‘Opposition in West Bengal irresponsible’

Improve infrastructure to attract FDI: Buddhadeb

KOLKATA, 13 December, 2008: West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Saturday said an “irresponsible Opposition was opposing everything for the sake of opposition and ultimately the people of the State will suffer.”

Presiding over the 69th annual session of the Indian Roads Congress (IRC), he said: “I am facing problems in land acquisition, as an irresponsible Opposition is opposing everything. But I assure you that we are in dialogue with the Opposition.”

Mr. Bhattacharjee said this in response to a comment by Union Minister of State for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways K.H. Muniyappa, while inaugurating the session.

The Union Minister said land acquisition was proving to be a problem in the State. Projects started in 2001 could not be completed due to problem over land acquisition over a four or five km stretch. “I seek the support of the West Bengal government and people to complete roads for the country’s development.”

The Chief Minister said that in the current financial meltdown, infrastructure would perhaps be the only sector that would not be hit and he had been advised by the Reserve Bank of India Governor “not to miss this chance.”

“It is high time we improved infrastructure,” Mr. Bhattacharjee said, adding that unless India improved infrastructure, it would fail to attract foreign direct investments.

“It is through infrastructure that China has attracted FDI.” He exhorted the 2,000-strong gathering of delegates to discuss ways to improve road connectivity in India, in the backdrop of the global financial crisis to compete with China.

Noting that the United Progressive Alliance government was trying to complete the golden quadrilateral project started by the National Democratic Alliance government, he said it was important to connect sea and airports. Otherwise, international trade would suffer.

Mr. Muniyappa said the IRC was set up in 1934 as the premier body of highway engineers. To enable rural people, cyclists, pedestrians and tractor drivers to use the network, the Centre had approved the creation of service roads alongside the six and four-lane highways, especially where there was a concentration of rural people.

West Bengal’s first private airport in Bardhaman district to be operational by 2011

DURGAPUR: Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Ltd's. (BAPL) first private airport in Bardhaman district in West Bengal is likely to be operational by end of 2011. According to a report in Projects Today, the project, which is a part of the USD 2.5 billion (approximately Rs 12,500 crore) Durgapur Aerotropolis, has got an approval from the West Bengal government and has also overcome the objections raised by Coal India Ltd. (CIL).

Besides the airport, the project also includes an industrial park, logistics hub, IT Park and a township. BAPL is the promoter of the Aerotropolis in association with Singapore's Changi International Airport. An agreement was signed in February this year for technical services and as operator of the proposed airport.

BAPL is likely to complete the acquisition of 2,362.84 acre for phase I by June 2009. The state government will be completing the land notification shortly. The phase I of the project involves an investment outlay of Rs 2,200 crore. The company has achieved financial closure for Rs 600 crore comprising part of phase I -the airport and land acquisition cost.

ADAIVASI YOUTH CLEAR ALL ROADBLOCKS PUT UP BY MAOISTS IN PURULIA-BANKURA

BHULABHEDA (WEST MIDNAPORE), 12 December, 2008(INN):The entire network of what are non-arterial links between the main roadways is now free of felled trees, ditches, and boulders. Traffic of all sorts’ moves freely. As we return from the red earth of Purulia via Bankura and onto Midnapore west, we see militant processions of adivasi youth, men and women, occasionally children in tow, the Red Flag fluttering in the chill of the first and late wintry breeze from the north-west, as they stride along boldly, arms swinging gaily, slogans emanating from the chapped lips, conviction of courage written all over their faces, along both sides of the roads. ‘We do not want the Jharkhandis and the Maobadis to ruin life for us anymore,’ is the general refrain. The awesomely large and cavernous kettledrums thudded out a thunderous resonance, and the horns sounded the timbre of the forest.

