In an unseemly hurry the state finance minister, Mr Asim Dasgupta, today
announced that the state government would declare eight districts
drought-affected if there is a rainfall deficit till 15 August which is the
deadline for paddy transplantation.
Fireworks display during festive celebrations can cause acute short term air pollution. Deepawali –the festival of light– is celebrated in India, every year during October or November with great fireworks display.
A quiet movement in health care has been unfolding in the rural interiors of West Bengal, improving the lives of thousands of people in villages where no doctor has ever been before. It is an effort defined by vision and commitment and is far removed from the CPI(M)-led Left Front, which has spent 30 years in power in the state.
Kolkata: Land acquisition in Bengal has taken a backseat. But in some pockets, a reverse trend is emerging.
Over the past few months, owners of small plots in several parts of the state and in some cases, groups of farmers have been asking the administration to help in selling off their land because agriculture is not turning out to be viable.
A study conducted by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has found that the industries located in Haldia and Howrah add more to air pollution levels than those in Durgapur and Asansol.
Aila devastation in Howrah. Pictures by Gopal Senapati
Garbage dumped on the Howrah bank of the Hooghly
A chimney of an industrial unit belches out polluting fumes
A rare political unanimity has enabled Howrah to come up with a long-term plan to combat climate change, apparently a first in the country.
Railway minister Miss Mamata Banerjee today announced a slew of proposals that included Metro Railway extension to Howrah and Hooghly districts and computerised reservation counters in city and district courts.
The minister announced the proposals at the inauguration of the renovated computerised railway reservation centre at Rabindra Sadan this afternoon.
A Division Bench of Justice Mr Aniruddha Bose and Justice Mr Sanjib Banerjee of Calcutta High Court today directed the West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB) to inquire into the possibility of any construction work harming a 2,000-bigha waterbody in Howrah and file a report by 30 October. The matter will come up for hearing again on 6 November.
KOLKATA: The flood situation in five southern districts of West Bengal is serious with the death toll going up to three and 14.5 lakh people affected. More than 37,000 people have been rendered homeless.
Describing the situation as grim, State Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta said here on Wednesday that the situation in Hooghly and Howrah districts was particularly serious.
