Transport Bodies Threat Renew Indefinite Strike Demanding Fare Hike

After pulling the plug on UPA government opposing Centre's recent reforms initiatives, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee now may have to initiate “unpopular” reform in the state transport sector.

After several transport bodies in West Bengal resorted to indefinite strike last week demanding fare hike following increase in diesel price, West Bengal government somehow managed to break the deadlock temporarily with a fare-hike bait.

Read More... (Courtesy Business Standard)

Decision on bus fare hike on October 8: Mitra

Transport Minister Madan Mitra on Sunday said he will sit with the private bus operators once again on October 8 to resolve the issue of fare hike.

Speaking to mediapersons at Belghoria in Kolkata, Mitra said in the meantime the committee, which has been formed to look after the bus fare hike, will review the fares. Based on their recommendations, I will talk to the bus operators, he added.

Read More... (Courtesy The Indian Express)

Call From CPI(M) West Bengal

THE two-day extended meeting of CPI(M) West Bengal state committee, which took place during September 15-16, 2012 in Kolkata, called for more organised movement on the burning issues of the people.

After extensive discussion, the meeting noted that there are discernible signs of peoples’ discontent against the state government which has to be translated into concrete movement. The extended meeting reviewed the political situation in the state and the condition of Party organisation at different levels.

Read More... (Courtesy People's Democracy)

Massive Response to Hartal on Protest Day

THE Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) congratulates the people for the massive response to the protest day on September 20, 2012. Eight parties had given a call for observing the day through hartal, picketing and court arrests against the steep rise in prices of diesel, limiting of gas cylinders and opening retail trade to FDI. The NDA had also called for a bandh on this day.

The hartal has been successful in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamilnadu, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand and other states.

Read More... (Courtesy People's Democracy)

----------------------------------

Mamata Banerjee's Pullout From Center May Cost Bengal Rs 1 Lakh Cr
Alliance Turns Opposition In West Bengal
Minorities In West Bengal To Get 500-Bed Hospital, Medical College Too

----------------------------------

Read More

2:37 PM | 0 comments

Mamata Banerjee's Pullout From Center May Cost Bengal Rs 1 Lakh Cr

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee may hope to reap rich electoral dividends by pulling her party out of the UPA, but stands to miss proactive help from the Centre at a time when her state desperately needs central funds for key projects. Uncertainty looms over Bengal’s finances with its revenue pegged at Rs. 76,943 crore and expenditure at Rs. 83,801 crore for the current financial year. Its outstanding debt is set to soar to nearly Rs. 2.26 lakh crore.

Railway projects worth Rs. 70,000 crore may face an uncertain future if CP Joshi, the new railway minister, sets his priorities elsewhere.

Read More... (Courtesy Hindustan Times)

Didi's rhetoric will hurt West Bengal the most 

All of India had hailed Mamata's historic victory because she came with the promise of a new dawn, but her opposition to reforms, to the idea of growth that we desperately need to rid ourselves of the dead weight of poverty, makes her no different than the political order she replaced.

The Left, in fact, had warmed up to business and India Inc has started seeing West Bengal with favourable eyes.

Read More... (Courtesy Daily Mail)

------------------------------------

Alliance Turns Opposition In West Bengal
Minorities In West Bengal To Get 500-Bed Hospital, Medical College Too
West Bengal To Get Funds From Centre For Sarva Siksha

------------------------------------

Read More

10:44 AM | 0 comments

Alliance Turns Opposition In West Bengal

After withdrawing support from West Bengal’s government, with which it shared power for 16 months, the state Congress is now pushing for the position of the leader of the opposition in the state assembly.

It is an issue that has political leaders and experts divided.

Read More... (Courtesy Gulf Times)

Cong walks out, Mamata loses voice in West Bengal assembly

Twenty-four hours after six Trinamool ministers marched into the Prime Minister's office in New Delhi and put in their papers signalling the end of the alliance, a similar scene was enacted in Kolkata on Saturday. In the afternoon, six Congress ministers walked into chief minister Mamata Banerjee's office in Writers' and submitted their resignations.

Later, the group met the Governor, withdrawing support to the Trinamool government.

Read More... (Courtesy Hindustan Times)

-----------------------------------------

Minorities In West Bengal To Get 500-Bed Hospital, Medical College Too
West Bengal To Get Funds From Centre For Sarva Siksha
47 Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Industries Applications Pending In WB

-----------------------------------------

Read More

10:29 AM | 0 comments

Minorities In West Bengal To Get 500-Bed Hospital, Medical College Too

For election purpose or to genuinely benefit minorities, the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government has decided to set up a medical college and a 500-bed hospital exclusively for minorities – majority of whom are poor thus having little access to medical facilities. Both institutions will come up in South 24-Parganas – a minority concentration district adjacent to the state capital Kolkata.

