Asim to review development work in Malda

MALDA, 23 JULY: Though the chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee is visiting all districts in south Bengal regularly at weekends to hold meeting with political leaders and administrative officials to find out the needs of the people, he would not visit three districts in north Bengal ~ Malda, North and South Dinajpur ~ this time.

It has been decided that a group of ministers will visit the districts and review the performance of government departments and present problems of the districts in the interest of the people. Following this decision the finance minister, Mr Asim Dasgupta will be visiting the three districts between 25 and 26 July. Mr Dasgupta has listed some specific departments and asked the district magistrates to inform them for preparing performance reports of their respective departments.

According to the Malda district magistrate, Mr Sridhar Ghosh, the finance minister will be visiting Malda on 25 July and leave for South and North Dinajpur on the same day.;SNS

Exam put off

MALDA, 23 JULY: University of Gourbanga postponed its second semester post-gradutaion examination, which was scheduled on 24 July, due to the transport strike in Kolkata tomorrow. The Registrar, Mr Tapas Chatterjee said: “The revised date of exam will be notified in due course of time.”

Mrs Gopa Dutta, vice-chancellor of the University had to take the decision over telephone because of the sudden transport strike. ;SNS

Camp for issuing caste certificate

MALDA, 23 JULY: Following the demand of people belonging to the backward classes, the district administration has launched special camp in block level for issuing caste certificate rapidly.

The Malda SDO Mr Prakash Pal said: “After organizing special camp in Gazole, the largest tribal-dominated block in the state, we received huge number of applications from this block.” At present another camp is going on in Kaliachak III block. Similarly same system will be introduced in all blocks, he added.

It may be noted that tribal people particularly in Gazole have alleged that officials used to delay issue of caste certificates to the tribal people and other backward classes.

“We have decided to release ST certificates first. The process is going on. Backlog of applications for ST certificate is negligible here”, said Mr Pal.

Due to the general elections the process for issuing caste certificate was delayed, he informed.

In November 2008, the total number of pending applications was nearly 10,000 when Mr Pal took charge.

According to him, some people may complain that the process of issuing certificate is being delayed. “We have strictly followed first come first served system to clear previous applications for certificates from block level to headquarters. This new system may hurt somebody but the certificate will be issued in a systematic way after proper scrutiny here”, he added. ;SNS

Babus feel insecure, approach home secy

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 22 JULY: The West Bengal Civil Service Executive Officers’ Association (WBCSEOA) has approached its state secretary to draw the attention of the home secretary regarding the law and order problem at the block levels where block development officers are not feeling secure.

The association will hold its executive committee meeting in Kolkata on Saturday to take a final decision on submitting a deputation to Home Secretary, Mr Ardhendu Sen, demanding security of the executive officials at the block levels in Malda district.

Though two organisations of WBCS officers have reported the two incidents of attacks on the BDOs of Harishchandrapur blocks I and II to the state secretaries, representatives from Malda would be present in the executive council meeting on Saturday to narrate the situation.

Mr Narbu Teshering Lepcha, BDO Harishchandrapur block II, was assaulted by villagers on the issue of anti-erosion and flood protection. After the incident, Mr Amiya Das, BDO of Harishchandrapur block I was assaulted by the Congress leaders when the Congress called a 12-hour bandh across the state.

Police arrested one of the office bearers of the Congress-led Harishchandrapur block I panchayat samiti but Harishchandrapur police could not arrest the other three Congress leaders who were named in the FIR.

According to the WBCSEOA Malda unit, state leaders will be coming to visit Malda shortly to interact with the officials over this issue.

This apart, the BDOs and other executive officials are also under pressure by the political leaders where officials are trying to follow government directions to implement some projects.

To ease the situation, the representatives of the two WBCS officials' organisations, met the sabhadhipati of Congress led Malda Zilla Parishad, Mrs Sabina Yeasmin and submitted a representation to her pointing out the present problems in the district.

Garbage dumping still an issue for EBM

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 22 JULY: The English Bazaar Municipality (EBM) have again started to face difficulties in dumping garbage, when locals protested such an act in the newly selected spot at Namasarai village.

