Kolkata News

[AbhishekDatta]

WB govt warns of paycut for absence on Bharat bandh on May 31
PTI | 08:05 PM,May 29,2012

Kolkata, May 29 (PTI) West Bengal government today issued a circular warning government employees of pay-cut in the event of absence from duty on May 31 when the BJP-led NDA has called a 'Bharat bandh' to protest the petrol price hike. No leave would be granted for government employees on the day, according to a circular issued by Chief Secretary Samar Ghosh. A pay cut would be effected in case of leave of absence without specific reason, secretariat sources said. The state government had effected pay-cut in salaries of government employees who were absent during the February 28 countrywide general strike called by left trade unions.PTI AKB PB PC

http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfee...1/1004911.html

[AbhishekDatta]

Land clock ticks on science crown
- Saha Institute awaits Bengal response to Rajarhat request as Karnataka smacks lips

ANASUYA BASU

Calcutta, June 8: Calcutta runs the risk of losing a coveted international science project with far-reaching potential if the state government fails to provide land this year.

The Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics (SINP) has won a Rs 6,000-crore project to build the world’s fifth high-energy synchrotron centre. But the government has not yet informed the SINP if land could be given.

“Under Phase I, for which the department of atomic energy has already allocated Rs 250 crore, we will have to procure a contiguous piece of land of 100 to 200 acres from the government,” said SINP director Milon Sanyal.

Sanyal has written “three to four letters” to the Bengal government but is yet to receive a reply.

The institute has asked for land in Rajarhat, where it has been given eight acres to develop its second campus. “If we do not get a response by December, we will have to think of shifting elsewhere. The project cannot be delayed,” added Sanyal.

Phase I of the project will have to be completed by March 31, 2015. That involves preparing a detailed project report, procuring land and delivering about 1.5km of the synchrotron ring — the entire machine will be composed of 50 such sections.

If Bengal loses out, Karnataka could be the big gainer. “The government of Karnataka is offering 500 acres in Chitradurga to the department of atomic energy. We will have to shift there, but it would be far easier for us to operate in Calcutta as the institute is based here. Most of the scientists and engineers already working on the project are here,” the director said.

A synchrotron centre is a storage ring of electrons moving at very high velocity and energy that gives out intense light, from infra-red to X-ray. Synchrotron radiation sources reveal information invaluable for numerous fields of research.

The existing four high-energy synchrotron centres are in France, the US, Japan and Germany. The fifth high-energy synchrotron centre will be a 6 Giga Electron Volt (GeV) machine, technologically the most upgraded, that can produce very narrow light beams of 10 to 30 nano metres.

cc TT

[AbhishekDatta]

‘I will tell investors, now Bengal is different’


When it comes to sport, he seems a quintessential Calcuttan — he likes cricket only when his team (England in his case) wins and is eager to catch the football fever on television as the UEFA Euro kicks off. After wrapping up his first official visit to Calcutta on Friday, James Bevan, the British high commissioner in New Delhi, spoke to Metro about strengthening Bengal-Britain ties, welcoming students to the UK and why it’s important for diplomats to have daughters!

Is this your first visit to Calcutta? What was your impression of the city?

This is actually my first official visit to Calcutta. Before I took up my position as the British high commissioner in December, I spent two-and-a-half months travelling around India, to learn something about the real India. I was here in October, during Durga Puja. We visited some private pujas and in the evenings, I went with deputy high commissioner Sanjay Wadvani to some big public pandals. I also went to the Sunderbans.

Now I’m here on my first official visit and it’s really for me to begin to make contact with the top people here. Yesterday I saw the chief minister and some others, primarily to discuss what we can do to strengthen British relations with Bengal and the region.

I like Calcutta a lot, it’s a very historical city, it’s very distinctive, it’s like nowhere else. It’s green, welcoming, vibrant, I know you have a very strong literary tradition and I’m very happy to be here.

How did the meeting with Mamata Banerjee go and what was discussed?

Well, we had a very cordial and warm meeting. We spent some time talking about the possibilities for developing a relationship of trade and investments between Britain and West Bengal. She spoke about various areas in which she thought Britain might have something to offer Bengal. I am very keen to encourage British companies to invest in Bengal just as I am keen to encourage Indian companies to invest in the UK.

