Train mows down seven elephants

manas ranjan banerjee 
SILIGURI/kolkata, 23 SEPT: In the worst ever incident in living memory, seven elephants, including three female and a calf, were mowed down by a Guwahati-bound goods train at Kalibari railway crossing near Banarhat in Jalpaiguri last night. The trampling of the animals under the speeding wheels has sent shock waves across north Bengal. Forest officials and animal lovers’ organisations have described the incident as “a pathetic climax” of the indifference displayed by the Indian Railways to the appeals from several quarters.  
Questions have cropped up over the speed limit involving the goods trains particularly along the region, acknowledged as “elephant corridor” close to Reti forest. 
The forest officials claimed that the railways had been consistently ignoring their plea to limit the speed of the trains passing through what is known as the natural habitats of the wild elephants. 
However, in a defensive gesture, the divisional railway manager, Alipurduar, Mr SN Singh, claimed that the train was running at a speed of 65 km per hour as per the speedometer records.  
“We maintain speed limit of around 50 km per hour along the four stretches identified by the forest officials. A herd of elephants came on the track suddenly. Though the driver tried his best to stop the train, but the brake did not work,” Mr Singh claimed, adding that the incident did not happen along the identified corridor.  
The chief conservator of forest, wild life, north, Mr S Patel, said: “The goods train was unscheduled and it was running at a speed of nearly 90 kms per hour in contravention to the speed limit determined for the animal-infested zone. The wheels dragged an elephant nearly 500 metres from the accident spot on the tracks,” he added.  
Rejecting the claims of the railway officials, Mr Patel said that the accident spot was well within the 42-km stretch demarcated as the restricted zone as far as the restraint imposed on the speed of the moving trains is concerned. “The driver ought to have restricted the speed to 10 km per hour along the stretch,” Mr Patel claimed. 
Several organisations, working for the interest of the animals in north Bengal, have described the incident as "a rarest of the rare". 
“Twenty-six elephants have so far been slaughtered under the railway wheels following the conversion of the metre-gauge into broad-gauge. Railways ministry should immediately order to stop movement of trains along the well-known corridor stretch at night. Otherwise the forests of north Bengal would not take long to get denuded of its prized animals,” said the coordinator, the Himalayan Nature and Adventure Foundation, Mr Animesh Basu.   
The divisional forest officer, Mr Kalyan Das, said in Jalpaiguri: “One tusker, three females, two  juveniles and an elephant calf were killed. Four of them died on the spot. The forest officials rescued two injured elephants and brought them to Khutimari and Garumara for treatment soon after the incident. 
“Despite all out efforts by the veterinary doctors, the injured duo died early this morning. However, one injured elephant was recovered from a canal close to the accident site,” Mr Das said.
According to the forest officials, the autopsy is over. Six were cremated in Khuttimari forest and another one in Garumara forest this evening.
Meanwhile, worried over elephants getting killed almost regularly by speeding trains even after the railways having been told to take remedial measures, the state forest minister, Mr Ananta Ray, today said he would complain to the Union environment and forests minister, Mr Jairam Ramesh, and also to the railway minister, Miss Mamata Banerjee, against the “failure” of the railway authorities to  limit the speed of the trains moving through the elephant corridors. 
The speed proved to be the main factor for the death of seven elephants yesterday, while 18 elephants had already died in the past two years. 
The seven elephants were hit by a goods train at Banarhat in North Bengal. The forest department lodged an FIR against the railways.  
According to the minister, the goods train was travelling at a speed of 70 km per hour instead of the recommended speed of 25 km per hour. “The divisional railway manager himself gave this information. At that speed there was no way the driver could stop the train even after spotting the herd,” said the minister. 
“We have been repeatedly telling them about reducing speed, blaring horns and using headlights, but to no avail. We have also asked them to build elevated tracks or an alternative route via Falakata. Railway officials are party to these decisions, but they don't implement them”. The entire 180 km-long stretch between Siliguri and Alipurduar Junction passes through forest area. Other animals, including bison and leopards, have also been hit by trains in the past.

GJMM rejects Jaswant offer

9 September 2010

statesman news service
SILIGURI, 9 SEPT: The Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha today rejected the Darjeeling MP Mr Jaswant Singh's counsel to nominate members to the proposed interim council from all the political parties with presence in the hills and in accordance with the Reservation policy prevailing in the country.
Visibly embarrassed, the GJMM media secretary, Dr Harka Bahadur Chhetri said in Siliguri on return from New Delhi today that Mr Singh had not been authorised by the party to comment on crucial policy matters. “A BJP veteran, he seems unaware of the stand my party has taken on the matter. What he said is his personal stand and maybe, it is the stand of the party he belongs to,” Dr Chhetri said.
Mr Singh's comment crated flutters in the political circles yesterday when he categorically stated that the nominated council should involve not just the political parties with presence in the hills but all socio-economic categories listed in the Reservation schedule including the SC, ST, OBC and the women.
Rejecting Mr Singh's assertions, Dr Chhetri said that being the true representative of the hill populace his party should have the right to nominate members to the proposed interim council.  “None from the party central committee would be nominated. We would remain absorbed in carrying on with the statehood struggle as the interim council being envisaged for the hills would be a mere revised version of the much-hated Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council,” he said.
He further said that his party was ready to support elections provided the Centre and the state government agreed to incorporate Terai and the Dooars within the geographical contour of the interim council.  “We would go for elections tomorrow if the Centre and state accept our boundary demands.  We have demanded 64 moujas spread over the Terai and the Dooars apart from 96 moujas in the hills where the Gokha community is in a demographic majority,” Dr Chhetri added. Asked why the principal hill-based party was fighting shy of elections, the GJMM leader said that his party would remain focused on the territorial aspirations of the Gorkha people. “Realising these long- suppressed aspirations are more important than contesting elections,” he said.
Charging fusillades at the state government, Dr Chettri said that the Marxists looked determined to stall the council- formation process.  “Adept in the divide and rule stratagem, they are bent on driving wedge amongst different sections of the hill people,” he said.