Having faced villagers' resistance there, the EBM shifted its dumping ground to the earlier site, located at Chandan Park in Ward no 25 from yesterday. But the members of the newly formed “Paribesh Dushan Pratirodh Committee” blocked the road and stopped dumping there. Finally, the EBM, with the help of police protection, dumped garbage at Chandan Park this morning.

The chairman of the EBM, Mr Narendranath Tiwari, said that they have decided to dump garbage at Chandan Park for a few more days.

Residents of the Chandan Park finally have allowed them to dump garbage for the next three days after the civic body and administration requested the local people several times.

Mr Tiwari said: “We have faced resistance from the local people at Nimasaria due to certain technical problems. It was for this reason we decided to dump garbage at Chandan Park for a few days and to take up the infrastructure work at the new place to begin the solid waste management project there.”

“We need to build roads at Namasarai to avoid villagers’ resistance. The municipal engineering department will start constructing a boundary wall at the new site where nearly three acres of land have been selected for this project," he added.

Though the EBM have started the new project but at Namasaraiat least 15 per cent garbage collected from the English Bazaar town will be dumped at Chandan Park in future, Mr Tiwari said.

The CPI-M councillor of Ward no 25 and member of the resistance committee, Mr Dulal Nandan Chaki said: “Following requests of the administration we decided to allow the EBM to dump garbage here for the next few days. After some days the EBM has to change its site”.

BJP wants ceiling on docs’ fees

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 20 JULY: The Bharatiya Janata Party in Malda has demanded that doctors would not be able to charge more than Rs 50 from a patient henceforth. The BJP has decided to launch a campaign on the issue from tomorrow.

In addition, the BJP has demanded some special service for patients including meetings between doctors and patients’ relatives at given hours in the Malda district hospital's visiting room.

Speaking on the issue the Malda CMOH, Dr Srikanta Roy said: “The BJP's demand to keep the visiting room open for meetings between doctors and patients’ relatives in the hospital is legitimate.

I have asked the hospital authority to keep the visiting room open for such meetings where doctors would be able to advise patients’ relatives.

Besides, we have planned to open a patient assistance centre for co-ordination between the doctors and the patients’ relatives,” said Dr Roy.

The CMOH also said: “We can appeal to the doctors against charging fee more than Rs 50 but can not force them. Moreover, there is no official guideline from the government on the subject either.” Speaking on the matter, the BJP state committee leader, Mr Asim Chakraborty said: “Patients’ relatives face severe inconvenience at the Malda district hospital due to lack of certain facilities. We demand rectification of the conditions.”

CPM, Cong bases show erosion signs as many join Opp

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 20 JULY: The CPI-M and Congress support bases are showing signs of erosion in favour of the Trinamul at Malda.

The trend is also attracting those allegedly thrown out of their organisations and others with shady background.

The situation has posed a problem for the Trinamul leadership. It can neither afford to accept all on the beeline nor turn them down for political reasons. The situation has caused a division of opinion in the Trinamul Congress leadership in Malda.

Speaking on the matter, a Trinamul leader, Mrs Chaitali Sarkar, said: “The problem is, some people with criminal background are expressing willingness to join the Trinamul understandably for political shelter and to save themselves from police.

We need to filter them before accepting all those are applying to join the party.”

The Trinamul Congress state joint secretary, Mr Dulal Sarkar, said: “A notorious criminal and his associates recently met and approached me to join the Trinamul Congress.

When I asked him, he admitted that both the CPI-M and the Congress protected them from police. They were now eager to join the Trinamul to save themselves from police.”

It was learnt that one Mohammad Saharul, a notorious criminal in the police records, has already joined the Trinamul Congress and opened its office in the Kaliachak area.

The Trinamul Congress district president, Mr Goutam Chakraborty said: “We have not accepted him in the party till date. He has been asked to rectify himself.”

Cong leaders to boycott local administration

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 19 JULY: The Harishchandrapur Congress leaders have decided to boycott local administrative officials including the block development officer, in protest against the arrest of one office bearer of the Harishchandrapur I panchayat samiti.

