Team from shipping ministry arrives in Haldia

17 November 2012

biswabrata goswami
HALDIA, 17 NOV: Days after the French government’s intervention in the Haldia Bulk Terminals fiasco, a three-member team from the Union ministry of Shipping visited Haldia Dock Complex (HDC) today to carry out an “internal inquiry” into the recent impasse.
 The team that comprises of Mr S Tripathy, deputy secretary (ST), Ministry of Shipping, public private partnership expert of the Ministry, Mr Anuj Agarwal,  and Mr A Janardhana Rao, Managing Director of Indian Ports Association, talked with the leaders of the Haldia Dock Bachao Committee and the retrenched workers of the Haldia Bulk Terminals, a joint venture of ABG and LDA.
 The three officials had met senior ABG officials and senior Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) officials yesterday evening where KoPT chairman, Mr Manish Jain was conspicuous by his absence.
The French embassy had approached the Indian government a few days again, following a request from Louis Dreyfus Armateurs (LDA), the French partner of ABG Infralogistics, asking for a safe exit from Haldia. This happened after the port threatened that it would not allow HBT to move its equipments worth Rs 140 crore out of Haldia.
HBT, earning the highest revenue for Bengal’s trouble-ridden Haldia Dock Complex (HDC), on 31 October announced its decision to quit the complex blaming the state government for not providing a secure environment for it to work in. The port later retaliated by blacklisting HBT and started the process to re-tender berths 2 and 8 at Haldia Dock Complex where it was operating.
The Haldia Dock Officers’ Forum and Haldia Dock Bachao Committee had sought the intervention of Prime Minister  Manmohan Singh and Union Minister of Shipping G K Vasan in the Haldia port affairs in the wake of the HBT's decision to quit the HDC. 
On 10 October, the KoPt chairman had sent a report to the ministry of shipping regarding the crisis developed with the HBT at Haldia port.
“But, the report did not satisfy the shipping ministry which has finally sent a three-member team to carry out a probe into this matter”, said a senior port officer.
 During the talks with the team officials, the Haldia Dock Bachao Committee categorically demanded that shore operations at the births be included in the tender process.
“How a private firm without a valid licence from KoPT had been handling around 10 million tons of cargo per annum earning around Rs 200 crore  without sharing any revenue with KoPT,” said Mr Ramakant Burman, convener of the Committee.
 They also informed that shore operation has not been included while tendering out of the handling operation of 4B berth at Haldia port.
“If the shore operation is not included, the KoPT will lose to the tune of Rs 320 crore in ten years. So, this should be included in the tender bid”, he said.
 “If HBT does not turn up against the request, the Center may allow the KoPT to re-tender the berths 2 and 8.
“But, in this case, the lowest bidder will have to submit its bid maintaining the reserve price of Rs 75 so that the KoPT will not suffer any loss further,”Mr Burman said.  

IIT Kharagpur gearing up for a battle of brains

12 November 2012

biswabrata goswami
KHARAGPUR, 12 NOV: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur, is all set to host its most prestigious annual techno-management fest from 1 to 4 February 2013, and has invited students from all over the globe to put their ingenuity and aptitude to test at an unparalleled level of competition.
The largest fest of its kind in Asia, it offers the participants a wide spectrum of events to prove their mettle, while the huge amount of prize money is reflective of its grandeur.
The annual techno-management event, which started in 2004, saw a total participation of over 50,000 students and a prize money of Rs 60 lakh in the last edition held earlier this year.
With the agenda of providing a national-level platform for the students to showcase their technical and managerial prowess, Kshitij comprises over 40 events encompassing nine diverse genres, including the field of robotics. Kshitij organises guest lectures, featuring eminent personalities from the all over the world.
In the past, dignitaries like Nobel laureate Sir James Mirrlees, co-founder of Wikipedia Jimmy Wales, inventor of the USB Ajay Bhatt, as well as critically acclaimed actor Naseeruddin Shah have addressed audiences at Kshitij. Kshitij also undertakes several social initiatives each year in association with the country’s foremost NGOs.
The numerous globally known certifications like ACM, ASME, IMechE, IEEE and ASHRAE associated with the event, stand testimony to the quality of participation in the festival. The ACM, which is widely regarded as the most prestigious certification in the field of computer science, is associated with popular night-long coding competition "Overnite".
Events like aircraft-designing competition, Laws of Motion, are certified by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). Online events like Woodstock and Forex, dealing with real time stock market and foreign exchange transactions are simulated and played with virtual money.
Kshitij will be conducting workshops throughout the country, where participants will get to learn and enhance their skills in the field of robotics.
“With due respect to the power of practice in acquiring proficiency, Kshitij organises a series of workshops both during and before the fest at various places in the nation. The hands-on workshops are a one in a million experience along with a chance to learn with technical experts of the field themselves,” said Mr Raunak Mukherjee, one of the general secretaries of the fest.
From the lights of the MIT Sensetable to cue balls of Augmented Reality, exhibitions bring another dimension to this techno-managerial symposium.
“This time, we will bring several new technological events and social events. Collaborated with the CRY, we will organise programme on the protection of children’s right. This apart, several new things on vehicles and boats have been included in the events,” Mr Mukherjee said. The fest is being patronised by the UNESCO.

Diwali aiding rise of illegal firecracker units

11 November 2012

biswabrata goswami
MIDNAPORE, 11 NOV: With the use of firecrackers expanding rapidly despite a growing movement against its production and use, hundreds of fire-crackers' units are functioning illegally in rural areas of both East and West Midnapore districts.
Strict guidelines issued by the state government seem to be no deterrent for these manufacturers who produce the firecrackers at their houses.
Last Friday's explosion at a manufacturing unit at Hirakonia in Contai, East Midnapore, which killed four people, including a child and two women, brought the spotlight once again on this dangerous and unorganised sector.
“Two years ago, three people were killed at Payag in Kolaghat in an explosion at an illegal firecracker unit, but since then no adequate measures to stop the illegal production have been taken by the district administration,” said Mr Bhupati Das, a social activist working in East Midnapore district.
“These illegal units surprisingly have no licence and are set up under the patronage of politicians who have a clout in the civil and police administration in running the firecracker units," said a resident of Pataspur, on conditions of anonymity.
Residents involved in the business, however, rue that the administration is only deterring the self-employed youths from selling firecrackers and not charting out any positive course for them. “Instead of imposing a clampdown on a flourishing industry, the administration should draw safety plans, hold workshops and try to impress upon the manufacturers safe practices in the manufacturing units,” said Mr Sheikh Sakil, a resident of Sabra near Khakurda in West Midnapore.
A district labour department officer of East Midnapore said: “Hundreds of fire-cracker units are running illegally and a considerable number of children are engaged in the profession. Before uplifting the fire-cracker industry, stringent rules on the illegal employment of children should be implemented.”
“The number of these units goes up as many small-scale units come up before Diwali. Since these units are illegal, they hardly follow any preventive guidelines,” said Mr Mamud Hossain, Saha-Sabhadhipati of the East Midnapore Zilla Parishad.
Experts say most crackers contain toxic heavy metals like lead and cadmium that can have severe effects on health. Chinese fire crackers, especially, are infamous for high sulphur dioxide emissions but are available aplenty despite the restriction on their sale in India.
Mr Anand Sharma, a research scholar at IIT, Kharagpur said: “The Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation’s notification to fire cracker manufacturers prohibits crackers with noise level exceeding 125dB (AI) or 145dB (C) at 4 metres from the point of bursting. The Supreme Court has also directed PESO to set chemical formulae for each type or category of cracker. I have doubts whether these rules are being followed.”
“Though firecrackers are increasingly being used round-the-year in India, traditionally, demand soars during Diwali, the festival of light and sound. Billions of rupees worth of firecrackers goes up in smoke in major towns and cities,” he said.

KoPT starts transloading

9 November 2012

biswabrata goswami
HALDIA, 9 NOV: With the ongoing crisis at Haldia port sending out negative signals to industry in the region, the Kolkata Port Trust started transloading operations at Sandheads today in a bid to display the normal resumption of services at the docks.
In a letter, the KoPT has informed, “Efforts made by KoPT for starting of transloading has given fruitful result. Today, double banking operation has taken place at Sandheads for transloading of NTPC coal from Indonesia. M V Western Ehime arrived at Sandheads which is 232 kilometres away from Kolkata port having a draft of 50 metres. The vessel carried 56,435 MT non-coking coal.
“This historically significant success has been achieved due to the concerted efforts of NTPC and Kolkata Port Trust, top management initiative, meticulous planning and untiring effort of marine officers of KoPT”, the communication reads.
The imported thermal coal will be unloaded on barges from the ship waiting at Sandheads and then these barges will be taken to Haldia from where the coal would be transported to the respective plants.
According to a source in the KoPT, had operations not been suspended at berths 2 and 8 of Haldia Dock Complex, the unloading would have taken place there.
"The KoPT management had made several attempts to convince Haldia Bulk Terminals (HBT) Pvt Ltd to resume operations at the two mechanized berths before it decided to quit the Haldia port. Under the circumstances, there wasn’t any option for NTPC but to start unloading cargo from ships at the Sandheads,” the source said.
KoPT has been mulling the idea of transloading general bulk cargo at Sandheads for quite some time now. In fact, NTPC is already making preparations to go in for major transloading of imported thermal coal from ships at the Sandheads and transporting it to Farakka via the inland waterways route. A jetty has already been built at Farakka. Mr Manish Jain, acting chairman of KoPT, said: “M/S Coal & Oil, Dunai is in contractual agreement with NTPC for 15 lakh MT non-coking coal out of which 70 per cent is destined for Haldia. M T STX Mutiara and M V STX Energen are scheduled to arrive at Haldia shortly. Both the vessels are time chartered vessels and programmed to come back mid-December for double banking at Sandheads. Another 3 to 4 Panamax vessels are also on the cards for next operations.”
Showing optimism about the prospects of transloading operations, Mr Jain said: “Cargo of non-coking coal is steadily growing at Haldia. With this steady growth of lighterage operation at Sandheads, KoPT expects to handle more than 3 million tons of non-coking coal by the end of 2012-13. Because of this consequent of lighterage operation, it is expected that the net landed cost of non-coking coal will be reduced substantially”.
“We wish to promote transloading in a big way and have asked importers to consider using the anchorage at Sandheads between October and March, when the weather is fair. We also plan to carry out transloading at Kanika Sands but the issue is caught in a legal wrangle. Barges don't have to enter the port confines at Haldia and can use riverine jetties. This saves time and effort,” a port official said.

