Page 52 - West Bengal

LS polls: PM spreading 'lies' about providing funds to Bengal, says Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP of "spreading lies" about funds being provided to the state and challenged the PM to prove his claim. Addressing a rally at Metiabruz in Diamond Harbour constituency, the Chief Minister said she was "ready to sacrifice her life" but wouldn't allow divisive politics of the saffron camp such as the CAA, NRC and UCC in the state. "Prime Minister while addressing rallies in Bengal is saying the Centre has sent funds for the state which the TMC has siphoned off. He is saying the Centre had sent funds but those were looted by us. The PM is lying. I challenge him to prove that the Centre has released funds for the state. This is a blatant lie," she said. Reacting to Banerjee's remark, BJP state spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said, "The Prime Minister has only tried to highlight the corruption during the TMC regime. It is a well-known fact that the TMC is neck-deep in corruption. The ..

Centre recovered, returned Rs 17k cr from scams to citizens: Modi in Bengal

During an election rally in West Bengal's Ashoknagar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the BJP will return Rs 3,000 crore to the people of Bengal defrauded by the Mamata Banerjee- government

Encountering 'dead' voters: Myriad experience of poll officials in Bengal

From encountering 'dead' voters to navigating pitch-dark school corridors, revelling in the scenic beauty of a dam to scrubbing neglected toilets, polling officials encountered an array of extraordinary challenges while conducting elections in West Bengal. It's this effort to uphold democracy with an unwavering commitment that poll personnel strive to achieve despite the myriad obstacles coming their way which perhaps ensures that a vast and complex process of conducting parliamentary elections in a nation like India culminates successfully edition after edition. Even as six of the seven phases of the Lok Sabha polls in the country drew to a close, PTI spoke to some polling officials in West Bengal who returned to their base to share their riveting tales. Arup Karmakar, a school teacher from Durgapur, is one among those who spoke about his remarkable experience during the poll assignment. "My duty was at a booth at a school in Barabani assembly segment under Asansol Lok Sabha ...

Bengal Oppn welcomes CBI slapping attempt to murder charges on Shahjahan

Opposition parties in West Bengal welcomed the CBI slapping attempt to murder charge on suspended TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh in connection with the attack on an ED team in Sandeshkhali on January 5. The same charge besides criminal conspiracy was also brought against Sheikh's brother and five others. The Congress, CPI(M) and the BJP said that they expect the verdict in connection with the case to be delivered quickly. Declining to comment in this regard, TMC leader Kunal Ghosh claimed that investigations of the central agencies are "highly influenced" by the Centre and the point mentioned in the chargesheet gets changed during trials. "I welcome the CBI's chargesheet which included sections of criminal conspiracy and attempt to murder on Shajahan and his men. Otherwise, it would have become a practice in West Bengal that mobs can attack investigating officers. We want the culprits in the Sandeshkhali attack on the ED case to be punished. Their punishment should be set as an example

CBI files charge sheet against Shahjahan Sheikh in Sandeshkhali incident

The CBI has filed a charge sheet against suspended TMC leader Shahajahan Sheikh and six others in connection with the January 5 attack on an Enforcement Directorate team at Sandeshkhali, officials said on Tuesday. The agency filed its first charge sheet in the case on Monday before a special court, they said. The ED team had come under attack from a 1,000-strong mob when they went to raid the house of Sheikh in connection with the multi-crore ration distribution scam in West Bengal. The team had gone to arrest Sheikh because of his alleged close links with arrested former state food minister Jyoti Priya Mallick under scanner in the scam, they said. Sandeshkhali, a riverine island around 80 km from Kolkata, has been in the news after local women alleged land-grabbing and sexual abuse by Sheikh and his men, who are involved in fish farming and trading. The CBI has taken over investigation in three cases related to incidents on January 5, they said. Sheikh was arrested by the state

Cyclone Remal: Closely tracking relief work done by administration, says CM

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday expressed her concern over the damage caused by cyclone Remal in the coastal areas of the state and said that she is closely tracking the relief work done by the administration. She expressed her condolences to the families who lost their members in the natural calamity. "I pray for everyone's safety in the face of cyclone Remal and I express my deepest condolences to the families of the deceased," Banerjee posted on X. Assuring the people that the ongoing hard times would soon be over, the Bengal CM further extended her heartfelt gratitude to all those who assisted the people, who were in distress due to the cyclone. "While I'm closely keeping track of the relief work, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to my brothers and sisters who are providing necessary assistance to the people in this dire situation. We shall overcome!" she added. Banerjee on Monday said that the distribution of compensation for damage to crops and houses wi

