Page 2 - Kolkata

Kolkata to host International Seafood Show, with focus on G20 countries

Kolkata will host the India International Seafood Show 2023, which will feature a buyer-seller meet with a particular focus on G20 countries, organisers said on Tuesday. The three-day event organised by the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) in association with the Seafood Exporters Association of India (SEAI) will commence on Wednesday. The Show assumed significance as the Indian seafood sector needs to regain buoyancy in the post-pandemic phase in the face of stiff global competition and a stringent inspection regime imposed by the European Union and Japan on shrimp consignments. European Union and Japan are members of G20. According to M Karthikeyan, director of MPEDA, around 5,000 delegates from India and other countries are expected to attend the event. MPEDA officials said Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) would promote fish production, thereby increasing the availability of marine products for export. Further, the Production Linked Incentive Sc

ED seizes Rs 1.4 crore cash from Kolkata firm involved in coal smuggling

The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday said it has seized Rs 1.4 crore in cash from the premise of a Kolkata-based company and has identified a person who was "handling illegal cash of a minister" allegedly generated from coal smuggling. The federal probe agency issued a statement saying it raided the premises of the Gajraj Group at Earle Street in West Bengal's capital Kolkata on Wednesday. The action, the ED said, was undertaken on the basis of a "specific" intelligence input that a "highly influential political person" was making an attempt to launder the proceeds of crime originating from coal smuggling through his "close confidant" Manjit Singh Grewal alias Jitti Bhai. The seized cash of Rs 1.4 crore was "unaccounted", part of the total cash payment of approximately Rs 9 crore, for a property called Salasar guest house at an "under-valued" price, it said. "The market value of this property is more than Rs 12 crore. However, deed value of the same is shown around Rs 3 ...

Coal scam: ED recovers Rs 1 cr from businessman's office in Kolkata

ED sleuths, probing coal-smuggling case in WB, recovered Rs 1 crore from the office of a Kolkata-based businessman after a marathon raid and search operation at his residence and office on Wednesday

MV Ganga Vilas cruise ship to leave Kolkata on Monday for Sundarbans

Touted as the world's longest river cruise, MV Ganga Vilas, has been docked at a Kolkata jetty and will on Monday leave for Sundarbans, a UNESCO heritage site, an official said. The cruise vessel, flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 13, entered West Bengal early this week through Murshidabad and later reached Kolkata, he said. The ship has been docked at the Indenture Memorial (IM) Jetty on the bank of the Hooghly river. "The vessel will leave Kolkata on Monday and then it will be anchored at Sundarbans, one of the largest mangrove forests in the world and a UNESCO world heritage site, for two days," the official said. Taking to Twitter, Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said, "The next phase of journey of MV #GangaVilas will be on the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route, as it travels through B'desh (Bangladesh) to reach Assam. All infra has been provided at IM Jetty itself for a smooth immigration process for passengers." MV Ganga Vilas began its journey f

Peaceful screening of BBC documentary at Jadavpur University in Kolkata

A controversial BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi was screened peacefully within the premises of the prestigious Jadavpur University (JU) in Kolkata

RSS chief to address meeting in Kolkata to observe Bose's birth anniversary

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat will address a public programme at Shahid Minar ground in Kolkata to commemorate Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's birth anniversary celebrations on January 23

Kolkata: Over 100 shops gutted in fire at Salt Lake, no casualty reported

After around six hours of rigorous fire fighting by 12 fire tenders, the fire that broke out in the FD-Block, was ultimately brought under control at around 11 a.m

Govt approves renaming of national institute on water after SP Mookerjee

The National Centre for Drinking Water, Sanitation and Quality in Kolkata has been renamed as Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee National Institution of Water and Sanitation, the government announced on Wednesday. The Union Cabinet, at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, gave ex-post facto approval to the proposal to rename the institute set up on 8.72 acres of land in Joka, Diamond Harbour Road, Kolkata. The prime minister inaugurated the institute last month. It is envisaged as a premier institute to develop capacities in states and Union territories in the field of public health engineering, drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene through training programmes. Such capacities are envisaged for not only the frontline workforce engaged in implementation of the Swachh Bharat Mission and the Jal Jeevan Mission, but also for the representatives of local bodies, both rural and urban, an official statement said. Accordingly, suitable infrastructure has been developed, including

Discussions for next G20 Financial Inclusion Action Plan kicked off

The members will decide on the final priorities, but Sarkar said, the major ongoing priorities were digital financial inclusion and making finances more accessible to SMEs

Calcutta HC Bar Association divided over attending Justice Mantha's bench

Legal brains from the Calcutta High Court feel that if the stalemate on this count continues then the fate of a number of 400 cases pending at the bench of Justice Mantha will become uncertain

Bengal believes in giving development a humane face: Mamata at G20

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday attended the G20 meeting in Kolkata, where delegates from member countries have assembled for a three-day session, and said her government believes in giving development a humane face. Banerjee, during her speech, also said that the state government has created 12 million jobs, and increased Bengal's GDP manifold. She pointed out that people in the state have remained united notwithstanding the differences in religion, caste and languages. The CM also said that development took place in Bengal as "we empowered women, farmers, MSMEs". "We launched the 'government at your doorstep' (Duare Sarkar) programme to ensure that people get the benefits of our development initiatives. The programme won a national award," Banerjee said here at the first 'Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion' meeting of the G20.