Cargo-handling firm pulls out of Haldia

31 October 2012

Biswabrata Goswami

statesman news service
HALDIA/KOLKATA, 31 OCT: Haldia Bulk Terminal Services (HBTS), a joint venture of ABG-LDA earning the highest revenue for Bengal’s trouble-ridden Haldia Dock Complex (HDC) today announced its decision to quit the complex blaming the state government for not providing a secure environment for it to work in.
The company communicated its decision to both Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) and Calcutta High Court during the day. Only a couple of days ago three of its officials had  allegedly been forced out of Haldia at gun point in the dead of the night. It complained a series of incidents had been engineered to force it to leave the state.
However, Trinamul Congress Lok Sabha MP Saugata Roy, who was appointed an adviser to the state industry department by the chief minister, said  he did not think it would have any long-term impact on industrial development in the state. “This is newspaper fodder for two days.”
He also said that the state government wasn't responsible for the problems at Haldia Port. “I think the company is responsible for the present mess. I think they wanted to pull out.”
Mr Gurpreet Malhi, CEO, HBTS said: “With a deep sense of disappointment we have to inform that we have been left with no option but to walk out of the HDC with immediate effect. The ever worsening situation at Haldia has left us feeling betrayed and we hope that the elements responsible for driving us out of Haldia are brought to justice.”
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee yesterday dismissed the trouble at Haldia as “nothing” and blamed a section of the media for “making up a story” to suit some business interests and the CPI-M.
Even, the Trinamul Congress MP Mr Subhendu Adhikari said: “The law and order situation within the docks is a state subject, but the security within the port is the responsibility of the CISF, a Union government agency. The state government has no role in it”.
He said: “A handling agent with poor track record in Mumbai and Kandla ports was being passed off  as an industrialist. We cannot accept the retrenchment of 275 workers by SMS before the festival.’’
In a statement, Mr Malhi said: “We have been instrumental in the revival of the Haldia Dock Complex through the mechanisation of berths which has resulted in a more than three-fold increase in productivity to more than 20,000 tpd/berth and a big jump in profits for KoPT, improved facilities for KoPT’s clients and increased gainful employment for the state and have successfully run an operation of world class standards for the past two years. The appreciation from large and small companies as well as the bottom-line of KoPT bears testimony to the same.”
 The HBTS, which started operation in 2010 at berths 2 and 8 of HDC in 2010, played a key role in pulling HDC out of  a deep financial crisis in which the KoPT had recorded a loss of revenue of Rs 316 crore between 2007 and 2010.
But, this year in September, HBTS threatened to suspend its work citing losses due to low volume of cargo handling. KoPT moved Calcutta High Court and on 12 September signed an agreement with HBTS agreeing to allocate vessels to HBTS’s berths on a priority basis.
Workers at the port’s manually handled berths, however, objected to this and blocked the move. They also allegedly attacked HBTS workers and prevented them from continuing their work, leading to a deterioration of law and order in the Haldia dock complex.
In a Press release, Mr Malhi said: “The economy of West Bengal has once again been denied the opportunity of growth, modernisation and development. Indian and foreign investors will succeed in finding other locations which are investor-friendly and conducive to business. Sooner rather than later, West Bengal will have to choose to make itself attractive and viable for investors, otherwise investment and progress will continue to elude the state.”
The HBTS submitted before Mr Justice Sambuddha Chakraborty of Calcutta High Court a copy of the letter it had sent to the trustee board of the KoPT to terminate the contract it had with KoPT to continue its supply operation and maintenance of cargo handling equipment at berths 2 and 8.
The matter is scheduled to be heard on Friday.
In a seven page-long letter, the HBTS management accused the KoPT authorities of not redressing the its grievances for which it had to suffer heavy losses. Earlier, it had  informed the KoPT that it would be constrained to suspend cargo handling operations.
Even when HBTS agreed not to suspend cargo handling operations after an order of the Calcutta High Court, vested interests within the HDC opposed the implementation of the agreement and  decided  that it “ would go to any length to do so, the letter stated.” The actions of the KoPT was designed to allow vested interests to frustrate the implementation of the agreement, it was alleged .
No security was provided to safeguard the employees / officers and property of HBTS,  it was pointed out. When KoPT was called upon by HBTS to take immediate action to secure the safety of the latter's employees and  equipment, it did not do so.
It is clear that KoPT "aided, abetted and facilitated the said vested interests and allowed them to interfere with HBTS' operations in berth number two and eight”, the letter alleged. Several first information reports and private complaints were filed with the district administration and the KoPT was kept informed of the lack of peaceful and conducive environment at berths two and eight, the letter pointed out.
Without taking a pro-active stance to implement the Calcutta High Court's order to safeguard the operations at berth two and eight, the KoPT continued to exert pressure on HBTS to clear cargo in berth numbers two and eight, it was alleged. Besides KoPT never intended to carry out its obligations under the agreement and “deceitfully induced HBTS from entering the agreement” it was alleged.
These grounds inter alia have led to the termination of the agreement by HBT, the letter stated.
The state government's failure to provide security to HBTS at the dock leading to its decision to quit the complex will send a wrong signal to prospective investors, Congress spokesman Abdul Mannan said.
“It is regrettable that the Trinamul Congress state government is eagerly working to protect the vested interests of one of its MPs," Mr Mannan said.
ASSOCHAM Secretary General Mr. D.S. Rawat said : “The decision to exit won't have any impact on investment flow in the long run, but the state government should not delay action against those who are taking the law in their hand.”
Mr Rawat suggested the Chief Minister should set up a fact finding committee and send strong signal that the law abiding citizens/investors would be fully protected, encouraged and motivated.
Left Front chairman Biman Bose said the day's development would lead to economic disaster for the entire region.

Haldia impasse: Police beef up security

29 October 2012

biswabrata goswami
HALDIA, 29 OCT: An uneasy calm prevails in Haldia as the Haldia Bulk Terminal Services (HBTS), a joint venture of ABG-LDA, failed to resume its operations at the two mechanised berths II and VIII today.
Though the Haldia police have beefed up vigil and set up temporary police camp in front of the gates of Haldia Dock Complex, no criminal has been arrested even after 40 hours of the alleged abduction of three officers.
Attempts are on to identify the culprits, superintendent of police, East Midnapore, Mr Sukesh Jain, said even as a probe whether the criminals were hired from outside is being conducted.
Workers backed by the Indian Trinamul Trade Union Congress (Inttuc), who had been agitating in front of HDC gates for the past few days, lifted their stir today to avoid arrest. The HBTS workers were prevented from joining work as the agitators put up blockades and threatened them with dire consequences.
The law and order situation worsened yesterday after three of its officers were allegedly kidnapped and forced to leave Haldia at gunpoint by a group of criminals.
“The incident has created confusion among industry professionals who are thinking whether Haldia is safe for trade," said an industrialist who is attached to Haldia port.
“We’re heading for a situation where the withdrawal of Haldia’s operations appears to be a distinct possibility though no decision has yet been taken,” an officer of HBTS said.
In a release, Mr Gurpreet Malhi, CEO, HBTS, said: “HBTS has no doubt that the date for this abduction has been carefully thought out as it took place barely hours before HBTS was to resume its operations at Haldia Dock Complex (HDC). It is quite disgusting to understand that some vested interests are continuing to thwart the legitimate efforts of HBTS to resume operations at HDC. It is apparent that these vested interests do not want HBTS’s operations to resume even though the resumption is in the interest of the state, industry, trade, KoPT and Haldia.”
“We wished to resume our operations in Haldia at the earliest, especially after we made the requisite advance payment for police protection. However, yesterday’s events have shocked us. We are deeply concerned over the safety and well-being of our employees and hence are evaluating and deliberating on the options available,” said Mr Malhi.
As a result of the ongoing deadlock, port operations at Haldia are getting affected and crores of rupees are being lost by way of shutdown of cargo handling at berths II and VIII. “It is crucial for KoPT that HBTS remains at HDC as it earns Rs 150 per ton as royalty for the 40,000 ton that is handled at these two berths. The royalty per ton for the other berths is a mere Rs 25,” a port officer said.
Port officials said as the recent stand-off is continuing to affect trade, the port is losing Rs 80 lakh per day owing to the shutdown of two mechanised berths. Besides, many shipping companies are now diverting their vessels to nearby ports thereby leading to further losses of the Haldia port.