We already have a relationship in various areas — healthcare, education… the British Council is helping train teachers in English... then development. One of the first things I did when I got here was visit one of the slums where our Department for International Development (DFID) has been working to improve healthcare and sanitation [Kalidham slum in Dum Dum].

In terms of the economic relationship, I think, infrastructure is one area to look at. Bengal is looking to develop its infrastructure, Britain has companies which are very good at that. Britain also has companies that are good at driving capital. Then healthcare. There’s a huge demand in Bengal for quality healthcare... the British are good at healthcare and may have something to offer. Bio-tech and health sciences are areas where India and the UK have a lot in common.... Britain has a very strong, high-end manufacturing industry and I know that the chief minister is keen to develop a manufacturing industry here in West Bengal.

What was your first impression of the chief minister?

She was very engaging, very energetic, and she’s clearly a very committed politician. The most important thing is to have a good, open conversation and we had that. The meeting was for nearly an hour. There was myself, the deputy high commissioner and a couple of people from the British deputy high commission and just her.

You then met the finance minister...

Yes, I met Amit Mitra. See, when I go talk to British audiences, they are going to ask me about investment in India and which states offer attractive propositions. So it was very good to talk to Amit Mitra because he was very articulate about the economic challenges in Bengal and also the progress that the state is making.

The main thing I took away from this is, when you look at the things that investors want when they think about which state they are going to put their money in, Bengal has them all — water, a skilled labour force that doesn’t come at a high cost and energy, which is a problem in many other states. Capital is also readily available in Bengal.

I know that land is a sensitive issue everywhere but he [Mitra] talked about ways in which the state could make available land that they already have rather than acquire from private individuals. For me that was very encouraging, very useful.

So, when you meet British investors, what will you tell them about Bengal?

I will say, come and look.... I think people in Britain may have a view of Bengal that is rather old-fashioned, they remember the history of the last 30 or 40 years, and I’ll tell them that now it’s different. Calcutta is very different, as is Bengal. So what I’ll tell British people looking at investments is that something new and exciting is happening in Bengal, come and have a look for yourself and make your judgements about whether this is an attractive environment.

Our chief minister has said she wants to turn Calcutta into London. Any London lessons that we can take?

Oh, it’s not for me to give lessons (laughs)! But if you watched the Queen’s pageant on Sunday when we had a thousand boats going down the Thames, the lesson that we learnt was that we had kind of forgotten that we had this great asset. The Thames used to be the main thoroughfare in London 500 years ago. It was a source of water, of commerce… and in winters, they had fairs on the frozen river! I think last weekend we’ve rediscovered the Thames, we’ve realised that it’s an asset that we need to protect and use better.... So, I think the advice would be, you know, you have a tremendous asset here [the Hooghly], value it, cherish it.

source TT

[dayalbaba]

Originally Posted by AbhishekDatta

Land clock ticks on science crown
- Saha Institute awaits Bengal response to Rajarhat request as Karnataka smacks lips

institute of *nuclear* physics ? e somosto ma mati manush birodhi karjokolap. amra chash korbo and onahare katabo.

[sidney_jec]

are baba ki bolbo? ami ko bangali ni aatche.
(do I deserve an award for this?)

[samrat_m]

Originally Posted by AbhishekDatta

Land clock ticks on science crown
- Saha Institute awaits Bengal response to Rajarhat request as Karnataka smacks lips

ANASUYA BASU

Calcutta, June 8: Calcutta runs the risk of losing a coveted international science project with far-reaching potential if the state government fails to provide land this year.

The Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics (SINP) has won a Rs 6,000-crore project to build the world’s fifth high-energy synchrotron centre. But the government has not yet informed the SINP if land could be given.

“Under Phase I, for which the department of atomic energy has already allocated Rs 250 crore, we will have to procure a contiguous piece of land of 100 to 200 acres from the government,” said SINP director Milon Sanyal.

Sanyal has written “three to four letters” to the Bengal government but is yet to receive a reply.

The institute has asked for land in Rajarhat, where it has been given eight acres to develop its second campus. “If we do not get a response by December, we will have to think of shifting elsewhere. The project cannot be delayed,” added Sanyal.

Phase I of the project will have to be completed by March 31, 2015. That involves preparing a detailed project report, procuring land and delivering about 1.5km of the synchrotron ring — the entire machine will be composed of 50 such sections.

