Tag: Cooch Behar

New airports planned in Malda and Balurghat

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The Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal Government has been very successful in her efforts to improve air connectivity, both within the State as well as between the State and other States and countries.

The State government has now planned to renovate the airports in Malda and Balurghat to further improve the connectivity of North Bengal. For this purpose, the State Transport Department has sent a proposal to the Airports Authority of India (AAI), which is expected to be approved soon.

The State Public Works Department (PWD) would oversee the work of building the two airports; tenders have already been called.

After Cooch Behar, the renovation of these two airports in Malda and Balurghat would further enhance travel opportunities, both for business and leisure activities.

 

মালদা ও বালুরঘাটে নতুন বিমানবন্দর তৈরির পরিকল্পনা

মালদা ও বালুরঘাটে বিমানবন্দর পুনর্নির্মাণের সিদ্ধান্ত নিচ্ছে রাজ্য সরকার। এর ফলে উত্তরবঙ্গের সঙ্গে যোগাযোগ ব্যবস্থা আরও উন্নত হবে।

বিমানবন্দরের পরিকাঠামো গড়ে তোলার জন্য এয়ারপোর্ট অথরিটি অফ ইন্ডিয়ার কাছ থেকে জমি নিচ্ছে রাজ্য সরকার। বৃহস্পতিবার রাজ্য মন্ত্রী সভার বৈঠকে এই সিদ্ধান্ত হয়েছে।

বালুরঘাটে ১৩২ একর জমি এবং মালদায় ১১৪ একর জমির ওপর তৈরি হবে এই পরিকাঠামো।

PWD এই এয়ারপোর্টের পরিকাঠামোগত উনুয়নের মাধ্যমে এর পুনর্নির্মাণ করবে।

কোচবিহারের পর মালদা ও বালুরঘাট বিমানবন্দর চালু হলে ভ্রমণ, ব্যবসা বাণিজ্য সবক্ষেত্রেই যোগাযোগ আরও সম্প্রসারিত হবে।

Bengal Tourism launches new tour packages

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West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation has come up with two new tour packages. One is for Kolkata, called ‘New City Tour’ and the other is for the Dooars region.

The ‘New City Tour’ is exactly that – a day trip through some of the newer places of interest. The spots include Nicco Park, Arts Acre, Mother’s Wax Museum and Eco Park (Prakriti Tirtha). It would start from and end at the Tourism Centre in BBD Bag. The tour is priced at Rs 1050 per head (including vegetarian lunch and tax).

The Dooars tour – named ‘Dooars Package Tour’ – is a two nights-three days package for Rs 9200 per heard (including tax). It would start and end in Siliguri, covering the wildlife havens of Jaldapara, Gorumara and Buxa, and Cooch Behar.

 

পশ্চিমবঙ্গ পর্যটনে নতুন দিগন্ত

পশ্চিমবঙ্গ পর্যটন নিগম ২ টি নতুন ভ্রমণ ব্যবস্থা চালু করতে চলেছে। একটি কলকাতার জন্য যার নাম ‘নিউ সিটি ট্যুর’ এবং দ্বিতীয়টি ডুয়ার্স এর জন্য।

‘নিউ সিটি ট্যুর’ হল একদিনের একটি প্যাকেজ যেখানে নতুন কিছু জায়গা দেখানো হবে। এখানে নিকো পার্ক,আর্টস একর, মাদার ওয়াক্স মিউজিয়াম এবং ইকো পার্ক ঘোরানো হবে। এই ভ্রমণ যাত্রা শুরু এবং শেষ হবে বিবাদী বাগে। মাথাপিছু ১০৫০ টাকা ধার্য (কর এবং নিরামিষ মধ্যাহ্নভোজ সমেত)।

‘ডুয়ার্স ভ্রমণ ব্যবস্থা’ এটি ২ রাত ৩ দিনের একটি প্যাকেজ, মাথাপিছু ৯২০০ টাকা (কর সমেত)। এই ভ্রমণ যাত্রার  শুরু এবং শেষ হবে শিলিগুড়িতেই। জলদাপারা, গরুমারা, বক্সা ও কুচবিহার ভ্রমণও রয়েছে এই প্যাকেজের মধ্যেই।

 

Fish farming in south Bengal gets a boost

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The West Bengal Fisheries Department is going to farm boroli fish in ponds of South Bengal. The small-sized boroli, because of its taste, is regarded as the ‘king of fish’ in North Bengal, and is sold at Rs 400 a kg. Fish lovers of South Bengal often lament its unavailability there.

