Some medicine shops should remain open for 24 hours: DM

MALDA, Aug. 29: The district magistrate Mr CR Das today held a meeting with the medicine shop owners’ association urging them to keep some of their shops at English bazaar town for 24 hours.The district magistrate ensured them that all necessary arrangements for their security will be provided at night. In Malda, only a few shops close to the Malda district hospital, remain open at night. The medicine shop owners’ association assured the district magistrate that they would soon submit a list of the medicine shops. Last evening, the district magistrate and top officials held a meeting with the members of IMA of Malda, health service association, the chief medical officer and chairman of English Bazaar municipality to keep open a few private doctors chambers on Sundays. It was decided that IMA would convey their decision in seven days and they would also submit the list of doctors in major streams who will keep open their chambers on Sundays. It was also decided that with the private doctors chambers some pathological units close to doctors’ area, would provide services on Sundays. The chief medical officer of health Dr R R Banik has informed the district magistrate that he would increase one more doctor in the emergency department of the Malda district hospital on Sundays. Dr RR Banik has expressed inability to depute doctors due to lack of present staff strength in district hospitals. n SNS

Flood alert in Malda

MALDA, Aug. 29: The Malda district administration has alerted all 15- block development officers, particularly in the northern part of Malda, following further rising of water in the Fulohar river. The BDOs have been asked not to leave till the situation returns to normal. The water level in the Fulohar has increased 30 cm in the past 48 hours and presently the river is flowing at 28.26 metres with rising trend at Teljana gauge station in Malda and could cross the extreme danger level’ (EDL- 28.35 metres), it is feared. According to the irrigation department officials, water in the Fulohar and Mahananda would continue rising for a few days. Thousands of people in the unprotected banks of Fulohar have been affected three times this year. n SNS

No off for doctors on Sunday

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Aug 28: The Malda district magistrate Mr CR Das is determined to break the traditional system of private doctors’ chambers in English Bazaar town remaining closed on Sundays as holidays. The Malda DM has also planned to depute more doctors in emergency of the district hospital on Sundays as an alternative to private doctors' chambers. Today, Mr Das called an emergency meeting to approach doctors about the plan to keep a few doctors’ chambers open in this town in the interest of the public. The chief medical officer of health Dr RR Banik, the leaders of health service doctors, an association of government doctors and the representatives of Indian Medical Association, Malda unit have been summoned to attend the meeting for interaction with the district magistrate. “On Sundays many people face acute problem when they fall ill here and they do not have the scope to consult with the doctors because all doctors enjoy Sundays as holidays shutting down all chambers,” said Mr CR Das. “People who face health trouble cannot get medical treatment and services in this town in case of an emergency. This practice cannot run for long," said Mr CR Das. Mr Das admitted that people do not get sufficient consultant doctors at emergency department of Malda district hospital, as an alternative to private doctors’ chambers.

Minister for enhanced flood protection ways

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Aug 28: The irrigation and waterways minister, Mr Subhas Naskar has requested the district magistrate Mr CR Das to take initiative to build the ninth retired embankment which is imperative on the left bank of river Ganga for flood protection inthe next year. According to the district magistrate, the minister has expressed concern about poor flood preventive measures on the left bank of the Ganga and has said that the entire Malda district may be devastated by floods if the department cannot build the ninth retired embankment. After visiting the Ganga belt yesterday the minister and top officials held a meeting with the district officials including the district magistrate and proposed to take flood preventive measures. At present the irrigation department is preventing floodwaters of the Ganga by a more than 1 km long dwarf embankment at Kaliachak II from entering into protected areas. The river is flowing just 15 cm below the ‘extreme danger level’ (EDL-25.29 metre) at Manikchak Ghaat in Malda for the last four days . The irrigation department predicts that the water level will continue to rise from next week i.e. the last spell of floods. The district administration could not build the ninth retired embankment in the last five years, after the eighth retired embankment eroded away, due to villagers’ opposition during land acquisition based on the alignment. Last year villagers agreed to offer their land according to the alignment of the embankment but they tried to force the administration to acquire the entire land from the proposed alignment to the bank line of the river. After hearing the proposal of villagers in the all political party meeting at block level, the executive engineer Mr S Misra had turned down the proposal terming it ‘impractical’ and informed the departmental authorities that construction of the ninth retired embankment was not possible here. Mr CR Das said: “I have asked the executive engineer, irrigation department, in Malda to prepare a proposal, based on the resolution adopted from yesterday's meeting convened by the minister, and to inform it officially with a proposal of land acquisition based on the proposed alignment.” “I have also asked the department to complete other formalities on time to hand over land so that the irrigation department can start its work early and can complete it before monsoon,” Mr CR Das said. According to the Malda DM, the alignment will be finalised following technical point of views as suggested by the irrigation department. The DM may call an all-political party meeting to adopt a resolution for the proposed embankment and land acquisition for its construction. The executive engineer Mr S Misra said: “I will send proposal of land acquisition to the district magistrate very soon."

More security after bomb hoax

MALDA, Aug. 28: The state electricity department has decided to beef up security at their sub-stations after receiving anonymous phone calls last evening. The electricity officials received several phone calls last evening with the callers claiming that bombs had been planted at the Nimasarai sub-station at Kotwali and Rathbari sector office in Malda. The callers asked the power department authorities to evacuate the staff from their offices and take necessary steps after the explosion. Initially, the sector office staff ignored the calls assuming it was some prankster at work but took it seriously after successive calls and informed their higher authorities. The divisional manager promptly informed police and urged a search in the sub-stations and offices last night. A search by police revealed nothing. But authorities do not want to leave anything to chance. n SNS

CPM's 12 hour shutdown

MALDA, Aug. 27: A day after chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said at a traders’ body meeting that he was opposed to any kind of bandh, the local CPI-M leaders today called a 12-hour bandh at Narhatta gram panchayat tomorrow in protest against the murder of a CPI-M worker. The district CPI-M leaders here said that bandh was a weapon for protest and mobilise people on a particular issue. A CPI-M worker Ali Hossian (35) was hacked to death at Babupur village in English Bazaar police station on Monday evening by a group of local people allegedly belonging to the Congress. The police recovered the body yesterday and arrested only one out of the eight named in the FIR.The police on inquiry have learnt that trouble broke out over a business deal among the rival factions, but the victim's relatives held the Congress responsible for the crime. The locals alleged that had the police taken prompt action, Ali Hossian could have survived through medical attention and his attackers arrested on Monday night.A group of villagers, who found the critically injured Hossain, on Monday evening informed the police about the incident and sought police intervention regarding his admission to the hospital. The locals alleged that the police acted late on the issue. n SNS

Citu backed rickshaw pullers not to pay parking fees

MALDA, Aug. 27: Hundreds of rickshaw pullers backed by the Citu finally decided not to pay parking fees at Malda town station imposed by the English Bazaar Municipality (EBM). More than 2000 rickshaw pullers under the banner of Citu staged demonstration in front of the English Bazaar municipality today and their leaders submitted memorandum on various issues including parking fee collection. The leader of Citu Mr Indrajit Mitra argued that the civic body was not in position to claim parking fee from ‘manually controlled vehicles’ like rickshaw based on Municipal Act. Besides parking fees, the rickshaw pullers demanded a simple method of renewal of rickshaw license and to stop unnecessary harassment in municipality office. Criticising the system of fitness tests of rickshaws before renewal of its license the rickshaw pullers demanded restoration of bad road across the Malda town and repairing of potholes. The rickshaw pullers argued that a councillor, having no mechanical degree, was not an expert to issue fit certificate of a rickshaw before renewal of license. n SNS

