Month: May 2015

WB CM inaugurates a number of developmental projects for Asansol industrial belt

Posted on | by admin2 | Leave a Comment on WB CM inaugurates a number of developmental projects for Asansol industrial belt

West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee inaugurated a slew of developmental measures for the Asansol-Durgapur belt and said that the region would witness more development programmes in future.

“A large amount of development has taken place in this region after we came to power in the state, while many more development awaits for this entire industrial region,” the Chief Minister said after inaugurating the Kazi Nazrul Islam University near the poet’s birthplace at Churulia. She also laid foundation stone for a 300-bed multi super hospital at Asansol.

Kazi Nazrul Islam University

The Chief Minister has also asked the KNI university authority to prepare a proposal urging Dhaka University for collaborative programmes between these two universities. “When I will visit Dhaka, the matter can be discussed with the appropriate authority there,” she said. “The university has now a campus of eight acres land. We are trying to expand it further to accommodate a B.ED. college and a Law college,” she said.

Stating that due honour was not given to this rebel poet, the West Bengal Chief Minister said that her government had developed this university and an Academy after the name of the poet, besides developing Nazrul Tirtha at New Town, Rajarhat.

Andal airport

Giving a list of development programmes which already had taken place in the area, the Chief Minister said commercial operation of the country’s first private Greenfield airport at Andal would begin from May 18 with a six-day-a-week flight service between Durgapur and Kolkata.

Stating that the entire region would immensely benefit from this service, the CM announced 25 per cent concession in this air service for students, land-losers and government officials from the area of Durgapur, Asansol, Raniganj, Bolpur, Santiniketan and Jangalmahal for a year. Ailing residents of Jangalmahal area could also travel with 25 per cent concession for their treatment, she said. WB CM also announced sales tax exemption to the carrier on ATF required for air operation at Andal for a period till 2023. She also said that a private operator Pinnacle Air would begin air services on Kolkata-Durgapur-Bagdogra-Cooch Behar sector from the same day.

Surge of development

The Chief Minister said  that it was due to an initiative she had taken long back that the modernisation of IISCO took place which was inaugurated by the PM today. “I gave a proposal on this in 1998. We asked for a ‘Bengal Package’ in which IISCO was mentioned. It took eight years to complete this modernisation programme,” she said.

“Had we not given 3,000 acres of land, modernisation and expansion of IISCO would not have been possible. With the inauguration of this project, the region will enter into a new horizon,” she added.

Ms Banerjee also said that during her tenure as Railway Minister she had also helped to recover the ailing Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW). The infrastructure in the area including roads, drinking water and power has also improved a great deal in the area, Ms Banerjee said with the mention of a police commissionerate and Fast Track Court.

On the occasion, the chief minister inaugurated and laid the foundation of 46 development projects in the area.

Centre and State must work together for progress: WB CM

Posted on | by admin2 | Leave a Comment on Centre and State must work together for progress: WB CM

WB CM Ms Mamata Banerjee today called for greater cooperation between the Central and State governments for progress of the nation. She was speaking on the occasion of commissioning of the new IISCO plant at Burnpur.

The Chief Minister expressed pride in the fact that the second largest steel plant was coming up at Durgapur. She urged the Centre to speed up the process of expansion of SAIL at Durgapur.

“Asansol is like mini-India. We have done a lot of development here from building IT hub to repairing roads and solving drinking water problem,” said WB CM.

Mamata Banerjee also said she will be inaugurating the new building of Kazi Nazrul Islam University at Asansol later today. She asked everyone to work together for the people.

“Tyag ka naam hai Hindu, Iman ka naam hai Mussalman. Pyar ka naam hai Isai. Yeh hai mera Hindustan,” WB CM concluded.

infrastructure bengal

West Bengal Government to lay stress on greener and cheaper power for all

Posted on | by admin2 | Leave a Comment on West Bengal Government to lay stress on greener and cheaper power for all

Trinamool Congress Government in West Bengal has always been proactive towards green and alternative sources of power. The Government announced that along with this initiative, steps will be taken to simultaneously reduce the power tariff in the next 2-3 years following new captive block regulations.

West Bengal State Electricity Corporation already operates one pump storage hydel project in Purulia. Additionally, the West Bengal Government is seeking a green energy fund to build two pump storage hydel power plants in Purulia- Turga (1,000 MW) and Bandhu (900 MW). The State is also planning to set up a 1,200-MW solar power plant to support these two hydel power plants.

