Rly police in trouble over assault charges

MALDA, 29 NOV.: Government railway police in Malda town station initiated a case against two personnel of Railway Protection Force on charges of allegedly assaulting a man last night. The victim, Mr Hemanta Kumar Mallick, who is also principal-in-charge of a private B Ed college here, lodged a complaint with the GRP today. According to the complaint, one RPF jawan, Mr Ashok Sarkar asked Mr Mallick for his ticket when he was roaming in front of a new ticket counter in Malda town station around 12.30 am. Mr Mallick did not show his ticket and refused to obey Mr Sarkar's ‘command,’ claiming himself to be the principal of a private college. At this response, the RPF jawan dragged Mr Mallick and detained him in RPF office for few hours. When Mr Mallick protested, Mr Sarkar and his colleague, Mr Dhiraj Singh allegedly assaulted him severely in the camp office.
Mr Mallick was helpless at that moment and disclosed everything about himself. He explained why he was in Malda town station at mid-night, and then got released, post some bitter experiences. Mr Mallick was waiting to receive someone, who was scheduled to come to Malda town station by train last night.
Mr PK Das, IC GRP in Malda town station, told reporters that police started a case against the RPF jawans on the basis of the complaint lodged by Mr Mallick. Mr Mallick was medically examined by doctors after the incident. The RPF officials refused to comment before inquiry. SNS

Murder suspect of former EBM vice chairman arrested

MALDA, 27 NOV: Police today arrested Ganesh Banerjee on charges of murdering Biswanath Guho and produced him in court seeking police remand for ten days for interrogation.Guho was vice chairman of the English Bazaar Municipality and district president of Intuc. He was murdered on the night of 12 June 2008 at his home in English Bazaar town. Interestingly, Mr Banerjee, was a close associates of Biswanath Guho. He has recently joined Trinamul Congress. Police had arrested Mohd Akthar on charges of murdering Guho on 13 June 2008. Akthar used to work as Guho’s driver. Police had interrogated Akhtar and finally decided to conduct his narco test in Bangalore to get clue and motive behind the murder. After Akhtar got bail for three months police finally came to a conclusion yesterday after thorough investigation and arrested Ganesh Banerjee. “Though he was a complainant but we finally arrested him as the suspected one behind the murder, based on evidences”, said Mr Bhuban Mandal, Malda SP.;SNS

Horticulture dept encourages off-season vegetables

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 26 NOV: The horticulture department is approaching potential farmers in Malda to set up high tech polyhouse to grow off-season vegetables, with financial assistance from the National Horticulture Mission.

The department's development officer, Mr Goutam Roy, is taking personal initiative in the matter and demonstrating the polyhouse concept for vegetable cultivation, which is expected to give the farmers a decent profit.

The department is presenting the project as a self-employment programme for the educated unemployed youths of the farmers’ families who are not keen to take up conventional cultivation in the fields as a means of livelihood.

According to Mr Goutam Roy, the farmers are hesitant to invest in setting up polyhouses, as they do not know the NHM bears 50 per cent of the cost for setting up a polyhouse.

“Vegetables such as tomato, capsicum, cucumber and coriander grow well in polyhouses.

An unemployed youth can start such a project with financial assistance from the NHM. Besides, interested persons can cultivate flowers like gerbera in polyhouses.

A group of farmers in Nadia is successfully producing gerbera in polyhouses and there is good demand of the cut flower,” Mr Roy claimed.

He also claimed that the rate of production of high yielding tomato and other vegetables is three times more in polyhouses than in normal field growing conditions. “Unemployed youths can easily set up a polyhouse in a 500 to 1000 square metre area and make good gains out of it,” he added.

3 killed, 15 injured in road accident

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 26 NOV: At least three persons including a woman were killed and more than 15 others were injured in a road accident on the state highway at Badnagra in Gazole police station today.

The deceased have been identified as Ketan Murmu, a vegetable vendor, Satya Sarkar (65) and Laxmi Mardi (55).

The accident took place when a packed trekker ran over Ketan Murmu, who was riding a bi-cycle, and overturned, in a roadside ditch.

“The vehicle, which was travelling from Salaidanga to a local market at Gazole lost control and overturned,” the police said.

While the cyclist died on the spot, the others succumbed to their injuries in hospital.

The conditions of two of the 15 injured, admitted in the Gazole rural health centre, are critical.

The attending doctors have referred the two patients to the Malda district hospital.

Angry locals blocked road in protest against rash driving. The police intervened to bring the situation under control.

The driver of the vehicle fled the area after the accident and the police expect him to surrender.

EBM trying to fight water supply failure

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 26 NOV: The English Bazaar Municipality is trying to find out remedies to fight the failure of setting up water treatment plant on the river Mahananda for water supply to residents in the area.

The EBM is facing the problem of providing sufficient water to the residents in some parts of this town.

The Congress, Trinamul Congress and the BJP led board took initiative to make a detailed project report on surface water treatment plant seeking funds from the Centre directly but the board could not manage the funds owing to which the project has not been implemented till date.

The present leadership faces further shame as the neighbouring Old Malda Municipality, coming to power in the last election, has almost completed the surface water project for drinking water based on Mahananda.

The chairman of the EBM, Mr Narendranath Tiwari disclosed: “There is no ray of hope of the proposed project. We are held responsible for this delay due to lack of our technical knowledge to manage funds from both the state and the Centre”.

Though the chairman did not hesitate to blame the state and its urban development minister for non-cooperation in implementing the surface water treatment plant here, he said: “We are not sure about the viability of the project based on the river Mahananda and flow of sufficient water throughout the year which is important for the success fo the project”.

“Is it possible for us to bring raw waters from the Ganga, at least fifteen km from here, for treatment and distribution?”, Mr Tiwari asked.

“Finding no alternative we have decided to seek help from the Trinamul MP and Union minister for state for urban development, Mr Sougata Roy, so that he can help us setting up surface water treatment plant and press the state government to extend cooperation”, he said.