Irrigation dept visit erosion hit areas

MALDA, Aug. 27: The minister for irrigation and waterways department Mr Subhas Naskar and top departmental officials today gauged vulnerable condition of an Island in the Ganga, which is gradually eroding away, in Manikchak block and discussed the matter with the district officials.The objective of his visit along with the chief engineer II and secretary of this department was to sanction funds to check erosion after destruction of the present circuit embankment. It may be noted that the district irrigation officials demanded at least Rs. 1 crore to check erosion temporarily and to build another retired embankment for future flood protection at a recent meeting held in Kolkata convened by the minister a few weeks ago.The minister told the executive engineer of the irrigation department in Malda that funds would be sanctioned after measuring the situation of that vulnerable area.It may be recalled that the irrigation department would not be able to take up any permanent nature of work to check erosion at Bhutni Diara Island due to the objection from the Ganga Flood Control Commission and the Central Water Commission.Speaking on the occasion the minister said that the department would take measures to check erosion following the guidelines of experts at a time when the ‘disappearence’ of a large part of this Island is a serious concern for hundreds of people living there. The irrigation department and experts of the GFCC and CWC forecast that a large part of the island would be eroded away in coming years. n SNS

Meet for a normal life near border area

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Aug. 26: The district magistrate Mr CR Das convened a coordination meeting with the border security force to reduce the plight of some villagers who live on either side of the fencing on the Indian land along India Bangladesh border. The BSF today kept their proposal before the district magistrate to shift the villagers who are living out side the Indian fencing but on the side of Bangladesh for security reasons. In Malda , there are a few villages where people live on the other side of the fencing but in Indian land. They are kept within fences and cannot move freely for security reasons. The border security forces always keep a watch over them. Political leaders had submitted a memorandum regarding the problem of such people who can't even enter their country for essential works including medical treatment in hospital without the permission of the BSF jawans. Villagers faced acute problem a few days ago when tension prevailed along the India Bangladesh border after death of a BSF jawan in BDR firing in Kaliachak area. According to political leaders, “many students were stopped from going to schools for many days till the situation was brought under control. Some villagers had to go to Bangladesh to buy food for exchange of high prices during that period”. During the meeting political leaders today demanded that government would have to shift the villagers inside the country implementing the rehabilitation package formulated by the central government which has already been implemented in North Dinajpur and other district. The district magistrate Mr CR Das has called another meeting on 2 September along the border in Kaliachak III block area. It was also decided that the officials would take stock of the situation for implementing rehabilitation package after interacting with the locals.

Cong blamed for murder of CPM man

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Aug 26: Tension prevails at Babupur village under English Bazaar police station after the murder of a CPI-M worker last night. Ali Hossain (35), a local poultry trader, was hacked to death by a group of five to six goons last night, police said. When the villagers found the body this morning local CPI-M workers alleged that the goons who killed him belonged to Congress. Ali Hossain was threatened with dire consequences when the Congress came to power in Panchayat, they claimed. “Trouble broke out due to some business deal but we can not rule out political reasons behind the incident,” said Mr Satyajit Bandyopadhayay, Malda SP. Family members of Ali Hossain lodged a complaint with police against eight people. Police arrested one of them belonging to Congress. When the incident came to light this morning, the local reporters got information that a ‘notorious’ criminal was lynched at Babupur under Narhatta gram panchayat. Another section of local reporters got information that reacting to Ali Hossain's ‘indecent’ proposal to a woman, he was killed. Local CPI-M leaders claimed that Ali Hossain was an active worker of their party and local Congress workers had targeted him. The Congress MLA in English Bazaar Mr KN Choudhury claimed that the motive behind the killing was business dispute among them and it was not related to any political issues.

Irrigation dept to visit flood ravaged areas

Statesman news Service

MALDA, Aug 25: Top officials of irrigation and waterways department will visit Ganga to take stock of the situation of flood control and erosion on Wednesday and hold a meeting with the district administrative officials after the visit to discuss the necessary measures. The minister for irrigation and waterways department Mr. Subhas Naskar, the chief engineer II, Mr. Mihir Samanta and departmental secretary Mr. Tapan Kumar Mitra will visit the left bank of the Ganga from Sultantola near Panchanandapur in Kaliachak II to Bhutni Diara, an island in the Ganga, in Manikchak on Wednesday morning. The top officials arrived in Malda today and left for Raiganj in North Dinajpur to hold a meeting with the district administrative officials regarding flood preventive measures and erosion control of several rivers along the India Bangladesh border. The officials will also hold a meeting with the South Dinajpur district officials including the district magistrate and departmental officials on Tuesday for the same agenda. On Tuesday evening they will return to Malda. In Malda district, flood situation improved when the water level of the Ganga and Fulohar started receding from 22 August. But due to fluctuation of the water level of the Ganga, there has been erosion in different areas along its left bank. Today, a large part of croplands at Sultantola in Kaliachak II, stretching 200 metres, was eroded away when the water level started receding. According to the local irrigation officials, velocity of water was very high at Sultantola where middle channel is connected with the left channel towards Farakka. Local sources said some anti-erosion work, which had begun there, was damaged. Irrigation officials fear fresh erosion at Kesharpur in Bhutni Diara and Domhaat area in Manikchak block area due to fluctuation of water level. The department had started anti erosion work at Kesharpur to save a circuit embankment there. The water from the inundated areas in three blocks, where nearly 50,000 people were affected, have started receding but flood victims are anticipating fresh floods in September. According to the irrigation officials, the water level of the Ganga and Fulohar will continue to rise in the first week of September, the last spell of flood in this year.

CHCMI adopted in 7 blocks of Malda

MALDA, Aug 25: The panchayat and rural development department has introduced the Community Health Care Management Initiative (CHCMI) project in seven blocks of Malda district. The department would introduce the project in the other eight blocks gradually. The CHCMI has set up its networks up to booth level in many panchayat areas to make people aware of the ‘definition of health’ and has appointed fresh workers on contract basis jobs. Two project co-coordinators and supervisors would monitor the network, forming booth health committees where the self-help groups would play an active role after receiving training. The network would provide health services to the rural people.District health officials think that it would function properly and increase the number of institutions implementing the Central government's Janani Suraksha Yojona (JSY). A recent survey revealed that many pregnant women do not go to health centres for delivery due to bad road conditions. To sort out the problem, booth committees (Gram Samsad) are buying rickshaw vans under the CHCMI project to transport pregnant women to the nearest health centre for delivery. The objective is to reduce maternal and infant mortality rate. In Malda mortality rate of baby (male) is 75 and (female) 89 per 1000. In order to reduce the mortality rate, the Centre sponsored JSY was introduced in 2006, but was suspended in many hospitals following objections from the nursing staff. n SNS

Malda district hospital hit by staff shortage

MALDA, Aug. 24: Owing to lack of staff including doctors the Malda district hospital authorities cannot provide proper health services to hundreds of patients.The district hospital authorities spoke about their problem at the district patients’ welfare committee meeting held on Friday. The health authorities disclosed that they had to run the hospital with 45 doctors when there was 54-sanctioned posts for doctors. Similarly, the district hospital needs to appoint at least 76 nurses to look after patients as presently only 178 sisters are working here. It has 254 sanctioned posts for sisters and the bed capacity of the district hospital has been increased from 500 to 600 beds. More than 70 group D posts are lying vacant. People from neighbouring districts like Murshidabad, North and South Dinajpur as well as patients from Jharkhand and Bihar come for treatment to the Malda district hospital.The health officials had informed the situation to their higher authorities to ease the ongoing problems but nothing materialised. In Friday's meeting it was also decided that an ICU in the district hospital, which was partly constructed six years ago, would be operational soon. n SNS

MZP to meet to take major decisions

MALDA, Aug 24: The newly formed Congress led Malda Zilla Parishad (MZP) called a general body meeting on 28 August to adopt some important resolutions including the election of saha sabhadipati and its budget to begin developmental work. It may be recalled that following a court order the newly elected saha sabhadhipati, who was co-opted for the reserved post due to lack of elected tribal member belonging to the Congress, stepped down a few weeks ago. After that the MZP is running without sabhadhipati's deputy. Sources said MZP members will decide to elect another tribal member for this post. On the other hand, to begin developmental work the MZP will finalise its budget, which was officially ‘incomplete’ due to ‘non cooperation’ of the Opposition. The LF members did not support the budget, which was tabled by the then sabhadhipati, and demanded alternation of estimated funds allotted to different projects in the draft budget. The Opposition took opportunities because the LF had a majority of members as a result of which the former sabhadhipati could not pass the budget. n SNS

