restore the water flow by throwing the “stop lock” to the damaged part of the sluice gate, but did not succeed owing to the heavy discharge.

After forcible marriage, it's security concern for minor girl now

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Feb. 22: A helpless Malda district administration today sought media support against forcible marriage of a 14-year-old girl from a minority community. The administration seems to have failed to provide her security at her own home due to a rigid social barrier.The girl was forced to marry a 70-year-old retired primary teacher Chand Mohammad when she was sleeping. The incident occurred in the last week of September 2006. The next day the girl, with the help of one of her brothers, met the Malda police and sought justice. The Malda Sub-divisional officer, Ms Arunima De, said: “We need media help to put pressure on the family as well as the society and find a way for her safety at home.” In consultation with the additional district magistrate (general), Mr Abdul Khaleque, the Malda SDO had summoned the parents of the victim and discussed a lot with them individually and jointly in presence of other officials including the additional superintendent of police on 7 February 2007. But the parents denied the incident of forcible marriage. Instead they alleged that their daughter had been kidnapped by a group of people. “We are certain that the victim’s mother was being prompted by someone. It is worrisome to see a mother go against her own child,” the SDO, said.The girl, who only can write her name, wants to go back home but the situation of the family as well as the village is not suitable for her safety and security. At present we do not want to send her to a government home against her opinion, the SDO confessed.It may be recalled that the girl had met national women’s rights commission member Mrs Malini Bhattacharjee when she was in Malda and Mrs Bhattacharjee had visited the Lakshmighaat village a few months ago. The Malda superintendent of police, Mr DK Mondal, had initiated a case against the victim’s father Md Syed Ali, the 70-year-old husband Chand Mohammad and others, including the marriage registrar on the basis of Anaras’s statement. According to a district official her statement read as follows: “…my family members forcibly took me away when I was in deep sleep and forced me to give consent to the marriage holding a sharp weapon against my neck.”Though her father and others had to surrender to the Malda Court after the case initiated by the police, they lodged two cases with the court to counter the police after their bail plea was granted. The SDO said that the girl was staying in different places with one of her brothers who is a rickshaw puller. The parents have driven out the son and her wife from home.

Farakka lock gate washed away

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Feb. 21: One of the lock gates of the Farakka Barrage Project was washed away this afternoon, making it difficult for officials there to check the flow of additional volume of water to Bangladesh. The matter came to the notice of the barrage authorities around 6.15 p.m. but they were not able to check the flow of water towards Bangladesh till the time of filing this report. Water from the Ganges is gushing out of the eastern side of the barrage which suffered the damage. Panic gripped National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) officials who were depending on the water to run their plant at Farakka. “Poor maintenance of the lock gates is responsible for this disaster,” a Farakka Barrage Project official said on the condition of anonymity. An assistant general manager of NTPC visited the site this evening to find out for himself how bad things were. Barrage Project men were on the job of repairing the lock gate till late into the night. The Project general manager, Mr MU Ghani, could not be contacted. An NTPC official said: “If the Farakka Barrage authorities fail to repair the lock gate, we will face a severe water crisis.” The Farakka Barrage was built in 1970s and more than 100 lock gates were installed to control the flow of water from India to Bangladesh.

L F rift comes to fore in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Feb. 21: The rift within the Left Front in Malda came to fore today when five Left Front councillors of Old Malda Municipality joined hands to bring no-confidence motion against the CPI-M chairman of the civic body, Mr Biswanath Sukul. The four Opposition councillors from BJP have also supported the motion. The five LF leaders ~ Mrs Gouranga Saha, Mr Paritosh Ghosh and Ms Minati Chakraborty (all from CPI-M), Ms Anjana Burman (RSP) and Ms Renuka Halder (Socialist Party) ~ have accused the chairman of the civic body, Mr Sukul, of failing to initiate any development work in the municipality area.“No development work has taken place in our locality. It has become difficult for us to face the voters. The chairman is resorting to nepotism while allotting funds,” the rebel councillors, alleged. They demanded that a meeting be conducted soon for the passage of the no-confidence motion. The 17-member strong Old Malda Municipality has only four Opposition councillors, all from the BJP.The CPI –M enjoys eight seats, RSP four and the Socialist Party one. Now, with LF five councillors bringing no-confidence motion against the chairman with support from the four BJP councillors, Mr Sukul is in trouble.Talking to The Statesman over telephone from Kolkata, Mr Sukul, said: “I am out of station and know nothing about the notice.”Malda Left Front convenor and the CPI-M’s district secretary, Mr Jiban Moitra, said: “The matter has come to my notice. However, I am not in a position to comment much on the issue at this moment.”