TRA to introduce eco-friendly pest management for tea gardens

28 July 2010

Manas R Bannerjee
SILIGURI, 28 JULY: In order to curb the Helopeltis (Tea Mosquito Bug) menace in tea plantations, spread over the northeastern region and north Bengal, the Tocklai Experimental Station at Jorhat in Assam is busy researching to find out eco-friendly pest management.
The advisory officers of the Tea Research Association (TRA) took up the work in response to the complaints from the tea planters who keep incurring losses in tea production.
According to the TRA officials, the production keeps alarmingly dwindling due to the menace, particularly in Margarita in upper Assam on the bank of the Brahmaputra, and also some tea plantation spread over Terai and Dooars in north Bengal. Dr S Baisya, the advisory officer of the TRA at Bangdubi in Siliguri, said: “The portents are disturbing and we apprehend further slump in the tea production in the entire tea belt.
The situation in north Bengal is less alarming than upper Assam though,” he added.  “We are striving to find out alternative ways to tackle the menace so as to help the small tea planters who have been bearing the maximum brunt,” Dr Baisya added. The senior TRA officials ascribe the growing menace to heavy rains and want of sunlight. According to them, the task is proving tough owing to several reasons involved.
To compound the problem, the imperative of maintaining the ecological balance is coming in the way of eliminating the mosquitoes outright. On the other hand, the tea planters are not inclined to use powerful chemicals and pesticides apprehending that the indiscriminate use of these anti-mosquito elements would tell upon the quality of tea apart from exposing the people to health hazards. “Interestingly, the number of natural enemy is low for killing Helopeltis in the tea plantations. And these insects are very clever too. They are adept in protecting themselves from the spraying,” Dr Baisya added.

Sainthia Train Disaster

Gag order on Uttar Banga Express guard

20 July 2010

Manas Bannerjee

SILIGURI, 20 JULY: The guard of the Uttar Banga Express, Mr Somnath Sengupta, who now seems to be the only person who can enlighten the probe committee in connection with the Sainthia train disaster, reached Howrah accompanied by railway officials this morning. He was taken under railway custody at Bandel station yesterday.

Asked to keep silent over the accident, Mr Sengupta, posted in Malda railway division in Eastern Railway, was allowed to speak to his family members over phone only last night, more than 12 hours after the incident.

Still in the grip of trauma, Mr Sengupta speaking to The Statesman over phone said: "I am now being taken to Howrah for deposition. I will speak only to the railway officials in charge of the probe. I have been instructed not to say anything about the accident except to the probe committee,” he said. “I am recovering now. I was injured when the Uttar Banga Express rammed into the stranded Vananchal Express. The pain has nearly disappeared following treatment,” he added.

The Malda divisional railway manager, Mr MK Mathur said that Mr Sengupta would depose before the Commissioner of Railway Safety for the next few days. "He told senior railway officials yesterday that he had used the emergency brake. The probe would confirm what actually happened to the ill-fated train. The inquiry team would check the records of the train speed from memory chips (window graphs) before the accident took place to verify his statement,” said Mr Mathur.

Bureaucratic Blunder-II

Parking row: WBIIDC has little to do

7 July 2010

Manas R Bannerjee

SILIGURI, 7 JULY: The West Bengal Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation and the Jalpaiguri police having seemingly thrown in the towel regarding the illegal parking on the approach road leading to the Dabgram Industrial Growth Centre, a no-parking zone and along the National Highway-31 connecting Siliguri and Jalpaiguri, accidents have become almost a daily phenomenon to the despair of the entrepreneurs and the common people.     

And the most sordid part of the story is that though there is a Siliguri- Jalpaiguri Development Authority-owned Fulbari Truck Terminal near Dabgram Industrial Growth Centre, hundreds of heavily loaded lorries remain stranded on both sides of the ever-busy NH-31. 

Despair seems writ large on the face of the entrepreneurs when the matter has been broached to them. “We dreamt that the area around the centre upto Fulbari and beyond would have improved a lot in terms of transport and other development-related matters. But the reality is saddening, to say the least. The picture is truly precarious on the road front. Illegal parking from Haldia More to Hindustan More has turned a perennial problem. Getting access into the growth centre is becoming more and more like dampening encounters. This aside, the ambience in the surrounding areas keeps deteriorating fast with the women residing in the nearby housing estate feeling insecure to move out after the darkness descends,” said Mr Ajoy Kumar Agarwal, secretary of the Dabgram Industrial Growth Centre.  

The locals have told another tale which imparts a more gloomy touch to the sordid story. They alleged that that some youths affiliated with a political party kept extorting money from the lorry drivers in the area in lieu of ensuring ‘trouble-free’ parking along the road.  

Sounding distressed, the owner on lease of the Fulbari Truck Terminal, Mr Phani Bhushan Ghosh said that he had been incurring enormous loss. “The lorry drivers prefer to park vehicles on the roadside, turning into mockery the rule related to parking. And consequently, the terminal has turned a nightmarish venture for us. We have grown tired with appealing to the Bhaktinagar police station to come down heavily on the illegal parking. But the nonchalant response deepens our frustration,” he rued. Yet, pleading ignorance of the problem, the superintendent of police, Jalpaiguri, Mr Anand Kumar said that they had received no compliant on the matter. “But once complaint is lodged we would take steps to curb unauthorized parking,” he assured.

Bureaucratic Blunder-I

WBIIDC apathetic to upgradation of Dabgram industrial centre

6 July 2010

Manas R Bannerjee

SILIGURI, 6 JULY: The West Bengal Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (WBIIDC) officials have not taken meaningful steps to upgrade the much-hyped Dabgram Industrial Growth Centre in Jalpaiguri, which started its career in the early nineties in sync with the industrial rejuvenation tempo hyped by the Left Front government in the state.    .