The water supply department of the EBM has reported the chairman that based on the present infrastructure for lifting water from under ground, it is difficult to meet the requirement of the demand for water in some areas where population and number of houses have increased. It may be noted that the state urban development minister, Mr Asok Bhattacharya, had asked the district administration and the public health engineering to supply arsenic free waters from its rural project located in Manikchak to meet the present problem and crisis. But after joint survey conducted by the PHE and EBM officials could not come to a decision to implement the project last year due to technical and financial reasons.

State prepares to ward off threat from warring criminals

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 25 NOV.: The Malda district administration today held another “peace” meeting at Narayanpur in Kaliachak police station and sought villagers’ cooperation to curb the turf war between the two groups of criminals, over illegal trade along the India-Bangladesh border.

The district magistrate, Mr Sridhar Ghosh, the Malda SP, Mr Bhuban Mandal, other political leaders including, CPI-M district secretary, Mr Jiban Moitra and Congress leaders including, Malda zilla parishad sabhadhipati, Mrs Sabina Yeasmin, other local political leaders and common people were present in today's meeting.

The district authorities held a similar ‘peace’ meeting at Majampur on 22 November, to restore normalcy there. Again, political leaders, religious leaders and common people were all invited to engage in open discussion.

The Malda SP, Mr Bhuban Mandal said: “We shall hold another ‘peace’ meeting tomorrow in the Narayanpur primary health centre field, inviting villagers from two villages Majampur and Narayanpur."

Addressing the meeting, Mr Mandal sought villagers’ cooperation and ensured police help to restore peace in trouble-prone areas.

Mr Mandal today requested the villagers to maintain normalcy so that everyone can celebrate the upcoming Id festival, peacefully.

Police are trying to earn peoples’ support in police action, and faith in police, in order to isolate the criminals and their leaders.

Administration has urged the villagers to provide information about the criminals, who are fighting each other, and in doing so, are disrupting normal life in the two villages as well as the adjoining areas.

Now police are trying to organise villagers, so that they can resist criminal activities in their villages.

Though the police have arrested some criminals, they have not been able to arrest the masterminds, who have been directing their associates in criminal activities, for the last three months.

Since the arrest of a group of criminals from this area, the situation is under control in Majampur and Narayanpur villages.

Apart from the threat to security that has been posed by these warring criminal groups, the concern over terror attack is also high, in and outside Malda. A senior security officer of Eastern Railway said, apart from the Malda divisions, security arrangement has been beefed up in all other major railway installations in the other three divisions. RPF and Government Railway Police have been asked to monitor security arrangements around Sealdah and Howrah station.

When contacted, Mr B Mohan, chief security commissioner of Eastern Railways, said that there was no specific reports of terror attack, but they have made every arrangement to tackle every kind of security threat.

Mr Dilip Mitra, additional director, general of Railways, denied having any Central Intelligence reports on possible terror attacks. A senior officer of state police said that elaborate arrangements have been made to revamp the coastal security. Patrolling along coastal routes, with speed boats has been intensified and local fishermen have been trained to collect information. "The fishermen have been provided with SIM cards and cell phones to keep coast guards informed if they see any suspicious activities," said a senior Intelligence Branch official.

Railway establishments on high alert in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 25 NOV: The Railway authority in Malda has beefed security in and around railway installations in the district.

According to the divisional railway manager in Malda, Mr MK Mathur, a special security alert reached them from the chief security commissioner after the recent Assam blasts following which they have increased security cover in Malda town station and its adjoining areas till 27 November.

“We generally receive routine security alerts frequently but this is a special one for 26 November, the date on which terror struck Mumbai last year”, Mr Mathur said.

“Our information says that militant outfits have targeted Malda Town Station, a sensitive facility due to its location close to the Bangladesh border. Moreover, a large number of passengers commute through this station each day,” he added.

According to him the railway authority has made the security arrangements with the help of RPF and has informed the matter to the district administration so that necessary vigilance can be mounted in the region.

RPF jawans were today deployed at different points in Malda Town Station and frisking of passengers and their luggage has begun. The rail compartments are being checked with the help of metal detectors. In addition, the closed circuit televisions installed earlier on the platforms were activated. The railway authorities have readied a dog squad of its own as well.

The Malda SP Mr Bhuban Mandal said special alert has been sounded across the country following last year's Mumbai attacks. “We too are alert,” he claimed.

Cash-strapped English Bazaar Municipality to get

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 25 NOV: The Railways owe the cash strapped English Bazaar Municipality Rs 13 crore in service charge. The EBM authority expects clearance of the same to undertake certain development projects and also meet up due electricity bills.

“We have not received a single paisa from the Railway in service charges since 1990. The Railways owe us nearly Rs 13 crore,” said the EBM vice chairman Mr Dulal Sarkar today. He is also a Trinamul state committee member.

“We are preparing a record of the amount the Railways owe the EBM since 1990 to draw the attention of the railway minister Miss Mamata Banerjee and would approach the railway authority to clear the amount,” Mr Sarkar said from Kolkata over phone.

Failing to run the civic body properly due to fund crunch, the EBM chairman Mr Narendranath Tiwari, a Congress leader, has asked his deputy to inform the railway minister and collect the amount.

Severe cash crunch has stopped the civic body from renovating some defunct pumping stations for water supply.

The EBM vice chairman claimed that they had approached Miss Mamata Banerjee on the subject when she was railway minister in the NDA government.

“The dialogue between the Railways and the civic body had begun for payments but the dialogue was discontinued.

We then approached subsequent railway ministers including Mr Lalu Parsad Yadav but nothing materialized,” he added.

Although the EBM authority had approached all former railway divisional managers in Malda for payments, it has not approached the new DRM Mr M K Mathur yet.

