Page 4 - Bengal

Centre issues Rs 5,488 cr additional instalment of tax devolution to Bengal

West Bengal has received Rs 5,488.88 crore as additional instalment of tax devolution by the Centre. On Friday, the Centre had disbursed Rs 72,961.21 crore to all states as tax devolution for funding various social welfare measures and infrastructure development schemes. This comes in addition to the tax devolution instalment due to states on January 10, 2024, the government said. The Centre disburses tax devolution funds in 14 yearly instalments. In the latest allocation, Uttar Pradesh received the largest share at Rs 13,088.51 crore. This was followed by Bihar (Rs 7,338 crore), Madhya Pradesh (Rs 5,727.44 crore), West Bengal (Rs 5,488.88 crore), Maharashtra (Rs 4,608.96 crore), Rajasthan (Rs 4,396.64 crore) and Odisha ( Rs 3,303.69 crore).

FCI sells 429,000 MT wheat, 14,760 MT rice in West Bengal via e-auction

The Food Corporation India (FCI) has sold 4.29 lakh metric tonnes of wheat and 14,760 metric tonnes of non-fortified rice through 25 open market e-auctions in West Bengal from June to December this year, an official of the agency said on Saturday. FCI Deputy General Manager (West Bengal region) Pradeep Singh said the Open Market Sales Scheme (domestic) had been done through the e-auction portal of M-junction. "In a bid to stabilise the prices of the cereals and also to increase affordability for the general public, the FCI has sold 4.29 lakh metric tonnes of wheat and 14,760 metric tonnes of non-fortified rice in West Bengal through 25 open-market e-auctions from June to December this year," Singh said. The FCI will also continue to supply the staples through the public distribution system (PDS) free of cost, he said. While the reserve price of wheat for e-auction sales is Rs 2,150 per quintal, it is Rs 2,900 per quintal for non-fortified rice. Singh said fortified rice is supplie

Parl security breach: Police questions friend of key accused in Bengal

Police have questioned a friend of Lalit Mohan Jha, a key accused in the Parliament security breach incident, for hours in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district, an officer said. A team from Barrackpore Police Commissionerate visited Nilakahya Aich's Halisahar residence on Thursday and asked him about his acquaintance with Jha during the days when the accused was working for an NGO, he said. "We talked with the person for hours to know about his friendship with Jha. We got information about him from Delhi Police," the officer told PTI. Aich, who is an undergraduate student at a college in West Bengal, has received a video of the security breach at Parliament from Jha soon after the incident, police said. "We have checked Aich's mobile phone and noted down certain information, which may be vital in our investigation," the police officer said. Jha, the key accused in the Parliament security breach incident, was arrested on Thursday evening, Delhi Police sources said. Jha, accomp

Income Tax officers raid residences of ex-TMC MLA, others in Bengal

Income Tax officers on Wednesday morning raided the residences of several businessmen including a former MLA of the ruling Trinamool Congress at various places in West Bengal, an officer said. The raids were conducted in Asansol, Durgapur and Raniganj areas, as the businessmen did not pay taxes for several years, the officer alleged. "Our officers had reached Durgapur yesterday and started searching the residences of these businessmen from early Wednesday morning. They are looking for various documents including bank statements and other property details," he told PTI over the phone. I-T department officers are also holding talks with former TMC MLA Sohrab Ali and the other businessmen whose houses are being raided, the officer said. A large number of central force personnel are on guard outside the premises where the search was on.

Bengal not adhering to MoU signed on NHM implementation: Health ministry

Move comes after Mamata writes to PM for release of funds

Bengal guv welcomes SC verdict on chancellor's role in appointment of VCs

West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose has welcomed the Supreme Court's verdict on the role of the governor, who is the ex-officio chancellor of state-run universities, in the appointment of vice-chancellors, asserting the apex court has clarified the legal position of the chancellor in the matter. The Supreme Court, while hearing a case pertaining to the reappointment of Kerala's Kannur University vice chancellor, said the governor is not a mere titular head and in the selection of VCs, he is the sole judge and his opinion is final in all respects. By virtue of his office as the ex-officio chancellor, he is not bound to act under the advice of the council of ministers. "The Supreme Court has clarified the legal position of the chancellor in the appointment of VCs... the Chancellor is the authority to appoint VCs. The court made it very clear that the state government of any state should keep off university administration, particularly in the appointment of VCs," Bose told reporters her

