Kolkata News

[niljee]

Originally Posted by dayalbaba

the LF govt stance on tana ricksha was reasonable, those who had licenses were to be allowed to carry on but no new licenses would be granted, which would have meant this practice would have died out gradually.

What happened to the battery-driven vehicle project? Some time back there was an announcement that these people will be rehabilitated so that they can get bank loans for the battery driven vehicles.

[dayalbaba]

orokom koto shunlam. amar cigarette charar moto, protyek bochor 1bar kore chari.

[niljee]

Originally Posted by dayalbaba

orokom koto shunlam. amar cigarette charar moto, protyek bochor 1bar kore chari.

[Suncity]

BTW what is the "actual" status of the beautification projects?

1) Around BBD Bag
2) Around Curzon Park
3) Heritage zone from BBD Bag to Esplanade
4) Along Ganges on Kolkata side
5) Along Ganges on Howrah side
6) Airport to city

All these were big ticket items and some of the band bajao media had projected completion within six months. Trial stretch along Ganges was supposed to be over by Dec [extra bonus promised].

[studdmanster]

After 5 yrs they would say..."fund shortage'r jonno hyni, abar jetan, ferot ele korbo"...

[soumalya747]

Just now at Juhu,Mumbai I saw one PORCHE & one ROLLS ROYAL CAR. PORCHE's number is WB26 R 4848 &ROLLS ROYAL's number is WB 06 H 518.I'm Impressed.

[raj145_91]

Those are actually Mumbai cars, registered at Kolkata. avishar can explain better.

[niljee]

Adventure sports hub on city outskirts soon
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Kolkata: Drive over extreme surfaces in all-terrain vehicles, enjoy a bird’s eye view of the City of Joy from a helicopter, take a hot air balloon ride over the marshy expanse known as the East Kolkata Wetlands, experience a slice of rural Bengal. You can do all this and more if the plan to set up an adventure destination close to Kolkata materializes.

OSL Goyal’s, a city-based business group, has chalked out a blueprint for a recreational park off Basanti highway in the eastern fringes of Kolkata. “Around 15 km from Science City, we have purchased plots of land aggregating 50 acre. Once the registration process is over by March-April, we will begin work on the Rs 70-80 crore project,” said OSL Goyal’s director Nirmal Kumar Goyal. The 18-month project is slated to be completed sometime in early 2014.

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Defau...0502&AppName=2

[rupakd]

Besu research hub for early diagnosis

Bengal Engineering and Science University (Besu) may soon start a research centre for detection of diseases, one of the biggest in eastern India.

The Centre of Advanced Research on Health Care Science and Technology will turn the varsity, waiting to be upgraded to an Institute of National Importance, into a major centre for biological and bio-medical sciences and technology, an inter-disciplinary field. The university has already requested the state government for land next to its Shibpur campus.

The research centre will be modelled after the Indo-US Centre for Research Excellence in Fabrionics supported by the Indo-US Science and Technology Forum, a consortium of Indian researchers from IIT Kanpur, IIT Kharagpur, Besu and Centre for Mechanical Engineering Research Institute, Durgapur, in collaboration with University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Illinois at Chicago and Northwestern University.

“The $15 million research project started in 2006 addresses issues related to energy storage devices, biomedical devices, micro/nano fabrication and microfluidics,” said Amitabha Ghosh, national coordinator for the project, emeritus professor of Besu and former director of IIT Kharagpur.

The centre will offer computerised health diagnostics along with an integrated health care system. A brainchild of Besu vice-chancellor Ajoy Kumar Ray, who once headed the School of Medical Science and Technology in IIT Kharagpur, the centre will be involved in disease detection with an integrated investigative approach. Computerised report generation will help radiologists and pathologists and automated recognition of biomedical signals such as ECG, EEG and PCG will be a boon to patients from remote areas with no doctors.