Lack of relief killed flood victim: FB

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Aug 22: A sixty-year-old flood victim Daroki Mandal who was confined at his home due to inundation by floodwaters for a few days died owing to lack of relief, Forward Bloc leaders alleged. The incident took place at Dakshin Vakuria village in Harischandrapur block II where the entire area was inundated when the Fulohar river broke its banks a few days ago. While the district president of FB Mr Ajit Saha claimed that the death was due to ‘starvation’, the SDO Chanchal Mr Debashis Sarkar said that he did not have such information from the block development officer. Mr Sarkar also told reporters that there was no question of starvation death but he would look into the matter. The FB leaders claimed that Daroki, an agriculture labourer, was living atop a temporary platform (macha) which was constructed at his house when it was completely submerged. In the last few days, the elderly man used to eat by begging food from others because they could not earn their livelihood because of the floods, his wife Mrs Shanti Mandal informed the FB leaders. He suddenly collapsed while staying on the platform, she told FB leaders, seeking help to arrange for last rites. The flood situation remained unchanged in north and southern part of Malda district because the two rivers Fulohar and Ganga are still flowing above the ‘extreme danger level’ (EDL). The administrative officials and irrigation engineers fear that situation may turn critical if water level is increased due to fresh rainfall in the upper catchments. Though the administration claimed that relief material had been allotted to the concerned flood affected blocks, the flood victims and local panchayat leaders alleged that many flood victims did not get relief on time. The block officials has started an inquiry to find out genuine flood victims at Gopalpur in Manikchak to allot tarpaulin sheet to them where 750 families have been affected after the Ganga breached a dwarf embankment. “Only genuine flood victims will be getting the costly tarpaulin sheet (Rs 1000 per piece) after finalisation of inquiry report,” said a senior administrative officer. Many people have been shifting to safer areas in Gopalpur gram panchayat area after inundation on Wednesday late evening.

FIR against school secretary following roof collapse

MALDA, Aug 22: The Malda SDO yesterday lodged an FIR against the school secretary Mr Nural Hoque of Nayabazaar High School for negligence of his responsibility after a roof of a school building collapsed and injured several students on Independence Day. Police today raided Mr Hoque's house, but could not arrest him. Police have informed the administrative officials that the secretary of school is absconding.The sub divisional officer Ms Arunima De today asked police to arrest the school secretary. The district magistrate Mr CR Das had issued an order to take action against the school authorities after going through the report of block development officer in Kaliachak II. The SDO said inquiry revealed that inspite of being secretary of the school he did not take care of the building during construction. “He committed a criminal offence”, she said, adding “How did a concrete pillar, which was constructed two months ago, collapse?”Following the instruction from the district magistrate the district inspector of schools Mr Chinmay Sarkar yesterday sought clarification from the school authorities within 48 hours. “I have sought a detailed report of the incident from them. After receiving their reply I would inform it to the board,” Mr Sarkar said. n SNS

Doctors, traders asked to work on Sundays

Statesman News Service
MALDA, Aug 21: The district magistrate has approached the bank officials of SBI and UBI to keep open at least one or two branches in English Bazaar town on Sundays in the interest of the public.

Due to hectic work schedules state and central government employees do not have visit the bank and avail its services on weekdays.

The bank officials have assured the district magistrate Mr. C R Das that they would consider the proposal and inform their higher authorities for its execution.

In Malda town all establishments from big business houses to small shops in markets including doctors’ chambers remain closed on Sunday.

As a part of tradition, traders in English Bazaar observe Saturday as a half-day and Sunday as a full holiday.

On Tuesday, the district magistrate had approached the president of Malda Merchants’ Chamber of Commerce Mr. Debabrata Basu to take a ‘quick decision’ about keeping open a zone of market places on Sundays.

Since 2000 though the administration had tried to keep open at least a part of market in English Bazaar town for the people but things were yet to be materialized.

“We should try and understand the problem of a section of people who can not get opportunity to buy essential items from market on Sunday, the only holiday in a week. A decision has to be taken immediately from your end to make an order following the labour laws”, the district magistrate told the MMCC representatives.

The D M has also suggested them to observe holiday on any weekdays except Sunday like other district towns and cities.

Following the proposal of the MMCC, the district magistrate said that he would approach the India Medical Association of Malda to keep open some chambers of doctors in English Bazaar town.

MMCC representatives alleged that people couldn’t seek suggestion from doctors at their chamber on Sunday in case of any emergency because all doctors observe Sunday as a holiday. (END)

Ganga breaches embankment

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Aug 21: The Ganga breached a one metre high dyke last evening and inundated several small villages at Gopalpur. At least 700 families have been affected by floodwaters from the Ganga at Gopalpur village in Manikchak block. The local panchayat had built two small dykes connecting the abandoned parts of the sixth retired embankment and existing seventh retired embankment following the local demand at Gopalpur. Floodwaters breached the first of the two dykes few weeks ago and the second one was broken through last evening.The district administration had sounded red alert in the ‘unprotected’ zone on Tuesday and had alerted the locals to shift to safer areas from the left bank of the Ganga. The executive engineer, irrigation department in Malda, Mr Soumen Misra said: “We were not given the responsibility to repair the embankment in the unprotected zone. The seventh retired embankment is now holding off Ganga floodwaters for the whole of Malda district.” Today, the district magistrate Mr CR Das asked the Malda SDO Ms Arunima De to inspect the damage so that rescue and relief operations can be undertaken accordingly. “The entire area is waterlogged. All roads in the villages are under water and the people are confined to their homes,” said the Malda SDO over phone from the spot. “Gushing water has washed away one house near the embankment and submerged a few huts,” she added. The SDO held a meeting with the block and panchayat officials to chalk out a rescue and relief work strategy.

Probe ordered into school roof collapse

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Aug. 20: The district administration will take action against the school authorities for violation of construction rules after a roof of its newly constructed building collapsed and injured at least 30 primary school students on Independence Day. The district magistrate Mr CR Das said the block development officer of Kaliachak II completed inquiry report regarding the building collapse. “I must take steps against the school authorities after going through the inquiry report of the BDO tomorrow,” said Mr CR Das. It may be recalled that at about 6.30 a.m. hundreds of students of the Nayabazaar High school and a primary student assembled in the campus with flowers, photographs of martyrs from home, chocolates and sweets as advised by the teachers to mark Independence Day by hoisting the national flag which was scheduled to be held at 7.10 a.m. It suddenly started drizzling and forced some of the students to take shelter in a part of school building. It was then that the roof collapsed. No teacher was present at the time of incident. Local people rushed to the spot and rescued them from where they were buried under roof tiles, concrete slabs and bamboo sticks. Some were admitted to local health centre at Bangitola and 15 to Malda district hospital. From inquiry report it was revealed that the school authorities had constructed a shed for the students a few days ago where they could eat mid day meals. It was constructed from the school's own funds collected from local Bazaar committee. Yesterday, the district magistrate also instructed the district inspector of schools (secondary) to conduct a separate inspection to take necessary steps against the school authorities.

Fulohar floods again

MALDA, Aug 20: Overflowing water from the Fulohar river has freshly inundated large parts of two gram panchayats in Ratua- I block in Malda district marooning thousands. Inadequate boat service in the area has compounded the people's problem. The Malda district magistrate Mr CR Das has instructed the Chanchal SDO and chief medical officer of health to press boat services to continue health services for the flood victims. The DM has also allotted 100 quintal of rice for the flood affected areas like Manikchak, Ratua and Harishchandrapur. Sufficient tarpaulin sheets have been allotted for the flood victims. The administration has asked the block authorities to distribute tarpaulin sheets to the genuine flood victims. People who have made temporary arrangements in safer areas will be getting one tarpaulin sheet per family. According to the district administration, a newly constructed public health centre (PHE) I at Bilaimari has been waterlogged. Health officials have set up a camp at the locality and a second at Baliamari Bazaar. Flood waters have affected another health sub centre at Mahanandatola The block medical officer of health visited the areas today and took stock of the situation and found out ways about how best to continue health services in the inundated areas. It may be noted that the river Fulohar is still flowing above the ‘extreme danger level’ (EDL - 28.35 metre) at Teljana. The Ganga on the other hand is flowing at 25.44 metre, 15 cm above the ‘extreme danger level’ (EDL 25.29 metre) from last evening. n SNS