Drone to deliver medicines, groceries to people in Kolkata's New Town area

People of Kolkata, especially the ones living in the New Town area, are likely to get various commodities such as medicines, groceries and food delivered to their doorsteps with the help of drones soon, as a Delhi-based logistics solution provider is planning such a move with the help of local authorities. Capt Eshaan Khullar, the associate vice president of Skye Air Mobility Pvt Ltd, said the company has already made agreements with 10 -12 housing societies in New Town for the service as drones will help reduce the time taken in conventional ways of delivering goods. We want to start with New Town and then move to Salt Lake and other parts of Kolkata, besides going to the rural parts where connectivity is an issue, where going from point A to point B is a problem, Khullar told PTI on the sidelines of a presentation programme. He also said that the company is looking forward to partnering with various authorities such as the New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA) to enable ..

Violence continues over nomination filing for Bengal panchayat polls

Bombs were hurled injuring several people at Bhangar in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district as violence continued on day 4 of nomination filing for the panchayat election in the state. The incident occurred near Bijaygunj Bazaar, within one kilometre of the Block Development Office (BDO) where the nomination papers will be filed. The local Indian Secular Front (ISF) MLA had announced that its panchayat poll candidates will file their nomination papers on Tuesday. Local television channels showed police personnel and journalists fleeing as bombs were hurled by unidentified miscreants. The ruling TMC and the opposition ISF accused each other of indulging in violence at Bhangar. Incidents of violence have been reported since June 9, the first day of nomination filing for the July 8 panchayat election, in several districts of the state.

Bengal school job case: Bizman who donated bungalow to trust under scanner

A Kolkata-based businessman, who donated a highly expensive bungalow to a private trust owned by Sujay Krishna Bhadra a.k.a. Kalighater Kaku (uncle of Kalighat) has come under the scanner of ED

9.4 mn Unique Disability ID cards issued, just 9 in Bengal: Official data

Out of total 94 lakh unique disability identification cards issued throughout the country, just nine have been generated from West Bengal till now, according to official data. Unique Disability Identity Card (UDID) is a card to help persons with disabilities avail the benefits extended to them through various schemes. According to the data shared by the Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry, 94.30 lakh e-UDID cards have been generated in 716 districts in all states/Union Territories till now. Out of which, just nine have been generated from West Bengal. However, it is not known if West Bengal has a separate scheme of issuing cards for people with disabilities. Addressing a press conference, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Virendra Kumar said they are continuously in talks with states and Union Territories to expedite the process of issuance of the cards. Kumar also said that under target of conducting accessibility audit of 25-50 most important government buildings and .

Serving of 16 cr midday meals over-reported by Bengal govt, finds MoE panel

Serving of around 16 crore midday meals worth over Rs 100 crore were over-reported by the local administration in West Bengal from April to September last year, a panel appointed by the Ministry of Education has found. The Ministry of Education (MoE) had in January constituted the 'joint review mission' (JRM) to review the implementation of centrally sponsored scheme PM POSHAN in West Bengal following complaints of irregularities. The panel noted "serious discrepancies in information submitted regarding number of meals served at various levels". "According to the first and second Quarterly Progress Reports (QPRs) submitted to the Government of India by the state government, about 140.25 crore meals had been served under PM Poshan scheme during April to September, 2022. However, as per the QPRs submitted by the districts to the state, the number of meals served was about 124.22 crore. "Thus, there is an over-reporting of over 16 crore meals which is a serious issue. The correspondin

Hot, dry spell in south Bengal likely to continue for at least 5 more days

A hot and dry spell is prevailing in the south Bengal districts, including in Kolkata, for the last 10 days and is likely to continue for at least another five more, a senior Met department official said here on Tuesday. As a result of the spell maximum and minimum temperatures in the south Bengal districts are one to three degrees above normal and may increase slightly during the next few days, IMD eastern region head Sanjib Bandopadhyay said. Heatwave conditions may also develop in some parts of south Bengal and also in north Bengal's Malda district, he said The highest temperature recorded in the city on Tuesday was 38.6 degrees celsius and the minimum was 28.6 degrees, both three degrees above normal, according to the IMD. "Temperatures will remain one to three degrees above normal in south Bengal causing discomfort among people," Bandopadhyay said. The hot and dry weather may affect human health and also the agricultural sector, he said and advised people to take precautions