Malda LF to hold review meeting

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Feb. 21: The Malda district Left Front convener Mr Jiban Moitra would convene a meeting soon and seek clarification from the district leaders of the CPI and Forward Bloc about two members of Malda Zilla Parishad who had violated the party’s direction and extended support to the Congress-led minority board in passing the annual budget. The meeting is being viewed as a damage control exercise and to alert the Malda district Left Front leaders about the shaken unity.It may be recalled that the district CPI-M leaders as well as the LF convener Mr Jiban Moitra informed district party leaders to convey the decision to boycott the annual budget meeting of the MZP on 19 February. Both the CPI and FB suspended their two party members, Mr Suresh Saha and Mr Khoka Orao respectively on the charge of breaking the party’s direction.The CPI and FB leaders have also urged state committee leaders to expel the two rebel leaders from their parties.Speaking to The Statesman, though Mr Jiban Moitra was not agreed to comment critically on the matter. The embarrassed LF leader, who is also the CPI-M district secretary, said: “We would discuss the matter threadbare in the next meeting soon.” The two fallen persons Mr Saha, a CPI district committee member of the CPI and Mr Orao, a senior leader of the FB were not in contact with their respective party leadership and extended support to pass the Congress led minority board’s annual budget held on 19 February.“We never thought that being a district committee member Suresh Saha would extend support to the Congress led board secretly. It has damaged our party image and would take time to recover the loss,” said Mr Nikhil Jha, CPI district committee member and district secretary of its peasant wing. “The decision to expel Mr Saha was taken at a district committee meeting. The matter has been informed to the state committee. We do not know about the state committee’s decision yet,” he added. In reply to clarification sought by his party on his act, Mr Saha told his party associates that he had done so in the interest of the people of Malda. On the other hand, the FB district secretary, Mr Jiaul Hossain did not bother to seek clarification from Mr Khoka Orao and decided to expel him from the party blaming he had lined his pocket for the support. Though the CPI and FB leaders are upset over the disunity among the members they are asking questions about the decision to boycott the annual budget meeting of the MZP. A senior district leader of the CPI, said: “The budget meeting was scheduled to be held at 12 noon at MZP but the LF had called all the crucial meeting around 1.30 pm at the CPI-M party office. The LF convener should have called the meeting before 12 noon to convey the decision to all members

Airport official leaves Malda fearing attack

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Feb. 20: Mr SK Chanda, the in-charge of Malda airport, has left the town fearing attack on him by locals who are protesting against construction of a boundary wall to finalise land for the proposed airstrip here. A few days ago, some locals allegedly threatened him to stop the construction of the boundary wall. Yesterday, a group of locals allegedly stopped the construction work near a graveyard, besides threatening the labourers with dire consequences. However, the airport authorities have so far not lodged any complaint with the police.Talking to The Statesman over telephone from Kolkata, Mr Chanda, said he tried to sort out the problem, but failed in his mission. “I will urge the Malda district magistrate to provide us adequate security to complete the construction work,” Mr Chanda, said. It may be recalled that the locals have encroached the Malda airport land, constructing big buildings and flats for business purposes.For the construction of the boundary wall and the materialisation of the Malda airstrip project, these encroachers have to be evicted.Mr Chanda was adamant to recover the land by conducting survey with the help of the district administration, much to the chagrin of the encroachers. Meanwhile, the land dispute and controversy over the measurements carried out by two government agencies have left a question mark to the much-needed project. Mr Chanda had expressed his unhappiness over the results of the fresh survey carried out by the block land and land reforms officials. Mr Chanda said refugee rehabilitation department and railways would also conduct a joint survey to finalise map to ascertain the exact land of the Malda airport.

MZP budget passed , courtesy L F leaders

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Feb. 19: Two Left Front leaders ~ Mr Suresh Saha from CPI and Mr Khoka Orao from Forward Bloc ~ today helped the Congress-led Malda Zilla Parishad (MZP) board to pass its annual budget.Mr Orao, meanwhile, has been suspended from Forward Bloc on the charge of breaking the party whip.Earlier, the Opposition members of the MZP boycotted the budget session today following an instruction from the Malda district Left Front convenor, Mr Jiban Moitra.The step was apparently taken to teach the Congress a lesson for opposing the English Bazaar Panchayat Samiti budget.It may be recalled that the CPI-M-led English Bazaar Panchayat Samiti had recently failed to pass its annual budget following the Congress’s opposition. In the 65-member Malda Zilla Parishad general body, the Congress board is still far from majority.Hence, the Congress-led board was looking for the LF leaders’ support to pass the budget. Mr Moitra, however, said the decision to oppose the MZP budget was not at all related to the English Bazaar Panchayat Samiti budget.“We opposed the budget session because the ruling board did not record our comments in the lead up to today’s meeting,” Mr Moitra, said, adding that the matter has been brought to the notice of the Jalpiguri divisional commissioner and the Malda district magistrate. The MZP sabhadipati, Mr Goutam Chakraborty, said: “We had sought cooperation from all members of the MZP in the interest of development in the district. As a result, Mr Saha and Mr Orao today extended their support to us. The MZP today passed an estimated budget of Rs 68.77 crore for the year 2007-2008. Meanwhile, the Malda district Forward Bloc leaders today suspended its member, Mr Khoka Orao, from the party for going against the party whip. “We have sent a letter to the state committee, recommending Mr Orao’s expulsion from the party. The Congress leaders actually purchased Mr Orao with money. For the last five days, Khoka was out of station and we failed to contact him during this period. Today, he suddenly reached the MZP office along with the English Bazaar MLA Mr KN Choudhury and supported the budget,” Mr Jiaul Hossain, the Malda district general secretary of All India Forward Bloc, said.