Flood victims rescue nilgai

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Aug 19: Flood victims rescued a ‘nilgai’ from the Ganga and handed it over to the forest department today.The animal, suffering from dehydration, has been rehabilitated and is undergoing treatment at Adina forest in Gazole. Residents of Jalalpur in Manikchak block were shifting to safer areas last night when they noticed the animal floating in the river.When the animal came close to the bank, they realised it was a ‘nilgai'. They rescued it and informed the local police station.Divisional forest officer Mr R Jakhar took initiative to rehabilitate the ailing ‘nilgai’ at the Adina Deer Park today.According to him, the animal is a female, 2-3 years old and was suffering from dehydration. (END)

Traders’ malpractice

MALDA, Aug 19: Out of a few lakh traders only a total of 16,900 traders in Malda district are in the list of legal metrology who regularly renew its weights and measures system. The district legal metrology officials disclose the figure at a meeting with the traders’ body Malda Merchants of Commerce convened by the district magistrate yesterday. n SNS

Rs. 8.39 crore for development of Malda

MALDA, Aug 19: The Uttar Banga Unnayan Parishad (UBUP) has allotted Rs 8.39 crore for the development of Malda district. This fund has been allotted at a recent meeting convened by CM Mr Budd-hadeb Bhattacharjee. The chief minister has stressed submission of utilisation certificates of several schemes approved by the UBUP earlier when the Malda district could not submit a single UC in the meeting in comparison with five other districts. The embarrassed district magistrate Mr CR Das explained that owing to Kharba bypoll and rural polls entire process was stalled that prevented them from doing the job. "The sub committee of the UBUP of Malda district would chalk out a plan to utilise the allotted funds of Rs 8.39 crore as soon as possible," the DM said. The district magistrate Mr CR Das told reporters that the UBUP had approved a total of 125 schemes, amounting to Rs 5.53 crore, out of 236 schemes prepared. n sns

Anti-erosion work to start in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Aug. 19: The irrigation department has planned to resume anti- erosion work at Kesharpur in Bhutni Diara, an island in the Ganga in Manikchak block, from tomorrow to save the circuit embankment which is on the brink of extinction due to erosion. The decision was taken yesterday when more than ten people including panchayat members met the executive engineer and apologised for stopping the on going anti erosion work there. When a group of villagers protested against the on going work raising the question of efficacy, the executive engineer Mr Soumen Misra decided to stop the work and wind up departmental team from the spot. After informing the matter to the departmental authorities and district magistrate the executive engineer explained the situation as ‘problem of extortion’ where some touts demanded ‘cut money’ from the contractor. The executive engineer yesterday warned the local villagers and political leaders, who came to request him to resume the work, that the department would not execute another road project for Bhutni in future if they try to stall the anti erosion scheme. The irrigation and waterways department has allotted Rs 3 crore for the construction of a road on the circuit embankment. Out of 27 km circuit embankment, the department had completed 13 km road atop the circuit embankment. Recently the department has allotted Rs. 3 crore for the rest 14 km embankment. According to the irrigation department, the flood situation remains unchanged. The water level of the three main rivers are still on a rising trend inundating large parts of unprotected areas on their banks. The water level of the Ganga is 25.17 metres , just 12 cms below the ‘extreme danger level’ ( EDL- 25.29 metres) at 6 a.m today at Manikchak Ghaat. The river Fulohar is flowing 29 cms above the EDL (28.35 metres) and Mahananda is flowing above 20.35 metres. An alert has been given to the people of the protected areas on the bank of the Fulohar and red signal is on for the people of unprotected areas on the bank of Ganga, said Mr Soumen Misra , the executive engineer.

DM mounts checks to combat trade malpractice

MALDA, Aug 18: In order to curb malpractices in the markets the district magistrate Mr. C R Das has decided to continue the special drive across the district to check weights and measures including other systems related to retail market prices of various products manipulated by ‘dishonest’ traders. This decision was taken after the leaders of traders’ body affiliated to the Malda Merchants’ Chamber of Commerce foiled the special drive mid way in English Bazaar town on Saturday. The traders were involved in argument with the district's top administrative officials preventing them from carrying out their job after identifying six ‘dishonest’ traders in local markets. The district magistrate has taken the matter as ‘serious challenge’ after the MMCC leaders called government officials of legal metrology as ‘bribe takers’ during the special drive on Saturday. n SNS

Large parts of Malda inundated

MALDA, Aug. 18: Overflowing water from the Fulohar river has inundated large areas in the northern end of Malda district affecting more than 50,000 people in the four blocks of Harischandrapur-I and II and Ratua-I and II. The irrigation department officials have warned people in the protected areas.The river Kosi, which is connected with the Ganga and the Fulohar, has started flowing back inundating large parts of unprotected areas like Bilaimari and Mahanandatola in Ratua block. In Harishchandrapur I and II large areas of cropland and many villages have come under water. The district administration allotted 3000 tarpaulin sheets and food grains for relief in Chanchal sub- division yesterday. The Chanchal SDO Mr Debashis Sarkar said, “Villages like Islampur, Doulatabad, Uttar Bhakuria, Kaouadol, Kopakati and others have been affected. In some places people are living in makeshift structures. More people are yet to come out of waterlogged areas.” According to him, 1000 tarpaulin sheets have been allotted in the affected blocks along with foodgrains. The irrigation department officials fear that the flood situation may turn critical if the Fulohar breaches an embankment. The water level of the Fulohar rose up to 26 cms touching 28.56 metres at Teljana point near Bhaluka in Harischandrapur since yesterday. The water level is still rising due to rains in north Bengal and parts of Bihar, irrigation department officials, said. On the other hand, the water level of the Ganga is still increasing steadily crossing 25.08 metres at Manikchak Ghaat due to rainfall in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.Studying the water level trend of the Ganga in the upper catchments, Mr Soumen Misra, executive engineer, irrigation department, said: “ Water level will continue to rise till 22 August here. Further rainfall may turn the situation critical.” The Mahananda is also flowing above 20.35 metres in English Bazaar town. Many people who live on either side of the river have been shifted.n SNS

Malda flood situation worsens

MALDA, Aug. 17: Flood situation in the northern part of Malda district has deteriorated as Fulohar river broke its banks in the unprotected areas. The water level of the Fulohar has touched ‘extreme danger level’ (28.35 meters) this evening.

The irrigation department has given a red signal, warning the people in the protected areas. Last night owing to an increased water level the Kosi started flowing back inundating two-gram panchayat areas, Bilaimari and Mahanandatola.

It may be noted that the Kosi originated from the Ganga and connected with the river Fulohar in Ratua I block area. The block officials have provided boats for rescue operation and ensured supply of relief materials.

Nearly 40,000 people have been affected following fresh inundation. Besides Fulohar, the water level of the Ganga is continuing to rise crossing 25 metres at Manikchak ghaat in Malda.

According to the irrigation officials in Malda, the water level of the Ganga will continue to rise for the next three days. At present its water level is just 29 cm below the ‘extreme danger level’ here.

Some unprotected areas on the left bank of the Ganga have been inundated again in the last two days. Six-year-old boy (Biplab Mandal ) is still missing from Haddatola in Manikchak block this afternoon. According to the villagers, the boy slipped off the hand made boat when he was trying to cross a part of the inundated area in their village.

The river Mahananda is still rising crossing its level 20 metres. But it is far below the extreme danger mark.


The executive engineer of Malda irrigation division, Mr Soumen Misra said, “ The water level of all the rivers will continue to rise due to heavy rainfalls in upper catchments. In the Ganga all water level measuring stations from Uttar Paradesh to Malda is still rising. The excess flood waters will be coming down for a few days here”.

Today, villagers in Bhutni Diara , an island in the Ganga , stalled anti erosion work at Kesharpur . The irrigation department took up the work to save a part of the embankment from erosion. n SNS

Traders foil legal metrology drive in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Aug. 17: The Legal Metrology unit, under the department of Consumer Affairs are finding it difficult indeed to take action against ‘dishonest’ traders of the town.