Cong, CPM criticises CM’s handling of Haldia

KOLKATA, 29 OCT: The state Congress and the CPI-M today criticised Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's way of handling the impasse at the Haldia port. The Congress said the state government was maintaining a “mysterious” silence on the snowballing crisis for which, it feared, the state will get a bad name if it continues.  Former minister and Congress MLA Manas Bhuniya said: “I don't agree with the chief minister's claim that the situation is normal in Haldia. The state government should have convened a meeting with all the parties as soon as 275 workers were retrenched at the port.”
Demanding an inquiry, the former minister said he had already written to Union minister for shipping, Mr G K Vasan and would soon meet him in Delhi.   Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition and CPI-M Politburo member Surjya Kanta Mishra said: “We were apprehensive about a disastrous outcome in Haldia Docks for sometime now and knew this ongoing high-handedness of the Trinamul Congress in Haldia would eventually disrupt the dock's working completely. This strange state government has so far done nothing to resolve the crisis. And some Trinamul goons, while covering their faces, are trying to shut down businesses in the state. The state as well as the district administration is completely silent on such a situations. The incident and its related developments will send a negative message to not only industry houses, but to the society.” sns

Three HBTS officials forced to leave Haldia at gunpoint

28 October 2012

biswabrata goswami
HALDIA, 28 OCT: While the crisis in Haldia port continues unabated, law and order situation worsened today as three senior officers of the Haldia Bulk Terminus Services (HBTS) were allegedly kidnapped and forced to leave Haldia in the early hours today.
Mr Gurpreet Malhi, CEO, HBTS, alleged, “Capt Manpreet Jolly, Mr Jagadish Behara and Mr Bushan Patil (including his wife and 1 yr old daughter) were abducted at around 1 am. Our managers made numerous calls to the police begging for protection. The required help never came despite that about two hours elapsed between first call and the moment abducted people were driven away from the apartment.”
 Mr Malhi, however, said “We have now received reports that our abducted employees are in Kolkata at a safe location.”
 Mr Malhi said, “HBTS is shocked at the complete breakdown of law and order at Haldia. This situation is even more shocking that while criminals were trying to force entry in their apartment, HBT’s managers made numerous calls to the Police begging for protection.”
 A complaint has been lodged with the district police soon after the incident, but none of the criminals has been arrested till late tonight.
 Superintendent of police, Mr Sukesh Jain said, “I have received a complaint and we have already initiated a case. Investigation is going on, but no one has been arrested yet”.
 According to the complaint lodged with the police, a group of 50 armed unidentified criminals barged into their residences in Haldia at around 1 am and manhandled them. The criminals threatened them with dire consequences and forced them to flee from Haldia at gun point. “They were threatened and advised that should they ever set foot in Haldia again, they will face dire consequences”, the complaint reads.
 In a Press release, Mr Malhi said, “HBTS has no doubt that the date for this abduction has been carefully thought about as it took place barely hours before HBTS was to resume its operations at Haldia Dock Complex (HDC). It is quite disgusting to understand that some vested interests are continuing to thwart the legitimate efforts of HBTS to resume operations at HDC. It is apparent that these vested interests do not want HBTS’s operations to resume even though the resumption is in the interest of State of West Bengal, the industry, the trade, KoPT and Haldia itself.”
 The incident occurred at a time when HBTS, a joint venture of ABG-LDA deposited Rs 17, 45, 730 to cover the cost of police deployment at the two mechanized berths 2 and 8 where they were empowered to work handling operations. As the law and order situation was not improved, HBTS could not resume its operation for the past one month leading huge loses to both the port and trade.
  “In its order of 19 October, the Calcutta High Court directed the state government to provide HBTS with a safe environment to operate. But this morning’s incident illustrates that Haldia police and State administration is not ready to guarantee safety to HBTS as a company,” Mr Malhi said.

HBTS deposits `17 lakh for security

26 October 2012

biswabrata goswami
HALDIA, 26 OCT: Haldia Bulk Terminal Services (HBTS) today deposited Rs 17,45,730 with district police to cover the cost of police deployment for 10 days at berths 2 and 8 of Haldia Dock Complex (HDC).
In response to an HBTS writ petition, Mr Justice Dipankar Dutta of Calcutta High Court on 19 October had directed police to protect the berths and HBTS to cover the cost.
The court had also directed the district magistrate and superintendent of police of East Midnapore to ensure security so that no untoward incidents occur at these two berths.
HBTS had filed the writ petition to restore law and order at HDC after workers in Haldia kept them from resuming operations at the dock complex, alleging that Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) was giving preference to HBTS by diverting cargo to its berths.
The crisis at Haldia port erupted about a month ago when HBTS threatened to suspend operations at berths 2 and 8 because they were losing money. HBTS is the only agency in the Haldia port that handles bulk cargo mechanically. It pays a higher rate of royalty to the KoPT.
KoPT moved the High Court and on 12 September, signed an agreement with HBTS agreeing to allocate vessels to HBTS's berths on a priority basis. Workers at the port’s manually operated berths, however, objected to this and blocked the move.  They also allegedly attacked HBTS workers and prevented them from continuing their work, leading to the deterioration of law and order in the Haldia dock complex. Hence the need for police to provide security.
A port official, however, said: “It is the first time in West Bengal that a private operator is bearing cost of police deployment to ensure security of his own labourers and officers. Law and order is the state’s matter while in case of Haldia port issue, the state government is reluctant to provide security to a private operator free of cost."
Meanwhile, HBTS is yet to resume operations at berths 2 and 8 as hundreds of workers owing allegiance to Trinamul Congress trade union Inttuc launched a sit-in-demonstration in front of the HDC's gates today. The agitators demanded that all 275 retrenched workers be absorbed by HBTS immediately before it resumes its operations at the two mechanised berths.
HBTS CEO Gurpreet Malhi said: “Over the past two years, HBTS has made numerous requests to KoPT in vain for them to improve the situation. KoPT’s failure has left HBTS with no option but to retrench 275 employees. This decision was taken with the sole goal to keep the company afloat and to safeguard the employment of the remaining 350 employees.”
District Congress President Asit Paul has held KoPT Chairman Manish Jain responsible for failing to handle the situation properly. "I have written a complaint to the Central minister over this matter, asking him to take immediate steps so that normalcy is restored in Haldia port," he said

Clothing life anew...

18 October 2012

biswabrata goswami
MIDNAPORE, 18 OCT: With Durga puja barely days away, Puja shopping has reached a feverish pitch. In fact, a large number of people have completed their shopping, but those who have not, are busy with their last-minute marketing.
A visit to several shopping complexes in Midnapore and Kharagpur revealed that price rise is no bar to puja shoppers. Though many shop owners are unhappy over poor sales compared to last year, a few high-end garment shop owners have said that their sales have actually soared by 20 per cent compared to last year.
Rising gold prices have brought about a big change in the shopping habit of West Midnapore residents this festive season. “With the price of gold increasing significantly, people are refraining from buying their favourite gold ornaments this year. The sale has not even reached 50 per cent of what it was before Durga Puja last year,” said Bijay Kumar Guin, a town-based jeweller.
“Imitation and costume jewellery are the in thing. People from far-flung areas who come for shopping in towns prefer to buy imitation. They bought chunky neckpieces to trendy bangles which were beautiful and affordable,” said another jeweller.
Shops and marts at Barabazar in Midnapore and Goalbazar in Kharagpur have plenty to offer to keep their customers happy. The latest craze to sweep the towns is branded clothes.
“I'm least bit bothered if my pair of jeans is local or branded; I'm happy that I bought two new pairs of jeans without spending much,” said Puja Bhattacherjee, an undergraduate student of Midnapore College.
“I love to shop till I drop during festivals... my mother lets me spend without nagging,” said Ruchi Sen, a Class XI student. Kaveri Dutta echoed the same.
She said her family’s expenses on buying dresses exceeded Rs 15,000 this Puja, which is almost double the amount they had spent the previous year.
The demand for typical Gujarati dress like ghagra-choli and Bol Bacchan were high among youth.
No wonder branded garment shops in the town are doing a brisk business this festive season. The manager of a branded garments store in Midnapore said, “This year, many people preferred to buy branded garments and we have a booming business without any Puja sale or discounts.”
He said various designs of suits like umbrella, anarkali and frock suits remained the favourite among girls and women even though they had to shell out more than Rs 4,000 per piece.
Several small garment shop owners who netted handsome profit last year, however, are a disappointed lot. “We depend on the rural people who come to our shops to buy garments. But, this year, barely 20 per cent rural people have visited our shops. They did not turn up this season because of rise in prices of essential commodities," said Mr Manoj Pramanik, a garment shop owner at LIC More in Midnapore town.

Cargo handlers at Haldia port ‘unlicenced’

15 October 2012

biswabrata goswami
HALDIA, 15 OCT: The private agencies in charge of shore handling operations at the Haldia Dock Complex's (HDC's) non-mechanised berths don't have valid handling licences. 
When they moved Calcutta High Court to stop KoPT from allotting more vessels and cargo to HDC's berths 2 and 8, the court rejected their writ petition, finding no legal strength in the handling licences issued to them by KoPT at Haldia, a port official said.
The crisis at Haldia port erupted about a month ago when Haldia Bulk Terminals (HBT) threatened to suspend operations at berths 2 and 8 because they were losing money.
KoPT moved the High Court and, on 12 September, signed an agreement with HBT agreeing to allocate vessels to HBT's berths on a priority basis. Workers at the port’s manually handled berths, however, objected to this and blocked the move.
"Now the question uppermost in the minds of all is how the KoPT authority could issue handling licences to the private handling agents to earn around Rs 200 crore per annum from shore handling operations at HDC when there is no provision in any bylaw or regulation of KoPT for issuance of any such license by the KoPT authority,” a senior port officer said. 
Haldia Dock Officers’ Forum Secretary Ramakant Burman said: "The private handling agents are working and making crores of rupees from HDC only with the blessings of the KoPT authority without there being any legal strength of such handling licences issued to them. If this is true, then there has been a scam of Rs 7,000 crore during the last 35 years at Haldia Dock Complex.
"This should be thoroughly investigated into by the CBI and a suitable mechanism should be immediately devised to bring such shore handling operations under the ambit of the KoPT under the relevant sections the of Major Port Trusts Act, 1963 and the Traffic Authority for Major Ports (TAMP) Guidelines, 2005 with the approval of the central government," he said.
In the bylaws of the KoPT, there is a provision for issuance of stevedoring licences, whereby stevedores will work onboard the ships. But the concept of stevedores exists only at the Kolkata Dock System of KoPT and not at Haldia Dock Complex. 
“At HDC, all onboard operations (onboard stevedoring) is done by the port itself as there is no provision for the existence of stevedores at HDC. So how are the private handling agents working at HDC without any contract or revenue-sharing with KoPT for the last 35 years just on the strength of a document issued by KoPT which is not supported by any Act/bylaw/regulation of KoPT?” Mr Burman asked.
HDC Shipping Manager Damodar Nayek said" "I will not make any comment on this court matter, but I will say that every handler has licences and based on these licenses they work inside the port". 

