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Fresh drive to free Kolkata footpaths of vagrants
Fresh drive to free Kolkata footpaths of vagrants

Hans India

time2 days ago

  • Hans India

Fresh drive to free Kolkata footpaths of vagrants

The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has decided to launch a fresh drive to free Kolkata's roads, passenger waiting areas, and footpaths of vagrants. A source at the KMC said on Sunday that the drive will be held in three phases in August. A letter in this regard has been sent to the Kolkata Police for its cooperation. It has been learnt that the drive will be held on August 3, August 13, and August 23, and preparations for that have already begun. "In this campaign, vagrants and footpath dwellers will be identified and sent to night shelters for rehabilitation purposes. Arrangements in this regard are being made," said the KMC source. The move is aimed at maintaining the beautification of the city. The civic body is trying to speed up the work, given the Durga Puja festival, which will be in the last week of September this year. "The presence of vagrants in various passenger waiting areas of the city has become a source of inconvenience for the public. This time, a drive will be conducted all over the city to clean such places," said a senior KMC official. It has been noticed that beggars and vagrants have made a living by setting up tents and arranging their belongings under bus shelters, footpaths, or bridges in important places such as Ultadanga, Moulali, Mallik Bazar, and other places. "In an attempt to address all such issues, a three-phase drive has been planned throughout August," said the official. Earlier, such a drive was held in four places in the city, from Mallik Bazar to Ballygunge Outpost, from Gariahat to Hazra crossing, Gopalnagar, Park Circus, and Beck Bagan. Although the drive achieved some success, it failed to remove vagrants from the city's sidewalks.

FIR for illegal dumping in East Kolkata wetland after councillor's plaint
FIR for illegal dumping in East Kolkata wetland after councillor's plaint

Time of India

time3 days ago

  • Time of India

FIR for illegal dumping in East Kolkata wetland after councillor's plaint

Kolkata: The Patuli Police Station registered an FIR against unidentified individuals for illegally dumping waste materials and filling it up in a protected wetland near Drona Apartments at Garia Purbapara, following a complaint by Ward 110 councillor Swaraj Kumar Mondal. The case, filed under Section 17(A) of the West Bengal Inland Fisheries Act, 1984, came after local environmental activist Dulal Naskar alerted authorities about ongoing encroachment and waste dumping in the East Kolkata Wetland zone. Naskar, a resident of Pranabananda Road, submitted a detailed complaint to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation's Borough XI office, documenting the systematic degradation of the wetland located at Garia Briji Purba Naskar Para, under Mouza Briji in Ward 110. "Neighbouring property owners, property sharks, and other individuals are repeatedly filling the wetland with garbage and waste materials," Naskar said in his complaint. "This appears to be a deliberate attempt to alter the natural character and intended use of the wetland," he added. The affected site, identified by Dag No. 705, lies within the jurisdiction of Patuli PS and technically in the South 24 Parganas district. Early morning inspections by police on Saturday revealed significant portions of the protected wetland were already filled with rubbish. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata In his formal complaint, Naskar, who also identifies himself as a rightful heir to the land prior to its acquisition, requested immediate intervention from municipal authorities. His demands include an official inspection of the premises, installation of warning notice boards to prevent further dumping, and issuance of a complaint reference number for monitoring purposes. "I submitted photographic evidence clearly showing the ongoing alteration and encroachment of the wetland," he said. Mondal, upon receiving the complaint, promptly approached the Patuli PS and lodged a written complaint leading to the registration of the FIR. The matter has been brought to the attention of both the executive engineer (civil) and executive engineer (euilding) of the KMC. The East Kolkata Wetlands, recognised as a Ramsar site of international importance, serve as a natural waste treatment system for the city and support local fisheries. Environmental experts warn that unauthorised filling and waste dumping could severely impact this delicate ecosystem. Residents have expressed concern over the environmental implications of these illegal activities. The police investigation is ongoing, with authorities working to identify those responsible for the unauthorised dumping. The incident highlights the growing challenges faced by urban wetlands and the need for stricter enforcement of environmental protection laws. "Municipal authorities are expected to implement additional measures to prevent further encroachment of these protected areas. But rarely do you see them active. We are thankful that the councillor intervened this time," said Nandini Chatterjee, a local resident.

