Jute Park in Cooch Behar
COOCH BEHAR, Sept. 22: State Cottage and Small Scale Industry minister Mr Manabendra Mukherjee visited Chakchaka Industrial Growth Centre in Cooch Behar yesterday. State forest minister Mr Ananta Roy and secretary of Cooch Behar District Merchants Chamber of Commerce (CDMCC) Mr Rajendra Kumar Baid were also with him during the visit.
Later, in a press conference held at Cooch Behar Circuit House on yesterday evening the minister declared that a Jute Park would be established in Cooch Behar. It will be the second of this kind in the state. The minister said that he visited the 20-acre land that was earmarked for the proposed Jute Park at Chakchaka. The government will extend Rs 15-crore as financial assistance for implementing the project. Mr Mukherjee said that about 1,000 persons would get job at the Jute Park and 3,000 more will also be benefited indirectly from the said project.
CDMCC secretary Mr Rajendra Kumar Baid welcomed the initiative to set up the Jute Park, as it was a long-standing demand of them. After implementation of the project the jute growers of the region will be benefited and the entrepreneurs will too become interested in setting up more units in Cooch Behar, Mr Baid hoped.
It may be mentioned here that there are two jute mills in Cooch Behar at Chakchaka Industrial Growth Centre. One of the two, Kamakshi Jute Industries Limited (KJIL) is a big unit that is going to be launched shortly. This mill has plans to expand its operation after launching of the first unit. The KJIL has a plan to employ about 2000 persons in the first phase and 3000 in the second phase.
The C&SSI minister Mr Mukherjee, said that he asked the concerned authorities to find out about 100-acre land to establish a second Industrial Growth Centre in Cooch Behar district. He also spoke about future plans to develop sericulture in Cooch Behar during the next five years and setting up of an export-oriented unit here. []
Tourism minister examines tortoise death at Baneswar
COOCH BEHAR, Sept. 22: The state tourism minister Mr Manabendra Mukherjee visited Baneswar Shiva Temple and the Shiv Dighi accompanied by state forest minister Mr Ananta Roy on yesterday. He inquired about the tortoise deaths that occurred in recent times there. He talked with locals and concerned officials to know the actual situation.
Later, the tourism minister said that many tortoises (locally known as Mohans) got affected in a disease last year. The last death of a tortoise was a natural event according to post-mortem report, he claimed. The minister admitted that the tortoises were suffering from food shortage due to rise of fish population in Shiv Dighi adjacent to the historic Shiva temple in Baneswar. Following religious belief many devotees set free fishes at the Shiv Dighi. These fishes are also posing problems to the survival of the tortoises, he said. Already 9-quintal fishes were picked up from the pond to save the tortoises. He assured that they would take every possible measure to save the tortoises of the Shiv Dighi. He emphasised on awareness campaign among the local people to refrain them from setting out fishes in Shiv Dighi.
Mr Mukherjee said that they asked the forest department to ensure reproduction of the tortoises at the pond. The railings constructed on the banks of the pond are also disturbing the movement of the tortoises when they go to lay eggs. The forest officials were asked to take specialists’ opinion to ensure problem-free reproduction of the tortoises, he added. The minister said that it is good sign that the tortoises once again started laying eggs.
The tourism minister said that a consultancy firm was entrusted to review the present state of the temples and other properties under Cooch Behar Debottar Trust Board including the historic Kalibari in Benaras and submit a detailed report to the tourism department. []
PHOTO : State tourist minister Mr Manabendra Mukherjee and forest minister Mr Ananta Roy at a press conference at Cooch Behar Circuit House on Thursday evening.
Conference
COOCH BEHAR, Sept. 22: Cooch Behar district conference of the Revolutionary Youth Front (RYF) will be held at Sukanta Manch in Cooch Behar on Saturday. Minister-of-State (PWD) Mr Manohar Tirkey will inaugurate the conference. Senior RSP leaders like Mr Rana Sen, Mr Narayan Deb and Mr Pulak Moitra will address at the open session of the conference. []