KoPT ‘illegally allows’ barges to unload coal

HALDIA, 15 OCT: As the crisis at Haldia port continues unabated, Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) has been accused of illegally allowing three I-V category barges to go to Sandheads to unload cargos from a ship anchored nearby today.
A senior port officer said: “All I-V class barges can go only up to Sagar, but they have gone to Sandheads without necessary certificates from DG of Shipping. This is highly illegal.”
A ship carrying 75,000 MT thermal coal from Indonesia has arrived near Sandheads and three I-V category barges were allowed to go there to unload the cargos into their barges. The National Thermal Power Corporation has imported the coal for its Farakka and Kahalgaon plants, the port officer said. sns

HDC to mechanise berths despite financial risks

14 October 2012

biswabrata goswami
HALDIA, 14 OCT: At a time when the Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) has failed to resolve the crisis at Haldia Dock Complex (HDC), it has deliberately taken up plans to mechanise all the berths by placing Mobile Harbour Cranes (MHCs) which will put the port in huge financial losses.
If things go according to plan, the KoPT will lose to the tune of Rs 320 crore in 10 years for the mechanisation of berth 4B at HDC. If mechanisation takes place at all the remaining six berths only with mobile harbour cranes as proposed and approved in the board of trustee meeting held on 12 August, KoPT will stand to lose around Rs 1920 crore during the contract period of 10 years. This apart, around 1,200 port employees who are engaged in onboard operations at HDC will also lose their jobs.
The process to mechanise berth 4B had already been initiated by the management with two MHCs from Haldia Bulk Terminals (HBT), an ABJ-LDA joint venture which was empowered to operate handling operation at berths 2 and 8. The process had to be put on the back-burner due to the crisis that developed over the dispute of cargo sharing among the private handlers.
The KoPT was forced to call meetings with all the stakeholders, but the situation has not improved.
The port authorities in the meantime have formed a three-member committee to resolve the dispute, but the committee has recently given a deadline to the HBT to decide whether it wants to continue its operations at berths 2 and 8.
“If the company fails to comment on the recommendations of the three-member committee or resume work at the two berths by 19 October, the port may take steps to terminate its contract,” a port officer said.
Criticising the port’s actions, Haldia Dock Officers’ Forum said: “The ABG Model being the most profitable for HDC/KoPT, the same should be replicated while mechanising other berths here. For example, while mechanising berth 4B, the ABG model should be followed for maximum realisation to port.”
Mr Ramakant Burman, secretary of Haldia Dock Officers’ Forum said: “In whose interest is KoPT doing this mechanisation? As a result of this, more than 1,000 port workers who work onboard the vessel will permanently lose their job. Neither the port will earn anything from it.”
He also said: “Trade saves Rs 20 lakh per day for handling of their vessel at berths 2 and 8 and the port earns on an average Rs 35 lakh per vessel for the cargo handled at these two berths. There is also no drainage of foreign exchange in terms of demurrage on the vessels for working for four days at the non-merchanised berths of HDC.”

Tribals dance for peace

12 October 2012

biswabrata goswami
JHARGRAM, 12 OCT: While the whole state is gearing up to welcome the goddess, the tribals in Junglemahal of West Midnapore, which was infamous for Maoist violence even a year ago, are preparing to worship the deity in their own special way for peace.
This year, the tribal people from different regions will celebrate a five-day long festival in honour of Goddess Durga. “We will perform our traditional dances during these days with a prayer to our gods and goddesses so that peace in our forest land is restored forever,” said Mr Jayram Tudu, a local farmer in Kantapahari. 
Another farmer, Mr Sukhu Tudu, said; “For the past few years, we have lived under the Maoist threat and have witnessed much bloodshed here. We want peace.”
The tribals will perform the Bhuyang dance, a blend of indigenous Aryan features, characterised by the rhythmic tapping of feet to the accompaniment of traditional instruments such as versions of cymbals, gongs and flutes. The main instrument is the bhuyang, a stringed instrument made from a dried gourd, with intricate bamboo fixtures and supports that help it produce the basic tunes for the dance.  Vijaya-Dasami is an auspicious day for the Bhuyang-dance. Male artists wearing dhuties ~ napkins around waist ~ red tape in their unpolished hair, and feathers of peacock upon their heads, will dance from afternoon to night.
“During the festival, the tribals will not cut down trees. On this auspicious day, girls will fast, wishing a long lives for their brothers. If everyone celebrates this festival, we can have peace and harmony in society,” said Smriti Dutta, a social worker.
According to local residents, the tribals will perform the dance to worship the deity as a symbol of Shakti and welcome her as the vanquisher of all evils. The dance is also a means of getting her blessings for peace and prosperity.
Mr Sakti Patnayek, a dance teacher at a school said: “The musical mosaic of Junglemahal is incomplete without the vibrating notes of stringed instruments.
“The booming notes of the Bhuyang have a streamlining effect on the tunes, beats and tempos of the songs being sung. According to legends, they perform this typical dance to search for a girl named Durge who was kidnapped by attackers. This year, they will not only perform the dance for Durge, but for peace in their locality,” he said. 

‘VU authorities failing to act on financial scam’

11 October 2012

biswabrata goswami
MIDNAPORE, 11 OCT: Despite Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's occasional calls for a corruption-free administration, the Vidyasagar University authorities seem to be trying to shield the financial scam of Prof. Swapan Kumar Pramanick, the varsity's former vice-chancellor.
This was revealed through replies to several RTI applications filed by Mr Abhijit Guha, Senior Reader in the Department of Anthropology. 
University Finance Officer Anandamay Sarkar in a 19 August note on the Mr Guha's 10 August RTI application, admitted Prof. Pramanick submitted neither the boarding cards nor air tickets for his tour to Beijing to attend the 36th World Congress of Sociology, which was held 7-11 July 2004. 
After receiving this information, Mr Guha on 3 October complained to Acting Vice-Chancellor Ranjan Chakrabarti, seeking action against finance department officials since copies of air tickets and boarding cards are the two essential vouchers for getting reimbursed money for air travel. 
"The vice-chancellor, however, did not initiate any action against the concerned officials of VU on the ground that already a two-member inquiry committee has been formed by the West Bengal State Council for Higher Education to probe the alleged misappropriation of UGC Unassigned Grants fund by Prof. Pramanik who enjoyed two successive terms during the rule of the Left Front government in West Bengal," Dr Guha said.
Meanwhile, despite the issuance of a letter dated 27 July by the deputy secretary of the UGC to the registrar of VU to refund Rs 60,976 and show reasons for the misappropriation of the money, Prof. Chakraborty and the Trinamul-led executive council have not taken action. No move has yet been taken by the varsity authorities to refund the money allegedly misappropriated by its former Prof. Pramanick, Mr Guha alleged, and the West Bengal State Council for Higher Education has not yet announced a deadline for the investigation by the committee it created. When questioned, Prof Chakraborty said: “The higher education department has set up a committee and the committee has only right to speak about this matter. This apart I was not vice-chancellor here when the incident occurred. And so, I have no idea how the former vice-chancellor withdrew money without showing proper documents”.

Mamata’s call to Maa Mati Manush

9 October 2012

biswabrata goswami
TAMLUK/ HALDIA, 9 OCT: Ahead of the Durga puja, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee declared a slew of development projects for the people of East Midnapore and urged the people to raise their voice against the Centre’s decision to allow foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail.
On the second day of her two-day visit in East Midnapore (sns photo), Miss Banerjee slammed the UPA government saying, “looting is going on in the name of reforms”.
She said: “The Centre is trying to ruin and sell the country through its economic reforms. But I will not allow FDI in retail in our state. Like Nandigram, you (people) will have to raise your voice against the Centre now”.
“They have allowed FDI in retail, restricted subsidy on cooking gas and now, they will invest pension money in the share market,” Miss Banerjee said while addressing a public rally at Nimtouri in Tamluk this afternoon.
“The Centre wants to snatch your land and livelihood and set up Walmart here. But, I will not allow Walmart to enter. Do you know what FDI in retail means? How will small traders and farmers survive if they can no longer work? But, I have got nothing personal against Walmart.”
She said that in the USA, Walmart has been told that if it has to do business in America, it will have to buy 60 per cent of American goods. “But in our country,” she alleged, “The Central government did away with the 30 per cent restrictions that were there,” she said.
While talking about her government’s initiatives towards the betterment for the common people in the state, she asserted that her life was dedicated to the cause. “My government will never take any decision that goes against the interests of the people. I do not have a family of my own. Whatever I have is yours and I belong to you.  So long as I am alive, I will continue to work for the welfare of the people. I have dedicated my life to Maa Mati Manush,” she said.
“For the betterment of health services, three super facility hospitals will be set up at Nandigram, Tamluk and Egra. Another such hospital will come up at Panskura in the second phase plan. At every block in the district, there will be an ITI. Our government has sanctioned Rs 177 crore for the Kapaleswari-Keleghai river project to control flood in the area. I have also asked our Minister Soumen Mahapatra to visit Patna for implementing the  Ghatal master plan soon,” Miss Banerjee said.
She also blamed the erstwhile Left Front government for the widespread unemployment and the critical financial crisis in the state. “For the past few decades, there has been no employment generation. Under the new regime we have provided three lakh government jobs and we will continue to give more non-government jobs in the future,” Miss Banerjee said.
She reached Kolaghat in East Midnapore last night and held an administrative meeting with officials to take stock of the progress of the ongoing development projects. She inaugurated Dhunseri Petrochem and Tea Ltd’s second PET resin plant, JBL’s edible oil plant and ABJ’s logistic hub at Haldia before holding a mass rally at Nimtouri in Tamluk.
Surjya’s rejoinder to Didi 
KOLKATA, 9 OCT: Reacting to the CM's address in Tamluk today, Leader of Opposition Dr Surjya Kanta Mishra said: “She doesn't live a single day without telling lies. Today again she has said that the land in Singur is in the state government's possession, though the everyone knows that the matter is pending with the Supreme Court. She has announced projects worth more than Rs 58 crore today in Haldia, whereas her two MPs in the region are up in arms against the people working in the Haldia docks.” “Her new trend these days after quitting the Union government is to blame the Centre for everything. She is now blaming it for non-payment of ICDS and ASHA workers in villages.We think this will hold no ground among the people,” he said. sns