Camp held in Malda to eradicate malnutrition

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Feb. 19: The Malda district administration today organised a health camp in Kaliachak II block to eradicate the problem of malnourishment. Doctors examined hundreds of women and their babies during the camp. Nearly 300 persons are suffering from malnutrition in Kaliachak II block. The ICDS workers and Malda SDO Ms Arunima De took special initiative to organise today’s camp for such patients. Ms De interacted with the patients to know their plight.“We have issued health nutrition cards to these projects. Women have been suggested to attend the next malnourishment eradication camp on 21 March along with their babies at the nearest health centres in the block,” she said. A large number of patients attended today’s camp and they were provided with meal and medicine, Ms De, said. The SDO also attended the sensitisation programme and interacted with the ICDS female workers, for the success of the project . The doctors examined the kids, besides making their parents aware about the disease. The ICDS workers have been requested to visit the houses of those suffering from the malnutrition problem and review the situation for the next camp, the SDO, Ms De, said.

Officials to meet AIDS victims

MALDA, Feb. 19: Officials of Malda’s social welfare department would visit Sahapur Colony, on the bank of the Mahananda river in Old Malda, to meet the members of a family ostracised for having contacted the deadly AIDS disease, Mr P Singha Roy, the district project officer, social welfare, said. It may be recalled that the secretary of Malda Ramkrishna Mission, Divyananda Maharaj, recently drew the attention of the officials concerned regarding the plight of the beleaguered family members who contacted the AIDS disease. He alleged that the Malda district hospital authorities had refused to admit the AIDS-affected persons. Divyananda also alleged that a member of the family, who used to work as domestic help, was forced to leave the job by her employer here. “The district administration should open a special cell for the AIDS victims at Malda district hospital,” Divyananda suggested. SNS

Silk cluster unit opened in Sujapur

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Feb. 15: To fetch diversified silk manufacturing units in the district, Malda district officials today launched a silk cluster unit at Sujapur in Kaliachak block. The newly launched unit is the first-of-its-kind in Malda district.District officials said that nearly 300 silk farmers and traders related to silk industry would play a key role to boost up silk industries at Sujapur. The National Agricultural Bank for Rural Development extended financial support to the silk cluster development programme and for implementing its capacity building programme with the help of a non-government organisation. The organisation interacted with hundreds of artisans and studied the Kaliachak area, famous for traditional silkworm rearing, production of silk yarn and its trade for the past five months and submitted its report suggesting setting up of a silk cluster at Sujapur.The object of the project is to develop the artisans who would lead the development programme of silk industries forming a committee head by a government official. The NGO would engage in capacity building programmes with the help of the Nabard so that the group can venture into silk reeling, twisting, weaving and manufacturing silk garments locally. On the other hand, this group can also export finished silk items with the help of the concerned department.To implement the proposed project the Nabard would maintain link with the banks for financial assistance and with other departments for necessary development. NABARD would also help train local artisans by experts from the National Institute of Small Industry Extension Training in Hyderabad, officials said. The Malda district magistrate, Sabhadhipati of Malda zilla parishad, Nabard officials and other concerned officials today appreciated the move during the launch of the programme at Sujapur. Recently, a large number of silk yarn producers here have shifted from producing fine silk to coarse silk to make more profit as it has more demand in the export market. The project initiated today would support produc value added cloth based from silk yarn manufactured in Malda.A report shows that the Indian silk textile market collects 75 per cent of its total requirement of silk yarn from the Malda district.