“We will be able to create a complete database of diseases in eastern India. We want to set up a facility with integrated medical imaging, image processing, disease pattern recognition, biomedical instrumentation along with research on genetics and molecular biology, all under one roof,” Ray said. “Faculty and researchers at Besu are working on diverse aspects of health care from personalised, image-based prosthesis placement to biosensor and biochip development.”

Besu professor Chirasree Roychaudhuri has developed an immuno sensor that detects growth of E. Coli and Salmonella typhimurium strains in blood. “The low-cost, portable and easy-to-operate system detects bacterial presence in an hour instead of the two days needed for culture. The biosensors will be used not only for bacterial or virus detection but also to estimate the efficacy of medicine,” the VC said.

Imaging, image processing, diagnostic software, medical instrumentation and medical informatics will be in place in the first two years. The second phase will see research in advanced imaging and diagnostic tools, personalised medicine and genetics, synthetic biology and biomaterial.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/111122...y_14933732.jsp

[rupakd]

Green light to Presi IT department

The Presidency University Council has approved a proposal to start an information technology department to make the institution IT-enabled.

Vice-chancellor Malabika Sarkar told Metro that the proposed IT department would have four key personnel: an IT director, application analyst, servers and network engineer and a PC/workstation/laptop support specialist.

“We will seek posts from the government to constitute the IT department,” said Sarkar. The proposed posts would be of the rank of assistant professor, associate professor and professor, she added.

The IT department will be modelled on the suggestions of IT expert Dipu Deshmukh, who had been engaged by Sugata Bose, the chairman of the Presidency mentor group, for converting the university into a hi-tech campus, said a council member.

“Deshmukh had prepared a draft for the IT department. This draft was approved in a recent council meeting to initiate the process of developing the department,” said a council member.

Sarkar said the department would monitor technical matters, such as the application of high-speed Internet connectivity, approved under the National Knowledge Network (NKN) project and provide consultative service to individual departments.

“The IT department would see to it that Presidency students get to listen to lectures by IIT or IISER teachers via video-conferencing. We’ll have to sign an MoU with the NKN representatives,” said the vice-chancellor.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/111122...y_14906085.jsp

[SamitB]

Prime Focus Broadcast Hub to Transform Kolkata Media and Entertainment Market

Prime Focus has announced the launch of a revolutionary new service for the media and entertainment industry in the eastern region of India – the opening of a Broadcast Hub in Kolkata. At the heart of this new offering is CLEAR™, the hybrid-cloud based, unified multi-platform content operations infrastructure developed by Prime Focus Technologies (PFT), which utilizes the latest in cloud technology to securely manage content, workflows, media processing, storage and delivery. CLEAR™ technology is already changing the way major broadcasters such as STAR TV handle content and manage the broadcast eco-system.

The Kolkata Broadcast Hub will provide the region with a Digital Media Supply Chain – a file-based service which connects content developers, broadcasters and content transmission centers, and offers many benefits over the traditional method of using tape to deliver content, including reduced operational costs, ‘time-to-air’ reductions, and previously untapped opportunities to monetize content by making it available to new audiences across multiple platforms.

Expanding on PFT’s existing ingest centres in Mumbai, which offer clients local access points to the Digital Media Supply Chain, the new Kolkata Broadcast Hub adds a state-of-the-art Content Operations facility to provide industry-leading production, post-production, visual effects, distribution, archiving and delivery services to the local advertising, film and broadcast industries.

The advantages are clear. Content providers can dedicate their resources to making programming and advertising as creative and compelling as possible, without having to worry about technical delivery specifications; and broadcasters have access to a larger pool of content from more diverse locations and suppliers, and because they receive a broadcast-ready digital file, no longer have to handle tapes or run in-house content services departments to prepare the content for air. This can represent substantial savings in terms of time and cost for all members of the Digital Media Supply Chain.

