Kolkata: All pending contractor bills in the state have been frozen and no payments would be cleared until a comprehensive review of project quality is completed, urban development & municipal affairs minister Agnimitra Paul announced on Wednesday, signalling a major crackdown on an alleged “kick-back culture” that has plagued Bengal’s infrastructure sector.Speaking in the assembly,…
Kolkata: State govt on Wednesday lifted all restrictions on the interstate movement of agricultural produce. While the notification covers food grains, oilseeds and vegetables, its most significant impact will be on the unrestricted export of potatoes.Bengal produced a record 140-150 lakh tonne potatoes in the 2025-26 season, marking a 20% year-on-year rise and the highest…
Kolkata: Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday said the state govt had granted sanction for prosecution to the CBI in four cases to enable action against officials accused of corruption.“The previous govt blocked four CBI cases for the last four years. Under the law, the CBI or an investigating agency requires sanction from the…
Kolkata: The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) has discovered two new spider species and carried out the first comprehensive taxonomic revision of Indian whip scorpions in over a century.The findings, published in the international journal Zootaxa, highlight northeast India’s importance asa hotspot for rareand lesser-known species. The ZSI team identified two previously unknown spiders from…
Kolkata: The state govt on Tuesday ordered immediate closure of all unauthorised toll and drop gates across Bengal. The order, issued by chief secretary Manoj Agarwal, is aimed at non-approved operational collection points, including barricaded structures and drop gates, which operate without sanction from the competent authorities. “Any collection of fees, charges or levies at…
Kolkata: A four-storey building at 50/1-D/1, GJ Khan Road, owned by the Nisar family, was declared an illegal building by the govt after a fire on Tuesday, following which the unit’s owner Zafar Nisar was arrested. Demolition of the building co-owned by Zafar and his father began on Wednesday evening.The Nisar family lived on the…
Kolkata: CESC on Wednesday disconnected electricity supply to at least 10 buildings in Tiljala following a govt order to conduct an audit and sever supplies to all unauthorised buildings. The utility permanently disconnected supply at 50/1-D/1, GJ Khan Road, on Tuesday following the fire in a factory situated in the four-storied building on Tuesday. CESC…
KOLKATA: After yet another horse was found starving, dehydrated, and left to die under the Hastings Flyover, PETA India has launched a powerful billboard campaign in Kolkata urging people to say no to horse-drawn carriage rides. “If you care about animals, don’t take carriage rides,” is PETA India’s blunt and urgent message to the people…
Kolkata: To prevent the entry of heavy vehicles, on the newly set-up Bailey bridge which connects Salt Lake and VIP Road near Dakshindari, Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) has installed height bars on both the approach ends according to the recommendations of the Bidhannagar traffic police. The Bailey bridge, the second over Kestopur Canal following…
Kolkata: A special PMLA court on Tuesday sent former Bengal fire services minister Sujit Bose to 10-day Enforcement Directorate custody in connection with the alleged municipality recruitment scam.ED alleged that Bose, as vice-chairperson of South Dum Dum municipality between 2010 and 2021, played a role in the “illegal recruitment” of at least 40 candidates in…
