Fishermen get alert transmitter devices

27 July 2012

biswabrata goswami
DIGHA, 27 JULY: The Indian Coast Guard and the state fisheries department today asked fishermen to install distress alert transmitters on fishing boats for the personal safety of the fishermen and the security of the nation.
State fisheries minister Abu Hena, Union minister of state for rural development Sisir Adhikari, Coast Guard deputy inspector general S Chowhan and additional director of fisheries (marine) Surojit Bag launched the new system in Digha. They distributed the devices to 20 fishermen. 
The transmitters were developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation, and will soon be given to 500 more fishermen who regularly venture out into the deep sea.
Mr Bag, the additional director of fisheries, said the device has four buttons for signaling emergencies. One for fires, one for medical problems, one for a man-overboard and one to signal that the boat was in danger of sinking. The transmitters are equipped with global positioning devices. Once a button is pressed, it should take 45 seconds for the device to connect with a satellite that could beam a signal back to Earth. The Coast Guard’s regional headquarters has set up an alert reception centre. 
The transmitter can send continuous alerts for 24 hours ~ once every five minutes, on average ~ while the staff at the rescue centre tracks the boat as it appears on a GIS map on their computer screens, a senior state fisheries officer said. 
Mr Hena said that, ideally, all of the hundreds of boats in three coastal districts should have transmitters.
"It will help us locate the fishermen who go out to sea and sometimes venture into international territory. In such cases the device, which is programmed to issue warnings, can help us locate them."  Talking about pirate attacks, Mr Hena said: "Distress alert transmitters are to be installed in the coastal areas to warn the coastal security about pirate raids as well as impending natural calamities like Aila. This warning device will be installed in both North and South 24-Parganas, also." Fishing trawlers will be painted orange and black to distinguish them from other vessels, he said. 

TMC on a spree of foundation-laying

16 July 2012

biswabrata goswami
TAMLUK, 16 JULY: In order to create a  “development-oriented” image for the state government before the 2013 panchayat elections, the Trinamul Congress MP from Tamluk Subhendu Adhikari today laid the foundation stones for a number of projects under the  Haldia Development Authority (HDA) at Nandakumar in East Midnapore.
Among these were the construction of a building for Maharaja Nandakumar Mahavidyalaya at Nandakumar at the cost of Rs 2.01 crore, construction of a community hall with a capacity for 500 people at Nandakumar panchayat samity at the cost of Rs 2 crore, Sarba Griha Dweep Project (SGDP), an ambitious rural electrification programme of Central Government at the cost of Rs 257 crore and renovation and colouring of the Nandakumar panchayat samity building at the cost of Rs 14 lakh. The HDA has taken up the scheme to re-excavate the 16-km long Hijli Tidal canal, an important navigational route in the British period, from Geonkhali Sluice Gate to Itamogra, Mahisadal in order to improve irrigation, inland water navigation and to prevent floods in the region. The erosion protection work in Mayachar under Amritberia gram panchayat in Mahishadal Panchayet Samiti at an estimated cost of Rs. 48.37 lakh has already been started. Bank protection work along the right bank of the Haldi at Dinabandhapur in Khejuri section, Nandigram-I panchayet samity under Itamogra sub-division and Contai division will be started soon. The estimated cost is around Rs. 2.86 crore.
These works will be executed by the respective executive engineers of the irrigation department but the required funds will be provided by the Haldia Development Authority, he said.
This apart, the HDA has preparing a detailed project report for development of land in and around Mahisadal Rajbari to make it a favourable tourist destination. Work for the project will begin soon. The HDA is also going to construct a “Gateway to Haldia Town” to create an impressive landmark for the port city of West Bengal.