At an event at the MCC Chamber of Commerce and Industry State Power Minister Manish Gupta also stressed on reduction of conventional power tariffs also. “We have got six captive blocks. We think we will be able to get coal at lower cost than before. With this, there is a possibility that power tariff may get lower in the next 2-3 years,” said Mr Gupta.

He said the final tariff will also depend on other factors like freight and other costs. He also added that the cost of coal for the state discom, WBPDCL, may come down to Rs 1,800 per tonne from the earlier Rs 2,600 per tonne,

Simultaneously there is another initiative of the Government called “Shobar Ghorey Aalo”. This is a campaign launched where the vision is to have total electrification in all districts. The aim is such that every single household should have electricity by the end of financial year 2015-16.

Poor people are the backbone of the country: WB CM

Posted on | by admin2 | Leave a Comment on Poor people are the backbone of the country: WB CM

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called for better coordination between states and the Centre for overall development of the states and the country.

“If the states and the Centre work together in coordination, it will help in the overall development of the masses,” Ms Banerjee said at a function at Nazrul Mancha in Kolkata.

She also urged the Centre to ensure that at least every panchayat in the country is covered by banking services.

“After I came to power in 2011 more than 1,000 panchayats out of 3,500 in the state did not have banks. Then we offered one rupee rent to banks and asked them to open branches. We have been able to open 171 banks out of the 1,000 left. I would request the Centre to see that at least every panchayat is covered by banking services so that it helps the poor,” she said.

Citing the achievements of the TMC government in the empowerment of girls, WB CM spoke about the success of the ‘Kanyashree’ project which has covered 24 lakh girl child in the state. She said while Centre allocated only Rs 100 crore for Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Bengal had allocated Rs 1000 crore for Kanyashree scheme.

India’s first Green City coming up at Rajarhat-New Town

Posted on | by admin2 | Leave a Comment on India’s first Green City coming up at Rajarhat-New Town

West Bengal Government has decided to turn Rajarhat-New Town into India’s first Green City. The State Urban Development Department has already started planning for the project with inputs from the Indian Green Building Council, KMC, IIT Kharagpur and CREDAI.

The Green City concept includes sufficient eco-space, water reservoir system, modern transport. New Town may have mono rail system besides metro rail.

In the next five years, a number of Green Cities are coming up in the State. The cost of construction for Green Buildings is much more than that of normal buildings. To help the realtors, the State Government has announced that 10% extra FRR for Green Buildings to be constructed. It is expected that during the next five years at least 10 crore square feet of Green Buildings will be constructed.

25 se Boishakh is like birthday of Bengal: WB CM

Posted on | by admin2 | Leave a Comment on 25 se Boishakh is like birthday of Bengal: WB CM

West Bengal Government today paid a fitting tribute to Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore on the occasion of his 155th birthday through a cultural programme at Cathedral Road near Rabindra Sadan.

West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee inaugurated the function. She said she felt like 25 se Boishakh is like the birthday of Bengal. Calling Rabindranath and Nazrul as the pillars on which Bengal survives, she said this day marks a new beginning.

During the past three years under the Trinamool Congress, West Bengal Government had made it a point to pay highest respect to the beacons of Bengali culture.

During the next fortnight, the Kabipaksha, May 10 to 25, 2015, regular programme will be held at Rabindra Sadan and the open air stage at the Nandan complex. An exhibition of paintings will be held at Gaganendra Pradarshanshala from May 9 to 15.

Andal airport to be operational from May 18: WB CM

Posted on | by admin2 | Leave a Comment on Andal airport to be operational from May 18: WB CM

India’s first private green-field airport set up in collaboration with Changi International Airport of Singapore is ready for commercial operation from 18th May, 2015 at Andal near Durgapur.

WB CM Ms Mamata Banerjee today addressed a press conference where she announced that Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport at Andal is India’s first green-field airport. Seventeen such airports were announced to be set up in India but only the Bengal project was completed.

WB CM thanked Singapore-based Changi Airport group for their support and cooperation. She said this airport will soon have flight connectivity with Singapore. The government has also decided to exempt sales tax on aviation turbine fuel for this airport till 2020-21 to make air-travel affordable for common people.

“Bengal will now be connected with the entire world,” the Chief Minister remarked.

Tweets from the Chief Minister:

We dedicate this day to Maa, Mati, Manush: WB CM at Kolkata Mayor’s oath-taking ceremony

Posted on | by admin2 | Leave a Comment on We dedicate this day to Maa, Mati, Manush: WB CM at Kolkata Mayor’s oath-taking ceremony

West Bengal Chief Minister today attended the swearing-in ceremony of the Mayor of Kolkata, Sovan Chatterjee, at the historic Town Hall. Dedicating the day to the Maa, Mati, Manush of West Bengal, the CM asked everyone to participate in the surge of development.

