Tag: Princep Ghat

Water taxis, to be run on Hooghly, named after State Govt schemes

Posted on | by aitc | Leave a Comment on Water taxis, to be run on Hooghly, named after State Govt schemes

A few months back, we had written about the State Government planning to start water taxi services on the Hooghly.

Two water taxis have been bought for the purpose, which Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has named after two of the prominent schemes she has devised – Sishu Sathi and Save Life. The services will be inaugurated soon.

Both of these schemes have been highly successful. While Sishu Sathi arranges for free heart operations for children, Save Life Safe Drive attempts to inculcate proper driving habits and teach people to follow road rules.

The Transport Department will run the vessels. Previously, the Chief Minister had named other projects of the Transport Department too, including Gatidhara, Jaladhara and the Pathasathi app.

The water taxis will be operating on two routes. One will be operating from Millennium Park Ghat to Dakshineswar via Belur Math while the other will be operating from Millennium Park Ghat to Belur Math via Dakshineswar.

There are eight seats in each of the water taxis. Six passengers will be carried on each trip, with the two remaining seats to be occupied by the operator and a safety officer. The operator and the safety officer will both be trained personnel, and will oversee the safety and security of passengers.

There are many places of interest along the banks of the Hooghly, both on the northern and southern sides of Millennium Park. If everything go as planned, more water taxis will be introduced, for trips from Millennium Park to Princep Ghat and Kidderpore.

Source: Millennium Post

We are reviving folk art of Bengal: WB CM at Lok Sanskriti Utsav

Posted on | by admin2 | Leave a Comment on We are reviving folk art of Bengal: WB CM at Lok Sanskriti Utsav

Biswa Bangla Lok Sanskriti Utsav for promoting folk artists was inaugurated today by West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee. The festival will continue till 1 January. A special floating stage has been set up at Lal Dighi near Writers’ Buildings for the event.

Two venues have been selected for holding the festival, namely Princep Ghat (4 PM – 8 PM daily) and Lal Dighi (3 PM – 6 PM daily).

Lok Prasar Prakalpa

Under the Lok Prasar scheme, folk artists are enrolled by the government, following which they perform at government programmes for publicising development works.

Folk artists receive a retainership fee of Rs 1,000, and in addition an opportunity for four performances, with Rs 1,000 paid for each. This means there is provision for a folk artist to receive at least Rs 5,000 a month.

Some popular folk dances of Bengal are Chhau, Natua, Raibeshi, Brita, Gambhira, Lathi, Santhal and Tusu, and there are around 50,000 enrolled folk artists.

Highlights of WB CM’s speech:

  • I welcome all the folk artists who have come here today from across the State and other countries.
  • Folk artists are our pride but have been neglected in the past.
  • We have registered 50000 folk artists under Lok Prasar Prakalpa. I am proud we are using folk artists for govt advertisements.
  • We are giving financial stipends to folk artists every month and they are performing at our functions.
  • The folk culture and heritage of Bengal was slowly dying but we are taking initiatives to revive them.
  • From jatra to handloom, we are helping revive the Bengali tradition and culture.
  • This year we have developed a new concept of setting up a floating stage on Lal Dighi.
  • In future we have plans to turn Lal Dighi into a cultural centre where events can take place.
  • We have worked hard to improve the infrastructure in the State.
  • Where there is peace, there is prosperity. Where there is progress, there is festivity.
  • I extend my festive greeting to all. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.
  • Lok Utsav will be celebrated in every block of the State in future. What Bengal thinks today, the world will think tomorrow.

WB Govt to organise ‘Lok Utsav’ in December to promote folk artists

Posted on | by admin2 | Leave a Comment on WB Govt to organise ‘Lok Utsav’ in December to promote folk artists

The state government has decided to organise Lok Sanskriti Utsav for promoting folk artists.

If things go as planned, folk artists performing at the utsav would be paid more than their usual allowance of Rs 1,000 per performance.