Child labourers

MALDA, Feb. 15: The 17 child labourers, rescued by Bihar police from Thakurganj in Bihar's Kishanganj district yesterday, were handed over to their family members tonight. All the rescued child labourers are the residents of Malda's Kaliachak police station area.It may be recalled that the Bihar police rescued 17 minor boys from the clutches of two agents ~ Barkat Ali and Mahatab Ali ~ while they were being taken to Nepal yesterday.Officials said that the Kishanganj police have initiated a case against the two accused persons under the immoral trafficking act. The family members of the 17 boys were summonsed by the Kalichack police tonight for interrogation. After a thorough interrogation, the family members revealed that they had agreed to hand over the boys to the agents for job in brick kilns in Nepal. For this, the parents of the boys received Rs 500 in advance from the agents. n SNS

Motorcycle lifters held

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Feb. 15: The Malda police busted a racket of motorcycle lifters and arrested eight persons in connection with the crime, police officials said today. The police also recovered a stolen motorcycle and seized a firearm from their possession.The Gazole police yesterday intercepted a few members of the racket and raided a house in Bamongola and arrested one of the culprits engaged in the crime of lifting two-wheelers. After interrogation the police learnt about the other members of the gang and raided another house at Golapganj, close to the Bangladesh border, under Kaliachak police station. “Police recovered a stolen two wheeler from the house of the receiver of the stolen two-wheelers at Golapganj. The culprits are from a new gang,” the Malda SP, Mr DK Mondal, said. Dozens of two-wheelers were stolen from Malda over the past few months causing a major headache for the police. Although the police tried out many strategies including setting up close circuit cameras in several spots of the town, the gang had so far managed to slip through the police net.“The two-wheeler owners are careless in parking. They do not bother about the thieves as they enjoy insurance coverage,” the Malda SP, said. “The police would henceforth pick up two-wheelers parked out side the authorised parking places,” he said.

Experts see business prospect in Malda

Statesman News Service
MALDA, Feb 14: - Contrary to belief that the Malda district is one of the most underdeveloped in the state and the country, financial institution officials claim that the district has good prospect for financial institutions.

The claim is controversial since the district is receiving Central assistance and schemes to develop infrastructure and generate employment.

Malda has already received the national rural employment guarantee scheme to ensure hundred days’ jobs for rural poor families with a view to stemming labour exodus.

Despite the present character, people from the financial world claim that the district is “financially potential” and many financial – both public and private – organisations work here extensively increasing volume of their businesses.

The Life Insurance Corporation of India (LICI) is all set to open its ‘satellite sampark’ office, an extended collection unit at Kaliachak tomorrow. And the satellite branch is the first of its kind under the LIC’s Jalpaiguri division in north Bengal.

The LICI has two branches in Malda town and another in Chanchal . According to LICI officials, the management has planned to open three more satellite branches at Gazole in Malda, at Gangarampur in South Dinajpur and at Kalimpong in Darjeeling district.

“ It is true that Malda is financially potential and a group of people is very rich”, said Mr. N K Mitra, senior branch manager Malda LICI.

He also said that the Malda branch is in fourth position in all India ranking in terms of business. It was in second position in 2003 and last year it was in the ninth position.

The silk industry, mango cultivation, bidi production, import and export to Bangladesh, transport business and agriculture productions have opened up major income avenues for a section of people in Malda.

Not only the LICI, but also other private banks have opened their branches here and are happy with this market potential.

While the LICI officials underlined Malda’s potential, according to the Malda district website, the district’s backwardness is characterized by low per capita income, low yield per acre of land, backwardness in industrialization, shortage of capital and entrepreneurship, and also lack of infrastructure and large labour surplus.

“The district has no known mineral resources and agriculture remains the mainstay. The main agricultural products are paddy, wheat, jute and Rabi crops”, the website says.

The official district portal also claims that despite this backwardness, Malda occupies an important place in the map of West Bengal for the production of raw-silk yarn.

The annual estimated production of raw-silk yarn in this district is about 85 percent of the total output of West Bengal which, if considered in terms of money amounts to approximately Rs 4 crores.

Production of mango is another important aspect of Malda’s economy. About 45,00 acre of land are covered by mango orchards, which, in normal years, bear fruit to the extent of 360,000 tones the value of which in monetary terms, comes to about Rs. 5.5 crores.