When asked to explain the inexplicable apathy, the officials cite the fund crunch. Yet, the explanation is far from satisfactory, for even the basic things required to develop an industrial complex like drinking water supply, sewerage, street lights keep eluding it for the past two decades. The entrepreneurs who got enthused by the flamboyantly drawn plan look a depressed lot now.  The senior officials of the industrial units and the members of the Dabgram Industrial Industries Association (DIIA) vent grievances against the protracted lethargy on the part of the WBIIDC mandarins. “Basic infrastructure for a decent living like sewerage, drinking water, street lights, a market complex are non- existent even after two decades have passed since the unit's inception,” they alleged in unison. “The road condition particularly during the height of the rainy season beggars description with gaping craters making it a perilous drive.  To aggravate the inconvenience, the illegal parking on both sides of the narrow WBIIDC -owned approach road has become a daily affair. It is a veritable hell-hole for us, the entrepreneurs and staffs associated with the several units,” they complained. 

The former president of DIIA, Mr Mohan Debnath slammed the WBIIDC authority, saying that it could not have cared less for the centre. “The condition of the main approach road in front of The Statesman office is awful. Everybody looks prone to passing the bucks instead of sparing thoughts to redress the accumulated grievances,” he said. 

However, what the WBIIDC officials said seems to a tangled web of hope and despair. The executive engineer, Mr DC Mandal said: “We had readied measurements for execution of drainage system, street lights and for the construction of roads. We have sent those measurements to our higher authorities in Kolkata one year ago, seeking funds. They assured that they were trying to manage funds from some other sources”. 

Chairman selection divides Cong

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 3 JUNE: Although the Congress with 10 seats and Trinamul with four seats are expected to ally to form board in the 25-member English Bazaar Municipality, the elected councillors are apparently divided on the issue of chairman selection.

In addition to the four Trinamul councillors, the Congress councillors too seem reluctant to accept Mr Krishnendu Choudhury as the EBM chairman.

At least three Congress councilors and the four Trinamul councilors – Mr Dulal Sarkar , his wife Mrs Chaitali Ghosh, Ms Sumala Agarwal and Mr Barun Sardar have already expressed strong reservation against Mr Krishnendy Choudhury’s candidature to the chairman post.

Mr Sarkar, who had campaigned against Mr Choudhury , before the civic polls had a verbal exchange with Mr Choudhury  at the counting venue. Ms Sumala Agarwal had also challenged Mr Choudhury and ‘invited’ him at the counting venue to see how she defeated the Congress candidate fielded against her.

Ms Agarwal alleged: “Mr Choudhury not only fielded an outgoing Trinamul councillor on a Congress ticket against me but had also used unwanted language against me during campaigning”.

“The district Congress president, Mr AH Khan Choudhury, who is in Delhi would take the final decision on the matter. The MP has told the media that I would be the chairman. I was the chairman of the EBM earlier and have lot of experience”, Mr Krishnendu Choudhury claimed in defence.

He further said: “Trinamul councillors may express no-confidence against me but Ms Mamata Banerjee should formulate a policy not only for English Bazaar but across the state where the Trinamul would have to depend on the Congress to keep the Left out of the board”.

According to the Trinamul district president, Mr Gautam Chakraborty, specific instruction to adjust with the Congress councillors has not reached them yet. 

CPM wrests Malda

Left finds solace in places north

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 2 JUNE: The Left Front (CPI-M ~ 10 and RSP ~ 2) has won the Old Malda Municipality against all speculation comfortably beating the Congress, but the English Bazaar Municipality in the district has turned up a tricky situation for both the Congress and the Trinamul.

Of the 25 seats the Congress has bagged 10 seats and the Trinamul four. The Left Front could manage only eight seats with the BJP completing the tally with three seats. Under the circumstances, the Congress and Trinamul leaderships are contemplating forming board collectively in the EBM, but would have to wait till the nod comes from the top.“We shall have to wait for instructions from Miss Mamata Banerjee before extending support to the Congress in the EBM. The theory, however, can be applied as it was done to form the Malda Zilla Parishad or the previous EBM board. Miss Banerjee would, however, take the final call on the matter,” said a Trinamul state committee leader Mr Dula Sarkar.

The Congress local leadership is also awaiting instructions from the top on the matter. “The party state leadership would decided whether we would seek support from the Trinamul or not. But, the Congress would contest in the EBM chairman election and appeal for support on the issue as well,” said Mr Debapriya Saha, English Bazaar Town Congress president.

The Congress is somewhat glum at Old Malda after losing out to the Left Front in the 18-ward municipality. “We have to accept the people's mandate. The CPI-M has got the majority of seats for rendering service to the people in the past five years they controlled the civic body. We shall extend cooperation to the CPI-M board in development works and protest against unethical activities if any in the Old Malda Municipality,” said the Old Malda Town Congress president, Mr Bibhuti Bhushan Ghosh.

Claiming that their expectation at Old Malda was met, the LF district convener and CPI-M district secretary Mr Jiban Moitra admitted that they had failed to reach out to the people at English Bazaar. “We have to overcome it in future,” he stated. In Jalpaiguri out of the total 25wards Congress bagged 16, Trinamul managed 1 with CPI-M capturing 7 and  RSP- 1 seat. In Cooch Behar out of 20 wards Congress captured 8, CPI-M got 4, Forward Bloc manged 5 and Trinamul captured 3. In Dinhata (Cooch Behar) out of 15 wards Forward Bloc got 9, CPI-M got 4 and Trinamul managed 2 seats. In Mathabhanga municipality (Cooch Behar) out of 12 wards Trinamul and  CPI-M both managed to capture 6 seats each. In Tufanganj (Cooch Behar) out of the 12wards CPI-M managed 8 seats and  Trinamul got 4seats.

Long queues at trouble free north Bengal booths

Statesman News Service 

MALDA/COOCH BEHAR, 30 MAY: Polling for the seven civic bodies spread over Cooch Behar, Malda and Jalpaiguri passed off peacefully today save for some stray incidents. The turnout was moderate to heavy, according to the polling officials. 