If Bengal loses out, Karnataka could be the big gainer. “The government of Karnataka is offering 500 acres in Chitradurga to the department of atomic energy. We will have to shift there, but it would be far easier for us to operate in Calcutta as the institute is based here. Most of the scientists and engineers already working on the project are here,” the director said.

A synchrotron centre is a storage ring of electrons moving at very high velocity and energy that gives out intense light, from infra-red to X-ray. Synchrotron radiation sources reveal information invaluable for numerous fields of research.

The existing four high-energy synchrotron centres are in France, the US, Japan and Germany. The fifth high-energy synchrotron centre will be a 6 Giga Electron Volt (GeV) machine, technologically the most upgraded, that can produce very narrow light beams of 10 to 30 nano metres.

cc TT

The impact of this project will be unparalleled. It will catapult Kolkata into the international league & map, as this synchrotron centre will attract the entire international science community and change the face of scientific and technological research in the state and this part of the world. The synchrotron machine will have vast industrial use in steel plants, Boeing planes, automobiles and pharma besides nano, material and biological sciences. So one can imagine the impact of this project on economy & hospitality prospects of the state. No doubt why Karnataka is smacking lips about it, if Bengal falters.

If MB Govt. can make this project happen, I'll give her a 100/100 no matter whatever mistakes she has done or might be doing. Just want this to happen in Bengal. This opportunity can't be lost at any cost. SINP is a Bengal based institute & all it requires is around 100-200 acres, if not in Rajarhat, anywhere else like Kalyani, Bantala, South 24 Prgns around Kolkata would do I guess.

[dayalbaba]

how about giving them land in singur ?

[samrat_m]

Great Idea. Why NOT??? It is easily accessible to Kolkata via Durgapur Xpressway. But prior to that MB has to win the case against Tatas.

[dayalbaba]

actually, if they propose to tata to release at least 100-200 acres of that land (if I remember correctly 400 acres has no problems) for this project as a form of out of court settlement, tata would find it VERY difficult to say no. because one they are traditionally big backers of science, (TIFR/ IISc) and secondly, not helping a project like this would ruin their corporate image.

[samrat_m]

Originally Posted by dayalbaba

actually, if they propose to tata to release at least 100-200 acres of that land (if I remember correctly 400 acres has no problems) for this project as a form of out of court settlement, tata would find it VERY difficult to say no. because one they are traditionally big backers of science, (TIFR/ IISc) and secondly, not helping a project like this would ruin their corporate image.

Right again. This project is simply possible just with a little will from the govt.

[Suncity]

SINP should get in touch with Didi. If Didi wants she can get this done. Rest of the government doesn't take decisions. They sit on them. No point in bothering them for such high priority projects.

[CalcuttaChromosome]

Originally Posted by samrat_m

The impact of this project will be unparalleled. It will catapult Kolkata into the international league & map, as this synchrotron centre will attract the entire international science community and change the face of scientific and technological research in the state and this part of the world. The synchrotron machine will have vast industrial use in steel plants, Boeing planes, automobiles and pharma besides nano, material and biological sciences. So one can imagine the impact of this project on economy & hospitality prospects of the state. No doubt why Karnataka is smacking lips about it, if Bengal falters.

If MB Govt. can make this project happen, I'll give her a 100/100 no matter whatever mistakes she has done or might be doing. Just want this to happen in Bengal. This opportunity can't be lost at any cost. SINP is a Bengal based institute & all it requires is around 100-200 acres, if not in Rajarhat, anywhere else like Kalyani, Bantala, South 24 Prgns around Kolkata would do I guess.

Can someone suggest these positives through PrincipalSecretarysBlog (Mr Debasis Sen's blog). We somehow have access to him. Otherwise there is no other way we can reach the government and make them aware of it's big impact.... Time is running out while the Goverment is sleeping....

[mountaincloud]

Originally Posted by CalcuttaChromosome

Can someone suggest these positives through PrincipalSecretarysBlog (Mr Debasis Sen's blog). We somehow have access to him. Otherwise there is no other way we can reach the government and make them aware of it's big impact.... Time is running out while the Goverment is sleeping....

good idea.

Samrat, can you please post your comment on his blog?

http://principalsecretarysblog.blogspot.fr/

Thanks!

