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 Hijli canal likely to be revived

30 December 2011

biswabrata goswami
TAMLUK, 30 DEC: Hijli Tidal Canal in East Midnapore, an important navigational route during British rule, is likely to be revived soon. The Haldia Development Authority (HDA), irrigation and waterways department, ministry of railways, and Planning Commission have decided to give it fresh life.
The 36-km stretch of the canal passing through Mahisadal, Nandigram-I and II and Khejuri-I blocks, from Geonkhali to Rasulpur ghat has been choked off for decades. The erstwhile Left Front government made plans to desilt the canal just before the last panchayat poll in its 35-year regime.
In 2006, legislation was introduced in Parliament to declare an old canal/river systems National Waterway Number 5. A 623-km network, NW 5 runs from West Bengal’s Geonkhali southwest to Odisha's Paradip, and within Odisha, from Mangalgadi (near Paradip) west to Talcher. It would include the Hijli Tidal Canal, the East Coast Canal, and the Matai, Brahmani and Mahanadi rivers. The cost: Rs 1,526 crore.
Mr Lakshman Seth, then CPI-M MP from Tamluk, also proposed in Parliament the reconstruction of Hijli Tidal Canal. Neither plans has been implemented.
The 138 year-old lock gate at the government dockyard at Geokhali is still displays its glorious history. The words "Govt Dockyard, Calcutta 1872" are inscribed on a steel bar that remains strong enough to fight corrosion, with rivets robust enough to take the load.
Mr Mamud Hossain, saha-sabhadhipati of the zilla-parishad, said the HDA has already sanctioned Rs 28 crore for the excavation of the canal from Mahisadal.
"The cost to excavate the entire 36 km canal has been estimated at Rs 60-70 crore and various departments will help to implement this plan. An amount from NREGA and the Jal Dharo-Jal Bharo projects will also be utilised for this project."
He continued: “Several thousand mandays will be created in the area for the work. Besides, the desilting would help the fishermen in a big way to increase their catch. Farmers will also get more irrigation facilities."
Referring to the huge potential of the Jal Dharo-Jal Bharo programme to reduce the severity and frequency of floods and droughts, he said the idea had been well accepted not only by the Planning Commission, but also by the district's leaders.

Surjya regains control in dist?

27 December 2011

biswabrata goswami
MIDNAPORE, 27 DEC: As the CPI-M prepares for the district conference before the scheduled state conference next February, it seems that party state secretariat member and Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Dr Surjya Kanta Mishra, is regaining his hold over the organisation of the district, to which he belongs. For nearly two decades, the district party was dominated by Mr Dipak Sarkar, another state secretariat member.
During the recently-concluded local and zonal committee conferences, Dr Mishra was able to put leaders, belonging to his faction, in secretaries' posts. Now, leaders who are close to Dr Mishra dominate the committees. Several leaders, who belong to Mr Sarkar's lobby, have been removed from the posts.
Mr Sarkar, who masterminded the plans to set up harmad camps in Junglemahal to combat the Maoists, gained wide acceptance within the party. The strategy was, subsequently, criticised by a section of party leadership who alleged that the plan not only put the party in trouble but also helped create a wrong notion among the people. The killing of nine villagers at Netai in Lalgarh had not only exposed the presence of armed CPI-M camps in Lalgarh but also the erstwhile Left Front government’s surrender to the party at the grassroots.
Former minister Mr Susanta Ghosh, who is now in jail in connection with the Benachapra skeleton recovery case, and Mr Sarkar were the helm of the party in West Midnapore for over 20 years. The district leadership also mounted pressure on the government for help to combat the Maoists. Before the Netai killings, Mr Ghosh had repeatedly claimed in public rallies how his cadres had driven Maoist out of Lalgarh. On New Year’s Eve, local CPI-M activists held a rally in Lalgarh. 
“All these have later gone against Mr Sarkar and Mr Ghosh soon after the Trinamul Congress came to power. Dr Mishra, who once criticised the district leaders, became the Opposition leader in the Assembly and started dominating the committees which were controlled by Mr Sarkar," a party insider said.
According to party leaders, the district conference will be held from 30 January to 1 February. Earlier, it was scheduled to be held in early January, but as the decision on the bail petition of Mr Ghosh in the Supreme Court will be announced on 6 January, the party has deferred the district conference to 30 January. “If Mr Ghosh gets bail from the Supreme Court, his presence in the conference will give an extra zeal among the participants," said a party insider.
Party sources said eight state secretariat members will be present at the district conference and former chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacherjee will address a public rally on 1 February.