The polling began as scheduled at 7 a.m. today amidst tight security for civic bodies in Cooch Behar, Dinhata, Mathabhanga and Tufangunj in Cooch Behar district, English Bazar and Old Malda in Malda district and Jalpaiguri. In Old Malda, police resorted to baton charge to disperse warring groups. Otherwise, the polling was by and large peaceful in the three districts.

The election officials in Malda recorded nearly 77 per cent voters’ turnout in English Bazaar while the percentage was pegged at nearly 86 per cent in Old Malda, the district municipal election officer, Mr Sridhar Ghosh, said today. 

Police, however, resorted to lathicharge in many wards in Old Malda municipal areas as booth-jamming charges in some of the wards heighten political tension. 

“As altercations were about to turn into confrontation involving the main rivals, the Congress and the CPI-M activists the police intervened in time and resorted to lathi charge to disperse the quarreling crowds,” said the Malda superintendent of police, Mr Bhuban Mandal. He further said that some persons belonging to the rival groups had been detained. “But we released them once normalcy was restored,” he added.

The CPI-M district secretary, however, lodged complaint regarding alleged police highhandedness in the form of lathichage in Old Malda. The Trinamul Congress thanked the police for peaceful polling in English Bazar. “There were some problems in wards no. 6, 9 and 12 and 24 in English Bazaar. But, on the whole, the polling was peaceful,” said the district Trinamul president, Mr Goutam Chakraborty.

The district BJP general secretary, Mr Amlan Bhaduri, also expressed satisfaction over the peaceful coduct of elections. 

The Congress MLA in English Bazaar, Mr Krishnendu Choudhury, who is also a Congress candidate in ward no 10 in English Bazaar said: “The CPI-M works prevented our elections agents from entering polling stations in ward 24. A Congress candidate, Mrs Rahima Mahaldar was assaulted in ward no 19. This aside, polls were peaceful”. 

Meanwhile, polling was reported peaceful for the four civic bodies spread over the district, namely Cooch Behar, Dinhata, Mathabhanga and Tufangunj. According to the district magistrate, Mrs Smaroki Mohapatra, no incident of violence has been reported from anywhere. “Polling percentage has varied from around 80 to 87 per cent. In Tofangunj and Mathabhanga the figure is 85 per cent. Dinhata recorded 83 per cent polls while the figure for Cooch Behar stands at 79 per cent. We are taking measures to ensure peace in the post poll period,” she said. According to the district administration officials, they were particularly concerned about the tension-prone Tofangunj. But nothing untoward happened there. However, a political clash occurred at ward no. 12 in Mathabhanga last night. Several persons were injured and admitted at the hospital. The blame game started with the CPI-M and the Trinamul Congress lodging complaints against one another for the incident. 

Barring this incident, the poling was peaceful. The police officials attributed the incident-free elections to the foolproof security measures taken by the district administration in view of the mounting tension in many of the wards in all the four civic bodies in the district.

GBU registrar re-appointed

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 20 MAY:  Mr Bikash Mukherjee, who was appointed as registrar of the Gour Banga University in Malda but his appointment was ‘kept in abeyance’ for alleged plagiarism issue in January this year, will join the institution as registrar soon as per an order from Calcutta High Court.

Mr Mukherjee, who filed a case in the High Court against the decision of the GBU, today informed about the decision over phone from Burdwan University where he is working presently.

According to him, Justice Mr Aniruddha Bose, has issued a ‘stay order’ against the decision of ‘kept in abeyance’ and sought clarification from the GBU authorities to explain why they took such decision without showing the cause of ‘kept in abeyance’.

The order was issued by Justice Mr Bose after hearing in Calcutta High Court held yesterday, Mr Mukherjee claimed.

“I have got justice and won the battle. I will forget all bitter experiences regarding before my joining. Now I want join as registrar soon to work for the betterment of the newly formed university”, Mr Mukherjee said over phone from Burdwan.

It may be noted that the GBU had issued appointment letter to Mr Mukherjee as registrar after interview and asked him to join from 18 January. But following a complaint on the issue of plagiarism the executive council of the GBU had asked him not join before further orders and the matter was kept in abeyance. 

New NCTE norms creates problem for teachers

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 18 MAY: Many teachers working in secondary schools in the state are facing problem to complete B Ed degree following the new system of the National Council for Teacher Education introduced from this year.

According to the new system of NCTE, a general candidate will be able to apply for admission in B Ed who has secured 50 per cent marks in graduation or post graduation.  Schedule caste and tribe candidate will be eligible to apply if they have 45 per cent. Last year the required marks were 45 per cent  for general and 40 per cent  for SC and ST candidates.

Following the new system of the NCTE, there are many teachers working in secondary schools in Malda and adjoining districts appointed through school service commission are not in a position to apply for admission to complete  B Ed degree during service period from government B Ed colleges because they do not have required marks.

If they can not complete B Ed degree within five years in school service increment of their salary will be stopped after 2012.

The education officials in the state had tried to change the present policy of the NCTE since last year but ultimately decided to follow the NCTE’s present policy from this year.

Universities in the state have finally decided to follow the NCTE’s guidelines to conduct their central admission system for respective government and private B Ed colleges.

The acting registrar of the Gour Banga University Mr Apurba Chakraborty said: “We are following the NCTE’s guidelines to maintain central admission system for B Ed colleges affiliated to our university. General candidates must have to secure 50 per cent marks for admission”.

“There are many teachers in schools will not able to complete B Ed degree from government colleges affiliated to the GBU in three districts due to NCTE’s guidelines. But there is an alternative way. Teachers, who do not have required percentage of marks, can complete B Ed degree from IGNOU (Indira Gandhi National Open University)”, said Prof. Sakti Patra, convener of GBU’s monitoring committee for central admission for B Ed colleges.