Bengal's chit fund victims await justice amid LS polls corruption discourse

For the past decade, 52-year-old Rishin Majumdar has been working two shifts, trying to repay a hefty Rs 30 lakh loan he took out to compensate the investors of Saradha group, where he once served as an agent. "After the Saradha group collapsed in 2013, people who invested money through me wanted it back. I was beaten, and even my family members were not spared. I was then forced to take a Rs 30 lakh loan from a local money lender. I lost Rs five lakh in the chit fund," Majumdar said. His story is a familiar one among lakhs of people who fell victim to the multi-crore chit fund scams that rocked West Bengal in 2013. As corruption scandals like school recruitment scams take centre stage in the Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal, the enduring and hopeful victims of the 2013 chit fund scamsone of the state's largest financial scandals since independenceare still waiting for justice after more than ten years. The chit fund scam of Bengal saw several companies, most notably the Saradha Grou

Cyclone Remal: 2 killed, nearly 15,000 houses damaged in West Bengal

Distribution of compensation for the damage to crops and houses would be looked into once the election code of conduct was not in force

Cyclone Remal: 6 dead, over 29,000 houses damaged in Bengal's coastal areas

Nearly 15,000 houses in 24 blocks and 79 municipal wards, mostly in the southern coastal areas of West Bengal, were affected by Cyclone Remal, a senior official of the state government said on Monday. At least 2,140 trees were uprooted in different parts of the state which also witnessed the falling of 337 electric poles, he added. According to the initial evaluation, at least 14,941 houses were damaged, out of which 13,938 were partially affected while 1,003 were destroyed, he said. "The figures will probably increase after another round of evaluation. Our officials in the districts are working and the process of evaluation is still on. The estimation of the damage is being calculated," the official told PTI. The administration had shifted 2,07,060 people to the 1,438 safe shelters, he said, adding that at the moment there are 77,288 people. "There are 341 gruel kitchens being operated at the moment. We have distributed 17,738 tarpaulin to the affected people in the coastal and .

Govt offers two discovered oil and gas fields in special bidding round

The government has offered two discovered oil and gas fields in Mumbai offshore and a coal bed methane field in West Bengal for bidding in the latest Discovered Small Fields (DSF) bid round, regulator DGH said on Monday. In a notice on its website, the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) said, notice inviting offer will be launched on May 28 and bids will close on July 15. "With the objective to augment domestic production of Petroleum and Natural Gas, the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Government of India announces the Special DSF Bid Round offering two (02) Discovered Small Field located in Mumbai Offshore (MB/OSDSF/C37/2024 & MB/OSDSF/B15/2024) and one (01) Discovered Coal Bed Methane field located in West Bengal (SR-ONCBM (Raniganj)-2024) through International Competitive Bidding (ICB)," it said. It however did not give details like reserves. Those may be included in the NIO. DSF was launched in 2016 and since then three rounds have been held. In the first ...

Cyclone Remal: CM Mamata thanks administration for taking adequate steps

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday expressed concern regarding the impact of severe cyclone Remal in the state, emphasising that the relatively lower loss of lives amidst the calamity was largely attributable to the precautionary measures enforced by the administration. With five recorded deaths, one in the city and the remaining in districts, Banerjee underscored the necessity of immediate compensation for affected families, while assuring that the administration would adhere to legal protocols in distributing aid for crop and property damages. She pledged to address these issues more comprehensively post the withdrawal of the Model Code of Conduct following the ongoing elections. "West Bengal is a riverine state, on the coast of the Bay of Bengal. Every year, we have to face various natural disasters. This time due to the impact of Cyclone Remal, our state has suffered a lot of damage," she wrote on X. "But above all, is human life. Fortunately and certainly due

Cyclone Remal ravages West Bengal, leaves millions without electricity

With winds gusting up to 135 kilometres per hour, severe cyclonic storm 'Remal' made landfall between the coasts of Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal, bringing heavy rains that flooded homes and farmland, and leaving a trail of destruction. The landfall process began at 8:30 pm on Sunday over the adjacent coasts of West Bengal and Bangladesh between Sagar Island and Khepupara, near the southwest of Mongla in the neighbouring country. 'Remal' flattened fragile dwellings, uprooted trees and knocked down electric poles. One person was injured after being hit by debris in the Gosaba area of the Sundarbans. More than one lakh people were evacuated from vulnerable areas in West Bengal before the cyclone struck. "Severe cyclonic storm Remal made landfall between Sagar Island in West Bengal and Khepupara in Bangladesh on Sunday night with wind speeds reaching up to 135 kmph," the meteorological office said. News footage showed gigantic tidal waves crashing into a seawall in coastal res