No compensation for chicken losers yet

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 24 NOV: The district animal resources development (ARD) department had prepared a list of more than 6,000 families who would be compensated with Rs 500 each for rearing chicken after culling operation, when Bird Flu had surfaced at Satgharia village in English Bazaar block in December, 2008.

Though the department had sought funds from the state government, no fund has been allotted for them till date.

The deputy director of ARD in Malda, Mr NK Sit said: “We had sent the list of victims, more than 6,000 families, who offered their chicken for culling, but the fund was yet to be disbursed from the state level”.

“When the state government will sanction funds we must distribute it to them”, Mr Sit added.

Mr Sit, deputy director, informed that funds for the Bird Flu victims in Chanchal and English Bazaar have been distributed properly.

The first Bird Flu virus had surfaced in Chanchal and after a few months flu virus was detected in the state-run farms in English Bazaar town in March, 2008. The deputy director admitted that despite departmental assurance they could not provide other assistance to the Bird Flu victims by providing goats for rearing to make up for their losses.

“We could not provide such assistance even after assurance in Chanchal and other areas. But it would be implemented later. We have a ready scheme to distribute goats to the beneficiaries”, he added.

Man behind manufacturing explosives in Malda nabbed

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 24 NOV: Police today arrested Jahangir Momin in connection with assembling and manufacturing remote controlled improvised explosive device, from a house in Pirpur village under the Ratua police station in Malda district.

The English Bazaar police were on the lookout for Momin in connection with the IED case since July.

The police had learnt of Momin’s activities from two persons, who were trying to sell IEDs. The police had recovered a cache of IEDs including some from Momin's house at Alipur on the basis of information derived from the arrested persons.

The police were on the lookout for criminals who had looted a potato merchant at Ratua in the district recently.

Learning that three of those involved in the crime were hiding in a house in Pirpur village, the police raided the house this morning and arrested three persons.

According to the Malda SP, Mr Bhuban Mandal, Momin was one of the three arrested today.

“We have informed our higher authority about Momin and have urged them to interrogate him about the IEDs. Momin would be produced in Malda court tomorrow and the police would urge the court to send him to police custody for interrogation,” the Malda SP said

Authorities await funding approval for anti-erosion work

MALDA, 24 NOV: The irrigation department is waiting for funds to begin anti-erosion work on the banks of Fulohar at Bhaluka in Harishchandrapur. The department will soon float a tender so that the project can be delegated to a competent contractor.

The department had estimated the cost of the project to be nearly Rs 9 crore. The departments aims at completing the one km-long embankment protection work, before monsoon next year.

The objective of this scheme is to provide flood protection and this can be achieved by strengthening the embankment against severe erosion.

It may be noted that this year, a large part of Harishchandrapur and Ratua block was inundated by flood waters from the river Fulohar. During the floods, the existing embankment collapsed due to erosion and in absence of bank protection work at Bhaluka.

The district administration had sent a proposal to the state government through the Jalpaiguri divisional commissioner, requesting a grant from Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF), based on an anti-erosion scheme prepared by the state irrigation department.

The executive engineer of irrigation division in Malda, Mr S Misra said: “We are waiting for the government's approval. On Friday, I spoke to my higher authorities and came to know that the scheme has been sent to Mumbai. Finally, Nabard (National bank for agriculture and rural development) will sanction funds from RIDF for this scheme”. The irrigation department has already floated a tender for the construction of an embankment, south of Bhaluka, where erosion damaged another stretch of existing embankment during the monsoon period.

Besides, the irrigation department is waiting for another approval from the central water commission (CWC), a central government organisation, for taking up 2 km long anti-erosion work at Khutadaha and Battali on the bank of the river Punarbhaba.

The objective of this project is to save agricultural land from erosion. However, because the Punarbhaba river flows through India as well as Bangladesh, while working on the embankments, special care has to be taken to make them especially strong so that the barbed wires, which signify the international border between the two neighbouring countries, are not affected during floods. In addition, the embankment has to be built at a safe distance from the barbed wires.

Crabs, rats destroy paddy crops in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 23 NOV: Paddy cultivators in Malda district are having a tough time, thanks to the increasing presence of crabs and rats.

While crabs are digging holes on aisles constructed to hold water in plots under paddy, rats have been nipping off the paddy ears when the corn is ready for harvest. Facing loss, farmers are clueless as to how they would deal with the double menace.

According to agriculture development officials in Malda, rats damage 10 to 12 per cent paddy yield in the fields prior to and at the harvesting stage. A few varieties of high yielding paddy are in now in harvesting stage and the farmers are facing problems both from rats and crabs.

“If the farmers do not take proper measures, it will become very difficult to control the rat menace,” said Mr Soumendra Nath Das, agriculture development officer (technical), Malda.

According to him, farmers need to put up scarecrow to guard their fields. Owls can perch on it and catch rats at night. “It is one way of eliminating rats without using chemicals. The farmers can also hang chemically treated bait over the rat holes to kill the rodents. Crabs too create problems as water drains out because of the holes they dig in the aisles but rats are more harmful,” Mr Das claimed.

According to the farmers, big rats collect paddy from the fields and store it in their holes for future consumption. “It is difficult to trace the burrows,” a farmer said.

Now, Mamata eyes SC, ST community

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 23 NOV: In an effort to expand support base, the Trinamul Congress chief Miss Mamata Banerjee is now eyeing people of the SC, ST and OBC communities. The party is also planning to restructure its SC, ST and OBC cell leadership in the state including north Bengal, sources said.

Mr Gobinda Naskar, a senior Trinamul leader and MP, who monitors the SC, ST and OBC cell in the state has appointed Mr Dulal Sarkar, former Trinamul Congress Malda district president, as general secretary of the SC, ST and OBC state committee. Following Miss Banerjee's instructions, Mr Naskar has also asked Mr Sarkar to strengthen the organisation in north Bengal.