Entering Bhulabeda, I was quite thrilled to see another sight – a sight long, long overdue. Thousands upon thousands of adivasis -- and this time the vast crowd is a happy mix of tribals and non-tribals, of the villages and the townships – all united under the Red Banner. What the self-proclaimed Maoists and their in-closet friends and associates, and patrons in the corporate world should note is the chilling fact, for them and for persons of their ilk, here and abroad, the scorn and hatred the tribal-non-tribal rally-- I would not call it a joint rally, it was a peoples’ rally, vast and moving – exuded for the criminals and the assassins-- all the way. Somehow a feint sense emanating of a feeling of guilt and a sense of having been betrayed earlier all those decades could be felt in these old bones from the otherwise militant ambience around all the time as I alighted from the vehicle I have been travelling in and, in a second, mingled fadelessly yet seamlessly into the power and glory of the people’s march.

The rally culminated in a vast assemblage held under the aegis of the two very organisations that had been in the past bitterly misled and alienated from the mainstream of the struggles of the forest people by the Maoists and the Jharkhandis – the all-India Jakat Majhi-Marhwa association and the Bhumija Munda Kalyan Samity. The rally iterated in strong language and firm tone what has been going around the villages and the hamlets, the gunjes and the townships the last few weeks and months.

The likes of Jharkhandis and Maoists must not find any toehold in the red clay zones. They are not to cross over from the neighbouring districts to where they may continue if the people there so allow, doing the misdeeds of their uniquely anti-people sort. They must not try to communicate to the people this side of the state border in any way. They should not expect any safe haven awaiting them – rather the contrary. They should also come out with a public explanation why they killed so many people-- tribal or non-tribal is not of importance as a point of distinction, the ‘reason why’ is. Every speaker strongly emphasised the public confessional aspect, I did not fail to note despite the slight inadequate fluency in Bengali of the comrade who translated the Santhali for me.

The speakers also dwelt at length on the sensitive topic of destruction of the forest resources including the cutting down of boughs as this meant finis to the process of growth of tussar and resham varieties of silkworms. The speakers also appeared quite sheepishly apologetic in their own way about the felling of trees, some of which worth lakhs of rupees, for the purpose of blocking the roadways.

All of them were also in unison on two other issues: the western area of Bengal must undergo faster development, and the police must not enter the villages without the accompaniment of the Jakat leadership. They iterated that the myth that the Maoists had spread around about the Jakat being unwilling to have the authorities arrest and take into custody criminals was just that—a myth. The rally ended in a befitting way as torches were lit and the assemblage burst into a song with a touching refrain that sent a stab to the softest part of the human heart – kam, khai, emaa lem – roughly translated as ‘give us work please, so that we are able to go to sleep on full stomachs....’ .

by B. PRASANT

West Bengal tribal development unparalleled: Biman Basu

Kolkata, Dec 12 (IANS): The West Bengal government implemented the maximum number of developmental projects for the tribal communities in its backward districts, Left Front chairman Biman Basu said Friday while reacting to Trinamool Congress allegation that the state did not implement the centrally funded projects.”The way we’ve implemented central government funded projects for the betterment of tribals in West Bengal is unparalleled,” Bose told reporters here.

On Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee’s allegation that the state did not implement the centrally funded projects for the backward classes, he said: “If the centre had any problem with the functioning, they would have consulted the state government directly.” “You cannot even see that much of development for the backward communities in our neighbouring state Jharkhand, which is considered as a tribal-dominated region in our country,” Biman Basu said.

“About 60 percent of the total land reforms, which was distributed among the tribal communities in India, took place in our state,” added Basu. Terming Trinamool supremo’s comment as baseless, Basu said: “One needs to be very careful before passing such comment. If she (Banerjee) has to point a figure at the role of West Bengal government, she must gather proper information on the issue.”

Buddha writes to PM on PTTI deadlock

KOLKATA, Dec. 11,2008: Chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has written to the Prime Minister urging the Centre to allow provisional recruitment of primary teachers from among the pass-outs of Primary Teachers’ Training Institutes (PTTI) which were declared illegal by Calcutta High Court.

The chief minister has assured that the pass-outs would be confirmed only after they had completed a year-long bridge course since the National Council of Teachers’ Education recognises only two-year-long training courses for primary teachers. The Court's directive had also rendered the certificates of those who passed out of theses illegal PTTIs, invalid.