Centre urged to lift ban on industries

25 December 2011

biswabrata goswami
HALDIA, 25 DEC: The Haldia Development Authority (HDA) has appealed to the Union ministry of environment and forest (MoEF) to lift the ban on setting up of new industrial projects in the industrial belts of West Bengal, including Haldia. The HDA has also appealed to Union finance minister Mr Pranab Mukherjee to look into the matter.
Mr Subhendu Adhikari, chairman of the HDA and Trinamul Congress MP from Tamluk, said: “The Union environment ministry has extended the ban imposed on 43 highly-polluted clusters across the country till March next year. The ban on industrial clusters includes Haldia, Howrah and Asansol in West Bengal. But, we have appealed to both the state government and the Centre to look into the matter so that every investor can get environment clearances as early as possible.”
“Even, I have personally spoken with Mr Mukherjee with regards to this matter and I hope, the ban will be lifted soon,” said Mr Adhikari.
According to HDA officials, at least 12 major industries, including Haldia Energy Ltd, India Power Corporation (Haldia) Ltd, RH Projects, STV Technologies, Haldia Free Trade Warehousing Pvt Ltd, Sinosteel Rolls India Pvt Ltd, Shamon Ispat Ltd, Hindustan Gypsum and Euclix Shipbuilders Pvt Ltd, are waiting for environment clearances from the Centre. “If the ban is lifted within a few months, investors will start their projects soon,” said an HDA official. The Centre had imposed the ban on the basis of a comprehensive environmental pollution index (CEPI). The index was used as a tool to assess the condition of the air, groundwater and land in 88 industrial clusters across the country. About 43 clusters with a CEPI score of 70 and above on a scale of zero to 100 were declared critically polluted. Of the three sites in Bengal, Haldia was found to be the most polluting with a CEPI score of 75.43. Howrah came next (74.84), followed by Asansol (70.20).
A state pollution control board official said: “The CEPI is linked to public health in terms of presence of toxins and their concentration, impact on human health and level of exposure. It will help in industrial sitting and indicate the assimilating capacity of a particular area with respect to air, water and soil pollution.” It has been learnt that West Bengal has submitted two plans and even started executing some of the features. Initial reports suggest there has been a marginal improvement in Haldia. Groundwater pollution and depletion were flagged as a critical concern. The state government feels that a surface water scheme in Geokhali will address this problem. Mr Adhikari said: “We have already worked for increasing green zones in the industrial belt and all existing industries in Haldia have developed their infrastructure according to the guidelines of the Central Pollution Control Board. If the PCB assesses the pollution in Haldia now, it will find an improved situation compared to the previous measurement.”

