MATHABHANGA

Incidents of boat capsizing feared

Without offering a diversion facility the construction of a concrete bridge over Sutunga river has commenced in Mathabhanga. The new bridge is to replace the old wooden bridge. Now, many have no other option than crossing the river by country boats.

According to norms a diversion facility should be constructed prior to the renovation or construction of a new bridge to replace the old one, locals said. But in case of the bridge over Sutunga river in Mathabhanga Municipality area the norms have been violated. The passengers have been compelled to cross the river by country boats by risking their lives. The question is: Who will shoulder the responsibility if any boat capsizes and that claims life of any citizen? Many senior citizens demanded construction of a temporary bridge as diversion till completion of the new concrete bridge.  

Criticising the matter, the opposition leader of Mathabhanga Municipality Ms Kalyani Poddar (Trinamul Congress) said the CPI-M dominated civic body and the PWD would have to bear the responsibility if any mishap occurs. Replacing of the old wooden bridge by a concrete bridge may take about four years so the authorities should take measures to minimise the problems of the citizens. They should immediately start construction of a diversion bridge- she demanded.

It was learnt that when the wooden bridge turned out-of-order the civic body introduced ferry service free of cost for the people. The sub-divisional administration too admitted the risk of crossing the river during the monsoon by country boats. They are to take up the matter with the PWD officials, a senior officer said.

Chairperson of Mathabhanga Municipality Ms Kokila Singha said they arranged ferry service to help the citizens. Another plan is under consideration to provide bus services for the school students as a substitute for boat service, she added. - Debashis Bhaumik

DIMDIMA RIVER POSING THREAT

Brickyards blamed for massive soil erosion by Dimdima

Massive erosion of Dimdima river in Dooars is posing a threat to a few brickyards and the nearby villages. Locals alleged that indiscriminate and unsystematic earth lifting from the areas adjacent to the river and large-scale collections of sands from the riverbed is the main reason of worsening of the situation. Also, a local road between Shisujhumra and Dangapara turned unusable due to unsystematic digging. The owners of the brick-kilns however denied the allegation rose against them.

Recently, Dimdima river has posed fearsome to the residents of Ethelbari and Shisujumra gram panchayat areas under Madarihat-Birpara block in Dooars. Now, existence of at least nine brickfields is in danger. The swelling river may gobble up a few within a few days, the local workers fear.

There exist about ten brick-kilns along the bank of Dimdima at Ethelbari. According to the owners there are about five thousand workers engaged in these brickfields. If the river grabs these, the workers might be jobless. Smelling danger the owners and also others demanded erection of an embankment to protect the brickfields from massive river erosion.

Madarihat-Birpara Panchayat Samity sources said that the brickyard owners used to lift earth in unsystematic way without considering the future consequences. The situation aggravates during the monsoon when erosion also commences in the adjacent areas of the riverbank. Regular lifting of huge sands from the river is also a reason of the worsening situation. The department concerned never makes any inquiry into the matter, as they receive no complaints. On the otherhand, the owners of the brick-kilns denied of lifting of indiscriminate earth for their units.

Sources in Madarihat-Birpara Panchayat Samity said there was not enough fund with them to take up construction of an embankment or making facility to stop river erosion. They are to convey the situation to the Jalpaiguri Zilla Parishad. A report was sought from the local Gram Panchayat body on the actual position of erosion caused by Dimdima river, the sources added. Locals opined that the MBPS and the JZP should take immediate measures to stop erosion to save the brickyards in the interest of the workers engaged in those units. If necessary, the authorities should consider launching of schemes under NREGS to protect the area, they suggested. - Debashis Bhaumik.

JENKINS SCHOOL

Maj. Gen. Jenkins and Jenkins School, Cooch Behar Nirmalendu Chakraborty

Major General Francis Jenkins was the longest serving commissioner of Assam and Agent to the Governor General for the North Eastern Frontier of India as Guwahati was its headquarters. He served in this NEFA as 5th Chief Commissioner of Assam in 1828 commissioner and Agent from 1834 to 1861. He is still remembered for his versatile ability, genius and great administrator, social works and spreading education in this area including Dooars, Cooch Behar and of course North Eastern Zone.

 

He was born in Cornwall, UK on August 4, 1793 at the picturesque village of St. Clement. A brilliant graduate of Oxford University he left his native place Cornwall in the year 1808 and joined as an officer in the mercantile marine in October 1810 under Admiral Lord Exmouth, who later in 1811 transferred his services to the government of Lord William Bentick and inducted in the Indian military. He was injured in a war in Egypt. In 1828 he was appointed as the 5th Chief Commissioner of Assam stationed at Guwahati where he began to show his activities in different ways like business, potentiality of tea, export resources, viability and discovery of coal, oil and above all progress of education in the Eastern Zone. In 1832 along with Captain Charlton and Mr Charles Alexander Bruce, Maj. Gen Jenkins also credited as the discoverer of tea plant in Assam known as Thea Assamica. This was the great significant share of vast potentiality as a commercial commodity of International value. For which the Agricultural Society of Calcutta presented to Jenkins a Gold Medal. 