Sword of faith instills hope in red corridor

7 October 2012

be god's glow
biswabrata goswami
LALGARH, 7 OCT: For about a year, Maoist violence has subsided in Lalgarh, a hotbed of Left-wing extremism which witnessed several killings, including the infamous carnage in nearby Netai village, in which nine people were killed.
Lalgarh residents, who used to live in constant fear of Maoist violence, are in a festive mood now, awaiting the arrival of the goddess Durga.
The people of Lalgarh are eagerly awaiting the centuries-old astra puja on Ashtami, when the sword is worshipped along with the goddess at the Lalgarh Rajbari by the descendants of the royal family.
“The weapon has become a symbol of power in our family since our ancestors came here from Etwa in Uttar Pradesh (earlier in Gujrat). We worship it every year on Ashtami along with the Durga idol, which is almost 400 years old," said Mr Pranesh Kumar Sahas Roy, one of the descendants of the royal family. In the Lalgarh royal family, two Durga idols are worshipped. With one of the Durga idols is Sarbamangala, which is also the family deity. With the other are Lakshmi and Saraswati. In a myth popular among the members of the royal family, an unknown warrior alone killed 11,000 Bargis when the Maratha plunderers invaded Lalgarh sometime between 1741 and 1751. Before leaving, he left his sword behind. Since then, the sword has been treated as a symbol of the power of the royal family.
Mr Roy believes that his ancestors were brave warriors, skilled with their swords and bows. Because of bravery of their ancestor Rasik Narayan, the then nawab, Alibardi Khan had given him the title Sahas Roy. "We respect the sword. Our ancestors believed that our family deity had taken the form of the warrior and saved us from the Bargis," Roy added.
"Owing to Maoist violence, we could not enjoy the festivity. But, from last year, the people have started coming out of their houses to celebrate the puja," he said. 
"This year, the puja will be observed with much fanfare and traditional rituals and people are expected to throng our puja mandap to observe the ashtami puja and astra puja, as they used to do in previous years when the Maoists did not rear their ugly heads in Junglemahal," he said.
Local resident Mr Tarun Mahato said: "We will celebrate Durga puja this year with a different zeal as we could not enjoy it for many years. We will see the astra puja at the Rajbari because it has different experience."
Members of the Lalgarh royal family said a few swords are taken to a pond near the Rajbari on the morning of Ashtami and washed as part of the rituals before being placed in the Durga mandap. 

What it takes to create the creator

5 October 2012

biswabrata goswami
MAHISHADAL, 5 OCT: With less than three weeks to go before Durga Puja, artistic hands here are busy around the clock giving final touches to idols of the goddess Durga. This is the period they eagerly await every year ~ when they get the opportunity to showcase their talents. 
The traditional countdown to Durga Puja begins with the Mahalaya, and if you’re one of those still contemplating a destination to visit, perhaps Mahishadal would be interesting. It's a place where community pujas are observed in the traditional way, although there are some committees that prefer themes.
Durga Puja became a popular community festival in Mahishadal in the early 20th Century. The styles of idols remained unchanged from then until the late 1990s, when the urge to be different to attract crowds led to theme-based pujas. Initially, organisers stressed innovation in pandals only. Before long, though, they started demanding innovations in idols as well.
"Every year, we try to work out something new for the pandal-hopper," said Mr Tarit Bera, a member of a puja committee. "Last year, our pandal was made with date-palm trees of various shapes and sizes. And this year we have decided to make use of wood to decorate our pandal."
Geometric designs made of bamboo and plywood will be used for decorations and various utensils used in the puja like **tirkati, sankha, kosha kushi will be displayed inside the pandal, he said.
But the traditional puja held in the Mahishadal royal palace continues to hold considerable appeal. Although the majesty and festivity surrounding these century-old pujas are gradually fading into the past, they still attract people here. Residents the Mahishadal area eagerly wait for the pujas throughout the year.  The Mahishadal royal family puja starts with Mahalaya. Queen Janakidevi first started this puja in 1778. Earlier, a large number of cultural events were arranged during the pujas but, now, as most of the members of the royal family are outside Bengal, such events are no longer held.  Here, Durga is decorated using Thermocol in the traditional style, akin to the idol of Goddess Durga that was first installed by Queen Indranidevi during her regime. In the past, animals were sacrificed. This custom, too, was abolished during the freedom struggle.  The pujas held by the Roy and Mishra families of of Mahishadal's Basulia and Baruttarhingli, respectively, are similar. Both are more than 300 years old.  Apart from the pujas, the chariot festival held on Bijoyadashami in the predominantly Muslim area of Rambag is another major attraction for the residents of Mahishadal. People from all parts of Mahishadal and Haldia gather at Rambag for the fair.
Mahishadal is one such place where community pujas are observed in the traditional way. But the traditional puja held in the Mahisadal Royal palace continues to hold considerable appeal. Although the majesty and festivity surrounding these century-old pujas are gradually fading into the past, they still appeal and attract the common people here.

Haldia port officials to stage demonstration

2 October 2012

biswabrata goswami
HALDIA, 2 OCT: Amidst the ongoing crisis at Haldia Dock Complex (HDC), which is deteriorating fast with every passing day, the port officials at Haldia port have called a mass convention on various demands tomorrow.
The convention has been called at a time when the Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) will convene another meeting tomorrow with all its stakeholders to resolve the ongoing impasse at HDC. The previous meeting last Thursday had failed to yield a solution. KoPT Chairman Manish Jain, however, hoped that tomorrow’s meeting will break the deadlock and appealed to everyone to be present. The port officials at HDC, on the other hand, are all set to convene a mass convention to protest against the actions taken by the KoPT management in the past few days.
“We will demand immediate resumption of cargo handling at mechanised Berths 2 and 8. Through our convention, we will demand immediate withdrawal of suspension and transfer orders against Mr Ramakant Burman who had been leading our movement to protect the port from imminent losses. This apart there are various demands that include dredging at Eden channel,” said a senior port officer.
Meanwhile, as a result of the ongoing deadlock, port operations at Haldia are getting affected and crores of rupees are being lost in trade by way of shutdown of cargo handling at berths two and eight, where Haldia Bulk Terminals (HBT), a special purpose vehicle of the LDA-ABG consortium, has been charged to operate.
“It is crucial for KoPT that HBT remains at HDC as it earns Rs 150 per ton as royalty for the 40,000 ton that is handled at these two berths. The royalty per ton for the other berths is a mere Rs 25,” a port officer said.
Today, there is a clear divide in the ranks of stakeholders. There is one group at Haldia that is pitching for HBT. This group, which includes the Haldia Dock Officers’ Forum and Haldia Dock Bachao Committee, wants the port to survive. The other group, which supports the private company operating at other berths, wants HBT to wind up operations at the port, even if this results in a slide in KoPT’s revenue, a senior port officer said. “Instead of addressing the basic problem, the KoPT, meanwhile, has made its junior assistant manager a scapegoat by suspending him from his job merely based on the district intelligence report, to resolve the dispute. But, a large section of port officials and a shipping circle believe that the report was made either on the influence of the port chairman Mr Manish Jain or on the influence of Mr Adhikari”, a Congress-backed trade union leader, who did not wish to be named, said.
The port officials said as the recent stand-off is continuing to affect trade, the port is losing Rs 80 lakh per day owing to the shutdown of two mechanised berths. This apart, many shipping companies are now diverting their vessels to nearby ports thereby leading to more losses of the Haldia port. 

KoPT blamed for Haldia Dock impasse

1 October 2012

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HALDIA, 1 OCT: The Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) management has been accused of not having enough administrative accountability while dealing with private operators engaged at different berths in the Haldia Dock Complex for which the recent impasse due to the problems of labours and law and order have developed. The question which is already doing rounds in the shipping circle is whether the port management is biased towards the private operator working at berths other than two and eight. The problem first surfaced when a private operator working at non-mechanised berths threatened to retrench its worker, demanding the allocation of more cargo-vessels. “Instead of addressing the problem, the KoPT, meanwhile, has made its junior assistant manager a scapegoat by suspending him from his job based on the district intelligence report, to resolve the dispute,” a union leader said.