According to Prof Patra, he recently retired from government B Ed College in Malda: “Assistant teachers and even para teachers in secondary school can get admission for two years B Ed course in IGNOU. The teachers must have three years experience in teaching in a secondary school”.

Bodies of infants exhumed

Mustarina Bibi alleged that her son died due to the vaccination and negligence of sub centre health workers

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 17 MAY: The district administration today exhumed bodies of two infants, who allegedly died after being administered routine vaccination in Gazole police station area. The bodies would be sent for autopsy.

The administration undertook the job following complaints lodged by the mothers of the two babies. The BDO, a deputy magistrate and police officials exhumed the bodies from the Sheikh Para village this afternoon and sent those to the district hospital. It may be noted that the district health authorities had organize routine immunization programme ( DPT and BCG) for babies at Sheikh Para sub ( health) centre in Gazole on 12 May.

According to the chief medical officer of health in Mada, 10 infants were administered vaccines at Sheikh Para sub entre and two of them Rehan Reza (five months) and Najim Ansari (three months) died after 48 hours triggering tension in the area. Angry villagers confined health workers and officials at the sub centre on 14 May when they went to examine the condition of other infants who had been vaccinated as well.

One of the complainants Mrs Mustarina Bibi alleged that her son died due to the vaccination and negligence of sub centre health workers. “The vaccines were not stored properly and were lying open on the table”, she alleged adding that her son died on way to hospital after suffering convulsions. The other complainant Mrs Aktari Begam made similar allegations and held the health workers responsible for the incident.

“The health centre supervisor asked as to bury the bodies to suppress the matter”, Mrs Begam further alleged.

“We are not averse to examining the dead infants to learn the exact cause of death. The experts would examine the bodies tomorrow and try to conduct autopsy. If they fail they would suggest us if the bodies needed to be sent to North Bengal Medical College and Hospital, Siliguri or in Kolkata for the autopsy”, said the Malda CMOH.

The CMOH, however, claimed that the two infants died after 48 hours from the time of vaccination. “It seems they died of other problems such as high temperature. The rest of the infants vaccinated are fine”, the CMOH said.

Census officials in trouble as villagers deny information

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 13 MAY: The Malda district administration is still facing problem to conduct Census in some areas due to villagers’ resistance on the issue of their basic needs.

Though the Chanchal sub-division has been able to call off boycott from Jagannathpur village in Harishchandrapur and Dhangara and Bishanpur villages in Chanchal and started Census work there but the sub-division is facing similar non-cooperation from villagers at Basudevpur in Chanchal-I blocks.

In the last seven days the Census workers could not carry out their job within stipulated time at Basudevpur and other adjoining villages.

Following agitation in some other areas villagers of Basudevpur have boycotted Census exercise demanding electricity.

The Chanchal sub-divisional officer Mr Subho Mukherjee said: “The people of Basudevpur village are demanding electricity and decided not to lend a hand to the enumerators. The village is under the proposed Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidytikaran Yojona”.

“We have written about the matter to the district magistrate. If we can lay electric poles soon they would allow us to conduct Census. Following others agitation is being started in new areas day by day boycotting Census to demand their basic needs”, Mr Mukherjee said.

Besides Chanchal sub division, enumerators in Malda sub division are facing some typical problems.

During Census work in Kaliachak-II some villagers did not agree to provide information to the enumerators properly out of their frustration at having failed to get their names including in the BPL and other categories to get extra benefits from the government.

An enumerator at Sakurullahpur was also forced by a villager to write his name as atankabadi (terrorist) in the official papers. The enumerator finally managed the situation informing his concerned officials and police.

In English Bazaar, an enumerator was also humiliated on a different issue in a minority dominated area. Minority people demanded a Muslim enumerator for them because Hindu enumerator will make mistakes in writing names of minority people and their spellings.

Census directorate orders exercise in 66 Malda moujas

"Census workers in Malda would face difficulties to reach the spots by water ways" 

Statesman News Service 

MALDA, 11 MAY:  The directorate of Census (operation) has instructed the Malda administration to conduct Census in all 66 moujas of the district that are identified as islets in the Ganga and administratively controlled by the Jharkhand state.

But the district administration has not started the job apprehending law and orders problem and to avoid other technicalities. It is learnt that the Jharkhand government officials are conducting development works in the islets and also carrying out Census work.

The commissioner, Jalpaiguri division, Mr AK Singh recently visited the islets to take first hand stock of the situation. He has sought further instructions from the secretariat of the chief minister about the directorate of Census order to conduct the exercise in the islets.

According to the in-charge of the Census exercise in Malda Mr Tanay Deb Sarkar, the instruction as sought by the divisional commissioner is yet to reach them. According to Mr Deb Sarkar, the divisional commissioner has sent a detailed report and information to the chief minister about the islets, which are currently under the administrative control of the Jharkhand government. In 2001, both the West Bengal and Jharkhand governments conducted Census in the 66 moujas in question.

“Census workers in Malda would face difficulties to reach the spots by water ways. We need to set up a camp there to carry out the Census in the islets, but we apprehend law and order problem when another state is working in those islets”, Mr Deb Sarkar said. 

Labour department to take legal steps against kiln owners

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 6 MAY:  The assistant labour commissioner (ALC) in Malda Mr Soumyanil Sarkar would begin legal proceedings against a brick kiln owner for allegedly violating the Contract Labour Act of 1970. The development comes after an incident that claimed the lives of two women workers at Noonbahi in English Bazaar on 28 April.

According to the ALC, the investigation has revealed that the owner of the brick kiln had leased it unofficially to another person who did not maintain the kiln properly in terms of workers’ safety. “Due to lack of maintenance, the kiln collapsed and fell on the workers killing two women workers”, said Mr Sarkar.

“Though the brick kiln management came to our office yesterday, they failed to furnish proper papers as per the Act related to contract labourers including migrant ones. They did not maintain any register of the labourers engaged in the kiln”, said Mr Sarkar.