Fake stamp papers: A business in demand

13 July 2012

biswabrata goswami
TAMLUK, 13 JULY: The business of fake non-judicial stamp papers has flourished in East Midnapore district, despite an option that does away with stamp papers.
This came to light when the state vigilance commission instructed the district registrar to conduct a probe into the matter based on the complaint lodged with the additional director general of police by an RTI activist.
During the course of the investigation, it was revealed that the racketeers have nation-wide network and the racket could be worth several thousands crores of rupees.
The investigating officers lodged an FIR with Tamluk and Moyna police on 6 July against four people directly involved in the multi-crore racket, but the police have failed to arrest them.
Zilla parishad saha-sabhadhipati Mamud Hossain said: “This is just the tip of the iceberg. The fraud has been committed mostly by stamp vendors and a few people who are involved with the nation-wide racket.
“This corruption was started during the regime of the erstwhile Left Front government and is still continuing. In this way, our government is losing revenue to the extent of Rs 20,000-30,000 crore. So, I have written to the state finance minister to investigate the matter through a special investigating agency," said Mr Hossain.
A lawyer at Tamluk district court: “Non-judicial stamp papers are used for registration, sale or purchase of land, homes and others. They are also used to pay taxes. But since the non-judicial stamp paper scam hit the government, a provision was made to pay the necessary amount in banks through chalans instead of through stamp papers. However, these stamp papers are still used in many places as several registrars do not have computers to issue chalans."
Under the present system, a person can get a chalan from the registrar’s office and then go to the bank to deposit the tax. However, stamp papers are more popular in districts, which are far from the modern state-of-the-art systems.
A police officer said: “The fake stamp papers ensure that the government doesn’t get revenue. These are mainly supplied to remote districts, as the rural population there can never understand the difference between a fake and an original. Differentiating is very difficult and even people in the urban areas cannot do it.”
An officer in the district registrar office said: “The bank gives a receipt that the money has been deposited. However, as many places do not have access to computers to issue chalans, stamp papers are still in use. Many people even find a stamp paper more authentic as they have been in use for years.”
Sources said fake stamp papers with denominations of Rs 50, Rs 100, Rs 1,000 and Rs 5,000 are sold almost everywhere. “One can get it at the Tamluk district collectorate, too. These are used for different kinds of agreements and affidavits. Fake court-fee stamps that are used by the masses and officials for correspondence with different government departments are also sold. The police are aware of the business. Every one has a cut in it,” said an officer.

Catching them bad

9 July 2012

biswabrata goswami
DIGHA, 9 JULY: The ongoing hilsa season has produced poor catches of the popular fish in the coastal waters, much to the frustration ~ and financial detriment ~ of fishermen and traders.
Fishermen’s families are having a hard time, as catches have not even been sufficient to recover the cost of the necessary deep-sea trips on trawlers.
At least 2,000 fishing trawlers from Digha, Sankarpur, Soula, Petuaghat, Jalda, New Jalda and Junput have already gone to sea to catch hilsa from the coastal waters, but this year the catches are much smaller than expected.
Mr Shyamsundar Das, the secretary of the Digha Fishermen and Traders’ Association, alleged that foreign fishing trawlers sneak into the Indian territorial waters every day and catch fish from the Sandhead area. “But our government overlooks the matter even after we have made repeated complaints,” he said.
According to fishermen, over 300 fishing trawlers and boats from Digha Mohona and Sankarpur have gone out of business in the last two years due to the increasing fuel prices and scanty catches ~ of hilsa, in particular. Compared to previous years, fishermen of Digha and Sankarpur have been suffering profound financial losses as the catch of hilsa has failed to reach expected levels this year.
Usually, during monsoon, the fishermen make the majority of their annual returns from the booty of the sea, with hilsa being their prime catch.
In addition to their ill luck with catches at sea, ill luck of getting a good catch from the sea, fishermen are facing higher costs for ~ including for fuel. The fishermen, therefore, have been compelled to use kerosene with additives to run their trawlers, which generally use diesel.
Many fishing boats financed by banks have been confiscated as they did not prove to be economically viable.
“June to October is generally considered the hilsa-catching season in India,” said fisherman Sheikh Sarifat Ali (40), of Digha Mohona.
"We went to the deep sea with 14 fishermen and came back to the shore on Friday after 12 days," Mr Ali said. "We were able to catch only 1.5 tonnes of hilsa, which sold for Rs 30,000 whereas we have to spend about Rs 80,000 in a trip. During this time last year we caught 25 to 30 tonnes of hilsa per trip."
Fisherman Lakshmikanta Bar, of Jalda, said they are now worried about paying back loan they took from a mohajon (money lender) as they are not getting enough hilsa.
Meanwhile, price of the fish has also shot up beyond the purchasing capacity of the common people, due to poor netting. Hilsas weighing between 800 grams and 1,200 grams are selling at Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000 a kilogram, while those weighing between 500 grams and 800 grams are being offered at prices ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,200. The price of hilsa weighing 250 grams to 350 grams, is between Rs 600 to Rs 800 in the retail markets of East and West Midnapore districts.