According to the Minister for Fisheries, Chandranath Singha, “After a person successfully cultivated boroli fish in his pond in Cooch Behar, we are planning to cultivate it in South Bengal too and plans in this regard are being chalked out.”

In North Bengal, boroli is a very popular fish and is found in most of the rivers. Tourists from the plains search for it when they visit North Bengal and it is a compulsion of every eatery owner in North Bengal to include the fish in their menus; some even display it at their eateries. The fish is found in the districts of Jalpaiguri (Siliguri is a big market), Cooch Behar and Alipurduar.

 

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বাংলায় ম९স্য চাষের নতুন দিগন্ত

দক্ষিণবঙ্গেও এবার বোরলি মাছ চাষ শুরু করবে পশ্চিমবঙ্গ ম९স্য দপ্তর। ছোট আকারের বোরলি মাছ তার অসাধারন স্বাদের জন্য উত্তরবঙ্গের মাছেদের রাজা নামে পরিচিত। এর মূল্য ৪০০ টাকা প্রতি কেজি। দক্ষিণবঙ্গের মাছ প্রেমিকরা প্রায়ই এর অভাব বোধ করেন।

ম९স্যমন্ত্রী চন্দ্রনাথ সিনহার বক্তব্য, “কুচবিহারের একজন ম९স্যচাষী বোরলি মাছ চাষ করে সাফল্য অর্জনের পরই আমরা দক্ষিণবঙ্গে এই মাছ চাষের পরিকল্পনার করেছি এবং পরিকল্পনামাফিক কাজ শুরু করেছি”।

উত্তরবঙ্গে বোরলি মাছ খুব জনপ্রিয়। সমতল থেকে যখন পর্যটকরা উত্তরবঙ্গ পরিদর্শনে আসেন তখন এই মাছের খোঁজ করেন।

মাছটি এতই জনপ্রিয় যে উত্তরবঙ্গের প্রতিটি খাবারের দোকানের মেনুতে এই মাছের একটি করে পদ নিশ্চিতরূপে থাকে। জলপাইগুড়ি, কুচবিহার এবং আলিপুরদুয়ারে এই মাছ পাওয়া যায়।

Pratima Mondal demands backward district status for Cooch Behar

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The Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF) Scheme covers 250 districts in 27 States. It is an unique Central Fund as it puts the Panchayats and Municipalities at the forefront of planning and implementation, and gives them free rein to use the funds, as long as it fills a development gap and the identification of the work is decided with people’s participation.

In rural areas, 56% schedules castes/schedules tribes, 40% OBCs are beneficiaries of this scheme. One of the parameters of identifying a district as backward is based on the number of SC/ST population. The district of Cooch Behar in West Bengal has a population of which 50.11% comprise of people from Scheduled Castes.

However, Cooch Behar has not been identified as a Backward District. The district is basically agrarian but modern agricultural techniques have not been adopted on a large scale. Hence, this sphere needs special attention. Agricultural marketing also needs to be improved with proper development of rail, road, cold storage, markets, etc.

Also, credit facilities are not smoothly available to the MSE sector. A 15% tax rebate on setting up of new industries, which Backward Districts are entitled to, would greatly help in the development of the area and raise the standard of lives of the people.

I would urge the Government to include Cooch Behar, and other districts in the country which have more than 50% SC/ST population in the BRGF scheme for all-round development of the district and to improve the lives of the people. I would also like to bring attention to the worrying fact that West Bengal is still owed 40% of Central funds for BRGF over the last five years.

50% subsidy for new MSME industry in Coochbehar: WB CM

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West Bengal Chief minister Mamata Banerjee batted for Cooch Behar as a possible investment destination urging “industry friends“and invest in this far-flung district. The Chief Minister promised the investors of all help and announced a 50% subsidy to the small-scale industry sector in the district.

