Page 77 - West Bengal

'Govt never deprived WB of MGNREGA, discrepancies present in utilisation'

Union minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti on Saturday asserted that the Centre has never deprived West Bengal of its MGNREGA dues and statistics of the last nine years prove that. The Union Minister of State for Rural Development, who was addressing a press conference here, however, alleged that there have been discrepancies in the utilisation of MGNREGA funds in the districts of the eastern state. Dismissing the TMC's allegations that she refused to meet the West Bengal ruling party's team in New Delhi for talks regarding MGNREGA dues, she said, "I wanted to meet them and waited for nearly two-and-a-half hours for them. But they kept shifting goalposts on the number of members of their delegation." "They are now leveling false allegations that I ran away through the back door. The TMC is spreading lies, they did not want to meet me, they just wanted to create drama," she claimed. She expressed her willingness to engage in talks with the TMC delegation anytime but questioned the West ..

TMC's sit-in outside Raj Bhavan enters 3rd day; delegates to meet Guv

The indefinite sit-in demonstration outside Raj Bhavan by TMC activists led by senior leader Abhishek Banerjee entered the third day with protesters asserting their stir will continue till Governor C V Ananda Bose meets them at the protest site even as a team of agitators will call on him in Darjeeling on Saturday. Raj Bhavan sources said Bose has agreed to meet the delegation in Darjeeling's Gubernatorial Mansion at 5.30 pm after receiving an email request from TMC leader Derek O'Brien. The governor's decision to meet the delegation comes in the wake of the TMC sit-in led by Banerjee demanding the release of West Bengal's MGNREGA dues by the Centre and demanding an audience with Bose. Banerjee, the TMC national general secretary, however, said that the stir will continue till Bose meets the agitators at the protest site outside the Raj Bhavan. Banerjee said the TMC's three-member delegation would consist of state Panchayat Minister Pradip Mazumdar and Lok Sabha MPs Kalyan Banerjee

Amidst TMC protest, BJP questions party for its 'misrule' in West Bengal

But the opposition is so against PM Modi that even the plight of their own party workers is not visible to them, added Trivedi

Two killed in Bengal as mortar shell carried by floodwaters explodes

Two killed in Bengal's Jalpaiguri as mortar shell carried by floodwaters explodes

TMC announces indefinite sit-in outside Raj Bhavan, criticises governor

Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee announced an indefinite sit-in on Thursday in front of the Raj Bhavan, the official residence of Bengal's governor CV Ananada Bose hours after he flew off to visit flood affected areas of North Bengal and then to Delhi. Banerjee announced the sit-in after thousands of party functionaries and its top leadership marched up to the British-era edifice to protest the alleged withholding of West Bengal's MGNREGA dues by the Centre. The huge show of strength brought traffic to a standstill in the heart of the busy metropolis. The march comes days after the party held a two-day protest programme in New Delhi to draw attention to the alleged delayed payment of dues towards the MGNREGA programme which guarantees 100 days of work to the poor and for a scheme which helps build houses for poor families. "We had sought a meeting with the Governor, but he did not grant us an audience. He has gone to North Bengal. It seems as if he regards us as bonded .

ED searches WB minister house in irregularities in hirings by civic bodies

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) began searches at multiple locations, including the residence of West Bengal Food and Supplies Minister Rathin Ghosh, on Thursday in connection with its investigation into the alleged irregularities in the recruitments done by the civic bodies in the state, officials said. Along with a large contingent of central forces, the investigators reached Ghosh's residence in Michaelnagar in North 24 Parganas district around 6.10 am, they said. Simultaneously, the investigators began searches at 12 other places in connection with the case, they added. It was not immediately known if Ghosh was at his house when the searches began. Ghosh, the TMC MLA of Madhyamgram, was earlier an office-bearer of the Madhyamgram Municipality. The ED has alleged that around 1,500 people were illegally recruited by different civic bodies in the state, between 2014 and 2018, against monetary considerations.