“Kolkata is a non-planned city yet I can say confidently that we are No. 1 among all metros. No other city can match Kolkata in the cordiality among people,” she added.

Kolkata has seen a lot of development in the last 5 years, the Chief Minister added. She said this will be the beginning of a new chapter in the history of Kolkata.

The swearing-in ceremony today was graced by the presence of the Speaker of West Bengal Assembly, eminent citizens from all walks of life, various government officials and the Kolkata Municipal Corporation.

SS Ray speaks on the restriction of the jurisdiction of anti corruption cell of Govt of Delhi | Full Transcript

Posted on | by admin2 | Leave a Comment on SS Ray speaks on the restriction of the jurisdiction of anti corruption cell of Govt of Delhi | Full Transcript

Full Transcript

The anti-corruption branch of the Government of Delhi is a notified police station for the purpose of registration of FIR and the investigation of offences covered under the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988.

Sir, this branch has been in existence for almost half a century and the officers of the branch who are authorised to investigate the offences under Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947 by a notification dated March 21, 1968. They were authorised to make arrests and the branch was declared as a police station for offences recorded for illegal gratification in 1975. The anti corruption branch functions under the overall supervision and control of the Director of Vigilance, Government of the NCT of Delhi.

During the 49 days of the Aam Aadmi Party government, Sir, the anti-corruption branch of the Government of Delhi was revitalised and an anti-corruption helpline was launched to facilitate the citizens who wanted to report incidents of corruption in public life. The citizens of Delhi responded enthusiastically to this initiative and complaints poured in against different authorities including officials of the Delhi Police, DDA, municipal corporations, central government and various departments of the government of NCT, including a few former ministers and corporate haunchos.

Sir, thereafter a notification dated July 23, 2014, was issued surprisingly by the Minister of Home Affairs, Government of India, restricting the jurisdiction of the anti-corruption branch of the government of NCT over the officers and employees of government of NCT of Delhi.

Sir, this has created a problem for the administration of the Delhi government to go against the corrupt officials. This notification is also attempting to limit the power of the popularly-elected government which is highly unconstitutional and against the principals of federalism.

If the Central Government is serious about introducing reforms in administration and wants to bring about a positive change towards transparency in governance to facilitate the business environment and image of the country, it should immediately withdraw the notification and maintain the principles of federalism.

Thank you Sir.

Fifteen heritage structures across West Bengal to be restored

Posted on | by admin2 | Leave a Comment on Fifteen heritage structures across West Bengal to be restored

The West Bengal Government, led by Trinamool Congress, has taken huge initiative to restore the lost glory of the heritage sites all over the State.

The State Information and Cultural Affairs Department (I&CA) has started restoration and conservation of 15 heritage structures across the state.

Sites to be restored

Among the important heritage structures that have been chosen for the restoration is Buxa Fort at Buxa, Alipurduar. An integrated development plan has also been chalked up for Buxa Fort. The conservation and restoration of Katherine Graham Memorial Chapel in Kalimpong will be done. The Duff College building in the city at Jorabagan will be conserved. Another big project is the conservation and restoration of Rangibasan Palace at Mahishadal in East Midnapore.

The other heritage structures that have been included in the list for conservation and restoration are the excavated site at Moghalmari in West Midnapore, conservation and development of Duplex Palace Museum at Hooghly’s Chandernagore, development and extension of Murshidabad district museum at Jiaganj and North Dinajpur district museum, development of the Site Museum at Malda’s Jagjibanpur for Rs 2.15 crore, the third phase restoration and conservation work of Danish Governor’s House and the restoration of Henry Martin’s Pagoda in Serampore, Hooghly and some others like restoration and conservation of Govinda temple at Icchapore in North 24-Parganas and restoration of Raghunath temple at Boromakalitola Road at Hooghly’s Pandua. The authorities chose the sites after thorough surveys.

Restoration of Tiretti Bazar

Incidentally, the West Bengal Tourism Department has decided to renovate and resurrect the Tiretti Bazar, the erstwhile Old China Town in central Kolkata, in association with the Kolkata Municipal Corporation and a Singapore-based orgnaisation. The project named ‘Cha’ l promises to take one back to the last decades of the 18th century, when the Chinese had started trickling into the city to become permanent settlers. From food and drinks to street shopping, the  project will bring give an oriental touch to Kolkata