[anan355]

Originally Posted by mountaincloud

good idea.

Samrat, can you please post your comment on his blog?

http://principalsecretarysblog.blogspot.fr/

Thanks!

I did not wait. I just copied and pasted Samrat and Dayal's comment in Debashish Sen's blog.

If you mind, Samrat and Dayal , I am really sorry. But I felt it was urgent.

[niljee]

Very nicely put Samrat. I was thinking the same, but couldn't have put it better myself. Approaching Mr. Debashis Sen and other "sane" persons in the government is a wonderful idea. This is just too costly an opportunity to miss - may prove to be costlier than the JB mistake of letting Texas Instrument go to Bangalore in the 80s. I was thinking of sending Derek O'Brien a message through Twitter, where is fairly active. Amit Mitra would also be a good person I guess if somebody has access to him. But not sure if Didi will pay heed to them - scientists are not her favorite people....has anyone seen her felicitating a scientist in any one of her innumerable "Shongbordhonas"?

[samrat_m]

Originally Posted by anan355

I did not wait. I just copied and pasted Samrat and Dayal's comment in Debashish Sen's blog.

If you mind, Samrat and Dayal , I am really sorry. But I felt it was urgent.

Well done. You have done just the right thing.

[samrat_m]

Originally Posted by niljee

Very nicely put Samrat. I was thinking the same, but couldn't have put it better myself. Approaching Mr. Debashis Sen and other "sane" persons in the government is a wonderful idea. This is just too costly an opportunity to miss - may prove to be costlier than the JB mistake of letting Texas Instrument go to Bangalore in the 80s. I was thinking of sending Derek O'Brien a message through Twitter, where is fairly active. Amit Mitra would also be a good person I guess if somebody has access to him. But not sure if Didi will pay heed to them - scientists are not her favorite people....has anyone seen her felicitating a scientist in any one of her innumerable "Shongbordhonas"?

Just drop the comments on Twitter to O'Brien, if you haven't done it yet. We should leave no tables unturned from our side for this project to happen.

[dayalbaba]

anan355, I did not see my post there. in any case I do not mind.

[AbhishekDatta]

This has the potential to be the best thing that can happen to hooghly riverfront

Kolkata Port may auction land to tide over pension liabilities
BS Reporter / Kolkata Jun 13, 2012, 00:51 IST

In order to make itself financially secure, the Kolkata Port Trust is planning to sell or lease out about 100 acres of land in his huge land bank of more than 3,000 acres in the city, likely for commercial purposes.

“In order to meet the pension liability in future, we need an additional corpus of Rs 3,000 crore, adding to Rs 2,000-crore corpus we have created since 2004. We have about 30,000 pensioners with KoPT. In order to create this corpus amount, we have submitted a proposal with the Centre government to lease out or sell about 100 acres of land, at seven to eight prime localities in the city. It will be done through auction route,” said Manish Jain, chairman, KoPT.

The locations that the port has zeroed in is along Diamond Harbour road and Strand road in Kolkata. “It can be used for commercial or real estate purpose by the firm. But how much we will be able to raise can be decided only after the valuation,” he added.
The port said on Tuesday that its net profit has increased 29 per cent to Rs 90 crore in 2011-12, compared to Rs 70 crore during the previous financial year. Meanwhile, the port has handled 43.25 million tonnes (MT), compared to 47.5 MT during the last financial year, down about 4 MT.

Meanwhile, Kolkata Port is planning to expand its handling capacity to 100 MT by the end of the 12th Five Year Plan. “This will be through various development projects — including Haldia Dock II North and South, transloading at Sandheads, container terminal at Diamond Harbour and a deep draught port at Sagar — that we have lined up. It may see an overall investment of Rs 15,000 crore,” he said. Out of this Rs 15,000 crore public private partnership projects, KoPT would be investing about Rs 2,500 crore.

He said that Sagar port is still under consideration of the port and not yet scrapped completely.

http://www.business-standard.com/ind...lities/477111/

[niljee]

Originally Posted by samrat_m

Just drop the comments on Twitter to O'Brien, if you haven't done it yet. We should leave no tables unturned from our side for this project to happen.

Have sent a msg...but doubt he will reply...they usually dont without the necessary permission from the high command. Lets see.