The Ministry of Minority Affairs & Madrasa Education, which is held by CM Banerjee has taken the initiative to set up the institutions. A letter was issued to Public Works Department (Construction Board) of West Bengal from Minority Affairs & Madrasa Education Department on 21st August 2012. Principal Secretary of Minority Affairs & Madrasa Education Department Mr Bikram Sen has written the letter seeking details of the project cost to establish a 500-bed Multi Specialty and super Specialty Hospital and Medical College exclusively for minorities. The proposal then will be submitted to Planning Commission of India for final approval.

Read More... (Courtesy Two Circles)

-------------------------------------

West Bengal To Get Funds From Centre For Sarva Siksha
47 Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Industries Applications Pending In WB
Keep Kolkata Clean: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee

-------------------------------------

Read More

3:22 AM | 0 comments

47 Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Industries Applications Pending In WB

Despite West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s known opposition to the concept of special economic zones (SEZs), industries are applying for SEZs in the state.

About 47 requests for SEZ status have been sent to the state government, according to a report by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham). This comes at a time when projects by information and technology (IT) majors like Infosys and Wipro have been hanging in balance due to the state government’s policy of not granting SEZ status.

Read More... (Courtesy Business Standard)

------------------------------------------

Keep Kolkata Clean: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee
Delhi's Dilli Haat Hosts Bengali Handicrafts Fair
UPA 2 Approves West Bengal Metro Corridor Project With Mamata Banerjee's Farewell

------------------------------------------

Read More

12:52 AM | 0 comments

Keep Kolkata Clean: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee

Emphasising the need for a clean and green Kolkata, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday urged people to take care of the eastern metropolis.

"The government has undertaken the task of beautifying the city and to maintain its beauty it is essential that people contribute in its maintenance. It is also your duty to keep Kolkata green and clean," Banerjee said at a programme here.

Read More... (Courtesy Zee News)

-----------------------------------------------------

Delhi's Dilli Haat Hosts Bengali Handicrafts Fair
UPA 2 Approves West Bengal Metro Corridor Project With Mamata Banerjee's Farewell
TMC Ceases To Contest Against Pranab Mukherjee's Son In Jangipur By-Poll

-----------------------------------------------------

Read More

12:45 AM | 0 comments

UPA 2 Approves West Bengal Metro Corridor Project With Mamata Banerjee's Farewell

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) and UPA have finally parted ways, but not before TMC leader and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee managed to get the nod for her pet project despite stringent opposition from ministries.

The Union Cabinet had on August 23 approved the transfer of the under-construction 15 km East-West Metro corridor project in Kolkata - a joint venture between the West Bengal government and urban development ministry - to the railway ministry.

Read More... (Courtesy Daily Bhaskar)

Mamata's move to quit UPA won't impact investments in Bengal 

The Mamta Banerjee-led West Bengal government will continue to attract more and more investments and it was committed to protect the interest of investors. This was revealed by Bengal's minister for urban development and municipal affairs Firhad Hakim who spoke to Business Standard on the sidelines of a roadshow for international financial hub at Rajarhat-New Town in Kolkata.

However, Hakim said the government would not adopt "fast" economic policies of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh but implement Nehruvian and Gandhian economics to achieve higher economic growth. 

Read More... (Courtesy Business Standard)

Read More

12:30 AM | 0 comments

TMC Ceases To Contest Against Pranab Mukherjee's Son In Jangipur By-Poll

Days after the bitter separation with the Congress, the Trinamool Congress has decided not to contest the Lok Sabha by-election from Jangipur in West Bengal against President Pranab Mukherjee's son Abhijit, a party leader said on Sunday.

The party leadership has decided not to contest the Jangipur by-election. We won't field any candidate there," said Trinamool leader and state Panchayat minister Subrata Mukherjee.

Read More... (Courtesy Hindustan Times)

Trinamool not to fight against Congress in Jangipur bypoll

Despite severing of ties between the two parties, the Trinamool Congress hasn't put up any candidate for theJangipur bypoll against Congress nominee Abhijit Mukherjee, son of President Pranab Mukherjee. 

Trinamool district president Md Ali said, "This was Pranab babu's seat. And the candidate now is his son so as a mark of respect to the President, we didn't put up any candidate". 

Read More... (Courtesy Times Of India)

Read More

12:10 AM | 0 comments