Mr Bhattacharjee has also appealed to the Prime Minister for an early resolution of the PTTI problem which has affected nearly 75, 000 people and snowballed into a major controversy. “Unless this is done, apart from the future of 75,000 students who have already completed the course, the entire structure of primary education in the state will face a serious crisis since 40,000 vacancies in schools already exists and many schools will be without teachers. I seek your personal intervention in the matter,” reads the letter.

The state government had approached the MHRD to make a legislative provision to validate the one year long training course for primary teachers till the academic year, 2005-06. The CM also met the representatives of West Bengal Primary Teachers’ Training Students’ Union today at Writers’ Buildings and discussed the problem.

"We are committed to West Bengal": Premji

KOLKATA, 11 December, 2008: Software major Wipro Technologies Chairman and CEO Azim Premji on Thursday denied that land was a problem for the company's existing facility at Salt Lake, and reiterated his commitment to West Bengal.

"We are committed to West Bengal, committed to growth and committed to your government," Premji told reporters after a 50-minute meeting with Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee at Writers' Buildings here. Asked if the issue of land figured in his discussion with the Chief Minister, the Premji said "there is enough land in our existing facility at Salt Lake. There is no emergency on that front." The chief minster was not available for comment.

At present, Wipro runs an IT-SEZ facility in Salt Lake where it employs around 4,000 people. The company had earlier announced setting up its second campus in Kolkata near Vedic village off Rajarhat in North 24 Parganas.

WB to set up six coastal police stations

Kolkata, Dec 11 (PTI): The West Bengal government is setting up six coastal police stations and 17 coastal outposts, following a central directive for strengthening coastal security after the Mumbai terror attacks."Six coastal police stations will be set up. Of these, five would be set up by Sunderbans Infrastructure Development Corporation and another by PWD. Besides, 17 coastal outposts and check posts would also be set up," Home Secretary Asok Mohun Chakraborty told newsmen after a high-level meeting to review coastal security.

The police stations would come up at Frasergunj, Haldibari, Digha-Demohana, Moipeeth-Krisnamohanpur, Hemnagar and Khejuri-Talpatti.According to Chakraborty, the police stations would operate from available premises till 'appropriate' premises were found and private vessels would be hired for coastal patrolling till the Centre sent launches and hi-speed boats for the purpose.The meeting was attended by DGP A B Vohra, SPs of three coastal districts and other officers. PTI

Terrorism a new threat to human rights: Buddhadeb

Kolkata, Dec 10: Calling terrorism a new threat to human rights, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee here Wednesday said that information has to gathered about how terrorists operate in order to find a full-proof mechanism to tackle the menace.”What has happened in Mumbai is shocking. How can a handful of terrorists carry out such a huge massacre at random? This is the worst example of human rights violation,” Bhattacharjee said at the 60th anniversary celebrations of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by West Bengal Human Rights Commission here.

Bhattacharjee said: “We have to get all the details about them - who they are and how they are operating. Only then we will be able to think and find a full-proof mechanism to deal with them and protect the basic rights of our people.” Commenting on increasing violence in the country, the chief minister said terrorism has emerged as a new and recurring occurrence. “Terrorism has become a phenomenon today. Not only in Mumbai, terrorists are operating in West Bengal, too, in the name of Maoists.” Speaking about Maoists, Bhattacharjee said they are not West Bengal citizens, but infiltrators from the neighbouring Jharkhand.

“It’s high time we combat terrorism and terrorists with effect, or else our human rights will become a farce and the base of our democracy will be destroyed,” added Bhattacharjee.