Addressing a public meeting in Gumanihat in Cooch Behar’s Mathabhanga sub-division, the Chief Minister said, “Children from Cooch Behar go to Delhi to do some intricate gold jewellery work, they go to Rajasthan to do stone sculptures. Such works have opportunities here too. I will urge my industry friends with folded hands to please come and invest here. I will provide whatever you seek for it. But, please work in these far-flung districts. Please work and generate jobs.“

The State Government has been urging investors to lay stress on MSME. In near future, a business conclave for north Bengal is scheduled to be held. The Chief Minister in her recent visit to Bhutan had invited a Bhutanese delegation to attend the said conclave.

WB CM launches ‘Sabuj Sathi’ scheme for Coochbehar

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West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee today launched ‘Sabuj Sathi’ scheme for the Cooch Behar district. The Chief Minister also addressed a public meeting at Mathabhanga at 1:15 PM.

The Chief Minister today inaugurated a bouquet of projects for the district including a new electrical substation, a district jute park, drinking water supply projects, road projects, new government buildings and AC bus service.

The Chief Minister laid foundation stones for a number of projects including upgradation of hospitals, irrigation projects among many others.

Besides the distribution of the cycles for the ‘Sabuj Sathi’ scheme, the Chief Minister today distributed benefits like Shikshyashree, different credit cards, cheques for loans, equipment for fishermen and a host of other schemes.

The Chief Minister met the officials of the districts and reviewed the progress of developmental works in the three districts of Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar during her visit.

Won’t tell people what to eat or wear: WB CM

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Maharashtra may have banned beef, but Bengal won’t. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday made it clear her government doesn’t want to dictate people’s choice of food and dress.

“People have the right to food. Kon mangso khabo, konta khabo na, kon saree porbo, konta porbo na, kon gaan gaibo eta tar byapar (We should leave it to individuals which meat he wants to eat, or which saree she wants to wear, or the song he wants to sing). Any diktat in this regard will only create disunity,” the CM said at a public rally in Jhargram, West Midnapore.

Mamata also warned the gathering against efforts to provoke sentiments that could lead to violence. “Those who mastermind riots take to their heels. It is the ordinary people who suffer. Let us not get into all these things,” Mamata said.

End to Maoist violence

The CM urged people to be vigilant and ensure peace in the area.

“Some people keep coming from outside to provoke villagers. I advise you against falling into the trap. Keep an eye on the surroundings. If you are on the right track, nobody can harm you. Continue with your night patrols because people are the best sentries,” the CM said.

“As many as 170 people were killed in the Gyaneswari accident. I was then the railway minister. I handed over the case to CBI to find out the truth. I don’t have the latest update of the inquiry . The victim families deserve justice,” she said.

“You have helped restore peace in the area. Don’t lose it,” she added.

 

Flood relief

The chief minister again hit out at the Centre saying that it didn’t give Bengal its due on account of flood relief funds. “We submitted the report to the Centre but haven’t received anything yet. Instead, the Centre is taking away Rs 28,000 crore on account of debt repayment.What’s more, the Centre has slashed funds in a lot of projects,“ the CM said. She has written to Prime Minister in this regard.

WB CM to start district visit from October 28

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West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is going to leave for the two districts of West Midnapore and Bankura on October 29 to preside over administrative meetings that would take stock of developments in the two districts. She will be accompanied by a host of officials headed by chief secretary of the State.

On October 29, WB CM will hold a public meeting at Bankura and on October 30, she will address another public meeting at Gopiballavpur in Paschim Medinipur.

On November 2nd, the West Bengal Chief Minister will be visiting North Bengal. She will be holding meetings at Cooch Behar, Malbazar and Jaigaon.

On November 5, the West Bengal Chief Minister will reach Kolkata and and hold a meeting with the visiting Chinese delegation at Glass House in Eco Park.

AITC Women’s Cell to hold workshops across the State

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AITC Chairperson Ms Mamata Banerjee has asked Trinamool Congress Women Cell State President and Chandrima Bhattacharjee to hold workshops of elected Trinamool women representatives in different civic bodies, gram panchayats, panchayat samities, zilla parishads.

She said respective MPs and MLAs would also be present in such workshops. The AITC Women Cell State President said that Trinamool Congress will hold these workshops in all 20 districts along with 18 notional districts. She said it is expected the workshops would be completed by 15 September.