The population of this district is mainly rural. Starting from the year 1949, a large displaced population from erstwhile East Pakistan settled in the border areas like English Bazaar, Bamongola, Habibpur and Malda. #

Malda college makes the grade

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Feb. 13: The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), an autonomous body of the University Grants Commission (UGC), has accredited Gour Mahavidyalaya of Mangalbari, Malda with a ‘B’ grade this year. The NAAC published its results on 10 February this year. Grade ‘B’ means the college has secured 70-75 percent marks in the assessment. The NAAC accredited two more colleges from north Bengal this year. While the Mathabhanga College in Cooch Behar has earned a grade ‘C+,’ the Kalimpong College has earned a ‘B’ grade. A total of 11 colleges in West Bengal have been accredited after the results were published on 10 February. The NAAC has so far accredited 83 Colleges in West Bengal. Of them, a total of 16 colleges are in north Bengal. The Gour Mahavidyalaya had applied to the NAAC on 15 May 2006 and a team from the NAAC, comprising senior educationists Mr Sanat Mukherjee of Ranchi, Mr M S K Khokar from Vilaspur and Mrs Suneethi Reddy from Hyderabad visited the Gour Mahavidyalaya on 4 and 5 December. “The three member NAAC team has in its report appreciated transparency in students’ admission and student-teacher relationship in Gour Mahavidyalaya,” claimed its principal Mr Pranatosh Sen today. “The NAAC team has suggested playgrounds, NCC and NSS units in the college,” he added. The team has advised to introduce vocational courses especially for girl students considering the backwardness of the district where schedule caste and tribe and minority people are present in large numbers. The principal further said: “The NAAC has suggested creation of new posts for teaching staff based on the teacher-student ratio and recommended to sanction full time teachers for self-financed graduate courses and for science subjects.” Mr Sen also claimed that the team appreciated the quality of the teachers and the college might seek assistance from UGC and from the Centre for building a girls’ hostel for backward class. “Introduction of remedial studies with an approval of the UGC and studies for competitive examinations for civil services and bachelor of education programmes have also been suggested by the NAAC experts,” the teachers said. In order to develop the infrastructure of the college and expansion of its buildings, the team has recommended that the college authorities can seek funds from the Malda zilla parishad, Uttar Banga Unnayan Parishad, district planning and coordination committee and even look for local sponsorship. “We had applied to the MZP and other bodies for funds to develop infrastructure our college but the application was not approved by the zilla parishad authorities,” the principal lamented. #

Briefs :

Corpse found

The police recovered the decomposed body of a married woman from Fulohar river under Manikchak police station who was missing for six days on Tuesday. Police detained two youths in this connection today and are looking for another one after recovery of the body. Police suspect that the woman was allegedly raped and killed. “The accused is being interrogated. We would be able to draw a conclusion soon,” said Malda SP, Mr DK Mondal. The police said that the woman, a resident of Bhutni Diara, an island on the Ganga, fled from her house six days ago. Some locals saw her on a boat with three youths. #

Pacemakers

After Siliguri and Kolkata, Malda would be getting its pacemaker setting facility soon. A private medical institution has developed its unit for setting pacemakers permanently. Cardiologist Dr Subhash Nandi successfully operated a male patient and set a permanent pacemaker on Tuesday. “People used to go either to Siliguri or Kolkata to avail of the medical facility but now they can avail of the facility here,” the doctor, said.

Survey to reclaim Ganges bank

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Feb. 12: A special team of the Directorate of Land Records and Survey, Kolkata, is ascertaining the old left bank line of the Ganges in Malda district. The object of the survey is to recover land of West Bengal lost to Jharkhand through Ganga erosion. Such eroded tracts of land, which have surfaced on the western side of the river, is currently under the control of the Jharkhand government. The state government as well as the Malda district magistrate Mr CR Das took initiative to conduct the survey and then begin an “inter- government" dialogue to take possession of the land cut away from West Bengal by the Ganges erosion over the past few decades. “The present survey revealed that 48 moujas, nearly 100 square miles of area, have been eroded away and have surfaced on the western side, which is under the control of the Jharkhand government,” said the Malda district magistrate. Mr Das said: “We shall have to contest on the basis of the rights conferred by the Indian Constitution to get back the lost land that is under the control of the Jharkhand government.”With the mid stream of the Ganges accepted as the flexible boundary line between the states, the Jharkhand government has taken possession of those islands on the western side of the Ganges. "We want to establish a “fixed boundary line” between the two neighboring states ~ West Bengal and Jharkhand, based on the statutory provision of the Indian constitution,” Mr CR Das claimed. The local people have been demanding for long that the West Bengal government reclaim the land on the western side of the river. People residing on the island without basic amenities also want to come under the control of the West Bengal government. Politically, the CPI-M leaders, including the state's minister for land and land reforms Mr Abdur Rezzak Molla, had visited the area and attended a convention in Kaliachak II on the issue of settlement of the disputed land between the two states. The Malda administration was also forced to conceive the idea to recover the land now in Jhakhand when it failed to rehabilitate the thousands of families rendered homeless in Kaliachak II block due to land constraint.