SECOND COPY:

Stop sending NHRC teams to Bengal: Buddha
11 Dec 2008, 0441 hrs IST, TNN
KOLKATA: Chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee would like the national human rights commission to stay away from West Bengal. Recommendations made by the national rights body on the Nandigram issue did not please the government and are yet to be implemented. "The national human rights commission keeps on sending recommendations. States have their own human rights commissions. Where is the need for the national human rights commission to send its team? The NHRC team can go to states where the state bodies are not present. Both the bodies overlap at times," Bhattacharjee said in his address to a meet on the 60th World Human Rights Day. Well aware that his statement was likely to kick a storm, Bhattacharjee asked the state human rights commission chairman Justice Shyamal Sen to take up the matter with the national body. While the chief minister was speaking, Justice Sen stood up to express his views on the matter. "When the state human rights commission takes cognizance of a case, the national human rights commission doesn't have the jurisdiction to intervene. This goes against the statute," Justice Sen said. Resuming his address, the chief minister said that the government had accepted most of the recommendations made by the NHRC. "They had given 62 recommendations, out of which 52 were accepted. Five are still under consideration and five were rejected," Bhattacharjee said. Bhattacharjee also spoke about the terror attacks in Mumbai and the threat from Maoists. "The Mumbai incident has shocked the entire country. How could a handful of terrorists do this? We will have to find out a mechanism to kill terrorists," Bhattacharjee said. He also described Maoists as terrorists. Elsewhere, West Bengal Federation of United Nations Association celebrated World Human Rights Day at a programme. Justice Chittatosh Mookerjee was the chief guest.

Private Bus and Minibus strike total

Kolkata, Dec 11: All private and mini-buses kept off the roads Wednesday in support of a 24-hour shutdown called by the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist’s (CPI-M) trade union arm across West Bengal. The strike was called by the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU)-suppiorted West Bengal Road Transport Workers Federation (WBRTWF) to protest the government’s decision to charge bus-drivers under section 304 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in case of fatal accidents.

Since morning hundreds of people were seen lining up for hours at autorickshaw and taxi stands in various parts of the city. Exploiting the situation, autorickshaw and taxi drivers charged higher fares from passengers. Long queues were also seen at all railways and Metro railway ticket counters.

Though only private and mini-buses were covered by the strike call, very few state-run buses were seen plying on the city roads, and they too were overcrowded. Not only the state buses, but trams, local trains and Metros were also jam-packed.A few city schools declared a holiday to avoid harassment to students. Examinations in some colleges were postponed.

Subhas Mukherjee, spokesperson of the WBRTWF, told reporters: “We are aware that people are being harassed because of our strike and our heart-felt apologies go out to them. But they should understand that our demand is justified. It’s not that the driver is always responsible for an accident. It’s unfair to put all the blame on one person and put him behind bars.” About 10,000 private buses and 2,500 mini-buses ply across the city everyday.

Bus strike in Kolkata today

10 Dec 2008, 1142 hrs IST, TNN

KOLKATA: Buses will stay off the road, crippling the transport system in Kolkata and the rest of the state on Wednesday to protest the imposition of section 304 A on drivers involved in fatal accidents. More than 22,000 buses, including 12,000 in Kolkata, will join the Citu-sponsored bus strike. Citu has also demanded a further reduction in petroleum prices. "It is unfair to charge drivers under section 304 A which is non-bailable. Accidents occur due to several reasons, the driver is rarely the only culprit. Road conditions, traffic rules and pedestrians are also responsible but under this rule, only the driver is being charged," said Subhas Mukherjee, joint secretary of the Citu-backed West Bengal Road Transport Workers' Union.

Previously, drivers were booked under section 304 and could get bail if involved in a fatal accident. While 10,000 private buses and 2,500 mini buses ply in Kolkata, the respective figures for the state were 18,000 and 5,000. "The demands are perfectly justified. Drivers are being harassed and punished for no fault of theirs. But the decision to call the strike was taken by Citu. We were looking forward to a meeting with them but that did not happen," said Swarnakamal Saha, president of the Bengal Bus Syndicate.

The Joint Council of Bus Syndicates (JCBS) has also supported the strike. "The strike will derail the transport system but it can't be helped. Drivers are being given a raw deal and everybody is scared. The rule needs to be altered," said Tapan Banerjee, secretary of JCBS. Home secretary Asok Mohan Chakrabarti said the matter was in the jurisdiction of the state. "It is a union-sponsored strike and we have little to do. If they come to us with their demands, we can consider them," said Chakrabarti.