Haldia Development Authority focuses on tourism

23 December 2011

biswabrata goswami
HALDIA, 23 DEC: As the Central Pollution Control Board has extended the moratorium imposed two years ago on setting up of new industrial units in the area, the Haldia Development Authority (HDA) is now focusing on improving the tourism infrastructure. Following the order, the HDA has stopped providing basic infrastructure for new industries.
It has already started preparing GIS-based "Land Use Map" for effective planning and development. “The GIS map will provide plot wise information on the status of land. IIT Kharagpur has been engaged to prepare the Land Development and Control Plan for the old planning area,” said Mr Subhendu Adhikari, chairman of the HDA.
He said: “We have already launched a dedicated website for promotion of tourism in Haldia and its neighbouring areas. The website will help the travellers who would love to explore the rich natural and historical treasure of the region.”
According to HDA officials, the website has information on important tourist attractions, right from route maps, to travel guides, information on accommodation, picnic spots and sight-seeing places, eco-tourism destinations, and industries.
This apart, the HDA is 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, an HDA official said.
For setting up a speedy communication with Kolkata, the HDA along with Haldia Dock Complex (HDC) took up an initiative to connect Haldia to Kolkata within 30 minutes by the copter service. “The air service will help industrialists, elite and local people for emergency services,” said Mr Adhikari. As a part of development works, the HDA has illuminated 6.3-km HPL Link Road (Connecting between NH-41 and SH-4) by high power LED Street Lights with automated operating system at the cost of Rs 3 crore.

Tourism in Junglemahal to get a boost

20 December 2011

biswabrata goswami
MIDNAPORE, 20 DEC: The tourism industry in Junglemahal, comprising parts of West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia districts, which has been hit by the Maoists menace for the past three years, shows sign of recovery from the new year.
The morale of security forces engaged in anti-Maoist operation got a boost following the killing of top Maoist leader Kishenji in an encounter. The leader's death, in turn, has put the rebels on the back foot. “Now, they (Maoists) don't have strength to be reorganised here. Those who have managed to escape during operations are now hiding in forests of neighbouring states. And villagers, who had once supported the rebels, have now turned against them,” said a senior official of Counter Insurgency Force (CIF).
Hotels and resorts in several tourist spots in West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia, which reported zero per cent occupancy until a few months ago, have started feeling the presence of tourists in this winter season.
Admitting that the Maoist activities had affected tourism industry in the area, an official of the state tourism department said: “It was a political and law and order problem. It had negative impact on the tourism industry in these districts and we can only hope that normalcy will soon return in the area and the tourist inflow will increase again.”
The district administration is taking several measures to boost the tourism industry in the area. “We are developing various packages to boost tourism in our district and these will be announced soon. We are getting into the aspects of eco-tourism, village tourism and community participation,” an official said.
Whether it is the forested areas of Jhargram, the picturesque Mukutmonipur on the confluence of the Kangshabati and Kumari rivers or the Ayodhya Hills in Purulia, tourists were afraid of visiting the places for the frequent violence and bandhs called by the Maoists.
“Though there has never been a single attack on tourists, fear of unwanted trouble had kept travellers away from visiting the areas,” said Mr Manik Mahato, a hotel owner of Jhargram. This apart, burning of some forest rest houses and bungalows, including ones at Kakrajhor in West Midnapore and Duarsini in Purulia, had only added to the fear of tourists, Mr Mahato said. “The number of tourists has started falling since November 2008 and we now depend on sales representatives of different companies and traders who come here for business,” said a representative of Doolung Guest House in Jhargram.
According to official estimates, around 2,000 people used to visit Mukutmonipur everyday during the winter season, but since the 2008 incident, this has come down to less than half. Travel operators said the situation is same in Jhargram which once saw hundreds of visitors.