Haldia labourers’ livelihoods at stake after retrenchment

25 September 2012

biswabrata goswami
HALDIA, 25 SEPT: Amidst the ongoing doldrums over the handling of dry bulk cargos at Haldia Dock Complex (HDC), a fresh retrenchment of 275 workers by a private operator has triggered a new political dispute, putting the livelihoods of hundreds of labourers at stake.
Haldia Bulk Terminals (HBT) Pvt Ltd, a special-purpose vehicle of the LDA-ABG consortium, which operates Berths 2 and 8 at HDC, has announced its decision to retrench 275 workers, citing reasons of an oversized payroll of 650 and loss in operations. In a mailed communication, HBT CEO Gurpreet Malhi had informed yesterday: “HBT had decided to right-size its workforce with the retrenchment of 275 personnel w.e.f 24 September 2012. It may consider hiring or outsourcing suitable additional workforce in the future if the volumes increase. However it will look at hiring employee profiles which are not restrictive to only single function so that the workforce is agile to handle operations with optimal productivity.”
A few days ago, another private operator, Replay ~ which also deals with cargo handling at other berths of HDC ~ had threatened to retrench around 300 workers, prompting the Indian National Trinamul Trade Union Congress (INTTUC) leaders to launch an agitation against the port management.
Mr Subhendu Adhikari, Trinamul Congress MP had organised a rally in front of the HDC gate, threatening to paralyse the port activities if the port continued allocating the cargo-ships at Berths 2 and 8, which are dealt by HBT. Replay argued that if the volume of cargo handling is not increased at their Berths, they would be forced to retrench workers.
“But, this time when the HBT has decided to retrench 275 workers, Mr Adhikari is mysteriously silent over this decision despite the fact that the workers belong to INTTUC. If he protests the retrenchment, he will have to support the bilateral agreement between HBT and KoPT under the High Court's direction,” a Citu leader said.
According to an HBT official, the firm was forced to hire more than 220 people in 2010 under pressure from CPI-M strongman Lakshman Seth and Citu. “Soon after, INTTUC came up with a demand that unless we hire the same amount of people, HBT will not be allowed to start operations,” the official said. HBT had a total workforce of 1000, out of which 650 are on its payroll and another 350 are under a sub-contractor.

Row over Subhendu threat

21 September 2012

biswabrata goswami
HALDIA, 21 SEPT: Trinamul Congress Tamluk MP Subhendu Adhikhari today threatened a Haldia port officer, demanding that he stop the unloading of coking coal from a ship at Berth 8.
The MP called port manager D Nayak and said that, if the cargo was unloaded from the ship, he would not allow a single truck carrying the cargo to leave the port.
This is the latest battle in an ongoing war at the Haldia Dock Complex over the apportionment of work unloading ships.
A few days ago, Haldia Bulk Terminal Pvt Ltd (HBT) had threatened to suspend its operations at the complex because it wasn't getting enough work handling cargo. It had been getting about 5 million tons a year, but wanted at least 7.5 million tons at Berth 2 and Berth 8. 
The issue went to court, and the High Court asked Kolkata Port Trust to resolve the matter through discussions with HBT. A meeting was convened and it was decided that HBT's berths would be given priority over other berths.
But this decision was not accepted by Trinamul Congress trade union leaders, who gheraoed the port's operational building at Chiranjibpur yesterday.
Today, when the MV Nanos, carrying coking coal, called at Berth 8, a group of Inttuc workers led by Mr Shyamal Adak gheraoed the Jawahar Tower office, administrative
headquarters of HDC, demanding that the ship be shifted to another berth, a port official said.
Mr Nayak, who was threatened by the MP, Mr Adhikari, wrote a letter to Kolkata Port Trust Chairman-in-Charge Manish Jain, asking him to handle the situation.
Anticipating a deterioration of the law-and-order situation inside the port, Mr Jain shot off a letter to the principal secretary of the state Home Department, urging him to take action.
"In the above perspective, there is need to take all possible actions so that unlawful labour unrest as happened yesterday to deter the port in implementing the order of the Hon'ble High Court may be dealt with so that the law-and-order situation both inside and outside the dock does not break down and there are no disruptions in normal port operations," Mr Jain wrote to the principal secretary.  To protest priority being given to HBT by the port officials, Mr Subhendu Adhikari today organised a rally in front of the main gate of the Haldia Dock Complex. He told port officials that if any worker loses his job due to their "partisan role," he will launch a greater movement against the port.
A port official said: "The protests that are going on are politically motivated. We are just following the direction of the court."

Blood bank puts unlicensed hospital in trouble

19 September 2012

biswabrata goswami
CONTAI, 19 SEPT: The blood bank at Contai Sub-divisional Hospital has been running without a licence for about 75 days.
While the authorities are planning to turn the hospital into a district-like hospital, they have taken little care about ensuring that its blood bank follows basic rules. Blood banks must follow the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, but officials of the Directorate of Drugs Control found Contai's violating even the basic regulations.
Blood banks are issued licences for five years at a time, and they must apply to the DDC to renew their licences at least a month before they expire. Contai's expired on 30 June and it applied for renewal on 8 July.
"On scrutiny of available papers, it appears that the blood bank deposited the prescribed fees of Rs 75,000 through T.R-7 challan on 21 December 2011, which was within the stipulated period of time, but the application for the renewal has been made on 8 July 2012. Therefore, their application for renewal for the period 1.1 2012 to 31.12.2016 is hereby rejected,” the director of drug control wrote to district authorities on 11 September. 
The DDC had informed the hospital authority a few months ago that it had failed to submit the necessary documents such as affidavits, lists of voluntary donors, and an original drug licence.
Finally, with the formalities completed on the Contai hospital side, the DDC conducted an inspection and found that the blood bank was flouting several rules, a hospital source said.
The thermographs which record the temperature of the refrigerators were not functioning properly, de-freezers were not in good condition and equipment was not calibrated accurately. Even the labels on the blood bags were not maintained according to the rules.
“The DDC official issued a notice to the hospital authority, demanding they make amends within 10 days, but there was no response," a hospital source said.
Mr Mamud Hossain, saha-sabhadhipati of East Midnapore Zilla Parishad, said, “The former superintendent deposited the prescribed fees much before the stipulated period, but the inspection reveals that the Acting Superintendent, Mr Jyotish Chandra Das, submitted application seven days later after the expiry. I have informed the Health Minister, Mrs Chandrima Bhattacherjee, about the matter and urged her to conduct a probe."
Mr Das said: “The matter was not known to me as I joined here a few months ago. As the application for renewal has been rejected, I will have to make a fresh application for renewal now”.

‘Crores illegally lent out by bank official’

18 September 2012

The loans are big enough to destabilise the financial health of Bangiya Gramin Bikash Bank
biswabrata goswami
HALDIA, 18 SEPT: A bank chairman has been accused of illegally sanctioning crores of loans to a businessman close to rival leaders Mr Lakshman Seth and Mr Subhendu Adhikary.
The loans are big enough to destabilise the financial health Bangiya Gramin Bikash Bank, a regional rural bank sponsored by United Bank of India.
A complaint has been made to the Central Vigilance Commission and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against top executives including Bangiya Gramin Bikash Bank Chairman Rana Majumder.
Mr Majumder brushed aside the allegations. “The entrepreneur is a very good customer of the bank and he has deposited enough collateral security to the bank,” he said.  
The loans were provided to fish trader Siraj Khan and his associates, allegedly ignoring bank norms and bypassing rules and principles of lending stipulated by the RBI, Nabard, and the bank's board of directors. Some top officials were allegedly bribed to push through the loans, according to the complaint. 
A bank employee said: “Some of the officials of the concerned department who are instrumental to these unholy affairs are being retained at the same assignment even after their promotion to a higher grade, which is completely unbecoming in light of the guidelines of the Central Vigilance Commission."
The Katiabazar branch between June 2010 and March 2011 sanctioned a Rs 21.92 crore loan for Mr Khan and his family members by ignoring the bank's norms, according to the complaint. 
"The security norms have been intentionally relaxed for the benefit of the borrowers," it said. "A huge loan has been provided practically without any collateral security and only against personal cross-guarantees amongst the borrowers. Even no primary security is created or charged out of the loan proceeds."
In addition, the same branch disbursed a cash credit limit of Rs 9.9 lakh to Mr Khan on 28 July 2011, before it was sanctioned by the competent authority on 23 August 2011.
Furthermore, the Tamluk branch on 3 February 2012 provided Rs 36 crore to Sheikh Arshed and Firoja Begam, relatives of Mr Khan, to purchase 36 second-hand 12-wheeled Ashok Leyland vehicles from Mr Khan and two of his close associates.
The loans were provided without any collateral security, according to the complaint. The vehicles are registered in the names of Siraj Khan, Harul Khan and Mridul Khan with the RTA West Godavari-Eluru, Andhra Pradesh.
In other words, the vehicles have not been transferred into the names of the borrowers. Primary security was not created out of the loan proceeds, and the vehicles were not hypothecated in the name of the bank.
Mr Sagar Sen, Secretary of the Bagiya Gramin Bikash Bank Employees' Association, said: "We are very much concerned about the scam where the chairman of the bank is directly involved with it. We have already lodged a complaint with the economic wing of the CBI." 