According to Mr Sarkar, work on the subject would begin in December in north Bengal. “Although we have SC, ST and OBC cells in Malda and other districts of north Bengal, we do not have MLAs from such communities or from the ‘Matua sect'.

Incidentally, Miss Banerjee recently expressed solidarity with the Matua sect.

Mr Sarkar claimed that he recently appointed leaders at the block levels to strengthen the organisation. “We also intend to hold a conference of the SC, ST and OBC people in Malda in January,” a party member said.

Two killed in Malda lorry-taxi collision

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 23 NOV: Two people were killed and four others were injured when a taxi carrying five passengers collided with a lorry on NH-34 under Kaliachak police station this afternoon. One died on the spot while the other succumbed to his injuries in the district hospital. Police are yet to establish the identity of the deceased.

A railway employee, who was injured in the accident was shifted from Malda district hospital to a railway hospital here. Police said, two critically injured patients who were admitted to the Malda district hospital, are still unconscious.

The incident occurred near Kaliachak BDO office when a Malda bound taxi, carrying five passengers collided with a lorry. Just at the same time a Malda bound state bus (NBSTC) also hit the taxi from behind.

Angry locals set the bus and the lorry on fire disrupting traffic on NH-34 for more than three hours.

“We could not take action against the people who set the bus and lorry ablaze. We must start a case if bus authorities and the truck owner lodge any complaint for damaging properties”, said Mr Bhuban Mandal, the Malda SP.

According to him, the staffs of the state bus and the lorry fled the spot.

Traffic movement became normal later in the day once police arrived at the spot.

Malda organises peace meeting to curb local violence

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 22 NOV: The Malda district administration today held a “peace” meeting at Majampur in Kaliachak police station and sought villagers’ co-operation to curb the turf war between the two groups of criminals over the rights of illegal trade along the India-Bangladesh border.

Political leaders from the CPI-M, the Congress and local people including religious leaders, particularly moulavis, were present in the meeting. The additional district magistrate, sub-divisional officer, additional superintendent of police and other officials urged the local people to co-operate in order to eliminate clashes between the two groups exchanging fire and hurling crude bombs.

The administrative officials said that the local people expressed happiness over the role of police against the criminals in the past few weeks. “Participants expressed satisfaction over the role of police. This is for the first time that stern action has been taken against these criminals,” said Mr Prakash Pal, Malda sub-divisional officer. “We have asked them to provide information about the criminals who were creating problem in maintaining peace in the area. Police will take necessary action in the interest of local people,” said Mr Pal. Though police have arrested some criminals but they could not arrest the masterminds who are operating their associates. Since the past two months police have paid good attention in bringing peace in the area.

In the meantime, many people have left their homes situated at Majampur and adjoining areas when these turf wars were rattling the social lives of the villagers.

DM asks civic body to discipline unlicensed rickshaws

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 20 NOV: In order to avoid traffic congestion Malda district magistrate has asked the chairman of English Bazaar Municipality (EBM) to discipline the unlicensed rickshaws in Malda town.


In his letter to the EBM chairman, Mr Narendranath Tiwari, the district magistrate, Mr Sridhar Ghosh, pointed out: “Unauthorised rickshaws cause traffic congestion in Malda town. There are hundreds of unlicensed rickshaws that ply every day creating problem in traffic management.”


Mr Ghosh has asked Mr Tiwari to take necessary steps against unlicensed rickshaws to ease traffic congestion.


The district magistrate has also asked the civic body to take necessary steps to clear encroachments on footpaths and roads in many places which have narrowed down the main roads in the heart of the town.


“Not only footpaths but also some traders have set up their stalls on the roads. We will not bar them from earning a livelihood but they cannot create problems for pedestrians”, Mr Ghosh said.


Since September pedestrians are facing problems in front of the Chittaranjan market where a part of roads and footpaths have been encroached on for setting up food stalls and other businesses.


Though the civic body has launched a drive to prevent unauthorised rickshaws from entering Malda town but the programme was discontinued in 2008.


The civic body chief Mr Narendranath Tiwari admitted: “There are thousands of unauthorised rickshaws that ply in the heart of the town and at times more than three rickshaws have been caught bearing the same number plate issued by the civic bodies."


In response to the DM's letter, Mr Tiwari will reply on Monday 23 November including their proposals to bring traffic management system under control.


He also alleged that in 2008 when the eviction drive was started we did not get cooperation from the administration. The special drive to stop movement of unauthorised rickshaws was also discontinued.


“Without help of police only civic body would not be able to evict encroachers and to unauthorised rickshaws”, Mr Tiwari said.

Chinese team in sericulture fields

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 19 NOV: A five-member team from China today visited some villages in Kaliachak in Malda district to exchange views and experiences on traditional sericulture industry with the farmers. The state government has taken the initiative to bring experts from China to develop silk production and industry in the state.

The team led by Dr Xiao Geng Sheng, professor, Guangdong Academy of Agriculture and Sericulture in China, interacted with the authorised private silkworm egg producers.

The team visited mulberry plantations and silkworm rearing units. Dr Sheng advised the farmers on how to develop productivity.

“Dr Sheng said the current climatic condition in Malda district was almost similar to that in his country and so similar type of silk production was possible,” said Mr S Das, deputy director, textile, and sericulture division, Malda.

The experts made particular visits to two fields at Alinagar and Nabinagar in Kaliachak-I block, to observe the pre-cocoon period.

“The visitors could not visit the traditional and modern reeling sector units for silk industries here due to time constraint,” Mr Das added.

The Chinese team had visited Murshidabad district yesterday. They would exchange views with the state officials in Kolkata tomorrow for the development of silk industries.