Bengal flood situation: 10,000 people rescued; guv to visit affected areas

Expressing concern over the flood-like situation in the state, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said that 10,000 people have been rescued and kept in 190 relief camps in nine districts in the southern and northern parts of the state. Banerjee, who is recuperating from a leg injury, said she is personally monitoring the situation round the clock from home and announced that leaves of a number of state government officials were cancelled as a part of the measure to contain the flood situation in the state. West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose is scheduled to visit the flood-affected districts in the northern part of the state on Thursday. The northern part of West Bengal shares border with Sikkim which witnessed a flash flood in the Teesta river leaving at least 10 people dead, scores injured and around 80 others missing. Taking stock of the situation at a meeting, Banerjee asked Chief Secretary HK Dwivedi and Home Secretary BP Gopalika to immediately send a tea

NGT seeks report on Ganga pollution from 10 districts in West Bengal

The National Green Tribunal has sought reports from the district magistrates of 10 West Bengal districts, across which the Ganga and its tributaries flow, on pollution caused due to discharge of sewage and industrial effluents. The NGT has also sought information about the remedial action taken by the authorities. The green tribunal was hearing a matter related to prevention and control of pollution of the Ganga in West Bengal, where its is also known as Bhagirathi or Hooghly. "Let notice be issued to the District Ganga Protection Committees concerned in West Bengal through their Ex-Officio Chairman (District Magistrates) for submitting a report," a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava said in a recent order. The bench, also comprising judicial members Justice Sudhir Agarwal and Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi, and expert member A Senthil Vel, identified the discharge of untreated sewage, industrial effluents, hazardous waste and biomedical waste into the river, ...

ED issues fresh summons to Abhishek Banerjee; asks to join investigation

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued a fresh summon to Trinamool Congress General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee. He has been asked to join the ED investigation on October 9, sources said.The ED had earlier summoned Banerjee on October 3. However, Banerjee did not appear at the ED office on that date, owing to the party's MGNREGA protests in Delhi on the same date.Banerjee alleged that it was a tactic used by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led central government to squash the protests."The fight against the deprivation of WB and its rightful dues shall persist regardless of the obstacles. No force on Earth can hinder my dedication to fight for the people of WB and their fundamental rights. I'll b in Delhi joining the protest on Oct 2nd & 3rd. STOP ME IF U CAN!" Banerjee said in a post on 'X'.The TMC general secretary had also alleged that the ED was summoning on days when he had pre-announced public programs."Earlier this month, the ED summoned me on a day coinciding with .

TMC to hold protests across Bengal, burn effigies against detention

The TMC will hold demonstrations across West Bengal on Wednesday to protest against the detention of its national general secretary, Abhishek Banerjee, after a sit-in at the Union Rural Development Ministry office in Delhi a day before. The development marks an escalation in the ongoing conflict between the Centre and the West Bengal government over the release of funds under the MGNREGA and other schemes to the state. The TMC had conducted protests in the national capital on October 2 and 3 when their leaders were detained. The party expressed outrage at the treatment of its leaders, stating that it will "hold protest rallies across the state on Wednesday against the barbaric attitude of the BJP-led Union government". "We were conducting peaceful protests, and our leaders were being manhandled and detained by the police. Effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Rural Development Minister Giriraj Singh will be burnt in all the blocks of the state

2.5 mn fake MGNREGA job cards issued in WB, Centre mulling probe: Giriraj

Alleging a large-scale embezzlement of MGNREGA funds in West Bengal, Union Rural Development Minister Giriraj Singh on Monday said the Centre is considering a CBI investigation into the issuance of "25 lakh fake job cards" in the state. Singh's statement came on a day TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee along with party MLAs, MPs and hundreds of supporters sat on a dharna at the Rajghat in Delhi, demanding release of the MGNREGA and PM Awas Yojana funds for West Bengal. "Issuing of 25 lakh fake job cards under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) by the Mamta Banerjee-led West Bengal government is a scam. Why were the central funds siphoned off? And when the Center is conducting its own inquiry into the matter, the state government is not cooperating," Singh alleged. "The West Bengal government and TMC leaders have indulged in large-scale misappropriation of central funds," he alleged. The Centre is least bothered about the TMC's protest in Delhi, the minis