She said that the main objective of these workshops is to create awareness among these women representatives, especially newly elected, about the different state government projects on women and children. She said she would ask the elected people’s representatives to meet the public with humanitarian approach.

The AITC Women Cell State President said: “I will also discuss at length about the women’s property right, right to residence, right to inheritance. They are people’s representatives and they should be aware of the women rights. Only then can they solve such problems in their respective area.”

“We will also make them aware of different government projects related to women and children like Kanyashree, Shikshashree, health care of mother and child, especially pregnant women (Janani Suraksha),” the minister said. Workshops would be held in Singur,Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar and Alipurduar in August and Darjeeling plains in August. She would probably hold workshops in Malda, North and South Dinjapur in mid week of August.

“We will explain the function of Sick Neonatal Care Unit (SNCU), Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (Nicu) and how our government has increased the number of SNCUs and Nicu not only in tertiary hospitals but also at district and sub division levels,” the AITC Women Cell State President said.

 

Tourism gets special focus under Trinamool Government

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The West Bengal Government under the leadership of Ms Mamata Banerjee has made developments in every sector in every districts of the State. The Chief Minister has visited each district, chaired meetings across the State with the district officials from Darjeeling to Sundarbans to take stock of ongoing projects and plan newer ones. Identifying new tourist spots and creation of infrastructure for tourists have been one of the agendas of the Chief Minister during her numerous district visits.

The Trinamool Government under Ms Mamata Banerjee had rightly identified that West Bengal with its varied natural beauty has the capability to attract tourists from national and international sphere, and thus earn huge revenue. However, after 34 years of Left misrule, the tourism infrastructure in the State was in tatters. So, firstly, it was decided to renovate the existing to a quality standard and then identify the newer options.

Increased planned expenditure In Tourism under Trinamool Government

In the four year, from 2007-08 to 2010-11, the planned expenditure in Tourism under the Left Government was on an average Rs 16.88 crore only. In the first four years of the West Bengal Government under Trinamool Congress, the planned expenditure in Tourism rose to a total of Rs 331.93 crores, which is Rs 82.95 crores on an average per year. In the years 2011-12 the the planned expenditure on tourism was Rs 30.64 crores. It was increased to Rs 52.62 in 2012-13 and in 2013-14 it further increased to Rs 81.16 crores. In 2014-15, the planned expenditure (revised) was Rs 167.50 crores.

It is observed that while the past Left Government was downsizing the planned expenditure on Tourism year after year, the present Government under Trinamool has been instrumental in increasing the same.

Completed Tourism projects under Trinamool Government

As published on the Economic review2014-15, the following tourism projects have been completed since May 2011:

• Construction and renovation of cottages in different locations at Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong

• Tourism centres in Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar districts

• Tourism centres in Cooch Behar

• Construction of Maldah Museum

• Motijhil tourism centre in Murshidabad

• Chupchar project, Batukeshwar Dutta project and Gopinath Sabji project in Bardhaman

• Ballavpur-Sharmbati project in Birbhum

• Gadiara tourism centre in Howrah

• Furfura Sharif and Chandannagar tourism centres in Hooghly

• Kashipur Mahashram, Kolkata Maidan, Police Museum, College Street, Eden Gardens and other such projects in Kolkata

• Malancha Tourist Lodge in North 24 Parganas

• Tourism projects in Gangasagar and Basanti in South 24 Parganas

• Digha Tourist Lodge in Purba Medinipur

Newer tourism projects are coming up in Bengal

The West Bengal Government has taken up a ne Tourism Incentive Policy in 2015. Under the initiative of the West Bengal Chief Minister, Eco-tourism, Home Tourism and Tea Tourism have been included under this policy.

New projects that are coming up include the Gajaldoba Mega Tourism project, Jharkhali Eco-tourism project, Sabujdwip Eco-tourism project and Jhargram Rajbari Heritage project. Besides, facilities of home-stays are being identified at Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Mukutmanipur and other places of scenic beauty.

Bottomline

The West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee has time and again given suggestions regarding different tourism projects and providing proper facilities to the tourists. The State Government is following the suggestions and also taking part in different tourism fairs nationally and internationally in order to promote Bengal and attract tourists. From Gangasagar in the south to Darjeeling in the north, special focus is being given to tourism and this will be a major success for the State in the coming years.