Cancer victim wants death

MALDA, 19 NOV: Mr Swarup Das, a daily wage earner, submitted an application today, to the chief minister, through the Malda district magistrate, pleading for mercy killing, as he can no longer endure the pain that the cancer in his left hand is causing him.Mr Das, resident of Kanchanter in English Bazaar village, is suffering from acute pain because his medical condition has deteriorated uncontrollaby in the last 10 days. Mr Das's left hand, which is cancer-infected, has not only started rotting, but the flesh from the hand is also falling off. He has almost lost his left hand. In his letter to the DM, Mr Sridhar Ghosh, Mr Das claimed: “I am suffering from cancer for the last three years. I did not get medical facilities or financial aid from the government hospital here. I want to die now, owing to unbearable pain in my hand and my body. I will be grateful to you if you please take the necessary steps to ensure that my family, in my absence, is well taken care of." Das is naturally worried about the survival of his parents, wife and five year-old daughter and seeks to make arrangements for them. On 21 October 2009, Das' father, Mr Biswanath Das appealed to the sabhapati of English Bazaar panchayat samiti seeking financial help for the treatment of his son. In his plea to the DM, Mr Das has attached some medical papers from from a hospital in Bangalore, where had been admitted for treatment. No treatment has worked and Das, now lies in his home, penniless and battling cancer.“All of our savings have been exhausted for my treatment. I used to work as a helper of a private vehicle. But at present, I have lost my capacity to work even as a day labourer," Das told the local reporters, sitting in his home.SNS

Arsenic-free water supply disrupted

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 19 NOV: Arsenic-free drinking water distribution was disrupted since last Tuesday, in the entire zone of Manikchak, Kaliachak-II and parts of English Bazaar block and town due to a mechanical failure.

Due to electrical fault in the intake point at Mathurapur in Manikchak, the system of distribution of water was stopped but no initiative was taken yesterday.

The intake point is the place where the raw water is lifted from the river and processsed in treatment plants. It was this lifting of water that had been interrupted.

“I have got the information that water distribution has been disrupted for the last two days, due to electrical fault at the intake point at Mathurapur.

I am trying to contact the mechanical division about the situation," said Mr Swapan Maitra, executive engineer, civil division of the PHE.

Mr Nityananda Khan, the executive engineer, mechanical division of the PHE, said: “The dedicated feeder line for supplying power was out of order.

There was no power supply in one out of three phases. Yesterday, we approached the electricity department to restore the feeder line."

A senior PHE official said: “The electricity department restored the line today but owing to load-shedding, the water lifting and treatment was stalled for the day as well”.

At the end of the day, the executive engineer Mr Khan said: “Water lifting and purification has resumed. Now we are distributing drinking water to our commendable areas”.

Minister calls for a ‘corruption-free’ system

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 19 NOV: The state panchayat minister, Mr Anisur Rahman, has asked the panchayat office bearers and administrative officials to run local bodies ‘corruption free’ and to implement all government schemes rising above “narrow political interests.”

According to the Malda district magistrate, Mr Sridhar Ghosh, Mr Rahman held a meeting in Malda on 13 November with all panchayat samiti sabahpati and other government officials including the Malda zilla parishad sabhadipati, Mrs Sabina Yeasmin, and other members.

According to district magistrate, the minister said in the meeting: “Common people have been deprived of government (both the Centre and state) programmes due to corruption in panchayats. Now local bodies need to function corruption-free. “Forget what happened earlier. Start afresh and corruption-free,” the minister, according to the DM, said.

Expressing satisfaction with some of the works done in Malda, including national rural employment guarantee scheme works, Mr Rahman also assured the Malda zilla sabhadhipati, Mrs Yeasmin, that he would look into her proposal of increasing the sabhadhipatis’ honorarium. Mrs Yeasmin had in the last meeting pointed out that the current honorarium of Rs 4,500 per month for sabhadhipatis was not sufficient and that under the circumstances, the sabhadipatis would have to look at alternative sources to supplement their earning.

Mr Rhaman, however, pointed out: “The state government pays me Rs 6,000 per month. You are getting an honorarium equivalent to that of a minister of state. People who claim such posts cannot claim higher honorarium. I would, however, put forwardyour request at the right platform.”

According to administrative officials, a chief of a zilla parishad is entitled to an honorarium of Rs 4,500 per month plus free telephones including cell, housing, vehicle, travelling allowance and unlimited medical expenses including for dependents.

Chanchal awaits new sports stadium

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 19 NOV: The Chanchal sub-divisional sports association has adopted a resolution that it will request the Malda zilla parishad to prepare a detail project report (DPR) of the proposed stadium in Chanchal town.

The idea of a sports complex in this town was conceived by Mr PR Das Munshi, three years ago, but nothing has been done since the former MP and minister for information and broadcasting, fell ill.

Nearly Rs 1.15 crore, collected from various sources including Mr Das Munshi's MPLAD and donation from a sports channel (ESPN), remains unspent.

Before his illness, Mr Das Munshi had decided that the Malda zilla parishad would be the executing agency for the construction of the stadium.

On Tuesday, a 15-member adhoc committee held a meeting and decided to request the additional executive officer of the Malda zilla parishad, Mr Kajal Banerjee, to prepare a DPR of the proposed stadium so that it can begin the construction, said Chanchal SDO, Mr Subho Mukherjee. Mr Mukherjee is also the president of the adhoc committee.

It was also decided that the committee will hold a football or cricket tournament in Chanchal in December this year. The Chanchal, SDO said that the committee has decided to conduct election to form a functioning executive committee to execute the aforesaid plans. At present, there are 300 members in the Chanchal sub-divisional sports committee. The committee members have also decided that after the completion of the DPR, they would approach the North Malda MP, Miss Mausam Noor to contribute funds from her MPLAD for the construction of the Chanchal stadium.

New branches of ICSP to come up in Northeast

MALDA, 18 NOV: The head of the Indian Centre for Space Physics (ICSP) in Kolkata, Prof Sandip K Chakrabarti, who is also the group head of Astrophysics in Satyendra Nath Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, has planned to set up more branches in north-east India to conduct more research works on space physics with minimal costs.