 

As a pioneer regard to establish educational activities in this NE Zone Maj. Gen. Jenkins started to establish schools. In 1834 with his able efforts a school was established collecting subscriptions from the public and founded Guwahati Seminary, 3 rd school of such set up by the British. Now, new name was given, Guwahati Cotton Collegiate School by Sir Henry John Stademan Cotton.

 

Like this way on his visit to Dooars and Cooch Behar he enquired about education in the then Cooch Behar State ruled by the Maharajas of Narayan Dynasty, which was founded by the Koch Kings in the year 1510 AD. In the reign of Maharaja Narendra Narayan Maj. Gen. Jenkins apart from all administrative activities spread education in this state by his good services. In the year 1857 – the year when the University of Calcutta established and on the minority of Maharaja Narendra Narayan and with the instruction of Queen Mother Brindeswari Devi a vernacular school was established for teaching the Princess and other kinsmen of the royal family, in a thatched in the south western of Sagar Dighi. In 1859 English began to teach in this school. Few years later, the school had to shift near the stable inside the royal palace due to devastating fire damage the thatched. In 1861 when Maj. Gen. Jenkins was offered a purse by the Maharaja Narendra Narayan (1841-1863) in recognition of the good services done by Maj. Gen. Jenkins during the minority of the Maharaja. The worthy Major General actually avoided accepting reward and suggested that the money would be spent for good causes if an English school were founded with that money. Accordingly to pay honour to the Maj. Gen the school was named after him as Jenkins School. There were no tuition fees for the students till 1865-66, later a uniform of 8-Annas was fixed as tuition fees for all. In 1883 first eleven students were sent for Entrance Examination and all of them came out successfully. In 1879 a beautiful and commodious building was constructed at the eastern bank of Sagar Dighi Square (now Treasury Buildings), which was damaged by a heavy earthquake in 1897, and finally the school was housed in its present premises in 1905. Now, the school is one of the best schools in West Bengal, going to celebrate its 150 glorious years in the year 2011.

 

Maj. Gen. Francis Jenkins who loved Assam and its people so much that he settled down in Guwahati after his retirement and never returned to his native place in UK. He died in Guwahati of fever on August 28, 1866. He is not only remembered by the people of Assam but also people of Cooch Behar and thousands of thousands students who got their education in this school that bears his name.  

-- Nirmalendu Chakraborty,

(Founder-member, Cooch Behar Heritage Society and secretary, Cooch Behar Philatelic Association),

180, Ashram Road, Cooch Behar-736101.

Mobile : 9775408172.

Chhatra Parishad

Plan to refurbish Chhatra Parishad

State Chhatra Parishad president Mr Saurav Chakraborty has appointed Mr Rakesh Chaudhury as the chief of the cooch Behar district unit of the Chhatra Parishad. Earlier, Mr Chaudhury has served the organisation as its district unit president for years.

Talking over phone, Mr Chakraborty said he selected Mr Chaudhury as he is a dynamic student leader and proved his excellence several times. "Now, we are preparing for a grand celebration of our organisation that is to be held at Mahajati Sadan in Kolkata on 28 August. A student convention would be organised in Cooch Behar in the first week of August to make the celebration a success. I believe Mr Chaudhury would organise the convention by attracting huge students into it", he said.

It was learnt that the state CP president has instructed Mr Chaudhury to submit a list of office bearers and executive members of the newly formed district committee of the CP by 1 August. He also appointed Mr Rabin Bahadur as the observer to Cooch Behar CP.

When asked about his newly achieved responsibility Mr Chaudhury said, "I was the district unit president for years. Now the state president once again selected me for the post and I shall try my best to serve the organisation."

Mr Chaudhury said he would discuss with the observer Mr Bahadur over the formation of new district committee on 28 July during his Cooch Behar visit. After consultation with him the list of office bearers and executive members would be submitted to him, Mr Chaudhury said.

The CP leader also said that he would also refurbish the block level units of the CP to strengthen the organisation. Chhatra Parishad has a golden history of successful student movements and they would follow that tradition with all efforts, Mr Chaudhury promised.

VIOLATION OF RBI INSTRUCTIONS

Allegation over violation of RBI guidelines in banks

In almost all branches of the banks in Cooch Behar the customers are being denied to obtain a receipt against their deposits by cheques. If they ask for receipts they are being told that such facility was not available anymore. They are being asked to drop the cheques in the drop-box and keep the counterfoils of the pay-in slips as the receipts. Refusal to receive a cheque over the counter and giving a receipt as acknowledgement is nothing but an act of violation of the instructions issued by the Reserve Bank of India, said the secretary of the Cooch Behar Consumers Protection Society Mr Ganesh Chandra Bhattacharya.

