Interim report by board could not identify the source of around one-fifth of Calcutta’s PM2.5 pollution Environmentalists have raised questions about an ongoing study ordered by the state pollution
The state government will set up a centre that will help industrial units abide by environmental norms. The environment compliance assistance centre
A Singapore-based company made a presentation on a 43-km elevated road around the city at Writers' Buildings on Tuesday. The proposed ring road will start and end on Strand Road. Transport minister Subhas Chakraborty, finance minister Asim Dasgupta and senior officials watched the presentation. "The company gave us a clear idea about its plans,' said Chakraborty. The Singapore firm and five other companies are conducting a feasibility study of the proposed road.
Siliguri: The Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC) will crack down on those who tap water illegally from underground supply lines in many of its wards, in a bid to give uninterrupted water supply to residents. As part of its drive to check the diversion of water, the civic body will conduct raids, slap fine on those found taking water without permission and even seek the help of police to seize their pumps. "In the past couple of weeks, we have received complaints regarding water supply,' said Sharadindu Chakraborty, member, mayor-in-council (water).
Mahishadal: Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today asked the gathering at a rally here if they wanted a shipyard in the region. The answer, from the largely CPM audience, was "yes'. "If the factory comes up, thousands from the region will get jobs. You tell me, do you not want the factory?' the chief minister asked. A Trinamul-led committee has been formed here to resist the acquisition of around 500 acres for the shipyard, to be built by an Apeejay Group-Bharti Shipyard joint venture. None of the CPM's Left Front partners attended the meeting.
The city zoo has a richer representation of the animal planet
The city civic authorities have relaxed building rules governing both residential and commercial structures to create more parking space, which can be let out commercially. The new rules that came into effect last week state that extra parking space in a new building will be excluded from the permitted covered area, or floor area ratio. But the plot owner will have to pay the sanction fee for the total parking space and will not be allowed to encroach on the mandatory open space.
Chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today met agriculture scientist M.S. Swaminathan and sought his advice on how to make fallow land cultivable and increase productivity across the state. Members of the state agriculture commission had met a week ago and decided to seek the opinion of the relevant government departments on how to improve land productivity and ensure proper use of high-quality fertilisers.
Alipurduar: Forest officials today seized the horn of a rhinoceros and a British metal coin, dating back to 1818, from a smuggler of animal body parts. Rahul Ami was arrested from his house in Pinki Chowpathi. Kalyan Das, the Jalpaiguri divisional forest officer, said the horn may fetch at least Rs 10 lakh in the international market. One month ago, Manosh Acharjee, the officer of Dalgaon range under Jalpaiguri forest division, received information that Rahul had in his possession the horn of a rhino. Manosh and his staff started keeping tabs on him.
The model code of conduct for the May panchayat polls will not hinder land acquisition for industry and other development projects, the state election commission said today. "Some district administrations had stopped land acquisition for industrial projects in view of the rural polls as they thought it would attract provisions of the poll code of conduct. But we have asked them to continue after examining the cases,' commission secretary S.N. Roy Choudhury said.
The scorching sun has been beating down on parched farmlands in Malda, sucking the waterbodies dry and causing the groundwater level to plummet. Officials in the district agriculture department fear huge crop losses if it does not rain in the next few days. The four blocks of Old Malda, Bamungola, Gajole and Habibpur are already facing severe drinking water shortage. Standing boro paddy and jute stalks are wilting in the searing heat.