Addressing a workshop on Antarctica expedition and total solar eclipse that occurred on 22 July 2009 in Malda College, organised by its physics department, Prof Chakraborty said: “We want to set up more branches of ICSP in north-east India for more research works on space physics with a minimal cost”.

Narrating the discovery of new data through three balloons which took off, carrying equipments to record total solar eclipse and its effects, from Raiganj, Prof Chakrabarti said: “This is the first time the ICSP has been able to record new information, findings, and huge data for research including moon’s shadow with minimal cost using balloons”.

“We had calculated and decided to select the spot at Raiganj in North Dinajpur to watch the total solar eclipse that occurred on 22 July this year and launched Mission Dignity-7 with the help of three balloons to record its effects. We have been successfull in recording huge data from 70,000 altitude, where temperature was minus 70 degree Celsius”, he said.

The automatic cameras from balloons have recorded 40,000 pictures, since before total eclipse, including the moon’s shadow, lunar shadow of the moon, stratospheric clouds and others objects.

“Based on the data captured from balloons we have found that stratospheric clouds cause ozone layer depletion on the sky of Purnia in Bihar,” Prof Chakrabarti said.

Another scientist of ICSP in Kolkata, Mr Sudipta Sasmal, explained his experiences about journey to Antarctica including the Indo-Russian research station Maitri located there, with the help of slide show from Cape Town to Antarctica. ;SNS

UGB V-C seeks DM's help

MALDA, 18 NOV: With no alternative in sight, the University of Gour Banga (UGB) vice chancellor Prof Gopa Datta today sought the Malda district magistrate Mr Sridhar Ghosh’s help for post graduate students’ classrooms.

It may be noted that the new university does not have buildings in the present campus in English Bazaar town. Construction of the boundary wall is going on at the site now.

The university authority has rented rooms from some colleges in Malda town from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m to run courses for seven PG subjects. According to the district magistrate, the vice chancellor Prof. Gopa Datta said that the allotted three hours were not sufficient for the PG students. “The problem grow acute in the winters and pose a practical problem for the teachers and students to attend classes,” said Prof. Datta.

Under the circumstances, the VC met the district magistrate this evening and urged him to rent seven buildings in the town for the university to open departments separately for the seven subjects and hold classes as well.

Stating that it was difficult to arrange that many buildings in the town, the DM added that the administration would try to find out alternative arrangements. “It calls for immediate construction of buildings in the university campus,” he added. ;SNS

Disbursement deadline for housing scheme

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 18 NOV: The Malda district administration has set 30 November 2009 as a deadline and asked all gram panchayat pradhans to disburse the funds for Ashray, a new state government-sponsored housing scheme, to the selected beneficiaries, within the stipulated time.

Following the Central government's, Indira Awas Yojona, the state government has launched the new Ashray scheme, in this financial year, for poor families.

Besides families belonging to the below poverty line (BPL) category, genuinely poor people, who are incidentally not listed in the BPL, will be entitled to get assistance for housing, under the same project. The selected beneficiaries will be getting Rs 35,000 in two installments, through their bank accounts.

The Malda district administration has targeted to select at least five beneficiaries at each gram panchayats. In Malda, there are 146 gram panchayats. Besides, the Malda Zilla Parishad (MZP) will also implement 171 Ashray scheme separately.

The additional executive officer(AEO) of the MZP, Mr Kajal Banerjee and the Chanchal sub divisional officer, Mr Subho Mukherjee and other officials, held a meeting with all gram panchayat pradhans of six blocks in Chanchal yesterday, to review all the Central and state government-sponsored schemes. Besides Ashray, the district officials specially stressed the need for rapid implementation of the Indira Awas Yojona, National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and sanitation.

The AEO, MZP, Mr Kajal Banerjee said: “We have set a dead line 30 November and asked all gram panchayat pradhans to disburse the funds allotted for Ashray to the selected beneficiaries following the guidelines”.

“If any gram panchayat fails to meet the deadline, we will stop allotment of funds for other government programmes including the salary for the employees working in the gram panchayat," Mr Banerjee added.

Vulnerable banks in need of security

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 17 NOV: Malda bank officials have expressed concern and sought adequate security arrangements for branches at the time of money transactions, following the incident at Karimpur in Nadia, where four bank employees were killed and one injured. These branches have proved their vulnerability through these incidents.

The Malda SP, Mr Bhuban Mandal, has agreed to hold a meeting with them on 24 November to review the security system of the banks, in the district, when the officials of the several banks met him yesterday.

The bank officials have prepared a list of some vulnerable areas and branches across the district, based on figures of high accumulation of cash, seeking police patrolling up to late evening.

“We cannot remit high accumulation of cash without guards. It takes time to complete the job in many branches, in these vulnerable areas. When we requisition police force, we do not get them on time,” said Mr. Tapan Das, chief regional manager of the UBI.

“We have jointly prepared a list of vulnerable branches and decided to submit it to the police super, seeking adequate security during transactions,” Mr Das added.

According to the chief regional manager, in some areas, police continue patrolling but some areas remain uncovered in this district.

The employees of rural banks in remote areas also alleged that they face problems in remitting cash after evening.

After Karimpur incident, employees’ unions of different banks in this region raised several issues related to their security during office hours, which continues till late evening, due to the work load. The employees have to carry out several transactions, related to state and central government sponsored schemes.

They had previously pointed out the inadequacy of the present infrastructure to bear such work load, along with the banks’ own security systems.

“I will interact with the bank officials on 24 November and look into the problem of bankers’ own security system and take proper deployment of our police forces for their security,” said Mr. Bhuban Mandal, the Malda SP.

Congman’s death shrouded in mystery

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 17 NOV: Diverse statements have come from the Malda district hospital superintendent, Dr Asok Biswas and the Malda district police superintendent, Mr Bhuban Mandal, over the death of one Maklesur Rahman, a Congress supporter, at Birnagar gram panchayat under Baishnabnagar police station on Monday.

