Call to solve Siliguri pollution problems
Concerned about the rising pollution levels in Siliguri, a voluntary organisation on Tuesday sought measures to be taken against the same. Members of the Green Forum also demanded that authorities concerned
Statesman (Kolkata)
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Villagers' opposition
Farmers of two Katwa mouzas refused to give land for the proposed 3,000-MW super thermal power station at the home district of industry minister Mr Nirupam Sen today. A group of 12 farmers from the Srikhanda and Debkundu mouzas in Katwa went to the office of the ADM (Land Acquisition), Burdwan, and registered their protest against land acquisition by the state government. The state intends to acquire 1,033 acres of farmland in villages surrounding Srikhanda, Katwa to help set up a thermal power project by the West Bengal Power Development Corporation (WBPDCL). n SNS
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N-Deal scores over price hike for Left
If the Left parties could successfully block the Indo-US nuclear deal by threatening in all seriousness to withdraw their outside support to the UPA goverment, why can't they adopt the same tactic to force the Centre to rollback the steep hike in the prices of petroleum products, including LPG? Is the worsening plight of the majority of the country's people, already reeling under the skyrocketing prices of essential commodities and whose miseries are now compounded by the rise in petroleum prices not as serious an issue for the Left as the nuke deal?
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CPM's Salim fear in South
CPM leaders from South 24-Parganas today reminded Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee the impact of the land row on the panchayat polls, two days after he assured the Salim Group of the government's commitment to implement its proposed projects. Bhattacharjee, who is in charge of the district party unit with Benoy Konar, met the leaders at the state party headquarters. State CPM secretary Biman Bose and panchayat minister Surjya Kanta Mishra also attended the meeting, part of the CPM's review of the rural poll setback.
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Loan waiver in state soon
In a bid to secure fresh agriculture loans for the marginal and small farmers in the state ahead of kharif season, the state government has taken initiatives to implement the Centre's loan waiver scheme for the farmers in the state soon.
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Salim meets Buddha, Nirupam
In what was described a "courtesy visit', Mr Anthony Salim, the Salim group chief spent more than an hour closeted in a meeting with Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, chief minister and Mr Nirupam Sen, state industries minister and senior officials at Writers' Buildings even as the city lay paralysed following a strike call by Trinamul Congress today. While Mr Salim declared that his group will go whichever way the state government asks with regard to its projects in the state, he also speculated the possibility of launching new projects in healthcare and food processing, reports said.
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Mamata reacts
Miss Mamata Banerjee, Trinamul Congress chief today alleged that UPA has increased the price of petroleum products many times more than the NDA had, and dismissed the CPI-M's charge that she was silent when the NDA government took the harsh measure. She recalled she had tendered her resignation in protest in 2001 when the NDA government tried to raise the price of cooking gas by Rs 20. "This forced the NDA government to roll back and the increased price was Rs 10.'
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Pre-monsoon shower at last, city breathes easy
It's time to rejoice, as the pre-monsoon showers lashed the city since the wee hours, bringing welcome relief to residents. According to the predictions of the weathermen, the showers will continue in spells for another 48 hours. Mr GC Debnath, director of Regional Meteorological Centre Alipore said, "Till 8.30 a.m. the rainfall recorded is 72.4 mm and it is expected the maximum temperature will remain around 32 degree Celsius.'
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No horn hour
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) along with city police and Paschimbanga Vijnanan Mancha will observe no horn hour from 11am to 12 noon on 5 June to observe World Environment Day. The move is aimed at sensitising people about noise pollution and its after effect. It may be recalled that a recent survey has shown that many drivers of heavy duty vehicles are becoming deaf because of rampant use to air horn. KMC will request VIPs not to use hooters during the hour. Only Ambulance will be exempted. n SNS
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Minister's words not important
The Trinamul Congress and the LF junior partners today lambasted the CPI-M for "trying to be wise after the event by letting the state urban development minister' announce the state government's decision today that land would be acquired for any industrialisation project only after setting up land procurement committees that include local representatives. Trinamul chief Miss Mamata Banerjee said the CPI-M-led LF government had lost its credibility and there's no need to attach any importance to the words its individual ministers say from time to time.
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It ain't monsoon yet
After bearing the scorching heat for almost a week, the city dwellers got an opportunity to soak themselves as moderate to heavy showers lashed the city this evening, bringing with it much needed relief and hope of an early monsoon. But, the weather office was quick to point out that the showers were not even the pre-monsoon ones and it was the formation of a low pressure trough over Gangetic West Bengal that was responsible for the heavy rain. The weatherman also said that a cyclonic development in Jharkhand propelled the rain gods.