“We are delighted to be bringing our Cloud based cutting-edge production, post and content services to Kolkata,” said Ramki Sankaranarayanan, President and CEO of PFT and CEO of Prime Focus India. “Not only does this offer local content providers access to the tools and talent to finish their work to the highest standard, and then deliver it for broadcast efficiently and correctly; it will also dramatically change the way broadcasters in the area operate, offering more choice and diversification of content whilst removing costly, labour-intensive processes. This is a ‘first-of-its-kind’ for the vibrant city of Kolkata, and the eastern region in general, and we’re genuinely excited by the possibilities which lie ahead.”

Follow Up
Is this the subsidy of this?

[Suncity]

FICCI backs AMRI directors, calls for release

http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-...e1-790407.aspx

The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, a leading chamber, has requested the government of West Bengal to release AMRI’s seven directors who were arrested after the December 9 fire disaster.

The chamber has argued its case both on grounds of fair play and preempting the rise of negative sentiment among investors.

All the seven directors arrested by the police have pleaded they were not involved in the day-to-day running of the hospital. For this reason, suggestions were circulating in the city’s investor community that the administration could have treated the directors with more sympathy. The Ficci statement on Monday is the first instance of an organisation coming forward with a formal statement.

Excerpts from FICCI statement

http://www.ficci.com/SEdocument/2017...-jan2-amri.pdf

FICCI desires to work closely with the Government of West Bengal to promote investment and accelerate economic activity across all sectors of the economy.
A judicious, non-discriminatory and objective handling of the AMRI case will go a long way in restoring the investors’ confidence and allow FICCI to play its due role in West Bengal.

[sidney_jec]

an imbecile attempt to shrug of responsibility. if the directors are not aware of how their institute is running they should better leave their posts

[Suncity]

Originally Posted by sidney_jec

an imbecile attempt to shrug of responsibility. if the directors are not aware of how their institute is running they should better leave their posts

I think FICCI has a point. Many people sit on the board of directors of many companies and are often not associated with day to day affairs of the companies.

That's why the prosecution will try to prove that the arrested directors were involved in day to day affairs of running the hospital and also knew about the hospital fire much before the fire brigade was notified.

In a mass death tragedy like this, it is always possible for a heady mix of public sentiment, political necessities and media cacophony to conflict with the delivery of justice.

Of course I am not a legal expert.

[sidney_jec]

Originally Posted by Suncity

I think FICCI has a point. Many people sit on the board of directors of many companies and are often not associated with day to day affairs of the companies.

That's why the prosecution will try to prove that the arrested directors were involved in day to day affairs of running the hospital and also knew about the hospital fire much before the fire brigade was notified.

In a mass death tragedy like this, it is always possible for a heady mix of public sentiment, political necessities and media cacophony to conflict with the delivery of justice.

Of course I am not a legal expert.

may be but they certainly are someone accountable. Do you remember the how the BPs CEO reacted after the oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico collapsed? He said he is not a cement engineer and cant be held responsible. This was despite the BP employees making sure that the flawed design was brought to the notice of the head honchos of the company. Am pretty sure the management knew that it was cutting corners in terms of safety.

[niljee]

Originally Posted by sidney_jec

may be but they certainly are someone accountable. Do you remember the how the BPs CEO reacted after the oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico collapsed? He said he is not a cement engineer and cant be held responsible. This was despite the BP employees making sure that the flawed design was brought to the notice of the head honchos of the company. Am pretty sure the management knew that it was cutting corners in terms of safety.

The arrests were probably made mostly to pacify the public outrage...the govt also knows probably it would be difficult to convict them with very strong sentences in the long run other than hanging them for 7 days that is...but I agree with Ficci that it seems that the government is being vindictive and selective in handling this issue. If they really wanted to accuse the management then they would have arrested all the board members including the doctors like Chhetri, Dasgupta. Otherwise it just gives out the message that its crime to do business in Bengal and all business people are outright criminals to start with. This is taking the CPM ideology a step further really.