Though the district hospital superintendent Dr Asok Biswas claimed that Rahman died from a crude bomb explosion, the Malda SP Mr Mandal today said no death was reported to him from the clash that purportedly took Rahman's life yesterday.

Speaking on the issue, the Malda hospital super today said: “One person (Rahman) was declared dead here. Two other minor boys injured in the clash are out of danger now and are undergoing treatment in the hospital.”

Interestingly, the Malda SP had yesterday said that he did not have information about injury to three persons admitted in hospital.

“The hospital authority should intimate the police immediately of such injuries but the hospital authority did not do so. I have asked police officers to find out the matter,” he had stated.

The hospital superintendent Dr Biswas, however, claimed that there was no need to inform the police, as the police were present in hospital.

“When a police outpost is functioning in the hospital premises why must I have to intimate the matter separately to senior police officials?” he had questioned instead.

The Malda district magistrate Mr Sridhar Ghosh has in the meantime urged all political parties to cooperate to bring down political clashes in the district.

He held an all-party meeting today and the police would undertake a special drive to nab criminals, political or otherwise, from tomorrow.

“The innocent would suffer and may also die in encounters between the police and criminals. We can avoid such untoward incidents if wanted criminals surrender before the police,” the DM said seeking all political parties’ help in the matter.

The police are awaiting court orders before they start attaching properties of more than 20 criminals in the district including that of CPI-M leader Mr Asadullah Biswas and Congress leader Mr Tuhur Biswas both involved in clashes at Majampur in the district.

1 killed, 5 injured in CPM-Cong clashes

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 16 NOV: One person was killed and five others were critically injured in a clash between Congress and the CPI-M supporters over a construction of a village road at Birnagar-II gram panchayat in Kaliachak III block, Malda district today. A bomb hurled by the warring factions killed Maklesur Rahman, a Congress supporter.

Two teenagers, Taniur Rahaman and Masidur Rahman, who were also involved in the hostilities, sustained serious injuries. According to the Malda hospital superintendent, they are fighting for life. Three others injured in the clash were discharged after first aid. Several others have been admitted to local health centres.

Trouble broke out when a contractor allegedly backed by a Congress member of BIrnagar-II GP Mr Sukurdi Sheikh, was constructing a 400-metre long village road at Dinutola today.

Mr Sheikh, who is also the victim's brother, alleged that a group of CPI-M workers prevented the workers from working on the road.

“They demanded money from the contractor and stopped the work.”

The locals alleged that the clash broke out as the CPI-M backed contractors wanted to do the job worth Rs six lakh allotted from the border area development fund.

While the Malda SP, Mr Bhuban Mandal, said that the clash broke out after a group of people backed by the CPI-M protested against the alleged poor quality of work, demanded money from the contractor at the site and forcibly stopped the work,” the CPI-M leadership said that the locals had assembled in front of Mr Sukurdi Sheikh's house to express grievance with the quality of work. “An altercation broke out and escalated into a clash.

Production of pulses to be increased to address deficit

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 16 NOV.: To increase the production of pulses and to extend its area, the agriculture department in Malda has selected Barind belt, comprising four blocks, under national food security mission (NFSM).

The development officers of agriculture department have stressed on the cultivation of khesari (lathyrus), which requires minimal production cost, in aman paddy field, in this belt.

During training programme for the farmers, they have suggested that khesari seeds be sown in the aman paddy field just before harvesting of paddy and explained that scientifically it would be alright to do so and the pulses would grow fine.

Without affecting the traditional crops, the department has planned to cultivate pulses in Char lands on the banks of the Ganga in Manikchak and its adjoining areas in this district.

To attract the farmers to the demonstration, the agriculture officials are trying to spread the word that on the basis of ‘cost benefit ratio,’ cultivation of pulses is more profitable than the boro paddy cultivation.

Under the NFSM, the department has set up programmes for supplying improved varieties of pulse seeds, balanced fertilizers including organic materials and micro-nutrient.

To improve soil health, the department has planned to neutralise the acidity of the soil in Barind belt comprising Old Malda, Habibpur, Gazole and Bamongola blocks.

But the department is facing problems in procuring the required improved quality pulse seeds from reputed institutions including Indian Institute of Pulses Research, Kanpur, despite several reminders.

“We did not get improved seeds from IIP Research, Kanpur, despite several requests. At present we are collecting improved seeds from the state seed corporation and cultivating pulses in our farm houses to increase volume of improved seeds”, said Mr. Soumendra Nath Das, sub-divisional officer (technical) of the Malda agriculture department.

It may be noted that the Malda district has come under NFSM, in order to expand the area of pulses production and to increase its rate of production by 4 per cent every year.

This increase in production is very crucial because, according to the government report, the district produces 15,874 metric ton pulses every year but it requires more than 48,093 MT pulses per year.

The department has targeted to increase production of pulses from 638.13 kg to 663.13 kg per hector of land in this district.

Inquiry initiated into construction work without tender

MALDA, 16 NOV: The divisional railway manager (Eastern Rail) in Malda Mr MK Mathur has ordered an inquiry into the construction of a level crossing, which was installed allegedly without tender and work order. Tenders for the construction of level crossings and their cabins in unmanned spots in Kaliachak were floated in August. The contractors were selected as per response to the tenders and the railway authority allotted work order for the construction of three level crossings.Though construction of two level crossings (Nos. 64 and 68) are going on at present, the railway officials detected that the construction of another level crossing (no 63-C) near Jadupur was completed five months ago. According to railway documents, a contractor Mr Parlhad Kundu had been given the job to set up crossing no 63-C at over Rs 20 lakh. The divisional railway manager has reportedly asked the divisional engineer about ‘who did the work without order'. Puzzled with how the construction of the level crossing was completed prior to issuance of work order, the DRM has reportedly asked the divisional engineer to inquire into the matter. The matter came to light after villagers demanded commissioning of the level crossing, which was not being used after completion.;SNS

82-year old prays for a path to heaven

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 15 NOV: An eighty-two year old man, Mr Binoy Kumar Mandal, who was suffering from paralysis for the last decade, today organised a prayer at his home to get peace in heaven.