Mr Kayum Sheikh, Karmadhakshya (Shilpa), was arrested on charges of assaulting the block development officer of Harishchandrapur I, Mr Amiya Das.

Mr Das was attacked by a group of Congress leaders including Mr Sheikh on Friday morning, when the Congress activists were observing the 12-hour bandh across the state in protest against attack on Congress MLAs in Mangalkot.

Police are also looking for three other Congress leaders who were named in the FIR. On the other hand, the representatives of two associations of the West Bengal Civil Service cadres, will submit representation to the sabhadhipati of Malda Zilla Parishad, Mrs Sabina Yeasmin, tomorrow. The leaders of the association have decided to talk to the sabhadhipati because two of the attackers were members of panchayat. Mr Biman Basak, another accused, was the chief of a gram panchayat and also the block Congress president.

The Congress leaders have lodged complaint with the police against the BDO and have alleged that he had attacked them with the help of some office staff. The district magistrate, Mr Sridhar Ghosh has asked the Malda SP, Mr Satyajit Bandyopadhyay, to take action against the offenders who entered the BDO's office and ransacked his chamber.

Cong leaders assault BDO, ransack office

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 17 JULY: Taking advantage of lack of security, some Congress leaders and workers today assaulted the Harishchandrapur BDO, Mr Amiya Das in his office.

A Congress leader slapped Mr Das and others ransacked his office damaging the fax machine. Condemning the attack, West Bengal Civil Service officers in Malda district today lodged an FIR with the police against Congress workers including Mr Kayum Sheikh, karmadhakshya (shilpa) Harishchandrapur-I panchayat samiti, Mr Biman Basak , block Congress president and gram panchayat pradhan, Mr Bikash Banerjee, teacher of Pipla High School, and Mr Dronacharya Banerjee, another Congress leader.

Reacting sharply against the incident, the Malda district magistrate Mr Sridhar Ghosh has asked the Malda SP Mr Satyajit Bandyopadhyay to take immediate action against the offenders. The SDO Chanchal, Ms Debjani Datta, reported to the district magistrate that the victim BDO was severely injured in the attack.

The demoralised WBCS officers including two SDOs have decided to submit deputation to the Sabhadhipati of the Congress led Malda Zilla Parishad on the issue Monday.

It may be noted that a few days ago two WBCS officers’ organizations had submitted memorandums to the Malda DM demanding security of the BDOs when locals assaulted the Harishchandrapur II BDO, Mr Narbu Tshering Lepcha on the issue of anti-erosion work.

“If the administration does not take immediate action against the offenders such audacious acts would continue against administrative officials,” said the Chanchal SDO, Ms Debjani Datta. “ Such acts cannot be tolerated,” said the Malda SDO, Mr Prakash Pal.

The Malda district Congress President Mr Masidur Rahman said: “The Congress leaders involved in the assault incident were wrong.”

Cong workers battle it out, MP walks out

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 17 JULY: Whilst the Congress workers were observing a 12-hour bandh across the state in protest against attacks on Congress MLAs in Mangalkote, two groups of Congress workers were fighting each other in Chanchal.

A meeting was held on 17 July to unite the two factions, develop its organisation, and adopt some resolutions for the development of Chanchal, sub divisional head quarters of the northern part of Malda district.

There was a scuffle between two groups of Congress workers where the North Malda MP and MLA were helpless to control the situation. Finally, the MP for North Malda, Ms Mausam Noor, left the meeting.

Though the MLA of Chanchal (formerly known as Kharba), Mr Asif Mehbub, denied such an incident, he did admit that “there were differences of opinion amongst a few leaders on the issue of development.”

One Congress leader, Mr Mohd Sahid, came to join the programme on the morning of the 17 July, but other Congress leaders and Chanchal panchayat samiti members, including the sabhapati, prevented him from joining them.

Mr Sahid was suspended from the party before the recent panchayat election.

Chanchal block Congress had been protesting against the decision to accept Mr Mohd Sahid when the South Malda MP, Mr AH Khan Choudhury, engaged him in election work in his constituency just before parliamentary elections.