Yesterday's incident proved that the district administration is helpless in this respect, having been forced to stop midway the special drive it had launched to check the weights and measures system used by the traders.

The traders did not hesitate to argue with the top district administration officials, preventing them from carrying out their duties when they identified six ‘dishonest’ traders on charges of using defective weights and measurement systems.

The district consumer affairs department had informed the district administrative officials about the traders’ irregularities as the latter did not bother to renew their weights and measurement systems despite several reminders.

The Malda additional district magistrate (development), the sub divisional officer and other concerned officials had accordingly launched a sudden drive in local markets yesterday in English Bazaar town.

Local traders not only protested against the drive but they also suggested that the officials, whom they called ‘bribe takers’, to organise workshops for them in markets before taking these steps.

The Malda Merchants’ Chamber of Commerce, a traders body has been sponsoring various programmes organised by the district administration in the last few years and the leaders have good relations with the top district officials like district magistrate and superintendent of police.

A senior police official said in this regard, “Administration may face problem in taking steps against them if MMCC continues to sponsor programmes where district administrative officials take part on behalf of the government.”

Report about inundation sought from BDO

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Aug 14: The Malda district administration today sought a detailed report from the block development officer about the inundation of a large area including a rural hospital in Gazole. Many people including the staffs and patients suffered in the health centre when it was inundated from Tuesday. Angry people blocked the state highway for hours yesterday when they discovered that the construction agency engaged to execute the expansion project of the state highway had sealed culverts and drains. The rainwater could not drain out after the sealing of the culverts and drains. The block level officials could not sort out the problem yesterday because the construction agency officials were very reluctant. The health centre and other establishment are under water even today. Some mud houses collapsed due to the stagnant water. The additional district magistrate Mr PC Sit contacted Mr P Banerjee, executive engineer of the project implementing unit for this state highway expansion project yesterday and asked him to sort out the problem immediately. The block development officer Mrs Susmita Bhattacharya today visited the spot and verbally informed the district administrative officials that stagnant water was gradually draining out from the health centre after the mouths of blocked culverts and drains were opened. A senior district official said: "Based on the report of the block development officer the district administration would seek clarification from the PIU about the decision to close all culverts and drains there just to stop such incidents in future".

Locals help orphan get married

MALDA, Aug. 14: Independence Day will henceforth hold special significance for a certain orphan girl, for the Malda district administration has selected 15 August to organise her marriage ceremony. Palee Ghosh, also known as Kali, is a inmate of the child development home who now resides at a state run home on Manaskamana Road. According to district social welfare officer Mr P K Dey, local businessman Mr Sukumar Mahanta decided to marry Palee when she proposed to him.A group of district officials led by Mr Dey today distributed invitation cards among several personalities including the district magistrate Mr CR Das. The social welfare department has allotted Rs 12,000 for the wedding ceremony. The district magistrate and his staff will present a national savings certificate to the couple. According to officials, some non-governmental organisations including Malda Merchants’ Chamber of Commerce and Shelter of Malda are also planning to contribute considerably to the dinner party. n SNS

An affair that turns sour...

MALDA, Aug 13: Love knows no borders or maybe limits. The tragic end to a supposed love story that unfolded in Malda today proved it once again.Joydeb Haldar, a Bangladeshi infiltrator had apparently fallen in love with an Indian beauty, who was his relative too. His proposal to marry her, however, was rejected. Not being able to bear the pain Joydeb committed suicide today by hanging himself from a mango tree. Locals say Haldar ended his life over the love affair. Haldar, a resident of Tanowar, Rajsahi district in Bangladesh had sneaked across the border to his maternal aunt Mrs Panchami Haldar's house on Sunday, to take his mother Mrs Hema Haldar back home. Joydeb who had a family back in Bangladesh had fallen in love with his cousin. “He had told us that he would marry the girl,” the locals claimed elaborating that he might have ended his life after his proposal to marry the girl met with rejection. Residents at Jaharatala where Joydeb's body was found hanging today was shocked over the incident. The girl, who finds herself under focus all on a sudden, however, said that Joydeb had come to take back his mother home. “Today we got to know that he had committed suicide.” Amidst such chaos and confusion, Joydeb's mother reportedly fled, as she was nowhere to be found.The incident might have sparked gossip, but police are not taking the matter lightly.“It is an indication as to how easily infiltrators sneak in and out of the country. The situation is alarming,” the Malda SP Mr Satyajit Bandyopadhayay said.They are now looking for Joydeb's mother who is absconding. n SNS

Water level of Ganga rises

MALDA, Aug. 13: The water level of the Ganga has been gradually rising at Manikchak in Malda following a heavy downpour in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Further rainfall will propel the water level of this river to cross the danger mark subsequently affecting the left bank line, irrigation officials said today. The flood control cell recorded a water level of 24.83 metres at Manikchak Ghaat this morning. On 9 August, the water level was measured at 24.72 metres. “The Ganga Flood Control Commission office in Patna said the water level of the Ganga would continue to rise in the next four days here”, said Mr S Misra, the executive engineer, irrigation department in Malda. According to him, all water level measuring stations in the upper catchments on the Ganga show a rising trend. The Ganga's water level is rising at Hatida, Bhagalpur, Munger, Kahelgaon and Sahebganj in the upper catchments. The executive engineer Mr S Misra said there was no report of severe erosion on the left bank of the Ganga but the river is still nibbling its bank line away on the western side of an Island - Bhutni Diara - in Manikchak. The district irrigation department has sent a proposal to its higher authorities for the construction of two (5th and 6th) retired embankments at Bhutni Island for flood protection next year after assessment of the erosion trend in this zone. n SNS

Cyber cafes shut after norms notification

MALDA, Aug 12: To avoid police harassment some cyber café owners today shut down their Internet centres in English Bazaar town after receiving notification of a set of guidelines from the district administration. The district magistrate in Malda Mr CR Das has issued a notification to the café owners with a set of guidelines and requested them to abide by them to check cyber crimes. “In this notice it is stated that if any café owner does not follow the prescribed guidelines formulated by the district administration, legal action would be taken against them under section 188 IPC,” said a café owner . After being notified a group of café owners today went to meet the district magistrate office to brief him of some problems to follow the guidelines. Later the café owners decided to shut down their Internet centres. n SNS

Erosion hits island on Ganga

MALDA, Aug. 12: Bhutni Diara, an island on the Ganga, in Manikchak is gradually shrinking due to erosion. According to irrigation department records, the island was more than 100 square km and the length of its circuit embankment was 34 km in 1974. Currently, the area of the island has shrunk to 64 sqkm and the length of its circuit embankment has reduced to 28 km, said Mr Soumen Misra, executive engineer, irrigation department in Malda. “Erosion is the chief cause of the island's destruction and in future more land will be eroded away,” said Mr Misra. Three rivers Ganga, Kosi and Fulohar surround the island. “We cannot take up permanent anti-erosion work on the island due to objection from the Ganga Flood Control Commission (GFCC) and Central Water Control Commission (CWC),” the executive engineer said. According to the GFCC and CWC experts, the island is responsible for erosion in the down stream from Manikchak to Kaliachak II block areas, he said. The Ganga is still nibbling away on the western side every day. n SNS

Security beefed up to combat eve teasing in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Aug. 12: In order to curb highhandedness of eve teasers and antisocial elements the district magistrate in Malda has asked the police to step up vigilance in collectorate premises and adjoining areas since evening every day.A case of molestation in front of his office propelled the district magistrate Mr. C R Das himself to take such a decision last night. Around 9 p.m, when there was a power cut, a scuffle took place. Mr. C R Das, was leaving office with the ADM and other district officials, they saw a man attacking another on charges of molesting his wife. The security personnel intervened and the situation was brought under control. The district magistrate then informed the police and the accused was handed over to them. Mr. Das instructed the police officials to ‘sterilise’ the zone of collectorate premises and adjoining areas to maintain law and order so that eve teasers and anti social elements cannot take advantage of the situation.Many girls and boys return home after playing so the area had to be made safe. Based on the input of several crimes committed at night including flesh trade in the adjoining areas of Children Park, some pocket areas between the ADM, SP and SDO bungalows close to the district library, museum and Brindaboni play ground police intensified forces last night. Since few weeks the district administrative officials had noticed that after evening eve teasers along with their bikes frequently visited the collectorate premises.This intensified especially during weekends when many many teenage bikers assemble in the presence of families. The top police officials of the English Bazaar police station assured the district magistrate at the spot last night that they would step up vigilance to curb such crimes to maintain law and order.