Death trap awaits tourists at Digha

8 July 2012

biswabrata goswami
DIGHA, 8 JULY: The death of Sona Ghosh (22) today by drowning at Digha beach has brought home the fact that the tourist destination has of late become a death trap for tourists. Sona, from Panihati in South 24-Parganas, was swept away by a huge wave while bathing in the sea at New Digha.
Death has become a routine affair with an average of two tourists drowning in the sea every month.
According to official records, 28 tourists, including six women, drowned in the Digha coast, off the Bay of Bengal in the past 16 months,
 Three deaths were reported in the month of June. The first incident occurred on 6 June when Sanjit Lui and Surojit Lui from North-24-Parganas, drowned. Ashok Karuri, a youth from South-24-Parganas, died on 21 June.
On 29 June, Rohit Dey, a second year student of Narendrapur Rama      krishna Mission from Kolkata, met with the same fate while bathing in the sea.
However, the police and the Digha-Sankarpur Development Authority (DSDA) have refused to accept the responsibility for the mishaps.
Tourists have to be blamed for this, said Mr Soumen Pal, administrator of the DSDA. 
While bathing in the sea, they do not pay any heed to the warnings that are continually sounded by the police, a senior police officer said. Tourists are also warned about dangers through hoardings set up at different bathing points, mobile policemen and other modes of public address system. Nevertheless, tourists pay no heed to these warnings, thus gradually turning Digha into a graveyard, the officer said.
Mr Debasis Raut, a member of Digha Hoteliers’ Association, said drowning cases in Digha are on the rise as the tourists, in spite of their sound educational background, often ignore administrative orders against taking bath in the sea after consuming alcohol, particularly when the sea is rough. Statistics over the years show that most of the victims are from Kolkata and its surrounding districts.
A police officer said that the tourists often underestimate the sea at Digha at their own peril. Drowning cases are fewer in Puri compared to those at Digha as tourists bathing in the sea at Puri keep the roughness of the sea in their minds.
The sea at Digha changes its character frequently now-a-days and people should keep that in mind while venturing into it, the police officer said.
Local residents blamed the DSDA authorities for not implementing adequate measures to check the continuing mishaps at the beach.
The authorities had introduced life guards to rescue swimmers from drowning, but due to financial constraints it was discontinued. The presence of fewer numbers of nulias (only six for the three-kilometer stretch of beach) is also another reason for growing number of accidents.

School to harvest rain water

6 July 2012

biswabrata goswami
TAMLUK, 6 JULY: The Karanjee Subhash Vidyabhaban at Balisai in East Midnapore will be the first school to implement a Central rainwater harvesting project.
“This is the first of its kind in the district, a school is going to have a rainwater harvesting project. It will inculcate the habit of conserving rainwater among students for their own use”, said Mr Nandagopal Patra, secretary of the school’s managing committee.
The school authorities have decided to engage teachers and students in the project.
 The state government has already  commissioned a rainwater harvesting project under ‘Jal Dharo Jal Bharo’ scheme from this month. A few months ago, when the state government geared up to implement this Central project across the state, the school authorities had applied for the implementation of the project in their school. Mr Patra said the Public Health Engineering department of Digha sub-division had recently sanctioned the project and engineers have already visited the site where the four tanks would be set up.
 The tanks will have a capacity of 20000 litres each, he said. Indiscriminate pumping of water by various means has taken a toll on the groundwater level in the coastal areas of the district. The situation in blocks like Moyna, Patashpur-I and II, Bhagawanpur-I and II, Khejuri, Contai, Ramnagar-I and II, Chandipur,  Nandigram-I and II, Tamluk, Haldia, Panskura and Kolaghat is alarming since lakhs of farmers rely on groundwater for irrigation. As farmers drilled more ~ and deeper ~ wells without seeking permission from the administration, experts say there is a danger that groundwater will deplete drastically. A senior administrative official said a survey conducted by the PHE department and various NGOs in the recent years have found that there are many schools in the district which remain inundated during the monsoon and and face severe water crisis in the post-monsoon season.
“Under such circumstances, the rain water harvesting scheme is the best solution for these schools,” the official said. mplementation of the scheme is not costly. We will have to create the  infrastructure  to store the  rainwater on the rooftop of schools. The only responsibility they have  is to open the lids of the tanks when it is raining and then shut them once they are filled,” the official said. 