Shrimp farms eat up agri land

5 September 2012

biswabrata goswami
TAMLUK, 5 SEPT: The rapid expansion of shrimp cultivation in East Midnapore district has been causing trouble, as hundreds of hectares of agricultural land has been converted into shrimp ponds.
This has given rise to conflicts between fishermen and farmers living in the coastal areas, massive environmental pollution, salinisation of drinking-water wells and paddy fields, and the destruction of spawn and crustacean species.
According to reports available with the East Midnapore zilla parishad, around 25,000 shrimp ponds have already come up in coastal lands of Contai-I, Contai-II and Contai-III, Bhagwanpur-I, Nandigram-I and Nandigram-II, Mahisadal, Sutahata and Khejuri blocks ~ the district’s main shrimp-producing zone. Every pond extends from one to two bigha on agricultural land and improved traditional shrimp farming is being practised in low-lying areas and shallow brackish water bodies enclosed by earthen bunds, locally known as bheris.
“As shrimp farming was more profitable than paddy cultivation till five years ago, many farmers had illegally converted their farmland into shrimp ponds. This practice has triggered various social conflicts between farmers and fishermen in coastal areas putting the district administration in trouble,” said zilla parishad saha-sabhadhipati Mamud Hossain.
In the past decade, shrimp aquaculture has witnessed rapid growth in East Midnapore. The expansion was driven by the high profitability of shrimp farming and attracted a wide range of investors, from individual farmers converting paddy fields to multinational companies investing in large-scale semi-intensive and intensive shrimp farming.
“The economic significance of the shrimp sector was large in terms of export earnings and employment till a few years ago. But as the price of other goods rose, shrimp farming has become less attractive. Declining exports are now forcing the farmers to sell their produce in the local market at half the price of  last year. As a result, many farmers are now trying to return to traditional farming, but it is quite difficult,” said a fisheries officer.
Most shrimp farms need to hold saline water throughout the year which, in turn, affects the soil. “If we shut the shrimp enclosures, we will die without food as no crops will be produced for few years because of their salinity,” said farmer Bikash Maity of Ramnagar-II block.
Small farmers say they are caught in a trap of brackish waters. Maity used to grow paddy and vegetables and raise cattle and poultry before he took to prawn farming 25 years ago. “But, nowadays, I need to buy everything from the market that is not produced locally because of the salinity,” he said.
With the 1996 Supreme Court order and the 1997 Aquaculture Bill, a new piece of legislation was introduced but the present permit and regulation system for shrimp farming is still deficient in a number of areas which relate, in particular, to enforcement.

Visual anthropology course in VU soon

4 September 2012

biswabrata goswami
MIDNAPORE, 4 SEPT: The anthropology department of Vidyasagar University is likely to introduce a course on visual anthropology, which is gradually becoming popular in many anthropology departments of the universities in Europe and USA.
A seminar on anthropology was held recently at the department, which is the first-of-its-kind organised by an anthropology department in West Bengal.
Anthropologists from the Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata and Anthropological Survey of India discussed health, environmental and identity issues of the Lepchas and Bhutias and spoke on the possibilities of introducing a course on visual anthropology.
A documentary film, Rain in the Mirror, by the national award-winning director Nilanjan Bhattacharya, was screened along with Satyajit Ray’s Sikkim, which was banned by the Centre for more than 30 years. Rain in the Mirror depicted the story of Dorji Bhutia, a Buddhist monk and a reputed mask-maker with supernatural powers of bringing or stopping rain, who chose a self-determined death at the age of 86. He forecast the day of his death and died peacefully on that very day.
 Dorji leaves his mystic image behind but not the mantras to control rain. He did not even pass these on to his son, Duduk.
The family members believed that Sonam, the ten-year-old son of Duduk, would inherit the power by the time he grows up. Sonam himself also aspires for this. Set in this context, Rain in the Mirror follows a ten-year-old’s journey to manhood over nine years, from close quarters.
The camera quietly records Sonam’s growing up, his physical transformations of adolescence and his changing world view.
The filmmaker, like an anthropologist, remained an observer, looking at Sonam encountering various dilemmas in the conflicting milieus of tradition and modernity. While discussing the possibilities of introducing a course on visual anthropology, a professor said a visual anthropology project in order to produce a documented video record of Sikkim’s vanishing indigenous and Buddhist cultures was carried out by the Sikkim government.
The project aimed to record and preserve the meaning and proper performance of Sikkim’s rituals within the context of their social and economic cultures.
The project’s first film, Tingvong: A Lepcha Village in Sikkim (2005), has been screened at several ethnographic film festivals around the world. Among these, it was presented at the Film Festival of the Royal Anthropological Institute, Oxford in September 2005.
“If this new course is introduced, students and researchers will be benefited much,” said Abhijit Guha, reader, department of anthropology. 

KoPT officials stand by ABG decision to stop work

3 September 2012

biswabrata goswami
HALDIA, 3 SEPT: A majority of officials working in the Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) will stand beside ABG, a private logistic company, which has recently threatened to suspend operations from 8 September unless it is offered a better deal by the port authorities.
The port officials, who won the election of the Haldia Dock Officers’ forum yesterday by defeating their rivals in the four prominent posts of the forum, said: “We will make all efforts so that ABG continues with its operations without any hurdle and we will replicate this ABG model while mechanising other berths of Haldia Dock Complex (HDC) for maximum realisation to the port”.
Mr Ramakant Burman, a senior port official who has been elected as general secretary of the forum said: “Our union will work for the betterment and financial revival of HDC and KoPT for the next two years”.
Mr Burman, convener of the Haldia Dock Bachao Committee and a senior port officer in Haldia Dock Complex (HDC) who had been instrumental in saving the port through his pro-development movements and initiatives, was suspended a few months ago by the KoPT chairman, Mr ML Meena, when he had raised his voice against the corruption relating to the land reclamation project at the Sagar Islands.
Mr Burman had said that the project was not viable because the location of the proposed port was chalked out on the western side of the island where land would be reclaimed through shore disposal of dredge proceeds from the Auckland bar. While replying to questions mailed to the KoPT chairman, Mr Meena had then said: “The removal of impediments has created a safe waterway towards Haldia via upper Auckland that is a scope of alternate ship movement through Eden Channel, by-passing lower Auckland.”
“The shipping route/channel cannot be compared with highways or any static route. The shipping channel in hydrodynamic environment could neither be created nor deserted overnight. Thus Auckland channel cannot be overlooked at the present hydrodynamic scenario,” he had said.
But, according to the study reports of RITES, if Sagar West port is situated at downstream of Bedford group of Islands and thereby possibility of sedimentation caused by eroded Bedford Island may yield adverse effect in the approach channel.
Two days ago, when Mr Meena placed his project proposal in KoPT's board meeting, the project was put on hold owing to lack of funds and adverse report of RITES on the proposed project.
“This issue had triggered sensation among most of the port officials who perhaps supported Mr Burman’s group in the election of the forum”, said a port official. Mr Burman’s suspension, meanwhile, was withdrawn and he has been reinstated in his post at Haldia, he added.
In the election, Mr Yudhisthir Manna was elected president, while Mr P Mahapatra and Mr B Sengupta were elected as vice-presidents and Mr Manabendra Giri as joint secretary of the forum.

Punishing the polluter

2 September 2012

 biswabrata goswami
TAMLUK, 2 SEPT: The West Bengal Pollution Control Board (PCB) has slapped a fine of Rs 20 lakh on the Kolaghat Thermal Power Plant (KTPP) for flouting its instructions on environment norms and threatened it with legal action if it continues to do so.
The order, issued by Mr Chandan Ghosh, a senior environment engineer of PCB, stated: “The KTPP has violated environmental norms and needs to be dealt according to law. Restoration of the area’s environment is of prime importance.”
After a preliminary survey of the plant and its surrounding areas in April this year, a PCB team had instructed the KTPP to bring down the emission level of two of its six 210-MW units which was five times the permissible limit.
Furthermore, The KTPP continued running its plant for the past one year without the permission of the PCB, the PCB report read.
Cracking the whip on the KTPP for causing environmental problems in the locality, the PCB has also asked it to plant at least 5000 saplings in its plant area within this monsoon time. This apart, the PCB has asked the KTPP authority to submit a report on a necessary action plan needed to reduce the pollution from its boilers and Electro Static Precipitators (ESP) machines.
Besides, the PCB has instructed that KTPP should ensure compliance to a particulate emission standard within the one-month period through modifying and revamping its Electro-Static Precipitator (ESP).
The PCB has forfeited the bank guarantee, amounting to Rs 10 lakh out of Rs 20 lakh that the KTPP deposited with the PCB. The order also asked KTPP authorities to deposit Rs 10 lakh as a ‘phase guarantee’ within 15 days from the date of issue of the order. This amount will be valid for the next 12 months, the order reads.
The stricture to KTPP comes in the wake of prolonged movement by the Krishak Sangram Parishad, a Suci-backed organisation, KTPP pollution control committee and Santipur pollution control committee and wide criticisms from environmentalists about the state-owned unit's lack of pollution concern. The dumped ashes, along with smoke belched out of the chimneys, are polluting a 500-sq km area in Midnapore East and Howrah district, endangering the lives of the people in the area.
According to reports, the pollution watchdog had slapped a Rs 1 lakh fine in 2001, Rs 3 lakh in 2003, Rs 10 lakh in 2010 on the KTPP for failing to ensure emissions below the prescribed level.
The PCB had even forced the KTPP authorities to reactivate the Denan canal at an expense of Rs 72 lakh.