Tribals protest Maoist activities in West Bengal

Midnapore, 10 December : Thousands of people Tuesday gathered at tribal-dominated Belpahari area of West Bengal to protest the activities of Maoist rebels in the region. The disgruntled villagers also decided to put up a united front against the Maoist guerrillas and vowed not to cooperate with the separatist forces, which were active in the violence-hit West Midnapore district.

"Nearly 10,000 people, mostly tribals, gathered at Bhulabheda area of Belpahari to protest against the growing Maoist terror in the district. They held a public meeting where many tribal representatives said they would not give any food and shelter to the Maoist rebels," West Midnapore police superintendent R.K. Singh told newspersons.

"The villagers openly made it clear that they will chase the Maoists and also help the police arrest them. They said they would not hesitate to kill these extremist elements, if needed," he said. The public meeting at Belpahari was jointly called by tribal organisations Bharat-Jakat-Majhi-Marwa organisation and Jowan-Gaonwa organisation. Villagers from various parts of the district participated in the rally with improvised weapons and drums and demonstrated in front of the makeshift podium as part of their token protest against the Maoist atrocities.

"The tribals have admitted that they're misled by the Maoist leaders into standing up against the district administration and the police," said Singh. Belpahari, a forest area under the Dama Hills, is about 45 km from Jhargram town.

Trouble erupted in West Midnapore district after the district police allegedly arrested some school students and heckled tribal women after an attempted landmine ambush of the convoy of West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee at Bhadutala near Salboni last month. Union ministers Ram Vilas Paswan and Jitin Prasada were also in the convoy. Four policemen were injured in the blast.

Participating in a violent protest, the tribals dug up metalled roads and placed large tree trunks across them, virtually cutting off the region from the rest of the district. The region witnessed a series of protests, as the villagers had demanded a public apology from the district police for the alleged excesses committed against them during the course of investigation into the landmine blast.

Shyam Group to begin commissioning of integrated steel plant by 2009

KOLKATA, 10 December: Shyam Group of Industries announced on Tuesday that it has completed the acquisition of 450 acres required for its proposed integrated steel and captive power project in Jamuria in West Bengal and will begin commissioning activities in 2009.Rs. 9,900 cr. project

“We have already capitalised an expenditure of Rs. 200 crore for the project from our internal resources and have acquired 450 acres privately out of our total requirement of 1,500 acres,” Deepakk Goyal, Executive Director of the group, said at a press meet.

He said orders had been released for more than 80 per cent of plant and machinery for the first phase of the project. Funding sanction for the Rs. 9,900-crore integrated steel and power plant project had been sanctioned in-principle. However, he said plans to tap the market for raising some equity had been put off in view of the volatility. While 65 per cent of the project cost would be debt, the remaining would be equity.

Captive power

Shyam Sel, which is implementing the project, signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) for the project in February this year with the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation and the West Bengal Mineral Development and Trading Corporation (WBMTDC). The project envisages the setting up of a 1.1 million tonne per annum finished steel and a 1,000 MW captive power project. “We hope to make this the fastest MoA to be implemented in West Bengal,” B. Bhusan Agarwal, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, said.

Coal allocation

He said in the first phase, a capacity of 2.5 lakh tonnes of steel and 250 MW of power would be created. However, he also shared his apprehension about the coal blocks, allocation of which has not been received till now.

The group met West Bengal Chief Minister in this regard on November 14 and had been assured of an allocation from the Jagannathpur block and later the Kunr block when WBMTDC gets the allotment.

Mr. Goyal claimed that the group was the single largest private sector employer in West Bengal with 10,000 people on its rolls across 24 locations. It has operations in Howrah, Burdwan, Durgapur, Ranigunj, Silguri, Orissa and Meghalaya.