Move to identify encroached land

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Feb. 12: A team of experts from the State Land Records and Survey today started a fresh survey of the exact area of Malda airport’s land under encroachment. The survey would continue till 14 February. The airport officials hope that the survey would settle disputes over certain plots of land encroached upon by locals, promoters and even a state government department like the fire service. The survey is fine but it has not impressed the people much. They are all concerned about when would the airport become operational. “At least nine acres out of 155 acres of the Airport Authority of India’s land continues to remain under encroachment,” said Mr SK Chanda, officer-in-charge of Malda airport.The airport officials have identified two plots numbering 461 and 459 that are in the clutch of encroachers. The official accused the land and land reformation department for letting these plots go to the private builders by not updating and lingering the process of the land records. Pointing out the particular house of one Achintya Sarkar which falls under the airport land he said: “I raised objection against the structure back in 1993, but the BLLRO took 10 long years to refer it to court." He also pointed out the multistory building on the eastern side of the airport posed a threat to aircraft landing or taking off. “At present, we need to at least 800 metres of additional space on the western side for the extension of the runway for which we have proposed to acquire lands", he added. The administration has also spotted mobile towers, brick kilns and hotels which might pose hindrance to smooth landing of planes.

Briefs : Fair & Grant

Fair

MALDA, Feb. 11: With a view to aware of central government’s plans and programmes “Bharat Nirman Nabodaya Utsav” will be organised at Rukundipur in Ratua, Malda , from 20 to 24 February. Mr. Santanu Palodhi, deputy director general, Press Information Bureau, informed the local reporters here yesterday.The Malda has been selected for implementing national rural employment scheme, he says. And this festival would focus about the rights of people to avail the NREGS for their livelihood. Authorities would also focus government’s plans for the development of minority groups. Importance to form self-help groups, development of agriculture and bankers’ role, and literacy would be focused in this five day fair. SNS

Grant

MALDA, Feb. 11: The central government has sanctioned Rs 15 crore for Malda considering it as backward district recently. Besides Malda, Murshidabad and Midnapore East have got the same fund. On Friday the district magistrate convened a meeting with the Sabhadhipati and other district officials to allocate the funds among 15 blocks and two municipalities. The government has set 31 March 2007 deadline to utilise the funds. This project would be continued for five years. Officials said this fund would be spent for the development of drinking water , kitchen for primary schools and ICDS centres , toilets. For agricultural development 10 selected self-help groups will get mini pump and tractor. SNS

Demolition drive for beautification project

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Feb. 11: Finally the Congress and Trinamul Congress led English Bazaar civic body initiated a demolition drive from 14 February with the help of the administration to implement a beautification project in Malda town. The Malda SDO, Ms Arunima De visited some encroached areas including the footpath on either side of the road in the mid-town and finalised a date of eviction in first phase. The English Bazaar municipality took a demolition drive in December last year and also in January but could not execute owing to the unavoidable circumstances and decision was inclusive. “We did not want to evict the small traders from the footpath before Saraswati Puja and changed the decision to evict them before 26 January considering Republic Day”, said Mr Rama Prasad Banerjee, a congress councilor and the officer in-charge of the beautification project. According to him, there will be a central parking zone in front of the Malda town hall from 8 am to 8 pm in order to stem the unauthorised parking on the roads particularly in front of the Chittaranjan market. The civic body has issued a notice to all the market committees and urged them to clear the footpaths encroached by some hawkers. In the second phase, the civic body will seize the unauthorized rickshaws, coming from the panchayat areas, and prevent them from entering Malda town. On 14 February the civic body will evict small traders from Rabindra Avenue, BG road and KJ Sanyal road.

Doctor's stand

MALDA, Feb. 9: The doctors’ reply to showcause notice issued by the Malda CMOH against the death of a newborn baby in Malda district hospital would be sent to the director of health services for necessary action, health department officials said today. The Malda CMOH, Dr Radha Raman Banik, had to issue a a show cause to three doctors, three nurses and two Group D staffers following protest by the people, political parties and intervention of the district magistrate. On 1 February relatives had found that the newborn baby, wrongly pronounced dead, was alive and they lodged a complaint against the incident. The baby was finally declared dead about 10.40 am on 2 February. The CMOH said: “We received the doctors’ reply. We did not open the sealed envelopes. The replies would be forwarded.” SNS