Ronaldinho confirms his 'maiden visit' to West Bengal in mid October

Brazilian World Cup winner Ronaldinho has confirmed his visit to the city ahead of the Durga Puja festival. For the three-time Ballon d'Or winner, this will be the maiden visit to the football-crazy city that has hosted many legends of the world sport, including Pele, Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi. "Hello Everybody, I will be doing my maiden trip to Kolkata this mid-October," the 43-year-old posted on his official Facebook page. "I know Kolkata has a huge number of Brazil fans and I am very excited to meet them," he added. He would also meet West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and "gift her a jersey". He further stated that he would like to "learn cricket" for city's icon Sourav Ganguly. "I know cricket is very popular and this time I want to learn cricket from Bengal's 'Dada'. "I would also interact with sponsors and many felicitation programs and promote the beautiful game. Let the Samba Magic begin this Durga Puja... Ami tomader bhalo bhashi (I love you all)," he ...

West Bengal govt cautions 7 districts on possible flood situation

The West Bengal government on Monday said that there is a high possibility of flood in seven districts of the state due to continued incessant rainfall in the upper catchment areas of neighbouring Jharkhand. Chief Secretary H K Dwivedi on Monday afternoon held an urgent virtual meeting with senior officials of the districts of Paschim Bardhaman, Bankura, Birbhum, Purba Bardhaman, Paschim Medinipur, Hooghly and Howrah and directed them to immediately take all forms of precautionary measures. "During the meeting, the chief secretary directed all District Magistrates and SPs to immediately identify low-lying and flood-prone areas as well as start monitoring waterlogging and embankment breaches and take proper steps for their remedies," an official statement said. "The chief secretary informed the meeting that the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted rainfall to continue till October 5 with heavy rainfall predicted tomorrow. The well-marked low-pressure area is currently

Centre rejects discrimination claims in rural development schemes from WB

Ministry of Rural Development states that Rs 2 trillion was allocated to West Bengal in the last 9 years and the state has not cooperated with the Centre to implement schemes

TMC to hold simultaneous protest in parts of Bengal over MGNREGA funds

The TMC, which plans to conduct protest programmes in New Delhi against the alleged withholding of state dues by the Centre on Monday, will simultaneously hold similar events in different parts of West Bengal, with live telecasts of the Delhi programme in various parts of the state. TMC MPs and state ministers will peacefully sit in at Rajghat on October 2, followed by a peaceful rally of MGNREGA job card holders in the national capital on the next day. TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, and other top leaders arrived in Delhi ahead of the planned protest against the alleged denial of MGNREGA and housing scheme funds to the Bengal government. "Just like the protest programme in New Delhi. We will also hold peaceful protest programmes, including live telecast of the Delhi programmes in various parts of the state," a senior TMC leader said. More than 50 busloads of TMC members and MGNREGA job card holders are expected to reach Delhi on Monday after the party alleged tha

Realtors hail Bengal govt for extending stamp duty rebate till June 2024

The real estate industry in West Bengal on Friday welcomed the state government's decision to extend the stamp duty rebate till June 2024. CREDAI West Bengal president and Merlin Group chairman Sushil Mohta said the stamp duty rebate extension will help the industry achieve a growth trajectory. "The real estate industry has been struggling since the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it managed to survive because of the continuous support from the state government in terms of the two per cent rebate in stamp duty and 10 per cent rebate in circle rate. The extension of the rebate will give a much-needed boost to the industry," Mohta said. The increase in interest rates and the huge rise in the cost of raw materials made it difficult for the industry to pass on the benefits of the rebate to consumers, he said. "However, the state government's support is helping us keep the costs down for consumers. The extension of the rebate will further encourage real estate buyers to close their ...