Three-day G20 meeting on financial inclusion to begin today in Kolkata

The first 'Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion' meeting of the G20 will begin in Kolkata on Monday with Queen Mxima of the Netherlands addressing the inaugural session. The three-day meeting will focus on the principles of digital financial inclusion, remittance costs and SME finance availability, officials said. It will also feature symposiums, exhibitions and a domestic outreach programme on digital financial literacy involving over 1,800 students from various schools, they said. Twelve international speakers will attend this G20 meeting, including senior officials from the World Bank, Monetary Authority of Singapore, France and Estonia. Unique Identity Authority of India (UIDAI) CEO Saurabh Garg and National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) MD and CEO Dilip Asbe are also scheduled to address the sessions. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee may also attend the meeting on Monday, a Union Finance Ministry official said. She is expected to promote West Bengal a

To prevent drunk driving, Kolkata bars asked to start breathalyser tests

Bars in Kolkata were directed by the police to use breathalysers on customers, and prevent those found to be drunk beyond the permissible limit from driving back home. Kolkata Police commissioner Vineet Goyal on Saturday said the directive was issued to all bars in the city to prevent drunk driving. "Drunk driving is a legal offence. It's the reason for several road accidents. We have already sent a directive to all the bars in the city to purchase breathalysers to test every person leaving the bar after drinking. The bars must not allow them to drive back home in case they are found intoxicated beyond a certain level," he said. If a person is found to be drinking excessively, the bars must ensure that he is not driving or riding a bike, Goyal said. "The bar will arrange for the person to reach home by other means. If necessary, they can also take the help of the police," he added. The bars would give slips to those undergoing the tests, and these slips can be shown at checkpoints

NIA submits charge sheet to special court in October clashes in Kolkata

A total of 14 persons were named in the 400-page charge sheet, out of whom eight have been arrested by the NIA sleuths, while six others are still absconding

Air quality very poor in Kolkata on New Year's Day as people burst crackers

Air quality in Kolkata remained 'very poor' on New Year's Day on Sunday as revellers burst firecrackers after midnight. West Bengal Pollution Control Board, however, maintained that air quality index (AQI) remains poor during this time of the year as fine particulate matter remain suspended closer to the ground and get mixed with fog. It also claimed that fewer firecrackers were burst this year on the occasion of New Year. AQI of 314 (PM 2.5) was recorded at Bidhannagar, 303 at Victoria Memorial and 319 at Rabindra Bharati University around 5 pm on Sunday, all categorised as very poor. On the previous day, AQI of 336 (PM 2.5) was recorded in Bidhannagar, 320 at Victoria Memorial and 316 in Rabindra Bharati University, a WBPCB official said, emphasising that air quality almost remained the same and bursting of fireworks did not have any significant impact on it. The Ballygunge air monitoring station recorded AQI of 269 on Sunday, less than Saturday's AQI of 294, he said. An AQI of

Next 8 yrs will see Indian Railways on new modernisation journey: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated multiple projects of the Indian Railway in Kolkata

Kolkata underwater metro to be completed by December 2023, says KMRC

The Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation (KMRC) on Friday said that the East-West Metro Corridor project, India's first underwater metro service, is expected to be completed by December 2023

PM Modi to visit Bengal tomorrow, to dedicate several projects to nation

He will also flag off Vande Bharat Express connecting Howrah to New Jalpaiguri and will also inaugurate Joka-Taratala stretch of Purple Line of Kolkata Metro

Inquiring video of passengers' fight in Bangkok-Kolkata flight: BCAS chief

The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) on Thursday said it is inquiring about the video clip of a scuffle between passengers onboard a plane from Bangkok to Kolkata earlier this week. The video clip of the scuffle where a passenger was being slapped multiple times by a few co-passengers was shared on social media on Wednesday. "BCAS has taken cognisance of the video. We have started inquiring and further action will be taken depending on the inquiry outcome," BCAS Director General Zulfiquar Hasan told PTI on Thursday. According to a passenger who was onboard the plane, the incident happened on December 26, just before the plane was taxiing to the runway for takeoff. The plane landed at Kolkata early morning on Tuesday, the passenger, who was travelling with his mother, said. The passenger, who is from Kolkata, told PTI about the incident on condition of anonymity. He said that he was worried about his mother who was sitting near the seat where the incident happened. Accordi

Scuffle onboard plane from Bangkok to Kolkata, video on social media

A few passengers onboard a Thai Smile Airways plane from Bangkok to Kolkata were reportedly involved in a scuffle earlier this week. A video clip of the scuffle inside the aircraft was shared widely on social media on Wednesday. In the clip, a man could be seen being slapped multiple times by a few co-passengers. According to a passenger who was in the plane, the incident happened on December 26 just before the plane was taxiing to the runway for takeoff. He was travelling to Kolkata along with his mother. The passenger, who hails from Kolkata, told PTI about the incident on condition of anonymity. He said that he was worried about his mother who was sitting near the seat where the incident happened. Later, other passengers and air hostess pacified the individuals involved in the scuffle, he added. According to the passenger, the reason for the scuffle was not clear. The plane landed at Kolkata early on Tuesday morning. It could not be immediately ascertained whether the incident