This incident took place at Nam-Jote Aarapur village under Kotwali gram panchayat in English Bazaar town.

Mr Mandal has distributed all his properties equally to his four sons and five daughters today. He has also donated Rs 1 lakh to Radha-Gobinda Mandir, a temple close to his house for the construction of its boundary wall.

More than 400 neighbours including more than 45 relatives were invited to join puja. Nam sankirtan, songs of God and Goddess, and a banquet organised by his family members today since morning.

The menu was prepared according to his desire of Mr. Mandal.

“My father wanted to go to Haridwar and also Varanasi to offer prayers to get peace in life. But we could not arrange the tour for him because he can not move out”, Mr Barun Kumar Mandal, his son, said.

“For the last three years, my father was expressing his desire to hold such a programme at home having failed to bear sufferings. We did not agree to his proposal. We held such a programme for his mental satisfaction”.

Ten years ago, Mr Mandal's wife Chamalata died. After her death, he became alone. One of his sons Barun Kumar Mandal was looking after him.

“I am happy with all my relatives. I decided to meet together and a feast for them because I wanted to see all of my relatives and neighbours at home altogether before my death”, said Mr Binoy Kumar Mandal, wearing new cloths and associated with all his family members.

“I am tired of lying in bed for over 12 years”, he said.

He has nearly 10 acres mango orchards, 10 acres paddy field, two ponds and other properties including cattle rearing which were distributed among his family members.

The locals today started construction of a boundary wall of the temple to mark his name.

Malaria death in hospital

MALDA, 15 NOV: The Malda district health authorities have expressed concern over malaria which is thriving in English Bazaar town, a district headquarters, after the death of district hospital staff Swapna De (50) due to malignant malaria. The patient was admitted to Malda district hospital and later referred to SSKM Kolkata. She died in Kolkata hospital on 12 November. Doctors in Malda district hospital allegedly could not diagnose the disease properly. Yesterday, doctors examined her family. The two children in her house were under observation. They were suffering from fever, said Dr Srikanta Roy, the chief medical officer of health. The health officials have been asked to start door to door surveillance of the area near the house of Swapna De on Gour Road in Makdumpur in English Bazaar Municipal area. Hospital authorities could not understand how its staff was attacked by mosquito-borne disease. The colleagues of De (she was a nurse) alleged that the present area of the district hospital was not safe. “This place is ideal for mushroom mosquitoes”, they alleged.The CMOH, Dr Srikanta Roy said that there were some slum areas, close to the house of Swapna De, from where she might be attacked by mosquito borne disease.;SNS

Civic body unable to pay electricity bills

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 13 NOV: The English Bazaar Municipality in Malda district is faced with the difficult task of meeting nearly a Rs 4 crore electricity bill which has been outstanding for years. The EBM authority is unable to pay the amount.

The state urban development minister and power minister would now decide on the matter. Since the EBM has a Trinamul, Congress and BJP board the resolution of this deadlock will be quite a task.

The power department is pressing for payments.

The divisional manager, electricity department in Malda has been asked to furnish monthly electricity bills to the chief engineer so that the department can claim it from the municipal affairs department directly as the EBM has expressed inability to pay the bill amount.

Admitting that the civic body was suffering from a fund crunch, the EBM chairman, Mr Narendranath Tiwari, said: “The civic body owes the power department Rs 3.96 crore in bills for successive years. We do not have sufficient funds to pay the due amount. We have approached the state government to cut short our allocation to clear the outstanding power bills.”

According to the chairman, expenses in providing services to the people were higher than the civic body's income.

“Fifty per cent exemption of water tax, which was adopted as a policy by the civic board, is costing us dear. Meeting electricity charges for the pump houses has also become a problem,” Mr Tiwari added.

Incidentally, the EBM civic body board has been in the possession of the Congress, Trinamul and BJP for successive years since 1995 except for two brief stints when the Left Front gained control but lost it faster than acquired.

Mr DK Mondal, divisional manager, electricity distribution company limited in Malda, said: “The EBM authority has almost surrendered. They are not paying bills now. The matter is being discussed at the minister level. We are sending copies of the month electricity bill to our chief engineer.”

According to him, the civic body was clearing bills amounting from running its offices and pump houses but it has not cleared bills accrued from electricity consumed for street lights.

Health dept starts treating thalassemic kids

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 13 NOV: Following a media report, the district health authorities have taken up the responsibility of the treatment of four members of a family suffering from Thalassemia. Yesterday, the block medical officer made arrangements for bringing the family, from their home in Madnavati in Bamongola block, to the Malda district hospital. They were admitted to Malda district hospital late last night following the instruction of the chief medical officer of health. The head of the family, Mr Saidul Rahaman, a daily wage earner, wrote to the chief minister pleading for a mercy killing since he could no longer can bear the expenses of treatment of his two children who are suffering from thalassemia. The chief medical officer of health said four members including the two children, Mostakim and Mamoni Khatun, have been admitted to Malda district hospital. The doctors have completed their blood transfusion today. The health authorities faced problems to provide B negative blood for the Mostakim (8). Seeking permission from the CMOH the blood bank has delivered the last stock of B negative blood for Mistakim. The CMOH has urged several NGOs to collect B negative blood to maintain adequate stock for the district hospital. The district hospital decided that they will undergo treatment here until their hemoglobin comes up to the normal mark. The family has been asked to keep contact to thalassemia day care unit in Malda district hospital after being discharged from the district hospital. “They are now stable and undergoing treatment with special care. They will be getting treatment from newly set up thalassemia day care unit in hospital regularly after being discharged from the hospital”, said Dr Srikanta Roy, the CMOH in Malda.