Meeting to regularise pulse polio

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Feb. 9: Malda district magistrate Mr CR Das today held a meeting with the health officials to gear up the pulse polio immunisation drive to be held from 11 to 13 February. Health authorities said they would take a special drive at the brick kilns, stone crushing zones and bidi factories where labourers from Bihar and Jharkhand come to work along with their children. “We are concerned about areas bordering the neighbouring states of Bihar and Jharkhand where wild polio virus gets detected regularly,” said Dr Radha Raman Banik , Malda CMOH. “Due to that reason we have decided to mobilise our forces in those areas to administer polio drop among children aged below five,” the CMOH, said. According to him, since January 2006 a total of 666 polio cases have been detected in India. Of those, 539 cases have been detected in Uttar Pradesh and 61 cases were detected in Bihar. “The rest surfaced in other states including one case in West Bengal,” he informed. The health officials have decided to try and cover 21 per cent of the left out babies as per the target taken in every immunisation drive. Records showed that in January 2007, the health officials had been able to cover 79 per cent of its target and 5,43,339 children were attended to. In September 2006, the health officials had been able to cover 73 percent of their target figure. The CMOH also disclosed that there had been some stray pockets of resistance across the district where the health workers could not reach due to various technical difficulties. The CMOH has urged the district magistrate to involve panchayat officials in this programme so that school authorities keep their schools open for the setting up of pulse polio booths. The Malda district magistrate Mr C R Das said that not only the health workers but also the ICDS workers and NGO volunteers would take part to make the programme a success.

Mango crop to improve

Manas R Banerjee

MALDA Feb. 9: Despite continuous fog, rain and cloudy weather, Malda is expected to have a better mango crop production this year. The experts confirmed the same. “Though bad weather has affected the mango flowers, forming fungus, it would not damage its final production. We expect a production of 2.5 lakh metric tons of mango this year compared to last year’s 1.9 lakh metric tons,” said Mr SN Khara, Malda mango development officer. According to the mango development officers, almost 60 per cent flowering is over for the early variety of mangoes. “The rest of the flowering is also expected to be complete in another two weeks’ time,” they said. The mango development officials are also educating the mango farmers on how to make the best use of the conditions. The mango farmers have been advised against the usage of any chemical to kill fungus in the cloudy weather. Only water spray has been suggested to save the mango flowers. The officials have also named the two ingredients that farmers can use for a rich harvest. “The mango farmers can spray carbendazim (one gm per litre water) for nourishment in sunny weather and carbaril as pesticide (two gms per litre),” the officials have suggested. The department organised a seminar on mango production and export development at Malda mango pack house and multipurpose cold storage at English Bazaar yesterday. The Malda zilla parishad sabhadhipati Mr Goutam Chakraborty yesterday inaugurated the implementation of themango production and infrastructure development project for export under the National Horticulture Mission (NHM) handing over cheques to a few selected applicants. It may be noted that the NHM has allotted Rs 12 crore in the last two financial years for the development of mango and litchi production and infrastructure development for export. At present the Malda district has 25,500 hectares of land under mango cultivation and a small part of it has been selected for the production of export quality mangoes and litchis. Mainly farmers at Amriti in English Bazaar, Mathurapur and Nazirpur in Manikchak and Pukuria in Ratua cultivate mango using bio-fertiliser.

Who cares for these malnourished kids ?

Statesman News Service

MALDA Feb 8: - The Malda district administration has identified about 300 “extremely malnourished,” children in Kaliachak II block. A special drive is being planned to eradicate the problem of malnutrition in the block. In order to eradicate the problem of malnourishment, a special team comprising medical officers, health workers and ICDS workers would organise a camp in two places where the parents of the victims have been urged to attend the programme with their children, said Ms Arunima De, Malda sub divisional officer. “This is a pilot project in a particular block of this district,” she added. The idea was adopted from Nadia district where the sub divisional officer undertook such programme successfully. The Malda district administration will set up two camps at Kaliachak II block office and at block primary health centre on 19 February. The medical officials would interact with the parents for counseling and provide supplementary diet for the malnourished kids. It may be noted that many people in Kaliachak II block live in char land in mid Ganges without basic amenities. The district officials plan to implement such programme in the other 14 blocks of the district.

Uplift the key word in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA Feb. 8: - The divisional commissioner Jalpaiguri, Mr B L Meena, has suggested Malda district officials to prepare another infrastructure development project with unspent fund of Rs 1 crore allotted for the Laxmipur drainage project in English Bazaar. The fund has been lying idle since long. Mr Meena held a review meeting yesterday with Malda district officials to learn about the status of the developmental projects sponsored by the Uttar Banga Unnayan Parishad and took such a decision as the Malda officials were not in a position to show utilisation certificate for the Laxmipur drainage scheme. District officials said: “The divisional commissioner had clearly said that UBNP would not allot fund for acquisition of land for implementing the Laxmipur drainage scheme. The UBNP fund would be allotted only for infrastructure development of a district.” It may be noted that at least Rs 2.5 crore was required to acquire land for implementing the Laxmipur drainage scheme in English Bazaar but there was no such fund to acquire land for the project sanctioned by the UBNP. The UBUP had allotted Rs 1 crore for the proposed drainage scheme but no fund was allotted to acquire the required land. Moreover, the administration could not acquire land due to various hurdles and objections raised by Opposition political parties, officials said. Malda district administration officials added that they would prepare another development scheme soon to utilise the unspent fund allotted for the Laxmipur drainage scheme. The district magistrate has convened an all-party meeting on the Laxmipur drainage project to adopt a resolution on the issue, the officials informed.