[AbhishekDatta]

CM in firefighting mode

- Six new fire stations, better coordination between agencies
OUR BUREAU

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday called for coordination among law-enforcing agencies to tackle disasters at a time when the AMRI anger is still simmering and three more fires, two of them on Park Street, breaking out in the last two days.

Chairing a meeting at Town Hall, Mamata stressed the need to pre-empt disaster and reduce the extent of damage.

The chief minister cautioned police, the Calcutta Municipal Corporation (CMC) and the fire brigade to be on alert, especially in winter. “She said slum-dwellers and pavement-dwellers often burn dry leaves for warmth in winter and this is always a threat. She wants prompt response,” a senior police officer said.

Mamata advised police to keep at hand a list of water bodies in the city. “The chief minister said tackling fire becomes a problem because, in most cases, firefighters are not aware of the nearest source of water. She wants police to draw up a list of water bodies in every locality, especially congested ones, and share it with CMC and the fire brigade,” the police officer said. “The police commissioner, mayor and DG (fire services) have been asked to work in close coordination.”

The chief minister also expressed displeasure at the time taken by police to reach the spot. “She talked about complaints against delay by police. She wants police to be more prompt and to take quick decisions,” a police source said.

Mamata also sanctioned six more fire stations. Four of the sites have already been identified — Burrabazar, Tiljala, Parama Island and Garia. “Six new fire stations will be set up. Firefighters and trained disaster management personnel will be stationed at the new units to tackle the situation,” disaster management secretary Indeevar Pandey said after the meeting. There are at present 16 fire stations in Calcutta and its suburbs.

The meeting was attended by finance minister Amit Mitra, industries minister Partha Chatterjee, chief secretary Samar Ghosh, home secretary G.D. Gautama, mayor Sovan Chatterjee, police commissioner R.K. Pachnanda, Pandey and senior police officers, including the divisional heads.

Illegal construction

Mamata asked the CMC to be more alert about illegal constructions.

Police officers informed the chief minister that a list of illegal constructions is sent to the CMC every month. CMC officials, led by the mayor, complained of inadequate police arrangement during demolition drives. “CMC officials said most of the illegal constructions were in sensitive areas and demolition cannot be carried out without police cover. The police asked to be informed at least two days in advance,” a government official said.

The chief minister asked CMC to involve police and the fire department while sanctioning building plans. “She wants strict policing to ensure safety,” Pachnanda said.


http://telegraphindia.com/1120103/js...y_14954836.jsp

[mountaincloud]

Originally Posted by AbhishekDatta

CM in firefighting mode

- Six new fire stations, better coordination between agencies
OUR BUREAU

these are good ideas and things-to-do. however, her ministers should be able to come up with solutions. without an able set of administrators running the government, it can be very difficult for her if she wants to do everything herself.

[rupakd]