The Kharba MLA, Mr Mehbub, said: “We do not have any confirmation from district Congress committee that Mr Sahid has rejoined the party.

No decision has been taken on this issue. We will discuss the matter later.”

DM to review funds use

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 15 JULY: The district magistrate, Mr Sridhar Ghosh, will call a meeting soon to review utilisation of the funds allotted to this district from the Uttar Banga Unnayan Parishad (UBUP) in the past two financial years. The decision was taken yesterday after attending a review meeting convened by the chief minister, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, in Kolkata.

According to the Mr Ghosh, the present rate of utilisation of funds for Malda is less than 30 per cent. In comparison, North Dinajpur has utilised nearly 67 per cent of UBUP's funds for the financial year 2008-09.

“We had been preparing many small schemes and seeking financial assistance from UBUP. But many of them have not been implemented yet. As a result the rate of utilisation is low. Other districts had prepared a small number of big schemes and have been utilised funds after the completion of those schemes,” said Mr Ghosh.

Mr Ghosh said than an annual action plan for the financial year 2009-10 has been made. The Malda district could not utilise funds up to the mark allotted from 2006-2009. The estimated budget for the current financial year for this district was nearly Rs 9 crore.

“The UBUP had allotted funds for the construction of a Muslim girls’ hostel in Malda town. The Malda Zilla Parishad (MZP) could not select a plot of land for its construction due to lack of required space. The MZP can select a plot of land in a rural belt like Gazole or Chanchal, but if we do the project in the rural belt it will lose its utility,” said Mr Ghosh.

“Nobody knows how the funds will be utilised in future,” he added.

Water crisis continues...

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 14 JULY: Drinking water supply from the arsenic-free Mathurapur treatment plant in Manikchak remains disrupted since 1 July due to frequent power fault subjecting the people of Manikchak, Kaliachak II, English Bazaar block (partly) and town to misery.

The supply was disrupted today as well even as long queues waited at the public taps throughout the day. The taps remained dry, however.

Losing patience with the situation ultimately, hundreds of women blocked the Malda-Manikchak state highway at three places demanding immediate water supply.

Though police reached the spot it failed to convince the people to withdraw the roadblock.

The roadblock was withdrawn after the PHE executive engineer, arsenic division, Mr Swapan Maitra, talked to the locals over phone in presence of the police and ensured that water supply would resume tomorrow.

Mr Maitra said: “Acute power fault since last Friday has created problem in lifting water from the river Fulohar and its treatment and distribution at several distribution points in three blocks.”

According to Mr. Maitra, the power problem affected supply of drinking water to its distribution pumping stations at Enayatpur and Dharampur in Manikchak block, at Sadipur, Jote-Gopal and Sat-tari in Kaliachak II, Milky, Niamatpur, Binodpur and Daulatpur in English Bazaar block.

Though the divisional manager of state electricity department in Malda said power supply was irregular at Manikchak today, he denied the allegation of frequent power faults at the water treatment plant and intake point since 1 July.

“We did not have the information. Neither the executive engineer or any official of the PHE informed me about frequent power fault,” said Mr D K Mondal, the divisional manager, electricity department, over phone from Berhampur in Murshidabad.

Power fault was restored late in the afternoon at the Mathurapur arsenic free water treatment plant

Six students of Malda Town school still not found

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 14 JULY: Six students of Malda Town High School fled their homes yesterday. Their absence was noted by the headmaster when they did not attend school that day. They have still not been found.

On the night of 13 July, the guardians of all the six students informed the English Bazaar police station about the situation, and sought their help in tracing the children.

The police station immediately sent messages to all concerned, including the Government Railway Police, to trace the group.

They have been identified as Jayanta Lala (VIII), Subho Sarkar (VI), Biltu Roy (VI), Raju Das (VIII), Bishal Saha (VIII) and Kuntal Karmakar (VII).

Mrs Jharna Das, mother of Raju Das, said that her son had been lead astray by his friends at school.