“Under the circumstances, we have decided to lodge a case against the kiln owner for violating the sate Act”, he said.  According to him, the kilns management has agreed to compensate the next of kin of the victims.

No action against illegal brick kilns despite order

"owners of the three kilns are preparing to sell bricks"

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 5 MAY: Despite Malda district magistrate’s order to demolish eight illegal brick kilns in Kaliachak-II block area, no action has been taken by police to save mango orchards in this region.

Since the first week of April the mango growers in Kaliachak-II have been demanding action against brick kilns to save their crop.

The cultivators are now suffering from a major financial crisis, having lost a huge amount of young mangoes to a disease, which blackens the tip of the fruits, resulting from some from the brick kilns.

After the farmers lodged a complaints with district horticulture department and land and land reforms department, the district magistrate, Mr Sridhar Ghosh , had sent a list naming eight illegal brick kilns to the Malda SP, Mr Bhuban Mandal, on 30 April and requested him to take action against them.

Mr Mandal said: “I was out of district for a few days. I am looking into the matter”.

Today, two mango farmers, Mr Rohit Mandal and Mr Shis Ali, complained to the district horticulture department authorities that no action has been taken against brick kilns owners.

Out of the eight kilns, some are in Kalachandtola under Uttar Lakshmipur gram panchahayt in Kailachak-II. One owner, Mr Saifuddin Sheikh yesterday fired the kilns. Once the burning is completed, Mr Karimuddin Sheikh, Mr Menajul Ali and Mr Tajamul, owners of the three kilns are preparing to sell bricks.

Trinamul in Trouble

"It is a strategic move"

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 4 MAY: The Trinamul in Malda seems a confused lot. First, the organization faced embarrassment when two of its candidates claimed they were contesting from the same ward for the Old Malda civic polls. Hardly had the Trinamul succeeded in burying the controversy when it finds itself saddled with another and this time in English Bazaar.

The latest hiccup occurred for the Trinamul after its candidate Mrs Chaitali Sarkar, wife of senior Trinamul leader Mr Dulal Sarkar filed nomination for two wards (ward nos. 22 and 20) in English Bazaar. Mrs Sarkar submitted nomination for ward no. 22 yesterday and today, she filed nomination for ward no 20. Incidentally, Trinamul candidate Mr Biswajit Sen had filed nomination for ward no. 20 following the state leadership’s instruction and as recommended by Mr Dulal Sarkar”, claimed the Trinamul district president Mr Goutam Chakraborty, passing the buck on fellow leader Mr Sarkar.

Mr Sarkar on his part, said: “It is a strategic move. In the changed scenario, Mrs Antara Roy would contest from ward no. 22 on a Trinamul ticket and my wife , Mrs Chaitali Sarkar would take on the CPI-M ion ward no. 20”.

The Trinamul Congress has also changed its candidate in ward no. 5 in English Bazaar and claims to have nominated a better one.

Meanwhile, the Congress, Trinamul and BJP nominated respective candidates for ward number 24 in English Bazaar. The ward traditionally enjoys a major Left support base, so much so that the CPI-M candidate won uncontested form the ward in the last civic polls.

“We would not give the Left, particularly the CPI-M the satisfaction to win from the ward unopposed like the last elections”, said the English Bazaar Congress MLA Mr Krishnendu Choudhury.

Brick kilns affects paddy

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 4 MAY: After affecting the mango crop, smoke and ash from brick kilns are now causing problems for paddy cultivation in the district.

Smoke and ash spewing out the brick kiln chimneys have destroyed bodo paddy cultivation of at least six farmers at Anandaganj village under Gourhant gram panchayat in Chanchal-II block. Hot ash of the brick kiln chimneys settles on the paddy shoots and withers those while smoke chokes the paddy plants.

A sharecropper, Mr Nandalal Oraon, informed the Chanchal sub-divisional officer, Mr Subho Mukherjee, about the situation and sought his help to save their paddy fields from being affected by the ash. The SDO in turn discussed that matter with the additional district magistrate (land reforms) Mr K N Dew, who instructed the brick kiln owners to compensate the victims.

According to him, the departments concerned, including sub-divisional agriculture office, have been intimated about the decision and have been asked to take action against the brick kilns.

“Six families were affected due to the burning ash from brick kilns settling on the paddy fields. The paddy plants were burnt. I have talked about the matter to my higher authorities”, the SDO said. According to the latest information, the owner of the brick kiln in question has compensated Mr Nandaram Oraon with Rs 5,000.

 “I do not know if the other victims have received compensation or not. The brick kiln owner did not inform the administration about the matter”, Mr Oraon said.

A part owner of the brick kiln in question, Mr Ritesh Modi, however, claimed, “Smoke and ash from the brick kilns had not affected the paddy fields. Lack of rain and disease might have damaged the crop. We have received an instruction from the SDO asking us to compensate for the damaged crop. My elder brother has spoken to the farmers. I do not know if any compensation has been given to them.”  

Congress issues dual nominations

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 3 MAY: After the Trinamul, it is now the Congress’ turn in Malda to sort out the contentious issue of dual nominations from the same ward for the English Bazaar civic polls.

The Trinamul experienced the embarrassment first when Mr Srikanta Agarwal and Mr Baisistha Trebedi decided to file nomination as Trinamul candidates from ward number five of Old Malda Municipality. Although the two competitors had gone ahead with campaigns for themselves, the Trinamul leadership ultimately succeeded in putting a lid on the controversy. “Mr Agarwal has bowed out on behalf of Mr Tribedi, who would contest as the official candidate from the ward”, claimed the Trinamul Malda district president Mr Gautam Chakraborty today.

For the Congress, it is now a case of déjà vu in English Bazaar. Two candidates Mrs Anju Tiwari and Mrs Mita Sarkar have submitted nomination on Congress tickets for ward no. 22 of the EBM, much to the embarrassment of the Congress.