Polio prgramme stalled as health workers faces opposition

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Aug 11: Health officials in Kaliachak block are worried about implementing special immunisation activities (SIA) in September to eradicate ‘wild polio virus’ from the region after the death of a kid at Momimpur (Churi-More) on 3 August. Health officials including the workers of integrated child development scheme (ICDS) are apprehending strong resistance from the local people following the death of a five year old child after immunisation. It may be recalled that the son of Mr Saidul Sheikh died on 3 August after having administered pulse polio drop in the morning from the booth no. 7 under Silampur Gram Panchayat II. After the death of the child, villagers decided not allow the health workers to administer pulse polio drop next month. The panchayat members could not pacify them. Though the local health officials could not examine the baby and find the exact cause of his death, they claimed that the baby died owing to other health problem. Interestingly, the chief medical officer of health, Dr RR Banik said: “I don't have such information. I need to check the report from health officials. If we face any resistance we must take initiative to overcome the problem”. The CMOH, Dr Banik admitted that some areas in Kaliachak have been identified as pockets where the health officials have been facing problem to implement polio immunisation programme. It may be noted that after detection of ‘wild’ poliovirus in Bihar and Jharkhand the health authorities have decided to implement a SIA (special immunisation activities) in adjoining three blocks such Kaliachak I, II and III in Malda and entire district of north Dinajpur. Besides national day of pulse polio immunisation, the SIA would be implemented continuously until banish ‘wild’ poliovirus in this region, the CMOH said.

Mid day meal to be started anew

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Aug. 11: The district administration has planned to resume the mid day meal project in Manikchak Block which was suspended a few months ago due to lack of monitoring.The entire monitoring system from district to block level was hampered since notification of rural polls, administrative officials said. Recently following a media report the sub-divisional officer Ms Arunima De has urged the concerned authorities to take notice of the situation and decided to resume the project in Manikchak block soon. The entire monitoring system received a huge setback due to preparations for the rural polls that were held recently. Primary investigation revealed that in Manikchak mid day project was suspended for a long period but almost all-primary and upper primary school authorities had spent the money allotted for cooking but stock of rice was intact.The officer-in-charge of mid day meal project, Mr Subho Mukherjee, had stopped allotment of cooking expenses for mid day meal project raising a question: “When the stock of rice meant for mid day meal is intact how did they (school authorities) spend fund allotted for cooking?"Indirectly the officer-in-charge informed the district authorities that schools did not implement mid day meal project properly but spent cash allotted for implementing mid day meal project.It was also found that the stock of rice at present is ‘not fit for human consumption'. But officially it was not ascertained by any authority. The sub-divisional officer Ms Arunima De, also the chairman of the sub divisional monitoring committee for mid day meal project, admitted the problem and said that block authorities would resume the project soon.

Suspected HuJI activists held

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Aug. 8: The Border Security Force have intercepted three Bangladeshi nationals with suspected links with the Harkat-ul-Jihadi-al-Islami (HuJI) from Doulatpur area in Malda and handed them to the police today. The BSF and police seized Rs 1,600 in cash, two mobile phones with Bangladeshi SIM cards and US $1,600 from their possession. The arrested persons were identified as Hanu Mian Altab Hossain and Muhammad Dulal Mian of Sylhet in Bangladesh. They were produced at the Malda Court and have been remanded in police custody for six days. According to police, the arrested people came to India three months ago and were working as daily wage earners in north Bengal including in areas along the Nepal border. Primary investigation revealed that they roamed the region as grinders. The BSF intercepted them as they were trying to re-enter Bangladesh through an unfenced area of the border. They have, however, confessed to the BSF jawans that one Alkus, another Bangladeshi operating in this region, had given them the US dollars. The border security force authorities claimed they had information that many Bangladeshi nationals like the arrested ones and connected with HuJI, were working in this region. “We will interrogate them and try to know about their activities in India, where they used to live and how many Indian and Bangladeshi people are connected with them,” said Mr Sujit Kumar Sarkar, ASP, Malda. The deputy inspector general of BSF Malda sector, Mr PS Tomar said: “ We have information that a group of HuJI men will enter India before 15 August for subversive activities. We have already interacted with the Malda SP about the matter to step up vigillance. (END)

HuJI activists

Malda, Aug. 9: The IGP, north Bengal Mr Kundanlal Tamta, today said that the authorities would contact Bangladeshi mobile service providers to learn about the three Bangladeshis arrested from Daulatpur in Malda district on Friday. SNS

Class XI : Teachers admit taking donation

MALDA, Aug 8: All teachers including Mrs Sudipta Sarkar, headmistress, of Ramkinkar Girls’ School confessed before the Malda district inspector of schools that they had collected excess amount of admission fee and donation from the students during the time of admissions for class XI this year. Almost all the teachers of Ramkinkar Grils School in English Bazaar town met the district inspector of schools yesterday and submitted a written application to him, admitting their ‘mistake’ and asked him not to cancel their salary for the month of July. After receiving complaints from the guardians the district inspector of schools barred the salary of all the teachers of this school for violation of government direction regarding admission fee. The school had collected Rs 250 for admission fee, which was abnormally higher than the amount fixed by the government. Besides, the school had collected a donation of Rs. 700 to 750 from each students during the time of admissions. In the course of an argument, the teachers also disclosed that they used to collect similar amount for admission fees and donations in the previous years and some other schools have also been collecting extra admission fees. During an interaction with the district inspector of schools, the school teachers yesterday agreed to refund the excess admission fee amount to the students.The D I has asked the school authorities to submit all the papers including the papers concerned with the collection of admission fees and donations on Monday. “After verification of all papers a decision regarding canceling the teachers salary for the month of July would be taken”, said Mr. Chinmay Sarkar, the Malda D I. The district education officials are also investigating into another complaint against that school. It was alleged that all the teachers had come to meet the DI around 1.30 pm yesterday after boycotting the schedule examinations on Thursday. n SNS

Cong backs BJP nominee for saha sabhadhipati

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Aug. 7: As a payback to the Left organisations following the nuclear deal fallout, the Congress in Malda has decided to propose the name of a BJP member Mr Mohan Tudu as saha sabhadhipati in the Malda zilla parishad (MZP). The decision was taken after the resignation of Mr Joy Murmu, who had been elected to the post on 7 July during the formation of the MZP board.Though the Congress was not inclined to support the BJP member earlier to maintain a secular image, it now has no alternative on the issue.After recapturing the MZP board this year, the Congress was faced with the problem of nominating a saha sabhadhipati candidate, reserved for the scheduled tribe, as the Congress had no ST elected member in its fold. As a result, the Congress had to co-opt one ST individual Mr Joy Murmu, who was elected as saha sabhadhipati in the MZP on 7 July. But Mr Murmu had to submit his resignation following the instruction of the district president Mr A H Khan Choudhury after a verdict from the Calcutta High Court. The High Court had rejected the co-option method formulated by the top officials of the panchayat and rural development department.Before the formation of the board though, a section of the Congress leaders wanted to bar the BJP and propose the name of a CPI-M tribal candidate to the saha sabhadhipati's post. But after the falling out with the Left on the nuclear deal issue, those leaders now are against supporting a CPI-M member.The Malda Congress district president and local MP, Mr A H Khan Choudhury, did not hesitate to disclose his view on the subject. “The saha sabhadhipati's post in the MZP will be given to the BJP's elected tribal candidate when re-election will be held for the vacant post,” he said today.