State moved up economy ladder in ’09-10

Though it’s a tad too late, it seems that the Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee government had actually started walking on its much touted road to industrialization. At least the annual survey of industries — a report published by the ministry of statistics and programme implementation — published in Delhi on Friday, indicates this. Both in case of the state’s contribution to the national economy (Gross Value Added or GVA) and employment opportunities created, the state has registered positive growth in 2009-10 and moved up in the national ladder.
Thus, while in case of industrial growth the state has finished at rank 9 as against rank 11th last year (2008-09). In case of employment opportunities, it finished eighth.
Maharashtra and Gujarat have maintained their traditional top positions when it comes to industrialization. While in case of Maharashtra, there has been a 19.6% growth, in case of Gujarat it has been 13.9%. As against this, the industrial growth of West Bengal has been a meagre 3.3%, however that has been far better than its performance in 2008-09, when the state registered a negative growth.
In case of employment scope, where West Bengal has finished eighth, the state has registered a 4.9% growth, better than last time. Here Tamil Nadu has managed to come out on top, beating Maharashtra and Gujarat who are in the second and third positions respectively.
It also indicates that the claims of the earlier government about West Bengal attracting capital investments, was also not all that false. A growth of 44.23% was registered in case of fixed capital investment in the state in 2009-10. Interestingly, this growth is much higher than leader Maharashtra, where the fixed capital investment related growth has been 10.20%. In case of invested capital growth too, Bengal has registered a high 37.13% growth, which is again, much higher than Maharashtra where the figure was 12.26%.
“The performance of Bengal has nosedived when it comes to wages paid to workers. Thus, while Gujarat has registered a wage growth of 14.49% and Maharashtra has registered a growth of 12.97%, in case of West Bengal there has been negative growth of -2.71%. This clearly indicates that the state is not labour friendly and that in turn has affected its productivity, which is another reason why the state is not being able to make big strides in industrial growth,” said Bivas Chaudhuri, director of the Central Statistical Organisation (East).
Economist Sugato Marjit said: “I am yet to see the report but I can tell you that the state has continuously declined for years when it comes to industrialization.”

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Defau...&ViewMode=HTML

[mountaincloud]

http://sports.ndtv.com/football/news...-crazy-kolkata

Cafu, Pele, Maldini set to rock soccer-crazy Kolkata
Press Trust of India
Tuesday, 03 January 2012 20:59

Kolkata: The home of Indian football is gearing up for another fiesta when a galaxy of world stars, led by two-time World Cup winner Brazilian Cafu, will take on a dream Indian XI at the Salt Lake Stadium on January 23.

More than three decades after he mesmerised the football-crazy crowd in an exhibition match for New York Cosmos, 71-year-old Brazilian legend Pele will also return to action in the city, as part of the Superstars XI.

The world team will also boast of another Brazilian star Ronaldo, the tournament organisers stated in a release on Tuesday.

Kolkata's football-crazy crowd will also get an opportunity to watch the member of 1998 World Cup winning France team, Marcel Desailly besides the likes of legendary Italian defender Paolo Maldini.

The coach of the team will be former Dutch superstar Ruud Gullit - the captain of the Euro '88 winning team.

The home side, selected by the Football Players' Association of India, will be led by the inspirational Bhaichung Bhutia and will also have another great forward I M Vijayan up front, the release added.

The Shyam Thapa-coached dream Indian XI also includes former Indian stars Carlton Chapman, Jo-Paul Ancheri and Bruno Coutinho.

The football superstars along with few Indian players will impart a two-hour training in the morning of the match day.

"The event is about promoting football in the country and giving young and upcoming players exposure to international football," it added.

The tickets for the 120,000 capacity stadium will be priced between Rs. 300 and 500, the release said.

Way back on September 22, 1977, Pele fever had gripped the city as he drew more than 80,000 fans at Eden Gardens for an exhibition match against Mohun Bagan.

After Pele, Kolkata's tryst with the legends of the game has continued as it has hosted German World Cup winning captain Lothar Matthaus, legendary goalkeeper Oliver Kahn, Argentine great Diego Maradona and the iconic Lionel Messi.

The organisers said further details of the match would be announced on January 6.

The Teams:

Superstars XI: Cafu (c), Pele, Regi Blinker, Ronaldo Lus Nazario de Lima, Marcel Desailly, Paolo Maldini, Denilson, Pierre van Hooijdonk, Angsker Birkman, Winston Bogarde, Christian Karaembu, Roland Kopp, Ronald De Boer, Marcel Oerlemans and Rene Higuita (goalkeeper); Coach: Ruud Gullit (coach).

Indian Dream XI: Bhaichung Bhutia, Renedy Singh, Bruno Coutinho, Calrton Chapman, I M Vijayan, Jo Paul Ancheri, Alvito D' Cunha, Dipendu Biswas, Basudeb Mondal, Godfrey Periera, Aqueel Ansari; Coach: Shyam Thapa.