Speaking on the matter, Congress general secretary and in-charge of nominations for the party Mr Hassan Ali Shah said: “Mrs Tiwari is the official candidate for ward number 22 of the EBM and Mrs Sarkar would have to withdraw nomination from the ward. However, we might accommodate Mrs Sarkar’s nomination for some other ward, but that is subject to discussions”. Mrs Sarkar was not available for comment and so it remains unknown whether she would abide by the party line.

The Congress’s problems do not end here, however. The outgoing EBM chairman Mr Nrendranath Tiwari is yet to file nomination although the district Congress president Mr AH Khan Choudhury has asked him to contest from ward no. 23 of the EBM. According to the English Bazaar, Congress MLA, Mr Krishnendu Choudhury , the South Malda Congress MP and the district president Mr AH Khan Choudhury is looking into the matter of Mr Tiwari.

“The district president would take the final call on the issue “, the MLA informed.

Mr Tiwari had yesterday claimed hat he would not contest in the polls if his party did not consider the candidature of his wife.

State finance minister Asim Dasgupta promises to raise rural bank issue with union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee

Statesman News Service 

MALDA, 2 MAY: The finance minister Dr Asim Dasgupta today asured the leaders of the All Bengal Grameen Bank Employees’ Federation that the state would take initiative to begin talks with the Union finance minister Mr Pranab Mukherjee for the  development of the rural bank and to secure  its employees’ service benefits.

Addressing the open session of seventh state conference of ABGBEF held at Malda College auditorium today, Dr Dasgupta said: “The system of sponsor bank, which controls the rural bank, should be abolished. When the NABARD, a Central government’s bank, is involved with the rural bank, why should sponsor bank will control it. Rural bank should run independently”.“We can jointly meet the Union finance minister Mr Pranab Mukherjee to discuss the matter. Mr Mukherjee   knows the matter very well because he was the union minister of state for finance department when the rural banking system was conceived and implemented”, Dr Dasgupta said.

He supported ABGBEF’s demands related to employees’ promotion, new recruitment policy, and retirement benefit for the present employees The state finance minister also criticized the Central government’s policy on public district system, failure to check price hike and employment generation  in rural sector for small and marginal farmers and traders.

“The country will face food crisis and it would be very difficult to check when present growth rate of food production is 1.7 per cent the increased rate of population is 2.1 per cent. Naturally we have to face food crisis”, he claimed.

“We do not support divisions among people identifying them as APL and BPL. A major class of people belonging to the APL needs to avail PDS but the Central government has stopped  supply of essential commodities to them through PDS”, he added.  

He demanded that Centre has to allot more funds for the development of irrigation and it should increase the rate of subsidy for farmers to provide fertilizers, pesticides and other equipments for agriculture sector.

Dr Dasgupta said: “Trinamul Congress does not have the right to speak about price hike.  Being a partner of the NDA government, Trinamul leaders did not protest against the NDA government’s decision when it had eliminated Essential Commodities Act 1955 in 2002”.

CID begins probe into attempted abducting by KLO

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 2 MAY: The CID has started a probe into KLO militants’ attempt to abduct a trader in Malda.

A team of CID from Siliguri today visited the spot within Gazole police station from where four armed KLO militants hijacked a trader’s car on 22 April demanding ransom.

The CID officials today interacted with the locals and police personnel in Gazole police station.

Though the trader’s son Mr Navin Agarwal luckily managed to escape as his driver deliberately crashed   the car, his father has received a threat SMS from the KLO activists yesterday.

They allegedly demanded Rs 1 crore from the trader Mr Binod Agarwal. Mr Agarwal has informed the police about the SMS.

Police suspect that KLO activists from Assam area have sent SMS to him.

After the accident, villagers had intercepted one KLO activists Gopal Barman and handed him over to the police on 22 April evening. Three other armed KLO militants fled the area.

District police interrogated Mr Barman to know detail about their net, when court had remanded him in police custody for 14 days, and finally decided to handover the case to the CID.

The Malda SP said: “We have to come to know the details about their network and their plans from him. We are keeping watch on the situation”. 

Congress lures Trinamul councillors

Congress-Trinamul alliance shattered in Malda 

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 29 APRIL: The Congress in Malda has poached on the Trinamul’s turf vis-à-vis the English Bazaar civil poll. The Congress has grabbed four of Trinamul’s eight outgoing councilors in the EBM and turned them against Miss Mamata Banerjee’s organisation. The four would now contest against the Trinamul on Congress tickets.

While the English Bazaar Congress MLA Mr Krishnendu Choudhury confirmed the development, the Trinamul leadership in Malda claimed they had not nominated the specific four councilors because of their alleged links with the Congress. “Their activities were questionable and so we did not nominate them”, claimed the Trinamul district president Mr Goutam Chakraborty.

According to him, the Trinamul has nominated only four of its sitting councillors in EBM. “The four names in question were more associated with the Congress than our organization in the past five years. We had kept them under observation and finally decided against re-nominating them”, the Trinamul district president said.

The Congress has its explanation ready. “We decided to give tickets to the four outgoing Trinamul councillors on the recommendation of the ward committee members and local residents”, claimed the English Bazaar Congress MLA Mr Krishnendu Choudhury.  

Congress-Trinamul alliance shattered in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 30 APRIL: Ignoring the Trinamul, the Congress in Malda today filed nomination for all 18 seats on offer in the Old Malda municipal elections. Reacting to the Congress’s act, the Trinamul leadership claimed they would reciprocate on 3 May.

“It is nothing surprising. We knew the Congress would not adjust with the Trinamul in Old Malda”, alleged Trinamul leaders Mr Dulal Sarkar. “ In reality, there is no alliance in Malda and so, we too are preparing to file nominations for all Old Malda and English Bazaar Municipality wards on 3 May”, Mr Sarkar said.

