SUCI protests NBSTC's land deal plan

 

COOCH BEHAR, July 17: SUCI came down heavily on the proposed initiative to handover lands of North Bengal State Transport Corporation to Reliance group for opening up retail business hubs. Opposing the plan they submitted a memorandum to the managing director of the NBSTC at Cooch Behar today.

 

On behalf of Cooch Behar district SUCI Mr Nripen Karjee alleged that the NBSTC authority is trying to sell out about 3-acre land situated at Tinbatti Morh in Jalpaiguri to Reliance group. Selling out of the land of Baharampore depot is also on the pipeline. Reliance group is to set up their retail business hubs on these plots. As a result a large number of small traders of this region will be affected, he said.

 

Mr Karjee said the NBSTC authority is trying to handover all its viable routes too to private operators. If they had any good intention to revive the organisation they should have to launch new bus services along the profit oriented and long distance routes.

 

Submitting the memorandum containing a five-point charter of demands the SUCI demanded plying of buses in all long distance and local routes. They protested the privatisation move of NBSTC and demanded launching of the long awaited central workshop.

 

Mr Karjee alleged that during submission of the memorandum to the managing director some supporters of CITU tried to foil the programme. The MD however admitted their allegations, Mr Karjee claimed. []

 

Pradhan removed

 

COOCH BEHAR, July 17: The CPI-M pradhan of Baneswar Gram Panchayat, Ms Rina Ray has to step down at the requisitioned meeting of the GP by 9-7 votes today. The Cooch Behar-II BDO Ms ST Bhutia said election for appointment of new pradhan would be held after seven days according to norms. Till appointment of a new pradhan the upo-pradhan Mr Ajit Sarkar (CPI-M) will run the GP.

 

The Baneswar GP is a 16-member body. There are 7 members of CPI-M, 5 of Congress, 3 of Trinamul Congress and one of BJP. After the recent by-election Trinamul secured two seats and so the situation also changed. It is believed that the CPI-M may have to quit from the power of the GP due to new political situation. []

 

Students' rally in Alipurduar

 

COOCH BEHAR, July 17: Members of All India Progressive Students' Union (AIPSU) took out a large procession in Alipurduar of Jalpaiguri district today. Later they gathered in front of the sub-divisional officer's office. Led by Mr Asim Sarkar and Mr Pankaj Kar they submitted an eleven-point charter of demands to the SDO of Alipurduar. A large number of boys and girls from the closed and abandoned tea gardens also participated in today's programme.

 

The AIPSU organised the programme demanding Tea Board to shoulder the expenses of study of the students of closed tea gardens, setting up higher secondary schools in all blocks, setting up the long awaited women's college at Alipurduar, introduction of question papers in Hindi for Hindi speaking students, filling up all vacant posts of teachers and non-teaching staff in the schools and text book library facility in all schools for the poor students. They also demanded addition of Honours courses in the colleges.

 

Supporting the demands of the AIPSU, Alipurduar MLA Mr Nirmal Das said the Centre should consider Alipurduar as the site for the proposed Central University. He said he already drew attention of the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Union human resource development minister Mr Arjun Singh over the matter. A large number of students will be benefited if the proposed Central University come up in Dooars, he opined. At the same time he reiterated the demand of opening of an office of Tea Board in Alipurduar. []

 

Protest against eviction plan

 

COOCH BEHAR, July 17: People residing beside the railway track in Alipurduar submitted a memorandum to the Alipurduar ADM Mr Sushanta Dutta and Divisional Railway Manager of Alipurduar division Mr Arjun Rakshit today. They appealed that they should not be evicted from their places. Since guard-walls were constructed on both sides of the railway track they should be left as they were for years. They argued that they had peacefully co-operated with the railway authority by moving back to construct the guard-walls beside Alipurduar-Bamanhat railway route that was launched in 1900. Since the land beside the track is to lie unused it should be left for the people as they did for years. Alipurduar MLA Mr Nirmal Das assured them that he would take up their demand with proper authority. []

 

Trouble at employment exchange

 

COOCH BEHAR, July 17: Supporters of All India Youth League (AIYL) supporters allegedly ransacked the district employment office in Cooch Behar today. AIYL sources however claimed that they were not involved in the matter.

 

General secretary of Cooch Behar district unit of AIYL Mr Gopal Dey said that they had intimated the district employment exchange officer on 13 July that they will meet him on 17 July to submit a memorandum. Following that schedule the AIYL supporters went to the office this noon but the officer concerned was not present there. When the official-in-charge denied accepting the memorandum an altercation occurred between the AIYL supporters and the staff. Employment exchange office sources alleged that the agitated AIYL supporters ransacked the office but AIYL leaders denied the allegation.

 

Mr Dey said after failing to submit the memorandum containing a five-point charter of demands they organised a protest rally near the employment exchange office today. AIYL leaders including its district president Md Abdur Rauf addressed at the gathering. The speakers demanded proper government guideline should be followed for issuing calls to the unemployed and the authorities should take measures to stop the activity of the racket of middlemen in the employment exchanges. []