KoPT officers place demands ahead of biennial poll of Haldia dock

31 August 2012

biswabrata goswami
HALDIA, 31 AUG: Ahead of the biennial election of the Haldia Dock Officers’ Forum, the officers working in the Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) have raised issues relating to the financial revival of the Haldia Dock Complex (HDC) to defeat their rival candidates.
Among their 14-point charter of demands, the officers who dominated the forum have stressed allowing full-fledged vessel movement through Eden Channel as soon as possible so that the Rs 10 crores spent on impediment removal and navigational aids does not go to waste.
The dominating officers who are now contesting for the posts of president, vice-president, secretary and joint-secretary have raised the issue regarding the onboard and onshore operations at berths two and eight of the HDC.
"We have contracted out the total onboard and onshore operations at berth two and eight of the HDC, and we got a rate of Rs 227 per MT from TAMP against our payment of Rs 70 per MT to ABG, a private logistic company," said a port officer.
"We should, accordingly, make all efforts so that ABG continues with its operations without any hurdle and we should replicate this ABG model while mechanising other berths of HDC for maximum realisation to the port," the officer said.
ABG entered into a public-private-partnership with KoPT a couple of years ago to handle cargo at two berths in the HDC, but has recently threatened to suspend operations from 8 September unless it is offered a better deal by the port authorities. This has triggered a sensation among the port officials, who have made it their main election issue against rival candidates.
The dominating officials have also highlighted the Sagar project. “We have already spent Rs 10 crore on a feasibility study by RITES," a port officer said. 
"The Sagar Port project is not only technically unviable, as pointed out by RITES in its draft report, the project is not even economically viable as evident from the final report of RITES. We, accordingly, cannot allow KoPT to spend even a single penny on Sagar Port unless the economic viability of the project is established and all stake holders of the port are taken into confidence before spending a single penny of the project," a port officer said.
The port officers also said KoPT earns Rs 120 crore per annum from handling containers at KDS.
"If we go for construction of the Diamond Harbour Container Terminal on a PPP (public-private partnership) basis, our entire container cargo will shift to the account of the BOT operator at Diamond Harbour and, consequently, our income will come down from Rs 120 crore per annum to Rs 24 crore per annum if we assume a maximum revenue sharing of 20 per cent," an officer said.  “Will this amount be enough for salary payments to 9,000 employees and 33,000 pensioners of KoPT? We would like to mention here that Cochin Port Trust has given almost all its facilities to private operators on a BOT basis with some revenue-sharing arrangements and is incurring a loss of Rs 80 crore per annum. Do we want a similar situation at HDC/KoPT?” the officer asked.  The election is scheduled for 2 September.  

Trinamul man protects former VU V-C from charges of misappropriating cash

27 August 2012

biswabrata goswami  
MIDNAPORE, 27 AUG: The misappropriation of University Grants Commission funds by former Vidyasagar University Vice-Chancellor Swapan Kumar Pramanik was not discussed during the university’s executive council meeting on 23 August because a Trinamul Congress member shielded the Prof. Pramanik.
Mr Manab Mondol, principal of a Jhargram College and a Trinamul Congress spokesperson, opposed the term "misappropriation" used by the University Grants Commission (UGC) against Prof. Pramanik in the meeting and sought an explanation from Vice-Chancellor Ranjan Chakraborty. 
As a result, the matter was not discussed and Prof. Chakraborty promised to seek an explanation from the UGC. A university professor said: "It is surprising that Prof. Pramanik, who was close to the CPI-M brass, is now being shielded by a Trinamul Congress teacher."
The issue was on the agenda for the executive council meeting because the Vice-Chancellor recently received a letter from West Bengal State Council of Higher Education vice-chairman Abhijit Chakaborty, asking the V-C to form a two-member internal inquiry committee to investigate the matter. "The agenda item has been deferred to the next meeting for discussion," said Vidyasagar University registrar Ranajit Dhar. "The issue was taken as a table-item, but we could not discuss the matter in this meeting for some reason.” Mr Pramanik has been accused of misappropriating UGC funds to pay for his trip to a five-day conference in Beijing in 2004. The deputy secretary of the UGC, Mrs Archana Thakur, recently wrote a letter to the registrar of Vidyasagar University, asking him to explain the misappropriation, and to refund Rs 60,976 to the commission.
 In her letter, Mrs Thakur said the university disbursed Rs 60,976 to Prof. Pramanik, then the Vice-Chancellor of the university, for his trip to the 36th World Congress of Sociology, which was held 7-11 July 2004. This was a violation of the commission's guidelines, the letter said. For his Beijing tour, Prof. Pramanik not only used unassigned UGC funding, to which he was not entitled, but also flouted the norms for taking advances from public institutions. 
‘Kazi Nazrul U to start in 2014’
DURGAPUR, 27 AUG: Academic work at the proposed Kazi Nazrul Islam University in Asansol will start in the 2014 academic session, state higher education minister Bratya Basu said while inspecting the proposed site for the university in Asansol today.  Chief minister Mamata Banerjee had proposed the university during the birth anniversary celebration of rebel poet Kazi Nazrul Islam in May. The poet was born in 1899 in Churulia village in Asansol. The university has been proposed for the 31-acre lot occupied by a leprosy hospital established in 1940. At present, the hospital is under the supervision of the Asansol Mines Board of Health. Mr Basu, accompanied by minister of state for health Chandrima Bhattacharya, arrived at the hospital today. After inspecting it, Mrs Bhattacharya said: “The hospital will be shifted to Barakar to help set up the university.” sns

Shrimp farmers suffering

17 August 2012

biswabrata goswami
TAMLUK, 17 AUG: The economy of East Midnapore district could be in trouble, since it is heavily dependent upon the cultivation of Bagda prawns, a product for which there is dwindling demand.
In the last month, at least five struggling Bagda prawn growers who had taken out loans they could not repay committed suicide or died.
Susanta Mondol (50) of Uttar Amtalia in Contai-II block died two days ago due to cardiac arrest when they heard that his prawns, worth of Rs 5-6 lakh, had died. Jagat Singh (45) of Bairi in Contai-III committed suicide as he was unable to repay a loan.
"Another three Bagda cultivators from Contai-II and Chnadipur committed suicide, but neither the fisheries department nor the district administration has taken steps to combat the situation,' said Mr Mamud Hossain, the zilla parishad saha-sabhadhipati. "If this situation continues for a few more days, thousands of fishermen's families will suffer huge losses." 
Bagda chingri is the lifeline of the shrimp farmers of Contai-I, II and III, Bhagwanpur-I, Nandigram-I and II, Mahisadal, Sutahata and Khejuri blocks ~ the district’s main shrimp-producing zone.
A fisheries department official said shrimp enclosure owners and farmers cultivated Bagda as there was high demand for it abroad even five years ago. “But the economic slowdown has pushed down the demand taking its toll on Indian exporters,” the official said.
“Shrimp export from the three coastal districts began 30 years ago. From 1982 to 2007, shrimp helped the country fetch a hefty amount of foreign currency,” he said. There are 5,000 shrimp enclosures on 12,000 acres of land in the district, with about 45,000 workers. The shrimp from East Midnapore account for 30 per cent of the country’s total shrimp export, the official said.
Declining exports are now forcing the farmers to sell their produce in the local market at half the price of the last year, said Mr Amar Das, a member of the Bagda Chasi and Bagda Chas Bachao Committee. As a result, large amounts of Bagda remain unsold and perish in the retail market for lack of buyers during the peak season (May-August).
A local shrimp enclosure owner said farmers first sell the shrimp to the local market, cold storage and depots. Depot owners sell the shrimp to exporters who export the shrimp after scanning, processing and packaging them.
The farmers say the cost of shrimp cultivation per bigha is Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 3 lakh, and it is rising every year with increases in prices of medicines and other things. According to farmers, they are now losing Rs 1 lakh per bigha. Mr Das said, “We under the banner of Bagda Chasi and Bagda Chas Bachao Committee have submitted a deputation before the government, but nothing has improved”.

Animals to be captured in the traditional way

14 August 2012

biswabrata goswami
MIDNAPORE, 14 AUG: After almost two decades, the Mela Sikar ~ a traditional method of capturing wild animals ~ will be organised by the state forest department in Junglemahal districts next month, when elephants from Dalma will head to South Bengal.
The Central government has already given permission to the state government to capture four sub-adult elephants from the herd for captive use.
"The permission for the Mela Sikar was sought with the belief that if four elephants were caught, the rest of the herd might not visit South Bengal again. The state has also sought permission from the Centre to build two elephant-rescue centres ~ one in the south (Midnapore) and the other in the north (Jalpaiguri) ~ to capture and confine eight rogue tuskers," said a senior forest official.  Since the late 1980s, elephants from Bihar (now Jharkhand) have been entering Bengal during the monsoon. The number of elephants and the duration of their stay in South Bengal has gone up over the years, worsening man-animal conflict in the densely populated districts of Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia.
On an average, five people and one elephant die and hundreds of hectares of crops are destroyed each year. The desperate state hit upon the idea of capturing the menacing jumbos in 2000. After 12 years, the Centre has now granted permission, the forest official said. In 1977, elephants were brought under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, and capturing them was made illegal, according to Rupnarayan divisional forest officer Rabindranath Saha. But the Centre, under Section 12 of the same Act, can give permission for their capture for population control and scientific research. In West Bengal, the last time this was done was in 1994-95, when six elephants were captured.  "The state government’s plan ~ capturing and confining dominant bulls in rescue centres ~ may aggravate conflict," said Mr Rana Purohit, an animal conservator.
He said elephant society is matriarchal, and females jointly share the responsibility of raising calves. At a certain age, the young bulls leave and join the big males and the females stay back with their mothers. The young bulls, when they are big enough and adequately groomed by the dominant males, return to the females in the herds and mate.
"Outside forests, dominant male elephants lead the raids on croplands. The typical human response is to identify and capture these bulls as 'rogue tuskers'. The true rogue elephants (habitual killers) need to be removed, but such cases are rare. So under public pressure, the forest department goes on capturing random bulls. This practice aggravates the man-animal conflict," said Mr Purohit.  According to conservators, the removal of the dominant sub-adults is a short-term solution since sub-populations soon find replacements. More significantly, the absence of dominant sub-adults from a certain group leaves young elephants directionless and aggressive. Since these young elephants replace their missing big brothers in the frontline, their inexperience and aggression when in charge of raids usually aggravate conflict.