The festival will be organised for three days and is likely to start from 24 December. Two venues have been selected for holding the festival, namely Princep Ghat and Lal Dighi, which is located near Writers’ Buildings.

Under the Lok Prasar scheme, folk artists are enrolled by the government, following which they perform at government programmes for publicising development works.

Folk artists receive a retainership fee of Rs 1,000, and in addition an opportunity for four performances, with Rs 1,000 paid for each. This means there is provision for a folk artist to receive at least Rs 5,000 a month.

Some popular folk dances of Bengal are Chhau, Natua, Raibeshi, Brita, Gambhira, Lathi, Santhal and Tusu, and there are around 42,000 enrolled folk artists.

In conversation with… Sovan Chatterjee, Mayor of Kolkata

Posted on | by admin2 | Leave a Comment on In conversation with… Sovan Chatterjee, Mayor of Kolkata

AITC Web Team: The Municipal Corporation elections are a few weeks away. What are the preparations leading up to it?

Mayor: Throughout the last five years, development work has been done in all the wards under the Kolkata Municipal Corporation. From ward number 1 to 144, a lot of work has been happening in every department including roads, lighting, parks, health, drainage and drinking water. Therefore, there is no need to take preparations for the elections separately. Work has been done for the common man and they will vote in favour of us.

AITC Web Team: According to the Opposition, the municipal board failed in the last five years. What would you say to that?

Mayor: Opposition will always criticize. People are the ultimate judge. Work has been done in all the departments and in all the wards irrespective of the political background.

AITC Web Team: Some projects of the Corporation are dependant on Central grants. Did you receive cooperation from the Centre?

Mayor: Before the Lok Sabha 2014 elections, we had sent reports to the Centre regarding several projects like JNNURM, garbage compactors, Tala Park etc. Funds from the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission were also sanctioned. But BJP dismissed all such allocation after coming to power. However, that could not halt the surge of development in Kolkata.

The Corporation has achieved success in removing garbage dumps from the city with the quick action financial support from West Bengal Government. Kolkata has been made clean with the compactor machines and movable compactors. Kolkata has been made ‘Vat-Free’ without any support from the Centre.

AITC Web Team: What are the other significant works done by the Corporation in the past five years?

Mayor: Developmental work has taken place in every department. The most significant among all would be the supply of drinking water supply to 95% parts of the city. With the one and half crore gallon capacity water purification system at Garden Reach and the booster pumping station at Chetla, almost 12 wards including areas of Chetla, Alipore, eastern areas of Behala, Thakurpukur, Daspara and Joka would benefit directly and indirectly.

The Dhapa Jai Hind project has also been started which is supplying almost 30 million gallons of purified drinking water to Anandapur, Mukundapur, Patuli, JJ Khan Road and seven booster pumping station and 12 overhead reservoirs.

Also, the Kolkata Improvement Trust has done a great work to improve the drainage system, due to which Kolkata did not get water logged despite of having excessive rainfall from 2012 to 2014. Apart from this entire routine road building and repair work has been undertaken. Roads were repaired swiftly on complaints that were received.

AITC Web Team: What work has been undertaken to beautify Kolkata under the current Municipal Corporation?

Mayor: Our Hon’ble Chief Minister wished that the City of Joy be beautified in a single colour theme. In accordance with that, bridges, road railings, etc. have been painted. Out of the 620 odd parks in the city, almost all have been freshly painted; decorative lights have been installed along the roads.

The 2.5 km riverside along the Ganga from Princep Ghat to Babughat has been beautified. Anti-pollution devices have been installed at the crematoriums and the Nimtala crematorium has also been revamped. The Tangra slaughter house has also been modernised using latest technology and standards.

AITC Web Team: What are your expectations about the upcoming Kolkata Municipal elections?

Mayor: Our strength in the Corporation will increase from what it was last time. We have completed every work that was undertaken. Not a single developmental agenda has been left out. All the Councilors are now waiting for the elections.