Bengal Cabinet okays Mamatas Durga Angan proposal
A Trust would be formed, and the West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (HIDCO) and the state tourism department would work in tandem to execute the project, he said.
'UNESCO awarded our Durga Puja with the 'intangible heritage tag'. To show respect to UNESCO's recognition, our CM had proposed setting up Durga Angan, and today the Cabinet gave its nod. There will be a Trust formed. The HIDCO and tourism department will work in tandem with the Trust," Biswas said.
He said that the land for the Durga Angan would be provided by the state government, and the budget for the same would be decided later.
The state government recently helped set up a Jagannath temple in Digha.
'Today, the Cabinet also okayed establishing two plants of 800 x 2 megawatt in Salboni (in Paschim Medinipur district), which will help in fulfilling the increasing power demand," Biswas said.
The Cabinet on Monday gave its nod to a major relaxation in home construction rules.
Construction regulations would now allow building homes even on small plots of land, Urban Development Minister and Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim said.
He said that previously, construction on small plots was not permitted due to regulatory restrictions.
'In a major policy shift, permissions will now be granted to build homes on plots as small as 500 square feet," Hakim said.
'There will be no minimum plot size requirement. If the applicant meets other eligibility criteria, approval will be granted," he said.
This move is expected to provide housing opportunities for thousands of people, especially in densely populated and urban settlement areas.
Hakim also clarified that the relaxations would vary based on the size of the plot.
'While fire safety norms applicable to larger plots will still be enforced, the same may not apply to smaller ones," he said, further emphasising that the size of the road adjacent to the plot will be a critical factor in granting construction clearance.
The entire application and approval process will now be conducted online, Hakim assured.
'Once the online application is submitted, the applicant can go ahead with foundational work. During this time, municipal authorities will conduct all necessary inspections and surveys. The government aims to complete the entire approval process within just 15 days," he said.
The Cabinet has approved the recruitment of 627 personnel across various state departments, both permanent and contractual positions, official sources said.
They said the Judicial Department will see the addition of 22 new positions, while the Health Department will establish 122 new posts specifically for the SSKM Hospital.
In addition to the permanent roles, the Health Department will also hire 464 contractual staff under the 'E-Mobile Medical Unit' programme.
These positions will include attendants and drivers, aimed at enhancing mobile healthcare services across the state. PTI SCH NN
view comments
First Published:
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Allotting land for new high court complex at IT Park would breach wildlife, land-use norms: Chandigarh administration
The Chandigarh administration has told the Punjab and Haryana high court that the allotment of land in IT Park for construction of a new high court complex would be against the land-use policy and the wildlife norms. The administration, besides the affidavit, also produced records with regard to the establishment of IT Park and various notifications by the Centre, restricting construction of high-rises in the area. (HT File) In an affidavit, UT superintending engineer (SE) Jigna K Sanghdia has told the court that the change-of-land use is not applicable in Chandigarh as per the provisions of Master Plan-2031, and therefore, utilisation of IT Park area for any other purpose will not be a 'compatible land use.' In addition to this, the SE has told the court that there are restrictions imposed by the wildlife board against construction of high-rise buildings in IT Park so as to avoid disturbing the path of migratory birds and the deleterious effect on the sanctuary and birds. The administration, besides the affidavit, also produced records with regard to the establishment of IT Park and various notifications by the Centre, restricting construction of high-rises in the area. The high court had on August 1 sought from UT, the records, which go against the construction of a new high court complex in the area. The court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) by the high court employees association secretary Vinod Dhatterwal, seeking implementation of the holistic development plan, which envisages setting up of multi-storey buildings to cater to the requirement of additional space. Notably, the Bar Association also filed an affidavit stating that it has eminently come out that the IT park site is neither available nor suitable for the construction of the new building. The UT administration is stressing on setting up the new complex in Sarangpur, where, it says, over 40 acres could be allotted for construction of the new high court complex. However, the high court had expressed its apprehension about the traffic congestion on the road leading to Sarangpur from Chandigarh as PGIMER chowk remains clogged for most parts of the day. The UT further said that in the stakeholders meeting, chaired by additional solicitor general Satya pal Jain on August 7, UT had apprised that the requisite solutions for reducing congestion at PGIMER chowk are being worked upon. 'Expansion plan of current complex halted by UNESCO not heritage panel' UT has also told the court that in 2019, the Chandigarh Heritage Committee had cleared the proposal of expansion of the high court complex and approved the holistic development plan. However, the same was blocked by the UNESCO committee in view of the Capitol complex, which comprises the high court building, declared as World Heritage site in 2016. If the expansion is to be done at the current site, a fresh proposal with reduced space allotted for various purposes can be submitted to UNESCO, it has told the court. No violation of norms in allotment of site to hotel Lalit The Chandigarh administration has also told the court that there were no violations in the allotment of site to hotel Lalit in IT Park, a multi-storey building. The IT Park was set up after 2002 in various phases and notified in 2006 to promote the growth of information service in Chandigarh. As per the layout of the IT Park, the commercial area and site where the hotel has come up was already earmarked for the same. It was allotted as the need was felt to set up a five-star hotel at the commercial site as there was no availability of top-class hotels in Chandigarh. With the affidavit, UT had also produced various permissions given for the project at the time of clearance for the project.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
11 hours ago
- Business Standard
Howrah foundries rush to export extra shipments to beat looming US tariffs
Saha is oblivious to the tug-of-war over tariffs. He is simply racing to meet a tight deadline for orders bound for the United States -- a story repeated across the export-focused units of Howrah Ishita Ayan Dutt Howrah Listen to This Article Tarak Saha, a veteran in Howrah's foundry and casting industry, has never heard of Donald Trump, let alone the steep tariff the US president has slapped on the goods made at the manufacturing unit where he works. Yet he is one of its quiet beneficiaries, clocking overtime ahead of Durga Puja next month. But with a total of 50 per cent tariff set to come into force in days, those extra hours — and extra pay — may soon vanish. Saha is oblivious to the tug-of-war over tariffs. He is simply racing to meet a tight deadline for orders bound
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Tripura to install 45 EV charging stations before Durga Puja
Tripura govt is set to install 45 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across the state before the upcoming Durga Puja festival. This initiative, announced by state power minister Ratan Lal Nath, aims to bolster the use of clean energy in the transport sector. Minister Nath highlighted that this effort aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's broader strategy to reduce India's reliance on fossil fuels and cut greenhouse gas emissions. The Prime Minister's initiatives, including the Solar Mission and the EV Policy, are part of a national commitment to climate resilience and sustainable development. "Smaller states like Tripura are now catching up with the infrastructure needed for electric vehicles," Nath stated, emphasizing the state's commitment to promoting EV usage. In addition to the EV infrastructure, Tripura's railway network is undergoing electrification, with plans to replace diesel engines with electric ones, further reducing the state's carbon footprint. The electrification project is complete and awaits approval from the Railway Board. Nath also pointed out the state's shift towards renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, as natural gas reserves dwindle. The PM-KUSUM scheme is encouraging households to install solar panels, with 694 consumers in Tripura already generating solar power at home. This comprehensive approach underscores Tripura's dedication to a sustainable future, leveraging both government initiatives and local participation to drive the green energy agenda forward.