Canal-dredging in progress on war footing in Midnapore

3 July 2012

biswabrata goswami
MIDNAPORE, 3 JULY: The dredging of canals of Keleghai-Kapaleswari-Bagui river scheme which had been held up for years is proceeding on a war footing. It is likely to be completed in three years.
The state irrigation minister, Dr Manas Bhuniya, who had inspected the dredging work recently at several canals in West Midnapore, said: “The dredging of 14 canals adjoining the Keleghai, Kopaleswari, Bagui and Chandia rivers flowing through West and East Midnapore will be completed in three years.”
In the 2010 budget, the Centre had allocated Rs 650.38 crore for the project but the state irrigation department started the project this year. The Cabinet also approved the acquisition of nearly 1,675 acres of land spread over West and East Midnapore for improving the drainage basin of  Kapaleswari-Keleghai-Baghai and Chandia rivers, which is affected by devastating floods every year.
Criticising the Left Front government for not executing the work though the Centre had allocated Rs 650 crore two years ago, Dr Bhuniya said: “Two years have been lost in the five-year project to dredge 650 km of canals which will now have to be completed in three years.”
According to state irrigation department officials, seven blocks in the two districts ~ Sabong, Narayangarh, Danton I and II in West Midnapore as well as Bhagwanpur and Potashpur in East Midnapore ~ are flood-prone. The four rivers together span across 2,145 sq km of which 650 sq km lies in the flood- prone area.
In the first phase, rivers like Kapaleswari, Chandia, Bagui and Deuli will be dredged and as many as 14 channels like Amrakhali, Kalimadhab, Sundarpur and Mirzapur will also be repaired. The estimated cost of the project in the first phase is around Rs 158 crore.
According to plans the state irrigation department will dredge 16 to 24 km of  Chandia river. The Kapaleswari will be dredged 2 to 20.25 km, Deuli 9.1 km and Bagui will be dredged from 16 to 24 km.
Besides, the right embankment of Bagui river that stretches from 7.5 to 12.65 km will also be constructed during the first phase.
Hundreds of flood victims under the banner of the Undivided Midnapore Khara-Bannya-Bhangan Pratirodh Committee recently staged a demonstration outside the office of the superintendent engineer demanding speedy implementation of the Keleghai-Kapaleswari-Bagui river scheme.
This is an annual feature of the twin districts for over decades caused by the Keleghai-Kapaleswari-Bagui and Kangsabati rivers and results in misery for millions.
The agitators also demanded the implementation of the Ghatal Master Plan, Soadighi, Gangakhali, Pyratungi and Denan Dehati drainage schemes as soon as possible.

Legal literacy drive in Junglemahal

30 June 2012

biswabrata goswami
JHARGRAM, 30 JUNE: A legal literacy drive ~ the first of its kind ~ was launched in Maoist-hit Junglemahal in Jhargram in West Midnapore today to protect the rights of tribals and bring them in the mainstream
A mobile Lok Adalat was  organized by the State Legal Services Authority (SLSA) at the Jhargram additional chief judicial magistrate’s court which disposed off several pending cases.
 “A total of four benches were constituted. A huge backlog of cases is pending and this Lok Adalat was yet another measure adopted to decrease the pendency”, said Mr Sudipta Bhattacherjee, deputy secretary of SLSA. “The tribal people have a great tradition of forbearance. They should not waste their time and money in fighting prolonged legal battles,” said Justice Mr Kalyan Jyoti Sengupta of Calcutta High Court who inaugurated the programme. Justice Mr Tapan Roy of Calcutta High Court said the knowledge of Constitutional rights was essential for tribals as this would empower them to make intervention on behalf of local communities to demand justice.
Maoist posters
A number of posters bearing the name of the CPI-Maoist and “Simulpal-I Adhibasi-brinda” were found from several places in Belpahari, Simulpal, Odolchua and Kankrajhore areas in Jhargram today asking people to join an agitation programme on 2 July.