Cyclone Remal update: IMD issues red alert in Tripura; 3 injured in Kolkata

Updates on Cyclone Remal: At least seven people died in Bangladesh, and millions were left without power. Services begin to resume as reports of the cyclone weakening emerge

Cyclone Remal: Flights resume at Kolkata airport after 21 hrs of suspension

Flights services from the Kolkata airport resumed on Tuesday after remaining suspended for 21 hours in view of the cyclone Remal, an official said on Monday. The first plane to depart on Monday was IndiGo's Kolkata-Port Blair flight at 8.59 am, while the first one to land in Kolkata was SpiceJet's flight from Guwahati. It landed at 09.50 am, an Airports Authority of India (AAI) top official said. Check-in was on for some other flights, the official said. The last flight to depart from Kolkata airport on Sunday was at 12.16 pm. Though the process of resuming flight operations has begun, it will take some more time for the situation to become normal, sources at the airport said. The cyclone which made landfall around midnight on Sunday brought heavy rain in the southern part of West Bengal, including Kolkata. The authorities of Kolkata airport have decided to suspend flight operations for 21 hours from Sunday noon in view of the possible impact of cyclone Remal. The precautionary

Landfall process of Remal commences over West Bengal-Bangladesh coasts

The landfall of severe cyclonic storm 'Remal' commenced on Sunday evening between West Bengal and Bangladesh coasts with an intensity of 110 to 120 kmph, gusting to 135 kmph, the Met office said. The landfall process of Remal, with its centre about 30 km from the coastline at 8.30pm, will continue for about four hours, it said. "The landfall process of severe cyclonic storm 'Remal' commenced over the adjacent coasts of West Bengal and Bangladesh between Sagar Island and Khepupara close to the southwest of Mongla in the neighbouring country," the Met said. Gale wind speed reaching 110 to 120 kmph, gusting to 135 kmph, was prevailing along and off West Bengal and Bangladesh coasts and north Bay of Bengal and is likely to continue for the next six hours and decrease thereafter, the Met added.

Bengal braced for Cyclone Remal, with Amphan lessons; PM chairs meeting

In an all hands-on-deck approach, the West Bengal government set up a 24X7 control room at Nabanna

Cyclone Remal: NDRF teams deployed in Bengal, landfall expected at midnight

As per the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Cyclone Remal is expected to make landfall at midnight today, between Bangladesh and the adjoining West Bengal coasts

Cyclone Remal: Over 100,000 shifted from Bengal coast to secure shelters

As part of precautionary measures to combat the impending impact of severe cyclone 'Remal', the West Bengal government has evacuated approximately 1.10 lakh people from coastal regions, including the Sundarbans and Sagar Island, to secure shelters, a senior official said on Sunday. To bolster these efforts, 16 battalions each from the state disaster management and NDRF have been deployed in the coastal areas, enhancing rescue and relief operations, the official added. "Evacuation efforts have concentrated on relocating 1.10 lakh people from coastal regions to safe shelters, with a significant number hailing from South 24 Parganas district, notably Sagar Island, Sunderbans, and Kakdwip," the official informed PTI. Furthermore, the state government has distributed approximately 5.40 lakh tarpaulins and ensured the availability of dry rations, powdered milk, and drinking water pouches across these districts, ensuring preparedness for the impending crisis. "Our district management team

Cyclone Remal intensifies into severe cyclonic storm, to hit Bengal tonight

Cyclone 'Remal' has intensified into a severe cyclonic storm and is expected to make landfall between West Bengal's Sagar Island and Bangladesh's Khepupara on Sunday night, the IMD said. This is the first cyclone in the Bay of Bengal this pre-monsoon season. Cyclone 'Remal' over the north Bay of Bengal intensified into a severe cyclonic storm and was centred approximately 290 km south-southeast of Khepupara and 270 km south-southeast of Sagar Island, according to an update issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) at 8 am on Sunday. It is likely to intensify further and cross the West Bengal and adjoining Bangladesh coasts between Sagar Island and Khepupara with wind speeds of 110 to 120 kmph, gusting to 135 kmph around midnight, the IMD said. Other models show that the cyclone may hit the coasts by late evening. The Met office has warned of extremely heavy rainfall in the coastal districts of West Bengal and north Odisha on Sunday. Parts of northeast India may also ...

Indian Navy begins preparatory actions in Bengal in wake of Cyclone Remal

Indian Navy has readied two ships equipped with HADR and medical supplies for immediate deployment