Adding fuel to fire, sitting Trinamul Congress councillor Mr Surajit Das today filed nomination on behalf of the Congress for ward no 2 of English Bazaar. The Trinamul has nominated Miss Sumala Agarwal from the ward.

“The question of seat adjustment does not arise after this development. We too would file nomination for all seats of OMM and the EBM and they await the Congress leadership’s reaction”, said the Trinamul Congress district president Mr Goutam Chakraborty.

Responding to the Trinamul leader’s statement, the English Bazaar Congress MLA Mr Krishnendu Choudhury , who is expected to contest the municipal elections too form ward number 10 of the EBM said: “ All options are still open. If the Trinamul leadership speaks to us with a positive proposal, we might rethink our plan”, Mr Choudhury said.

DM orders demolition of eight illegal brick kilns

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 29 APRIL: Malda district magistrate Mr Sridhar Ghosh today asked the district SP to demolish eight illegal brick kilns in Kaliachak-II block area.

The district administration has decided to launch demolition drive against the unauthorised brick kilns following complaints from mango-growers.

Smoke from burning brick kilns has badly affected production of mangoes in several villages – Meghutola, Bangitola, and Panchanandapur – since February this year.

The additional district magistrate (land reforms), Mr K N Dew, today sent a letter to the SP from the Malda DM asking the police to demolish illegal brick kilns.

“In Kaliachak-II eight brick kilns were set up without permission from our department. So we have decided to demolish all these unauthorised brick kilns”, he said.

“We cannot take any action against them as local mango-growers do not lodge any complaint against them”, said Mr Dew.

Malda SP, Mr Bhuban Mandal, said: “Whenever I shall get the list of the unauthorized brick kilns from the district magistrate I will ask the concerned police station to launch demolition drive against them”.

Mango-growers had alleged that despite instructions from the local block development officer of the Kaliachak-II the local police station had not taken proper action against the illegal brick kiln owners.

On 22 and 23 April several mango-growers had met the district horticulture officials and the ADM demanding administrative action against the brick kilns which had already damaged huge quantum of young mangoes.

Young mangoes fell off branches due to black tip disease because of an excess of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide in the surrounding atmosphere. 

Trinamul confused over seat sharing

Graffiti displayed on a wall shows the names of two Trinamul candidates , who are going to contest the elections for Ward no five from the Old Malda Municipality. Pic: Sudip Roy Choudhury. 

Statesman News Service 

MALDA, 28 APRIL: Still to forge an alliance with the Congress either in Old Malda or English Bazaar, the two civic bodies of Malda that go to poll next month, the Trinamul has landed up in an internal problem it can ill afford at this juncture.

Claiming each was the official party candidate for the forthcoming polls from ward number 5 of Old Malda Municipality, two Trinamul supporters have started campaigning for themselves much to the embarrassment of the Trinamul leadership. Unfazed, the two have pitted against each other with graffiti effecting an in house competition.

The Trinamul Congress in Malda is divided into two camps wit one loyal to former district president, Mr Dulal Sarkar and the other to the sitting district president Mr Goutam Chakraborty.

Though the two leaders on the instruction of the party state leaders on the instruction of the party state leadership have apparently arrived at an understanding for candidate selection for the two civic body elections in the district, their followers are still at loggerheads.

Meanwhile, one Mr Baishistha Tribedi, who is a Dulal Sarkar loyalist , is projecting himself as the Trinamul candidate for ward number 5 of Old Malda Municipality.

Contradicting Mr Tibedi’s claim, Mr Srikanta Agarwal alias Chhatu, a known Goutam Chakraborty follower has started campaigning for himself as the official Trinamul candidate for the same ward.

Although Mr Goutam Chakraborty has admitted the problem, Mr Sarkar was not available for comments. “The problem would be sorted out soon and only one Trinamul Congress candidate would contest from ward number 5”, said Mr Chakraborty.

Meanwhile, the Congress has started campaigning for its candidates in more than 14 wards including the controversial ward number 5.

In another development, revising its earlier decision to allot party symbol to only two sitting party councillors in the English Bazaar municipality, the Trinamul Congress state leadership has finally agreed to allot symbol to four sitting councillors, complicating the seat adjustment issue with the Congress at the EBM further. The Congress has already selected candidates for two of the four wards that Trinamul Congress wants. “Everything is dependent on seat adjustment between the two parties. We will continue our dialogue with the Congress for seat adjustment till the last date of filing nomination. But if the Congress does not agree to give up at least 12 out of 25 seats in the EBM, we will have to go ahead without their support”, said the Trinamul district president, Mr Goutam Chakraborty.

The English Bazaar Congress, MLA, Mr Krishnendu Choudhury is, however, resolute. “I shall contest from ward no 10 of the EBM. If the Trinamul does not sacrifice the seat they will face the consequence”, Mr Choudhury said today.

Two killed as brick kiln wall collapses 

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 28 APRIL: Two women workers were killed and two others injured when a wall collapsed in a brick kiln at Noonbahi in English Bazaar this morning.

Marjita Bibi died on the spot while three other workers were buried under the rubbles. After being rescued, they were rushed to Malda district hospital where one worker, identified as Shila Mandal, was declared dead brought dead. Another worker, Jhallu Sheikh is fighting for his life.

The incident took place when the labourers were arranging raw bricks on floor of the kiln and a wall, unable to bear the weight of the bricks, collapsed on them.

The additional district magistrate of land reforms, Mr K N Dew ordered an inquiry into incident. “The assistant labour commissioner will take action against the brick kiln owner and if the employer does not agree to pay proper compensation to the next of kin, I will personally look into the matter”, he said.

According to the ADM (LR), the kiln was registered under the name of Mrs Sabita Chatterjee.

Mr Soumyanil Sarkar, the assistant labour commissioner in Malda said: “We have already started an inquiry and we will see if there was any violation in implementation of the provisions of labour laws. For now, it is very difficult to say where the labourers were registered. We will take action against the employer if no compensation is provided to the kin of the victims”.