‘Bengali must on all signboards': Kolkata mayor warns shops and restaurants, KMC session held entirely in Bengali
‘Bengali must on all signboards': Kolkata mayor warns shops and restaurants, KMC session held entirely in Bengali

Time of India

time4 days ago

  • Business
  • Time of India

‘Bengali must on all signboards': Kolkata mayor warns shops and restaurants, KMC session held entirely in Bengali

Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim has mandated that all commercial establishments within the city, including shops and restaurants, must display signboards and hoardings in Bengali, alongside other languages. KOLKATA: City mayor Firhad Hakim on Friday said signboards and hoardings of all commercial establishments, including shops and restaurants, must be written in Bengali, along with other languages. After a "Talk to the Mayor" session, Hakim was asked about some commercial establishments that were continuing with their hoardings in English, Hindi and even Assamese, but not in Bengali. Hakim instructed civic officials to look into the matter and ensure that everyone followed the norm. Last year, Kolkata Municipal Corporation mandated the use of Bengali language on all commercial signboards, including hoardings, alongside other languages. A deadline of Feb 21, 2025, was set for implementation of the rule. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata Meanwhile, the entire proceedings of the corporation were conducted in Bengali on Friday as CM Mamata Banerjee called for another 'Bhasha Andolan' on the Bengali language row. However, KMC ward 49 councillor Monalisa Banerjee placed her questions in English on water supply glitch. Chairperson Mala Roy, who was presiding over the day's proceedings, asked Hakim to reply in Bengali. Monalisa raised civic issues like water pipeline leakage, water supply disruptions and shortage of labourers. Later, the mayor said: "Though the councillor raised her questions in English, I answered in Bengali, my mother tongue."

Soon, scan QR codes to get a peek into history of blue-plaque properties in Kolkata
Soon, scan QR codes to get a peek into history of blue-plaque properties in Kolkata

Time of India

time4 days ago

  • General
  • Time of India

Soon, scan QR codes to get a peek into history of blue-plaque properties in Kolkata

1 2 Kolkata: The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) is planning to install QR codes next to blue plaques installed on grade I heritage buildings. People will be able to learn about the building's historical or architectural importance upon scanning the code. KMC MMiC (heritage and environment) Swapan Samaddar announced this on Friday while responding to councillor Biswarup Dey's proposal that the civic body should publish a guidebook on the heritage buildings to increase awareness among citizens and draw tourists. Kolkata served as the capital of British-ruled India from 1772 to 1911. A senior official from the KMC's heritage and environment department told TOI that blue plaques had been installed on 540 grade I heritage buildings over the past two years. "We roped in private agencies to get the blue plaques installed. The work is over," he said, adding that the civic body's would now focus on putting up the QR codes."We will discuss it with the heritage conservation committee," he said. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata According to KMC records, 717 structures have been identified as grade I heritage by the civic body. Of these, 540 heritage buildings have the blue plaques. "The rest of the structures include Howrah Bridge and statues where it is not possible to put up the blue plaque, which is only meant for heritage buildings," the official stated. Some of the prominent buildings with the Kolkata heritage blue plaques include Jorasanko Thakurbari, Swami Vivekananda's ancestral house, Indian Museum, Sovabazar Rajbari, Metcalfe Hall, Presidency University, Minerva Theatre, Thapar House, Tripura House, and Patthar Kothi, among others. During the KMC House discussion, Dey asked about the measures taken by the civic body to save the heritage buildings of the city from promoters. He also referred to the 19th-century poet Michael Madhusudan Dutt's Kidderpore house that has been hanging in balance owing to a legal dispute. The MMIC asserted that the civic body was keeping tabs on the heritage buildings and no work, even if it was repairing, could be done without the nod of the heritage conservation committee. Mayor Firhad Hakim told reporters that no hoarding would be allowed to be hung on any heritage building .

Bengali must on shop signboards & hoardings, says mayor
Bengali must on shop signboards & hoardings, says mayor

Time of India

time4 days ago

  • Business
  • Time of India

Bengali must on shop signboards & hoardings, says mayor

1 2 Kolkata: City mayor Firhad Hakim on Friday said signboards and hoardings of all commercial establishments, including shops and restaurants, must be written in Bengali, along with other languages. After a "Talk to the Mayor" session, Hakim was asked about some commercial establishments that were continuing with their hoardings in English, Hindi and even Assamese, but not in Bengali. Hakim instructed civic officials to look into the matter and ensure that everyone followed the norm. Last year, Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) mandated the use of Bengali language on all commercial signboards, including hoardings, alongside other languages. A deadline of Feb 21, 2025, was set for implementation of the rule. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata Meanwhile, the entire proceedings of the corporation were conducted in Bengali on Friday as CM Mamata Banerjee called for another 'Bhasha Andolan' on the Bengali language row. However, KMC ward 49 councillor Monalisa Banerjee placed her questions in English on water supply glitch. Chairperson Mala Roy, who was presiding over the day's proceedings, asked Hakim to reply in Bengali. Monalisa raised civic issues like water pipeline leakage, water supply disruptions and shortage of labourers. Later, the mayor said: "Though the councillor raised her questions in English, I answered in Bengali, my mother tongue."Status: Not Approved

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