English Bazaar police did not get any information about their location until 3 p.m. on 14 July. Mr Hemanta Karmakar, father of Kuntal, informed the reporters and police that his son had taken his cell phone with him when he fled their home.

Kuntal phoned his father to say that he was in Dhulian in Murshidabad.

Father, daughter die after drinking contaminated water

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 12 JULY: A father and his six year old daughter have died after drinking poisoned water, doctors of the Harishchandrapur rural hospital said.

Another nine year old daughter, who fell ill and was admitted to same rural hospital, is fighting for her life.

The deceased have been identified as Sultan Ali, aged 33, and Anjuma Khatun aged 5. Both were residents of Malipakhar village under Daulatpur gram panchayat in Harishchandrapur-II block.

Police started investigation an after sealing the contaminated tube-well, following reports from locals that “after being humiliated on theft charges, Sultan Ali committed suicide by consuming poisoned water at about 9 am”.

“He poured poison into the tube well and drunk the poisoned water. Later he forced his daughters to drink water”, villagers said.

Rupali Khatun, aged 9, another daughter, disclosed that father forced her to drink water. She fell ill after drinking the water.

They were admitted to the hospital around 10 am, and after some time, two of them died. The doctors were able to wash the stomach of Rupali in time.

She is fighting for her life with the support of an oxygen aid. Neighbours have also informed police that Sultan wanted to end the lives of all his family members after being humiliated by being branding a thief.

Information was spread to the people that having drunk water from a tube well, three members of a family had died.

On receiving this information, Mr Tajmul Hossain, MLA from Harishchandrapur, rushed to the hospital and talked to the health officials. He informed the matter to police for an inquiry, and approached the police to test the water of the tube well.

Finally, local leaders got information that a resident from Daulatpur village had come to Ali's house on the morning of the incident, and charged Sultan Ali with the theft of a motor of a pump set up at his crop land for irrigation, and asked him to return it soon, threatening him with dire consequences.

Though police have started investigations, they are waiting to talk to Rupali, to see if she can give clues following her recovery.

Sultan's wife and two year old daughter were not present when the incident took place at the home. Police are also looking for the man who came to his home bringing the charges.

Domestic helps cease work over theft case

MALDA, 10 JULY: Hundreds of women domestic helps today observed a ceasework in a large part of English Bazaar town in protest against an employer, who lodged a theft case with police against a domestic help.

Nearly 1,000 families in Abhirampur, Makdumpur, Bansulitala, Gour Road and adjoining areas missed their contractual domestic helps from this morning.

On Wednesday, an employer Mr P K Nandi, resident of Abhirampur, lodged a complaint against his domestic help Mrs Gouri Haldar when his family members found that ornaments weighing 30g were missing from the locker of an iron chest. The family members suspected their domestic help and allegedly blamed her for stealing the ornaments.

The domestic help, a resident of Sahapur in Old Malda block, informed local leaders and sought their help.

Yesterday evening, nearly 500 women domestic helps, all residents of Sahapur village, staged an agitation in front of the house of Mr PK Nandi demanding that the employer withdraw the case.

Finally, yesterday evening, Mr Nandi was pressured to withdraw the complaint.

One Mr Pandab Ghosh, the CPI-M panchayat member, led the domestic helps in this agitation, calling the cease-work today.

Many families in English Bazaar town on the bank of Mahananda, depend on domestic helps who come from Sahapur village, located on the opposite side of the river.

The leaders of the domestic helps decided to keep vigilance on the ‘supply line’ this morning and prevented many domestic helps from crossing the river. ;SNS

NREGS: Malda DM told to keep an eye

MALDA, 9 JULY: Mr Subrata Biswas, the NREGS commissioner for the implementation of the national rural employment guarantee scheme (NREGS), has stressed the importance of master roll verification, inspection and social audit.

Addressing the monthly meeting to review the NREGS performance report for Malda district yesterday, Mr Biswas asked the district officials, including the district magistrate, to keep a vigilant eye on master rolls prepared in this district, and to ensure that they are based on registered labourers, and are properly verified and inspected.