Referring a circular (No. RBI/2006-2007/214 DBOD.No.Leg.BC. 49.09.07.005.2006-07) that was issued on 18 December 2006 by the chief general manager-in-charge of the RBI Mr Prashant Saran the CCPS secretary said the banks were advised to invariably display on the cheque drop-box that "customers can also tender the cheques at the counter and obtain acknowledgement on the pay-in-slips". "The message may be displayed in English, Hindi, and the concerned regional language of the state", the circular said.

Mr Bhattacharya said by that circular the banks were advised "both the drop-box facility and the facility for acknowledgement of the cheques at the regular collection counters should be available to customers and no branch should refuse to give an acknowledgement if the customer tenders the cheque at the counters".

In the circular it was also mentioned that "Reserve Bank of India/ Banking Ombudsmen have been receiving complaints that many bank branches are not accepting cheques at the counters and are compelling the customers to drop the cheques in the cheque drop-box. Banks are therefore advised to strictly adhere to the instructions contained in the circular and ensure that customers are not compelled to drop the cheques in the drop-box".

The CCPS secretary said by dropping a cheque into a drop-box a customer couldn't be sure of realisation of the money and deposit of the amount in his account. "We know a few cases where the customers had to suffer. Now, we are preparing to take up the issue to the RBI authorities for the benefit of bank customers", he said.

The members of the business community are also unhappy over the bank's attitude. The secretary of the district merchants chamber of commerce Mr Rajendra Kumar Baid alleged that a major section of bank personnel are interested in harassing the customers instead of extending them the justified service. They should obey the RBI instructions. The traders' body is also to take up the matter with the RBI authorities very soon, Mr Baid added. - DEBASHIS BHAUMIK 

SAVE COOCH BEHAR !

FB to demonstrate demanding repair of town saving dyke

BJP wants all-party meeting

 The demand for regular maintenance and immediate repair of the embankment that is saving the town is getting momentum in Cooch Behar. Leaders of all major political parties agreed that the embankment should be protected at any cost to save the heritage town from the clutch of Torsa.

General secretary of the Cooch Behar district unit of the BJP, Mr Nikhil Ranjan Dey demanded the district administration to convene an all-party meeting to discuss the issue. As encroachers are to be removed from the embankment before commencement of renovation the administration should gather opinions from the political parties over issues like rehabilitation and compensation, he said. "We conveyed the matter to the irrigation division and the district administration on several occasions but to no avail. On Wednesday seepage of river water into the town caused panic among the citizens but the authorities are still taking no steps to repair the dyke. We do not believe in the irrigation division's assurance that no harm would be done by the seepage because the town had to experience a disaster many years ago when Torsa gobbled up a large section of the town", he recalled.

Chairman of Cooch Behar Municipality and also the president of the district unit of the Congress, Mr Biren Kundu opined that the seepage of river water through the sluice gates was an alarming matter. As the civic body has no authority to repair the embankment the administration should take the initiative. "I shall talk with the district magistrate Ms Smaraki Mahapatra over the matter", he said.

A senior citizen and also a member of the All India Congress Committee, Mrs Sabita Roy questioned that why the citizens should have to raise their voices over the issue. It is the government's duty to save the people and maintain the embankment regularly that was constructed following the instruction of the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. About the proposed all-party meeting she said at first the irrigation division should start their work to renovate the embankment. It should be identified who are opposing the repair of the town saving dyke, she said.

Cooch Behar (West) MLA and also a secretariat member of the Forward Bloc, Mr Akshay Thakur said demands were raised several times in the past but the administration and the irrigation division did nothing to maintain the embankment. He alleged that government funds have not been used for actual jobs. The 'no fear' assurance of the irrigation division is worthless, he commented. He demanded an immediate survey to identify: why the river water seeped into the town on Wednesday, why there is no arrangement to drain out the additional water, which parts of the embankment are weak and the reasons of it. An all-party meet was held at Mekhliganj over renovation of Teesta embankment and eviction of encroachers, but no similar initiative was taken in Cooch Behar.

Mr Thakur announced that the Forward Bloc would stage a 32-hour sit-in demonstration on 30-31 August demanding renovation of the Torsa dyke. He also demanded a survey on the existing condition of the embankment to identify its weak parts.

President of district Trinamul Congress, Mr Rabindranath Ghosh alleged that the irrigation division and district administration do nothing to maintain the embankment. It is decaying due to lack of regular maintenance. Funds are being misused and it is only inflating the pockets of some unscrupulous contractors and a section of dishonest officials, he alleged. No one saw ever any work to repair the embankment, he said. 