Kolkata Mint to be coins, currency museum

Kolkata, 9 December: The Old Silver Mint here, a Grecian structure that is now a crumbling but landmark symbol, will house a coins and currency museum after its revamp, Home Minister P. Chidambaram said here on Monday.

“There will be a coins and currency museum, a convention centre, there will be a theatre, park, heritage hotel, centre for children,” he told reporters after laying the foundation stone of the three-year project estimated to cost Rs. 1.5 billion.

“These buildings are heritage buildings. This is a great opportunity to convert this property into a thriving, throbbing, bustling centre for culture, heritage, learning, education and entertainment,” Mr. Chidambaram said. The foundation stone was laid by West Bengal Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi.

Kolkata foundry park to attract Rs 25,000 cr investment

Kolkata: December 08, 2008-The foundry park in Kolkata is expected to attract Rs 25,000 crore investment in five years from completion.Tapash Chatterjee, chief executive officer-cum-secretary, Foundry Cluster Development Association, a special purpose vehicle for the foundry park in West Bengal, said 126 members had evinced interest in the project.

The park, spread over 926 acre, can accommodate 150 units. In the first phase, 270 acres will be required. The tendering process for infrastructure in the park is on. The first phase of the project is expected to be complete in the next 12 months. The park, once completed, will employ 30,000 people.

‘Whoever is Castro’s friend across the world is also my friend’,” Maradona told Jyoti Basu

Kolkata, Dec 7, 2008: Frenzied Kolkatans didn’t seem to have enough of Argentine football legend Diego Maradona as he visited the Mother House here to pay obeisance to Mother Teresa and later called on Marxist icon Jyoti Basu, crowding both venues for a glimpse of the star and screaming themselves hoarse with their slogans.On the second day of his visit to the city, Maradona lit a candle at Mother Teresa’s tomb, participated in a prayer session with the sisters of the order, and shook hands with the orphan children to fulfil a wish that he has nurtured for years.

And from all accounts, Maradona and Basu got along famously - thanks to their common “friend”, Cuban leader Fidel Castro.

“Viva Maradona”, “Maradona, Maradona”, shouted frenzied fans as he went to pay homage at the tomb of Mother Teresa - the Catholic nun revered worldwide as the Apostle of Peace.Maradona spent half-an-hour at the Mother House, the global headquarters of the Missionaries of Charity founded by Mother Teresa in South Kolkata.

“I wanted to see what Mother Teresa has done in this city. So I want to utilise this trip to visit the Mother House,” Maradona said Saturday, disclosing why he had agreed to come to the city.
Mother Teresa, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979, is known for her monumental work among the underprivileged.

Clad in a black T-shirt and jeans, Maradona arrived in a silver-white Mercedes at Mother House to deafening cheers from thousands of people who waited for hours on the streets and had perched themselves precariously on trees and walls of nearby buildings for a glimpse of the soccer genius.

He waved and threw flying kisses, as nuns of the order, draped in blue-white sarees received him on the narrow ally leading to the Mother House. Once inside the courtyard of the building, Maradona and his girlfriend Veronica were welcomed with a blue-white garland by the sisters, who also seemed to enjoy every bit of their interaction with the soccer superstar.

Evidently in high spirits, Maradona went round the building, and met the young orphans - some of them mentally challenged. He patted the infants on the head and kissed and embraced them before proceeding to the room where the Mother’s grave lies. Hands clasped, Maradona stood silently before the tomb and then lit a candle as the sisters chanted prayers.

Pindrop silence descended on the room once the prayers ended, as Maradona seemed to soak in the serenity of the place. He then knelt down and kissed the white marble of the tomb. Before leaving, Maradona went back to the children. “Bye, bye”, he said. Outside, soccer fans sporting Argentine jerseys tried to break the barricade put up by the security personnel deployed in strength.

“I want to touch his feet - his left foot, and see what it is made of,” said a youth. “If he doesn’t mind, I want to embrace him. Can you help me?” was another young Maradona fan’s plea to a scribe. Maradona called on Basu later in the day.