Property tax to be increased in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Aug. 7: With the view to enhancing property taxes the English Bazaar municipality has urged the residents to furnish detailed information about the buildings and of commercial complexes in a prescribed form. According to the guidelines of the Central Valuation Board the civic body has started distribution of prescribed forms from different and through announcement it has requested to submit all details within 30 August. After the announcement of revision of valuation of properties the local residents are apprehending that property taxes will be increased heavily. Many of them are apprehending that at least 25 per cent on the present tax may be increased. It may be noted that six years ago the civic body had increased property taxes. Then it was found that property tax for a small building was higher than a big building in various wards. At the time of hearing,a few people had been able to reduce taxes by applying personal influences. Many of them were aggrieved and protested against ‘culture of nepotism’ of local councillors who were present in the hearing. The present chairman of the EBM, Mr Narendranath Tiwari told reporters: “We do not have hands in fixing property taxes. The taxes will be assessed following the guidelines of the central valuation board.” He added that after receiving details from the building owners a team would visit the spot and location of the building for verification of information furnished by the domestic and commercial building owners.The assessment would depend on present valuation of land considering its location and some other criteria. On 12 and 13 August, a workshop would be organised in EBM under the guidance of the state valuation board regarding assessment of property taxes in municipal areas.

Admission fee : Teacher's salary stopped for violating norms

MALDA, Aug. 6: The district inspector of schools (secondary) has stopped the salary for the month of July for all teachers of Ramkinkar Girls’ School in English Bazaar town on charges of violating government orders regarding collection of admission fee from students.District education officials said the school authorities had collected Rs1000 from the students during admission to class XI violating the existing government order. Investigating complaints from guardians, the education department officials found that the school authorities had collected Rs 250 from the students as admission fee, which is way beyond the prescribed admission fee of Rs 72 for schools in urban areas. “The school charged an additional Rs 750 on account of a Women Education Development (Stri Shikhsha Unnayan) fund, which is not related to any government project of the school,” said the DI schools (secondary) Mr Chinmay Sarkar. According to the DI, the school authorities have issued receipts against the Rs 250 charged as admission fee and another receipt of Rs 700 charged for the Women Education Development (Stri Shikhsha Unnayan) fund. “There is no receipt for the remaining Rs 50,” Mr Sarkar, said. One of the victims, Tapasi Mahata was forced to pay Rs1000 as admission fee for class XI inclusive of Rs 700 for WED fund. According to the education department officials, Tapasi belongs to a poor family and her father is a blind man. “Yet they were forced to deposit money”, officials said.“The school authorities will have to refund the excess amounts charged from unwilling students,” said the DI. n SNS

School faces difficulties in recruiting staff

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Aug. 6: Several secondary and higher secondary schools in Malda are facing difficulties to appoint group C and D staffs for their institution due to the objection of other job seekers.Recently, the school authorities finally started recruiting group C and D staff seeking names from employment exchange after receiving permission from the district inspector of schools but they have to stop the process of recruitment following a High Court order. Local job seekers and several local unemployed youths having failed to manage call from employment exchange for the recruitment of non-teaching staffs of secondary schools moved the High Court.Finally, the High Court asked the school authorities to carry out wide advertisement before starting the recruitment process so that maximum number of unemployed youths can avail the opportunity of a job.The school authorities had to stop the process of recruitment, which was seeking candidates from employment exchange.It may be recalled that a large number of posts for non-teaching staffs are lying vacant in several schools in many districts. The school authorities used to recruit non-teaching staffs with the approval of state authorities. Recently, the government took decision that the school authorities would be able to recruit such staffs with the permission of the district inspector of schools. The DI in Malda had given permission for recruitment of staffs in many schools before 16 July this year.It may be noted that experiencing problem of non teaching staff recruitment the state has instructed the district inspector of schools not to give permission to the schools for such recruitment.On 16 July the state has ordered all district inspectors of schools that it would frame a ‘new policy’ for the recruitment of non-teaching staffs for secondary and higher secondary schoolsThe government officials think that non-teaching staffs would be recruited through school service commission.

Section 144 imposed in Malda ZP

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Aug 5: The sub divisional officer in Malda has finally decided to impose prohibitory order Section 144 CrPC in side the building of Malda zilla parishad (MZP) tomorrow since morning to evening to avoid any untoward incident during election of sthayee samiti. Tomorrow, the Malda zilla parishad elected members and ex-officio members such MLAs MPs and elected sabhapati of panchayat samiti will form permanent committee of MZP by casting votes. Tension is mounting considering fight between the Congress and the Left Front centering the permanent committee election. Today, the saha sabhadhipati of Malda zilla parishad, Mr Joy Murmu, has submitted his resignation following party guidelines based on the recent order of the Court and the government. He has lost his voting right. It may be recalled that the Congress majority members of the MZP had co-opted Mr Joy Murmu to contest for the post of saha sabhadhipati post because the Congress had no tribal elected member for the reserved post in MZP. Mr Murmu, who was defeated in rural poll by the CPI-M, was elected as Saha Sabhadhipati based on the old order of the government. After receiving final order from the panchayat and rural development, the district magistrate had conveyed government's directives to him. The district congress president Mr AH Khan Choudhury, Malda MP, had asked Mr Murmu to quit from his post. At present out of 62 voters, the LF has 30 members (15 MZP elected members, one MP, seven MLAs and seven sabhapati of panchayat samiti) and the Congress has 32 voters (eight panchayat samiti sabhapati, four MLAs, one MP and 19 MZP members) including one elected member of the BJP. After the death of Sujapur MLA, Rubi Noor, the Congress is in short of one confirmed vote to form permanent a committee.

No compensation yet for Bird Flu victims

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Aug 5: The Malda district administration at present is not in a position to compensate a sum of Rs 500 to each bird flu victim who handed over poultry for culling in March because of the state authorities. Though the district had sent the list of beneficiaries and other additional expenses for conducting culling operations and mopping up drive but funds were yet to be sanctioned for English Bazaar, said an administrative officer. The Malda administration had collected more than 23,572 poultry from English Bazaar and a part of Old Malda during the collection and moping up drive. They made a spot compensation of Rs. 2,14,448 to the victims. The administration had also enlisted 1242 families as beneficiaries to provide compensation of Rs. 500 to start fresh rearing of chickens as per the announcement of the state government. It may be recalled that the Malda Merchants’ Chamber of Commerce (MMCC) had demanded compensation for the retail traders who could not do business for three months after detection of Bird Flu virus at a state poultry farm in March 2008. “But the administration did not enlist them to provide compensation”, alleged MMCC members. Poultry and egg selling within three km radius of state poultry farm was banned till 10 July 2008. The traders had openly started their poultry business here from the last week of June.

DM makes web cams mandatory

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Aug 5: In order keep a proper surveillance on all Internet café the district magistrate in Malda Mr CR Das has planned to seek list of cafes from the Internet service providers. The administration has decided to know the exact number of cafés running across the district from service providers such as BSNL and other private broadband Internet service providers. The district police do not have account of exact number of cafés functioning in the district including two municipal areas. Though more than 26 café owners in Malda town have united to form an association following government decision to implement specific guidelines for surveillance of all Internet café, the English Bazaar Municipality yesterday submitted name of 13 cafes to the district magistrate. Following the media report on imposition of prohibitory order under section 144 CrPC which has already been executed in North Dinajpur district the Malda café owners are confused about such an administrative decision. Speaking to The Statesman the district magistrate Mr CR Das said: “We do not have plan to impose prohibitory order (Sec 144 CrPC) here. We would execute a proper system of surveillance of all cafes very soon based on scientific guidelines”. The North Dinajpur district magistrate has restricted entry of more than four persons altogether in a café. “Installation of Web cam is must for all café by which the café owners will have to take photographs of all surfers before using computer to maintain a permanent record for the administration,” the Malda DM said.