Maoists face leadership crisis

18 December 2011

biswabrata goswami
MIDNAPORE, 18 DEC: Following the killing of senior Maoist leader Kishenji in an encounter with the security forces on 24 November at Burisole forest in West Midnapore, Maoists are now facing a leadership crisis, especially for their eastern regional bureau.
The outfit is now trying hard to reorganise its base, especially ahead of its 10th Party Congress slated for 2012. During the conference, the outfit is likely to bring in new faces in place of its slain or captured leaders. Sources in the Intelligence agencies indicated that the Party Congress might have little choice but to induct second-rung, younger leaders in the new Politburo and central committee.
The de-facto CPI(Maoist) Politburo, excluding the arrested members, is now a seven-member body, comprising general-secretary Mupalla Laxman Rao alias Ganapathy from Karimnagar, Nambala Keshav Rao from Srikakulam, Kattam Sudarshan alias Birenderji from Adilabad, Mallojula Venugopal (brother of Kishenji) from Karimnagar, Misir Besra from Jharkhand, Prashant Bose alias Kishanda from Jadavpur, and Malla Raji Reddy from Karimnagar. 
Of the remaining Politburo members selected in 2007, Cherukuri Rajkumar, alias Azad, was killed in July 2010 and Kishenji on 24 November. The jailed leaders include Pramod Mishra (arrested in May 2008 from Dhanbad), Akhilesh Yadav (arrested in June 2011 from Gaya), Amitabh Bagchi (arrested in August 2009 from Ranchi), Kobad Ghandy (arrested in September 2009 from Delhi), Baccha Prasad Singh (arrested in February 2010 from Kanpur), Narayan Sanyal (arrested in January 2006) and Sushil Roy (arrested in May 2005 from Hooghly). Central agencies are keenly watching whether Maoists will drop these imprisoned leaders from the new Politburo in 2012.
The series of killings or arrests of members of the Maoist Central Committee (CC) and different action squad leaders this year is an indication that the core principle of counter-insurgency strategy is to hit the leadership, a senior officer of Counter Insurgency Force (CIF) said.
A Maoist leader said: “The fake encounter that killed Kishenji is unfortunate and no doubt it is a blow to our party”. According to sources, “in the outfit, he is the founder of, and master at, the practice of organising or infiltrating mass movements and later converting them into violent struggles. He has done this successfully in many places in West Bengal. Within the outfit, he also headed the sub-committee on Political Education”.

Navigable depth falls at Jellingham, Haldia dock in further crisis

16 December 2011

biswabrata goswami
HALDIA, 16 DEC: The ongoing crisis at the Haldia Dock Complex (HDC) has deepened further as the navigable depth at the governing bar of Jellingham has decreased and the number of dredgers working in the channel has come down to two from six.
In 2008, the HDC had faced the similar problem and both the state and Centre had to intervene. This time too, the Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) authorities have taken up the matter with the Union minister of state for shipping, Mr Mukul Roy, and hope to put all the dredgers back into operation by December.
“The Haldia dock may face severe problem in the lean season, which starts in November, as the depth of water in the Hooghly river has gone down since August. This apart, only two dredgers are working in the river while four dredgers have been withdrawn,” a top Haldia port official said.
According to port officials, the water depth required by vessels to move on the Hooghly river has dropped to 3.8 metre at Jellingham Channel and 4.1 metre at Auckland Channel. The minimum levels required by these two key points in the river are five metre and 5.5 metre, respectively.
This has forced authorities at Kolkata port, under which the Haldia dock falls, to send emergency requests to the Dredging Corp of India Ltd (DCI) and the shipping ministry to arrange for more dredgers, the official added.
The present situation has led to apprehensions among port users about the situation that may arise in the months to come. The months between November and February are considered "lean" for transporting goods through river. The tidal flow also remains low during the period.
In 2008, the situation at HDC had been so bad that ships, even with loads far lesser than their capacity, weren't able to enter the port. With several industries, not only in West Bengal but many other states, depending on HDC for raw materials and fuel, any fall in water level at Jellingham would result in a crisis. A senior port official at Haldia said: “Some senior bureaucrats in the ministry of shipping are out to promote the upcoming private port at Dhamra in Orissa. So they are trying to make the Haldia port sick so that Haldia Port cargo of existing 32 million ton could be shifted to Dhamra.”
“The DCI has forcibly withdrawn the dredger from Haldia dock without taking necessary clearance from KoPT. Even a KoPT pilot was enforced to move with the dredger, which is a criminal offence,” the officer added.
Port officials claim that the situation could have been averted, had the KoPT management paid more attention to HDC instead of planning new projects. According to some officials, a lot of effort was wasted on making plans for a port at Sagar Islands. The authorities, however, are yet to select a site for the proposed project.