People of Bengal have always been cultured, progressive: Prez Murmu

President further lauded the state saying that sacrifice and martyrdom, culture and education have been the life ideals in the land of Bengal

CVC acknowledges receipt of Suvendu's complaint against Bengal's CS

Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari has informed that the Central Vigilance Commission has acknowledged the receipt and documentation of his complaint

TMC releases manifesto for Tripura polls, vows Bengal model of development

The Trinamool Congress released its manifesto for the Tripura assembly elections on Sunday, promising 2 lakh new jobs, Rs 1,000 per month for school students in classes 4 to 8 and unemployed youths, and social welfare schemes on the lines of those in West Bengal. The manifesto was launched a day ahead of party chief Mamata Banerjee's visit to the state. The TMC is fighting 28 assembly seats in the February 16 election. Addressing a press conference, West Bengal education minister Bratya Basu said that if the party is voted to power in the state, it will create 2 lakh jobs in five years with 50,000 new jobs in the first year itself. "All vacant posts in the government departments will be filled up on mission mode," he said. "The TMC will provide assistance of Rs 1,000 per month to jobless youths, and 10,323 retrenched teachers will also get the benefit until their legal matter is resolved," he said. The TMC promised a skill university, student credit cards and easy loans for those

Purbanchal Cement lines up Rs 200 crore for expansion, Bengal in roadmap

Assam-based Purvanchal Cement has earmarked Rs 200 crore for acquisition and expansion over the next few years, including foraying into markets outside the northeastern region like West Bengal, a senior official said. The Maithon Group company has at present a 0.5-million tonne capacity plant near Guwahati. We are evaluating between brownfield expansion and acquisition preferably with mine rights in the northern part of Assam," Purbanchal Cement MD Vedant Agarwal said. "We have earmarked Rs 200 crore over the next two-three years to fund our expansion. Initially, we are aiming at ramping up our installed capacity to 1 million tonnes," he told PTI. Agarwal said the company is also looking at opportunities beyond the northeast. "There are plans to set up a grinding unit in West Bengal to tap the eastern market demand," he said. The West Bengal government has been wooing manufacturing industries for investment, banking on robust coal deposits, officials said. In recent times, howev

ISKCON training centre gutted in Bengal's Birbhum; arson suspected

A vocational training centre of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) was gutted in West Bengal's Birbhum district on Saturday, officials said. No casualty was reported. The 'Bhakti Vedanta Vocational Training Centre', set up at Bhimgarh village under Khayrasole police station around five months ago, was operated from a brick-walled hall with a thatched roof. The flame reduced the roof to ashes. Sevakpratim Madhab Das, who is in charge of the centre, said, We suspect that the house was set on fire by some miscreants who don't want us to work here. We have lodged a complaint with the police. Police officials confirmed that a complaint was filed. People associated with ISKCON put up a road blockade on NH-14 (Panagarh-Morgram) for some time in protest against the arson. BJP MLA of Dubrajpur, Anup Saha, also demonstrated before Khayrasole police station.

Bengal recruitment scam: 21k candidates recruited illegally, CBI to court

Reacting to the submission from the SIT Chief, Justice Biswajit Basu told him that the court is ready to extend all cooperation to him to go to the end of the investigation in the matter

PKL 2022 Highlights: UP vs Bengal ends in a tie, Delhi's losing streak over

Pro Kabaddi League 2022 (PKL) Highlights: UP Yoddhas and Bengal Warriors played a tie that ended at a scoreline of 41 each. Dabang Delhi broke its six-match losing streak, and beat Telugu Titans 40-33

Marico expands plant-based protein portfolio with Saffola Soya Bhurji

Product launched in Bengal, Delhi and Mumbai across general trade; will be available pan-India in phases, and across modern trade and major e-commerce platforms as well