SUNDAY NEWS

Torsa bridge naming on Chilarai demanded

 

COOCH BEHAR, July 13: The construction of the long awaited bridge on Torsa river along Falakata-Pundibari road was completed recently and it is now waiting for inauguration. It was learnt that state PWD minister Mr Kshiti Goswami might inaugurate the bridge on 16 July.

 

Meanwhile, Pundibari Torsa Setu Nirman Sangram Samity (PTSNSS) raised a demand urging the government to name the bridge after the great hero of Cooch Behar royal dynasty – Chilarai. Several organisations including a few political parties too expressed their support to the demand.

 

On behalf of the PTSNSS Mr Debabrata Chaki said the initiative to construct the much-needed bridge was taken in 1984. The work for the proposed 700-metre long concrete bridge was started in 1991. Construction work was suspended in 2001 for different problems. In 2003 the PTSNSS was formed to put pressure on the authorities to resume work. Ex-MP Mr DP Roy (now the Jalpaiguri MLA) took the initiative and in 2005 construction work was resumed.

 

Mr Chaki said a sum of Rs 61.70-crore was allocated till now for construction of the bridge. Once opened it will be of immense help for improving the road communication system in north Bengal as well as in the entire northeast region. At the same time he maintained that the bridge should be named after Chilarai. People of this region will be happy if the authorities pay heed to this demand, he said. []

 

Would-be teachers on warpath

 

COOCH BEHAR, July 13: The members of the All Bengal Primary Teachers' Trainee Association (ABPTTA) is getting ready to start a fresh state-wide movement. On 15 July they will organise rallies at different districts. They will also 'gherao' the District Primary School Council offices on that day.

 

President of the ABPTTA, Mr Bhajan Barman said there were 138 Primary Teachers' Training Institutes (PTTI) in this state. Among them 122 were marked as illegal following an order of the High Court. The problem is pending for about three years. In the meantime, the students of the PTTIs had organised movements under ABPTTA banner but no development was observed, Mr Barman said.

 

The APPTTA president declared that they would organise fresh movements starting from 15 July throughout the state demanding engagement of all trained candidates in the vacant posts of primary teachers by ironing out all obstructions. []