One held with fake currency

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Feb. 7: The Malda police arrested one Nikhil Mandal and seized fake Indian currency worth Rs 7, 62,500 in denominations of Rs1, 000 and Rs 500 from his house this morning. “Nikhil confessed during interrogation that he got the fake notes from an agent in Bangladesh and was awaiting instruction from the racketeers. He was supposed to hand over the notes to others,” said Malda S P, Mr Dilip Kumar Mondal. The SP added that that police had also seized a sum of Rs 49,000 in genuine Indian currency from the arrested person. “We are trying to arrest a member of the gang who is operating and circulating fake currencies here,” the police official, said. A few weeks ago, Malda police arrested a few persons working as carriers and seized fake currency worth over Rs 3, 00,000 from a locality under the Kaliachak police station. The police are of the opinion that Kaliachak being close to the Bangladesh border has added to the problem as the racketeers find it convenient to operate in the region given the proximity with the border. According to the police, the gang involved in the crime is sending fake currencies to Delhi and Mumbai through agents in the Jharkhand state. It is reported that one Sadhan Mandal , resident of Malda , was arrested by the Ranchi police in Jharkhand recently in connection with fake currency trade and he confessed before the police that a Pakistan based group supplied the1, 000 rupee notes to Malda via Bangladesh.

Boundary wall sparks row in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Feb. 6: The Malda chief medical officer of health, Dr Radha Raman Banik, today urged the police not to allow the people of a minority community to construct boundary wall along a mazhar on the Malda hospital premises.The Malda Zilla Parishad sabhadhipati, Mr Goutam Chakraborty, reportedly gave permission for the construction of the boundary wall, much to the chagrin of the hospital authorities.Arguing that the site is being considered for the proposed medical college, Dr Banik urged the police to immediately stop the boundary wall construction.After getting "green signal" from the MZP, people have already have started assembling materials for the construction at the site. The hospital authorities had first raised the objection to the police on 12 January. However, the MZP sabhadhipati, Mr Goutam Chakraborty, refused to withdraw the permission.He, instead, sent a formal proposal to the hospital authorities for the construction of the boundary wall."Such constructions on the hospital premises would create difficulties for the patients. If the boundary wall was built, a large number of devotees would throng the site, thus making things difficult for us," the CMOH, Dr Banik, said.

Embarrassment for Malda hospital

MALDA, Feb. 2: The newborn baby, "wrongly" pronounced dead yesterday, breathed his last today.It may be recalled that angry relatives of the newborn baby had ransacked the maternity ward of the Malda district hospital yesterday after the child, taken for dead, was found alive.The ill-fated baby, however, died around 10.40 am today.Meanwhile, the chief medical officer of health, Malda, Dr Radha Raman Banik, has ordered a probe into the incident. "Yesterday, the staff of the hospital wrongly pronounced the child dead. They should have waited for at least four hours before arriving at a conclusion. A detailed report regarding the incident has been sent to the director of health services and other officials," the CMOH, said. He informed that that a sweeper of the maternity ward has been suspended following the incident. "If found guilty, action would also be taken against the doctors and the nurses concerned," Dr Banik, said. SNS

Tough time for Malda passengers

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Jan 31: The assistant station manager, Mr NK Sengupta, was confined in a room by angry passengers at the Malda town station for several hours today.The passengers were protesting against alleged misleading information being provided by the employees of the railway enquiry department.The passengers alleged that the railway officials often mislead them by providing wrong information about the schedule of different long-distance trains. The railway authorities found it difficult to manage the angry passengers, who failed to board the long-distance trains, such as the 5648 Dn Guwahati Lok Manya Tilak Express and others, today allegedly due to the wrong information provided by the officials of the enquiry section. "The concerned staff of the told us that the 5648 Dn would arrive here around 3 am, but the train had left the station at 1 am," the passengers, alleged. The railway officials, however, said that nearly 59 passengers could not catch the long-distance trains on time today due to the rescheduling of some trains following the ongoing unrest in Assam. The divisional commercial manager of Malda railway division, Mr RN Tambe, said: "Passengers came to station around 2 am but the train had left earlier. They came to the station based on time mentioned in their reservation tickets". "It was not the fault of the enquiry section staff. The schedule of the trains had suddenly changed due to the present problem in Assam,"Mr Tambe, added. He said that 17 passengers were accommodated on 2504 New Jalpaiguri passenger train to board the Howrah-Bombay Mail.