Cyber crime: DM's nod key to issue trade licence

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Aug 4: The English Bazaar Municipality has decided not to issue or renew trade licence for cyber cafés until they get a ‘green signal’ from the district magistrate.The EBM is preparing a list of cyber cafés in English Bazaar town based on the records of trade licence issued by the civic body as per the instructions of the district magistrate. The district magistrate has sought the list of cyber cafés from the civic bodies for implementing guidelines as a step to comat the rising cyber crime. It was also decided that the district magistrate and superintendent of police would hold a meeting with the café owners shortly to brief them about the guidelines of the government to monitor known and unknown Internet users in the café. No one will be allowed to use Internet services without a valid identity card. This system has been implemented in cafés across Kolkata following the guidelines framed by the Kolkata police. According to the EBM records, there are only 14-cyber cafés in English Bazaar town. Most of them did not renew their trade licence in the past one year. The vice chairman of the EBM, Mr Dulal Sarkar said, "We are preparing a fresh list after visiting some cafes. In the name of computer centres many businessmen run a cyber café here”."We will not issue new trade license or renew trade licenses to the cyber café owners at present. The district magistrate has informed us about the implementation of new guidelines. We will issue trade license to the cyber café owner who will follow the government guidelines for crime monitoring system”, he added. Today, nearly 15 cyber café owners approached the English Bazaar civic body seeking trade licence and renewal of trade licenses. The EBM authorities did not accept their proposals. It may be recalled that after going through media report on administrative decision to monitor cyber café all café owners have been united to form an association before the administrative meeting.

Oxygen cylinder bursts in hospital

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Aug 4: An oxygen cylinder burst at the pediatric ward in Malda district hospital this morning triggering panic in the hospital. While hospital authorities blamed a ‘defective’ regulator fitted to the cylinder responsible for the incident, unconfirmed reports suggest that the regulator was being forced open which caused the cylinder to burst.The staff members fled the ward after the incident leaving ailing children behind. Tension prevailed in the town following rumours that a fire had broken in the pediatric ward. Fire fighters rushed to the hospital and finally found nothing to combat against.Things turned chaotic after the incident as a section of the hospital staff including the nursing staff engaged in a verbal battle with a section of the media that wanted to cover the incident from close quarters. According to the chief medical health officer, Malda district, Dr R R Banik, nothing but the oxygen leaked creating such a chaos. “The sound was caused by the poor quality regulator fitted to the oxygen cylinder,” he said.“We are helpless because we have to accept the lowest price rate of regulator from the bidders. Henceforth we shall have to be careful,” he added.

Bomb defused near Farakka Barrage

MALDA, Aug. 4: The CID bomb squad today defused the improvised explosive device (IED) fitted with a timer found at Biharitola village, close to Farakka Barrage Project, under Baishnabnagar police station yesterday. Experts from the Siliguri bomb disposal squad examined the device today and expressed concern about the nature of the device, which was identified as a powerful explosive. The district police registered a case after detection of the improvised explosive device and started a probe into the matter. Efforts were made to track the person who kept the device at a cow shed at Biharitola village. Though initially the superintendent of police in Malda Mr Satyajit Bandyopadhyay suspected that the device was brought from Jharkhand area and local mafias and contractors may have kept the device there, police could not rule out other possibilities. Biharitola located on the bank of the Ganga is very close to the Farakka Barrage Project and also Indo-Bangla border and there is a route to cross over the river Ganga from Bangladesh to Jharkhand. “Experts said that the device was very powerful. We need to find out the source of the device. But we are at present not sure of the place from where it was collected - either from Bangladesh or Jhakhand”, said Mr Satyajit Bandyopadhyay, the Malda S P. “We will take two days more to confirm about its origin. We have started an investigation mobilising our intelligence sources”, he added. n SNS

NREGS scam under scanner

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Aug. 3: Based on a video footage the district administration has decided to take stern action against a group of goons who prevented government officials from conducting an inquiry into a case of financial irregularities in the implementation of the national rural employment guarantee scheme (NREGS).Government officials were able to take a video of a clash between two groups at Pashchim Narayanpur, an island in the Ganga, in Manikchak block on Thursday where they had gone for receiving statements from beneficiaries who were deprived of their pay.According to the officials, a group of people suddenly came to the Pashchim Narayanpur Island by boat and attacked the complainants so that they could not give statements to the government officials. The goons reportedly drove away three investigating officials from the group of government officials from the spot. “After a clash between the group of ‘have and have-nots’, it became apparent that a section of people were involved in financial irregularities in the NREGS”, said a senior top officials.“It was also revealed that the group who could not manage to make ‘profits’ from funds disbursed for beneficiaries finally decided to lodge a written complaint after many days”, he said. It may be recalled that the district administration had taken up an initiative to cultivate jatropha through the NREGS in an island on the Ganga for the downtrodden people living there and identified several other islands on the Ganga a few years ago. Nearly 640 acres of land were identified for Jatropha cultivation and estimated cost of the project was more than Rs. 2 crores. Hundreds of people were engaged including self-help groups (SHG) for jatropha cultivation at Duani-Char and Pashchim Narayanpur in Dakshin Chandipur gram panchayat in Manikchak last year through NREGS.More than Rs.15 lakh were allotted for preparing a seedbed for jatropha saplings and its plantation. The block authorities had already made a part payment to the beneficiaries by cheque after opening bank accounts last year. Interestingly, some middlemen backed by local influential people belonging to the CPI (M) allegedly withdrew money from the bank but did not pay remuneration to a section of the beneficiaries. Though the matter has been brought up verbally, nobody lodged a written complaint. After dislodging the CPI (M) from power in Manikchak panchayat samiti, the present Congress led panchayat samiti members decided to make it an issue and lodged a complaint with the BDO in Manikchak on 16 July this year. The BDO has decided not to release payments for plantation of jatropha in two islands after receiving complaints regarding financial irregularities under the NREGS project.The district magistrate Mr. CR Das asked concerned officials to conduct a thorough investigation to take stern action against the culprits. ( END)

Improvised device found near Farakka Barrage

MALDA, Aug 3: Malda police found an improvised explosive device at Beharitola in Khejuria, close to Farakka Barrage, under Baishnabnagar police station.After serial blasts in Ahmedabad, Bangalore and bomb scare across the country including Kolkata, detection of the device triggered panic in the local areas which was fitted with a timer. The Malda S P said: The improvised explosive device is in safe place now. We have approached the bomb disposal squad who will defuse it after examination”. “Apparently the timer looks like a toy fitted to a crude bomb, ” he said.The bomb disposal squad will be coming from Siliguri to examine the device. The Malda S P, Mr. Satyajit Bandyopadhyay suspect that local mafias may have kept the device here, which is very close to Jharkhand. n SNS

Meet to combat cyber crime

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Aug 3: In order to curb cyber crime the Malda district magistrate Mr C R Das will hold a meeting with all local cyber café owners soon.The superintendent of police in Malda Mr Satyajit Bandyopadhayay has already approached the district magistrate for monitoring all cyber cafés in the district.“To implement the specific guidelines for monitoring the systems at cyber cafes the district magistrate will interact with café owners soon”, said Mr Bandyopadhyay. The café owners will be briefed about the guidelines and it is their duty to monitor known and unknown Internet users. It has been found that more than 26 cyber cafes are functioning in English Bazaar town.After appearance of newspapers reports of cyber crimes a group of ‘confused’ café owners held a meeting to take a decision on how to follow the guidelines which would be framed by the district administration based on the guidelines framed by the Kolkata police.Many of them, who did not have trade license certificates from the Municipality, are trying to renew them after the government's decision to bring all cafés under the scanner. The café owners have also decided to form an association to fight the ‘police highhandedness’ when all cafes will come under the control of this department directly. They also made a plan to meet the district administration soon after the formation of this association.

Civic body told to check possible violation of PCB norms

MALDA, Aug 1: Malda sub-divisional officer (SDO) Ms Arunima De has asked the English Bazaar civic body to examine whether cellular service providers had followed pollution control board (PCB) guidelines before installing mobile towers.Earlier, local residents had lodged complaints with the district administration against two towers at Regent Park (ward no. 24) and ward no. 19, belonging to BSNL and Vodafone respectively. They alleged that the service providers did not follow recent PCB guidelines. On 30 July, Ms De asked the chairman of the English Bazaar Municipality (EBM) to withdraw its permission of tower installation from the concerned service providers if it was found that they did not follow PCB guidelines. After receiving the letter from the SDO, vice-chairman of the EBM Mr Dulal Sarkar said: “There is no question of withdrawal of permission as regards the BSNL tower at Regent Park because the authorities did not seek permission from us.” “BSNL does not bother to seek permission from the municipality in Malda. All BSNL towers here have been installed without permission from the municipality,” said Mr Sarkar. n SNS