“Maradona told Basu, ‘I (Maradona) am a friend of Fidel Castro, and you (Basu) are a friend of Castro too’,” West Bengal Sports Minister Subhas Chakraborty told mediapersons waiting outside Basu’s home in North 24-Parganas district. “He further said ‘Whoever is Castro’s friend across the world is also my friend’,” Chakraborty added.

The football hero met the nonagenarian politician for 10 minutes, but disappointed his fans who waited in hundreds outside Basu’s residence. Lending a communist hue to Maradona’s visit to Kolkata, the organisers had arranged for a tete-a-tete between him and Basu. Maradona, a great admirer of Castro, readily agreed to call on Basu at his residence after seeing a photograph of the former chief minister with Castro.

The photo, showing Castro and Basu standing side by side, was taken in 1973 when the former Cuban president visited the city. It was sent to Maradona about 10 days ago by the organisers of his visit. Kolkata, the soccer crazy hub of India, had accorded a tumultuous welcome to the hero of Argentina’s 1986 World Cup triumph since he landed in the city in the wee hours Saturday.

More than 50,000 exuberant fans spent a sleepless night as they assembled at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport and lined the route of his convoy upto the hotel. Around 80,000 people turned up Saturday afternoon at the giant Salt Lake stadium, where Maradona was felicitated. He also laid the foundation stone of the Indian Football School at Maheshtala, 13 km south of the city.

WBIDC to begin socio-economic study for Rs 2,000-cr shipyard

Kolkata, 7 December (PTI): West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation will soon conduct a socio-economic viability study to overcome the land acquisition hurdle for the Rs 2,000 crore Apeejay-Bharati shipyard joint venture project in the State.

WBIDC and the Haldia Development Authority, which was involved in the land acquisition for the project that was to come up at the port town of Haldia, hinted that consent for some 300 acres was received out of 494 acres required.

"WBIDC will soon initiate a socia-economic viability study at the project area in order to formulate a rehabilitation scheme. This will help negotiations for land acquisition," top official sources told PTI.

Apeejay-Surendra Group Chairman Karan Paul had earlier said he was committed to the State and hoped "misunderstanding" on land acquisition would be overcome soon.

Bengal Shipyard Ltd, a 50:50 joint venture between Apeejay group's unlisted Apeejay Shipping Ltd and Bharati Shipyard Ltd, reiterated that the company was committed to the project despite the current economic crisis.

Bengal Shipyard officials said the company was also in direct dialogue at the panchayat level for land acquisition.

Bengal Shipyard was planning another Rs 2,000-crore shipyard project in Orissa. Asked about the possibility of the project to shift to Orissa, Bengal Shipyard CEO S D Pattnaik said, "The Orissa project is separate from the West Bengal project. The Orissa project has no bearing on the Bengal project."

Diego floored by Maradona chant in Kolkata

Kolkata:07 December 2008, Sunday:THE LONG cherished dream of football-crazy Bengalis to get a glimpse of the football legend, Diego Armando Maradona was fulfilled when the world-famous former Argentine soccer star touched the soil of West Bengal at the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Airport in the wee hours on Saturday (December 6).

Lakhs of people thronged roads to have a glimpse of their dream player, who along with his girl friend, Veronica, arrived at a five star hotel by a specially designed bus from the airport. The journey of the soccer legend to Maheshtala in Kolkata, where he later laid the foundation stone for the Indian Football School, was adorned with the Argentine flag and the welcome note in Spanish – ’Beinvenido dios del futbal’ (Welcome to the Prince of football). Here he was gifted a portrait of Che Guevara, drawn by a school boy, whom Maradona hugged and kissed too.

The West Bengal state government arranged for a grand felicitation of Diego at the state’s famous Yubabharati Krirangan (YBK) Stadium in Salt Lake, in the evening. The presence of 80,000 football lovers just to have a view of their football-hero bewildered Maradona, who expressed his gratitude to the crazy football fans. Diego, being amazed at such a grand reception, shouted in Spanish, “I have never imagined that football is followed so passionately here and I have so many fans.