The commissioner instructed the district officials to update and upload all information on NREGS's website, under the union ministry of rural development, from both district and block levels.

The Malda district has started updating and uploading monthly progress reports on NREGS so that everybody can monitor the progress of the 100-days job programme through the website.

At yesterday's review meeting, the district administrative officials claimed that they have achieved 100 percent of the ‘labour budget target’ given by the state panchayat and rural development department.

The progress report revealed that the Malda district has been able to spend Rs 17.42 crore, out available of funds of Rs 29.39 crore, up to 30 June so far this year. The Malda district has secured third position in the performance league table measuring the implementation levels of the NREGS, from 1 April to 31 May 2009.

“We have sought more funds for NREGS from headquarters”, said Mr Tanay Deb Sarkar, district nodal officer for NREGS.

On 20 July, the NREGA state level officials will hold the next review meeting to judge the performance league table measuring implementation levels of the NREGS up to June 2009. ;SNS

Refresher training for Malda vets

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 9 JULY: The animal resources development (ARD) department in Malda started a two day training programme on how to control animal diseases for veterinary and para-veterinary officials. This was made possible with the help of the Central government's assistance to states for control of animal diseases (ASCAD).

After the outbreak of bird flu, both the state and the Centre stressed the need to train veterinary and para-veterinary officials to a more competent level.

The deputy director of ARD, Mr NK Sit, said that this training will help vet officials to diagnose and keep surveillance on animal and bird diseases, particularly those with zoonotic significance.

“The veterinarians will always keep surveillance on human diseases and how it affects the animals. On the other hand, how an animal disease directly infects the human body is often overlooked”, said Mr Sit, stressing the importance of the programme.

Besides the training programme, the Malda ARD is trying to provide chicks and goat kids to the villagers who were affected by Bird Flu during 2008-2009. The state-run farm in Malda is still in no position to produce sufficient chicks for the people of Malda who have suffered from the lasting effects of Bird Flu.

To implement Rastriya Krishi Vikash Yojona (RKVY), the ARD department in Malda is now supplying chicks sources from different state-run firms. The suppliers for ARD department are also procuring the maximum number of goat kids from local markets for distribution among the Bird Flu victims under the RKVY.

All birds in the state-run firm were culled after it was identified as the epicentre of Bird Flu in English Bazaar in 2008. Bird Flu first surfaced in Chanchal subdivision in the northern part of this district. After a few days Bird Flu was detected in the state-run farm in English Bazaar town, district headquarter. Bird Flu resurfaced in English Bazaar block in 2009.

Gramin bank to ask RBI for new branches

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 8 JULY: The Bangiya Gramin Vikash Bank (BGVB) has planned to seek permission from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to open new branches in 18 places out of 1,058 bank-free areas in 11 districts of this state.

The chairman of the BGVB, Mr Samar Sengupta, said that the board of directors of BGVB had approved the proposal for setting up new branches in 18 places.

“Now we are preparing to seek permission from the RBI”, Mr Sengupta added.

According to him, a survey is going ahead to identify viable bank-free areas at the gram panchayat level. The objective of the survey is to create a rural bank where people are provided with banking services in previously areas previously overlooked by banks.

Addressing a press conference yesterday evening, the chairman of the BGBV has stressed the need to develop mango cultivation in Malda, Murshidabad and other districts to develop the rural economy.

The BGBV has created a scheme for the mango farmers who are interested in making a new mango orchard or replacing old mango trees.

Mr. Sengupta said employees had been facing problems running its branches in Maoist infested areas like Lalgarh, Pirakata in Midnapur West, Bankura's Pitolgari and Sarenga. “Though the bank staff were not targeted by the local people, the bank employees have found it difficult to go there during the last few months due to fear”, Mr Sengupta disclosed.

“We have asked our staff to keep in contact with the local people, by visiting their villages and approaching them to offer banking services through government sponsored programmes. If our staff can provide better services after the peace is restored, then the BGBV will not face trouble in the future”, he said.

The BGVB has earned a net profit of Rs 12.35 crore and has, for the first time, made an operating profit of Rs 37.82 crore in the last financial year.