Over 100 cracker markets to come up across Bengal ahead of festive season

Over 100 firecracker markets will be set up across West Bengal ahead of the festive season, the organisers said. Manufacturers of green crackers who comply with environmental guidelines will be allowed to set up stalls in these 'Baji Bazars', said Babla Roy, the chairman of Sara Bangla Atasbaji Unnyan Samiti. Around 4,000 firecracker manufacturers and sellers have submitted applications to set up stalls in these markets, he said. Besides the 'Baji Bazars' in different districts, four mega marts will be held at Maidan in Kolkata, Dumurjala in Howrah, Kawakhali in Siliguri and Barasat in North 24 Parganas. "The first Bazaar is likely to begin on October 12. Others may start a few days later based on the convenience of the organisers and stall owners. The duration of the bazaars will not be the same for all. The big ones will continue till Kali Puja and Diwali," Roy said. "There will be gaps of several feet between two stalls, and officers of the state pollution control board will ..

Apollo to acquire partially built hospital in Kolkata region for Rs 102 cr

Apollo Hospitals on Wednesday said it has acquired a partially built hospital at Sonarpur in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas with a total capacity of 325 beds in a bid to ramp up its healthcare capacity in the Eastern region. Future Oncology Hospital and Research Center was acquired in an all cash deal of Rs 102 crore by Apollo Multispecialty Hospitals Ltd, a wholly owned unlisted subsidiary of Apollo Hospitals Enterprises. The acquisition is being fully funded through its own internal accruals, the company informed the bourses. This will be the second Apollo Hospital in the Kolkata region and fifth in the eastern region. The announcement comes close on the heels of Manipal Hospitals acquiring an 84 per cent stake in AMRI Hospitals Ltd having a total of 1,200 beds in three hospitals at an enterprise valuation of Rs 2,500 crore. "The addition of this new facility is part of our planned capacity expansion across the country and will allow us to serve even more people in the region,"

Abhishek Banerjee to hold meeting with party workers on Delhi programme

Senior TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee will hold a virtual meeting with party workers later this week to decide on protests across districts in West Bengal, simultaneous to its proposed programmes in New Delhi next month against the alleged withholding of funds by the Centre for the state under the MGNREGA and other schemes. The date of the virtual meeting is yet to be decided but is likely to be held either on "Thursday or Friday", a party leader said. Banerjee, the party's national general secretary, and TMC MPs, MLAs and leaders from the districts will pay their respects to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat in the national capital on October 2 on his birth anniversary. Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, who was supposed to attend the programmes in New Delhi, might not go there as she was advised 10 days of rest by doctors after she suffered an injury on her left knee during a recent trip to Spain and Dubai. A TMC delegation will meet Union Minister for Rural Development and ..

'Best Tourism Village' crown for Bengal's hamlet where opposites mingle

A comparatively new immaculate red-and-white temple stands beside the ruins of a 1000-year-old shrine overtaken by nature. Muslims take active part in Hindu puja rituals. A temple roof is made combining Buddhist, Muslim and Hindu architectural styles. Welcome to Kiriteshwari village in Murshidabad district of West Bengal, which has recently been selected by the Centre's Ministry of Tourism as the Best Tourism Village of India. The village was named after the Kiriteshwari temple, one of the Shakti peeths'. Legend has it that the upper part of goddess Sati's skull had fallen here. Several other new temples and ruins of older shrines co-exist here. The village, also known as Kiritkona, located around 20 km from district headquarters Berhampur, is a sleepy hamlet with just a little more than 1,200 voters, whose main occupation is farming. The place is a classic example of communal harmony. Here, the temple committee has members from the Muslim community, and they participate actively