Manmohan cuts short West Bengal trip

Kolkata : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday cancelled his trip to West Bengal's Malda district due to heavy fog and poor visibility in adjacent Purnea from where his chopper was supposed to take off. He has left for New Delhi. "The prime minister decided to cancel his visit when officials learnt of the poor visibility at Purnea," Malda MP Abu Hasen Khan Choudhury told mediapersons.

Manmohan Singh was scheduled to lay the foundation stone of a technical institute named after the late Congress leader A.B.A. Ghani Khan Choudhury in Malda. The prime minister arrived in Kolkata on Saturday and left for Santiniketan, where he attended the convocation of the Visva Bharati University. He then returned to Kolkata and spent the night at Raj Bhavan.

Darjeeling issue to be solved through talks: West Bengal CM

SILIGURI:07 December , 2008: Ruling out a separate Gorkhaland state as demanded by the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM), West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Saturday said he would not permit the division of the state. The issue of Gorkha Janamukti Morcha's (GJM) demand for a separate state out of Darjeeling and some of its adjoining areas will be solved through talks, Bhattachrjee said today.

Addressing the inaugural programme of Darjeeling district conference of All India Kishan Sabha, at Phansidewa near here, he said some elements were trying to destroy the harmony of the region. "People should be united and resist this move," he said. "I do not want divisions within West Bengal and will try my best not allow anyone to divide the state," he said.

Bhattacharjee termed poverty the root of terrorism and called for an united fight against it. "Poverty is the root of terrorism. I am not saying this for the masterminds of terrorism but the young boys who fall into their trap for pecuniary pressure and become their cadre. Hence we have to stress on overall economic development of the state and the country," he said. At the same time, he condemned terrorists as "inhuman". "Even after understanding the root of terrorism, I must say that what the terrorists have done in Mumbai is shameful and condemnable. They are inhuman".

Reminding the audience that 16 years back this day (Dec 6,1992) the Babri Masjid was destroyed by Hindu nationalists in Ayodhya, Bhattacharjee said: "We are reaping what we have sowed." "Instead of strengthening our secularism, some of our politicians have put in their best efforts in weakening it. As a result, we are facing terrorist attacks not only from outside but also inside the country."

I had no idea I’ve so many fans in India: Maradona

KOLKATA: Dec 07, 2008: Kolkata Soccer legend Diego Armando Maradona said on that he was surprised by the response of the crazy fans who thronged in thousands to have a glimpse of him as he laid the foundation stone of a football school at Maheshtala in South 24 Parganas district on Saturday.

Blowing kisses in the air and waving to the crowd, the 48-year-old Argentine, dressed in a grey shirt and matching trouser, said he had not anticipated that his two-day visit would evoke such a huge response.

"I had no idea that football enjoyed so much fan following in this part of the world far from my home in South America," the soccer star said. "My country is far from here, but I never knew I have so many fans here," he said as the crowd kept shouting 'Diego, Diego'.

The soccer icon spoke to reporters for just two minutes in Spanish with the help of an interpreter. The Indian Football School is being developed by the Maheshtala Municipality in collaboration with a private company.

Maradona, who led Argentina to World Cup triumph in 1986, had flown into the eastern metropolis in the wee hours of Saturday to a tumultuous welcome. In a cheerful mood, with girl friend Veronica by his side, the legend signed autographs for children and shook hands with fans.
Maradona then proceeded to leave an imprint of his dreaded left foot, which tore open defences all over the world, on a slab of plaster of Paris for posterity.

He took off his shoes, rolled up his trouser and then pressed his left foot firmly into the plaster as the crowd cheered. A replica of the Taj Mahal was presented to him as also a portrait of revolutionary Che Guevara. Before winding up his visit, the legend picked up a football thrown at him, balanced it delicately on his leg for a moment before kicking it back into the crowd which went delirious.

West Bengal Sports Minister Subhas Chakraborty was also present on the occasion. Earlier, Maradona and his entourage flew in a helicopter from the metropolis to the venue of the function.