Locals confine official to press for anti-erosion work

MALDA, 8 JULY: Due to rising water levels in the river Fulohar, severe erosion has started at the vulnerable point of Bhaluka Bazaar in Harishchandrapur, threatening the present embankment which had already been damaged by erosion last year.

Yesterday, the locals, under the banner of the Bandh Banchao Committee, started agitations, and confined the subdivisional officer of the Mahananda Embankment division, Mr S Pal, demanding immediate anti-erosion work to save the embankment from flooding.

Locals released Mr Pal today when the engineers started anti-erosion work this morning, said Mr ML Mitra, the superintending engineer from the north circle irrigation department.

Mr Mitra admitted that with rising water levels in the river Fulohar, erosion started along its bank lines, including Bhaluka Bazaar, identified as a vulnerable zone, stretching 500 metres. “We have taken up temporary anti-erosion work at Bhaluka Bazaar, at an estimated cost of Rs 3 lakh, following the demands of the local people”, said Mr Mitra.

According to him, to check erosion and save the embankment, a scheme of Rs 20 lakh has already been allocated, and the project was scheduled to start on 15 July, but the department had to begin the work on 8 July due to the increased pace of the erosion. The superintending engineer said the scheduled work would be started there from 15 July, but that Rs 3 lakh would be deducted from the Rs 20 lakh fund. After visiting Bhaluka Bazaar, the North Malda MP, Miss Mausam Noor, sent an appeal to the union water resources department to look into the matter. That appeal was forwarded to the Mahananda embankment division through the proper channels.

According to the irrigation department's flood control cell, the water level of the Fulohar was 26.82 metres, just 2 cm below the danger mark in the unprotected zone, at Teljana point in north Malda on 8 July. The flood cell has recorded the river's rising water level trend, and planns to show a yellow signal in the unprotected areas. Further down the stream of the river Fulohar, the Malda irrigation division has recorded the whirling water trend of the river at Shankaritola ghaat in Manikchak block, and dumped boulders in an attempt to arrest the erosion there.

Following the western wave, the Ganga has also started eroding its left banks in Manikchak. However, the water level of the Ganga was, on 8 July, far below the danger mark. ;SNS

Reservoir construction work finally taken up

MALDA, 8 JULY: The Left Front run Old Malda Municipality (OMM) has finally begun constructing a reservoir after weeks of delay, despite protests against the building by locals allegedly backed by Congress leaders.

When the OMM started the construction at Shashthi-tala in ward number 13, a group of women prevented them from working and claimed that the plot of land was not owned by the OMM. Trouble broke out when a large group of people backed by the Left Front protested against these women. Police rushed to the spot to tackle the situation. The OMM chairman, Mr Biswanath Sukul, the CPI-M leader, was able to show papers of the land and prove that it is owned by OMM.

Previously, when the OMM had tried to start the construction work after the end of the parliamentary elections, the same group of men and women stalled the work on the grounds that the OMM are working without the landowner’s permission. ;SNS

District jails to have computerised database

MALDA, 7 JULY: Following in the footsteps of the Tihar Jail, the state has taken up an initiative of launching computerised database at correctional homes in each district, so that the headquarters can have an Online monitoring system. At least eight correctional homes including the one in Malda have come under the project in the first phase. In the second phase, sub-divisional jails would also be included under this project.

According to the superintendent of Malda jail, Mr CR Gharai, the government has also planned the introduction of an audio-visual system of ongoing trials through video conferencing in the last phase, which will also bring along development of infrastructure of the courts.

Mr Gharai said: “Once the new system is launched, an ongoing trial in Malda jail can be watched in the Jalpaiguri court and the Malda court on the same day, through a video conference.” The Malda correctional home has already received five computers and other required apparatus to implement this project.The National Informatics Centre Services Incorporated (NICSI) has been assigned to install computers in all correctional homes and to prepare data base with regular updating systems. The staffs of the correctional homes will be trained in computer skills for Online data entry so that the headquarters have information about every inmate in each jail through the Internet, which it is entitled to under the Right to Information Act. ;SNS