ENGINE DERAILED

Rail engine derailed at Bamanhat

The engine of the Alipurduar Junction-Bamanhat passenger train has been derailed at Bamanhat on Thursday. No railway staff or passenger however was wounded in the incident. A probe has been started into the incident.

The Alipurduar Junction-Bamanhat train arrived at Bamanhat at about 11-10 a.m. on Thursday. It was late by about 3 hours. Leaving the compartments at the station the driver, Mr DK Toppo was trying to make the engine ready for the back journey. During his effort the engine struck the buffer post and got derailed. Luckily, no one was injured. Later, another engine was sent there to bring the train back to Alipurduar. However, following the incident the train services were not disrupted in the section.

The divisional railway manager of Alipurduar division of Northeast Frontier Railway Mr Sachchidananda Singh has ordered an enquiry into the matter. 

SAVE MEKHLIGANJ

Bid to repair a dyke to save a town

Different political parties reached in a consensus to evict about two hundred families from the embankment of Teesta river to save Mekhliganj town. Accordingly the sub-divisional administration started evicting the families. Similar measure has been demanded in Cooch Behar too to save the heritage town from the rage of Torsa river.

At the first phase, the sub-divisional administration of Mekhliganj took the initiative. They convened an all-party meeting to discuss the problem of erosion of Teesta as the river was posing danger to the town. On Tuesday the meeting was held where the leaders of several political parties reached in a consensus to shift the dwellers that were living on the embankment. They felt that eviction was necessary to pave the way to repair the embankment. It was decided that about 200 families would be evicted from a stretch of about 2300-metre area of the embankment. The evicted families are to get permission to take shelter at a flood rescue shelter and a building of the local regulated market committee.

Though the leaders of the political parties agreed over eviction drive they want adequate compensation to the affected families. However, no decision has been taken at the meeting about extending any compensation to the evicted families.

A senior Forward Bloc leader and also the Mekhliganj MLA, Mr Paresh Adhikary said the town was in danger as the Teesta was approaching towards the town. Several thousands of people reside in Mekhliganj town and it is necessary to take steps to save them. For this reason the eviction plan was adopted and all the parties agreed to it. Rehabilitation and compensation issues may be considered later, he said.

A Congress leader Mr Maya Sankar Singha said they demanded Rs 6,000 as compensation per evicted family.

Mentionworthy, the Teesta is flowing along the Mekhliganj town. A few decades ago an embankment was erected to save the town from the river but it was not regularly maintained and renovated. Now, the condition of the embankment is poor. The problem turned worse as a few hundred families started residing along the embankment. Recently, considering the weak condition of the town saving dyke the irrigation division officials have decided to initiate repairing of the embankment. Following that development the sub-divisional administration had convened an all-party meeting.

In Cooch Behar, the condition of the old dyke along Torsa that is engaged in saving the town is also precarious. On Wednesday afternoon the river water started seeping into the town causing panic among the citizens. On behalf of 'Concern for Cooch Behar' Mr Amal Deb demanded measures to save the town by renovating the dyke. He demanded the district administration to follow the footsteps of Mekhliganj to adopt required measures to save the town from the swelling Torsa. 

GOOD NEWS FOR APL CARDHOLDERS

Rice and wheat for APL cardholders

The state government has taken a measure to provide rice and wheat from modified ration shops to the above poverty line (APL) cardholders. The APL cardholders would get rice and wheat at the rate of Rs 12.70 and Rs 9.70 respectively. The APL cardholders are to get 500-gram of rice and wheat per head in a week. The facility is going to be extended to them from the ongoing week according to the state food and supply minister Mr Paresh Adhikary.

The minister said the Centre has allotted 6975 metric-ton rice and that are being disbursed at the hills, tea gardens and tribal dominated areas (Jangal Mahal) at the rate of Rs 9. They have asked the Centre to continue the facility in those areas. The state also received an additional allotment of 81,063 MT of rice and 1,65,828 MT of wheat from the Centre. These would be disbursed through the MR shops to the APL cardholders. The APL cardholders were receiving less quantity of rice till now and from now on the situation would be improved, he hoped. He however admitted that the allotted quantity of rice and wheat was not enough to meet the actual demand. Mr Adhikary assured that they would try to extend all promised facilities to the APL cardholders and every effort would be taken to maintain it.

Warning the dishonest owners of the rice mills the food minister said they would take stern measures against the mill owners who were taking out rice to outer states without submitting their stipulated levies. The state government already lodged complaints against 12 defaulters and one was also arrested. All the district magistrates were being asked to take strict steps against the offenders, the minister said.

Mr Adhikary claimed that the government already acquired 11 MT of rice during the ongoing year. The target of collection is 18 MT. In the last year they were able to acquire 16 MT of rice, he added.

PWD MUSEUM

Some of the collections in the still unrecognised PWD museum in Cooch Behar. – Debashis Bhaumik.