oday is Mahalaya, the beginning of Devi Paksha, the greatest festival of Bengalees, Durga Pooja.

Mahalaya marks the end of Pitra Paksha and beginning of Devi Paksha. It is believed that Maa Durga begins her journey to the earth on Devi Paksha. On this day, people offer prayers betterly known as Tarpan to their ancestors.

In Kolkata, large number of people have gathered on the banks of river Ganga to perform Tarpan in the memory of their departed parents since early morning.

AIR Kolkata broadcast special traditional morning programme Mahishasur Mardini on the occasion of Mahalaya.

Most of the big community pooja organisers are now engaged for last minute preparation to make their presentation as an unique.

Going beyond domestic tourists, the West Bengal government has drawn up plans to attract foreign tourists during the upcoming Durga Puja festival.

According to state's Tourism Minister Rachhpal Singh, roadshows have already been organised in Bangalore and Mumbai, besides organising campaigns in USA and Canada. He said, while planning more such programmes in other major Indian cities, more campaigns are awaiting to draw attention of tourists from Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and neighbouring countries with the help of various central and foreign agencies.

Bengal's biggest festival Durga Puja, which will begin from October 21, is a four day melange of festive fun and devotion which brings everything else in the entire state to a standstill.

The President has praised students of IIT Indian Institute of technology for enhancing the image of India abroad, and for contributing to the Nation's growth. on Saturday Speaking at the 58th annual convocation of IIT,Kharagpure on Saturday Pranab Mukherjee also called upon the youth to develop scientific temperament to enhance the growth of the country and its economy.

Others present at the function was Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh, West Bengal Governor N. K. Narayanan and West Bengal Minister for planning and Development Manish Gupta

he West Bengal cabinet has decided to accord 10 percent reservation of posts in Kolkata Police for Women . The cabinet which was chaired by the Chief Minister Miss Mamata Bnerjee in Kolkata this afternoon also decided to setup four new Police Stations at Belur, Nischinda, Dasnagar and Santragachi in Howrah District bifurcating the Bally and Jagacha Police Stations. 

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee inaugurated a museum on Rabindranath Tagore on his death anniversary today. The museum named as ‘Rabindra Tirtha’ has come up on five acres of land at New Town in Kolkata with an investment of Rs 20 crore.

Speaking on the occasion, Banerjee also announced setting up of ‘Nezrul Tirtha’ in the name of poet of Nazrul Islam. She said the Government had also decided to set up an international convention centre on the lines of Vigyan Bhavan in Delhi and an eco-tourism park in the New Town.

AIR Kolkata correspondent reports that a number of programmes were organised through the state to pay homage to Gurudev Tagore on his death anniversary. In Santineketan

 he West Bengal Government has moved the Supreme Court against the Calcutta High Court order, which struck down the Singur Land Act. The Act allowed the state to reclaim 400-acre land given to Tata Motors.

In its appeal, the state said the High Court had erred in quashing the Act.

In a blow to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the High Court had on June 22 ruled that the legislation enacted by her Government to recover the land leased to Tata Motors in Singur for its small car project was constitutionally invalid.

The Singur Land Rehabilitation and Development Act, 2011, sought to empower the State Government to take back 400 acre land, given to Tata Motors for its Nano small car project.

On an appeal by Tata Motors Ltd, the Court observed that President's assent had not been taken for the Act and as such it was void and unconstitutional. It also observed that what was done in Singur was acquisition of land by the said Act and as such it was void.


The implementation of the order was, however, stayed for two months by the division bench to allow the aggrieved party to appeal to the Supreme Court.


The Division Bench had set aside the order of single Bench, which had held the Act to be constitutional.

Landslides on NH 31A at Tenth Mile Tarkhola in West Bengal has cut off Sikkim from the rest of the country.Officials said today that the landslide occurred at 11 PM last night between Rangpo on Sikkim border and Melli in West Bengal.

Border Road Organisation is trying to clear the debris.It has said that one-way traffic on the highway will be opened by the evening. 

The landslide followed heavy rains in north Bengal and Sikkim last week.

Japan will soon give 400 crore rupees financial assistance to the West Bengal Government for social forestry in the state. Replying to the Budget discussions in the state Assembly today the Forest Minister Mr. Hiten Barman said that the Government has increased the quantum of compensation to 2 lakh rupees for the families who died in tusker attacks.

Mr. Barman also informed the House that the government has also hiked compensation for damage of crops due to elephant menace.

The West Bengal Government has announced hike in the monthly allowance to the unwilling farmers of Singur who have not yet got their land returned. Announcing this in Kolkata on Wednesday afternoon, the Chief Minister, Ms. Mamata Banerjee said that the unwilling farmers will get two thousand rupees per month from the 1st of next month till their land is returned. Ms. Banerjee said that the Government has taken the decision in view of the price rise of essential commodities. 

Earlier, the State Government announced one thousand rupees monthly allowance to the unwilling farmers. Besides, the Government will also give rice to each family of the farmers at two rupees per kilogram every week. 

AIR Kolkata Correspondent reports that the state government's decision came after the recent verdict of the Division Bench of the Calcutta High Court declaring the Singur Land Rehabilitation and Development Act 2011 as unconstitutional. The State Government has decided to move the higher court to challenge the verdict of the High Court. 

he West Bengal Government has decided to amend the present Panchayat Act for better functioning of three tier local bodies. Replying to the Budget discussions in the state Assembly today the Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Mr. Subrata Mukherjee said that the present Act will be amended comprehensively after the coming Panchayat Elections in the state.

Mr. Mukherjee appealed all political parties to work above the party lines for effective implementation of Panchayai Raj system so that the rural people can be benefited. The Minister informed the House that the Government will soon release fresh BPL list after ongoing survey works on it.


He said the Government has floated tender for introducing Biometric cards for daily payments of wages under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. Earlier, initiating the discussions on the Budget proposals the CPI(M) member Mr. Susanta Ghosh alleged that the powers of the elected members of the Panchayat bodies are now being shifted to bureaucrats in the regime of the present Government.

Monsoon on Sunday reached Gangetic West Bengal nine days after its normal arrival date of June 8. This has reduced fears of a drought in the southern districts of the state that have been hit by severe heatwave conditions over the past few weeks. 

Regional Met office sources said in Kolkata that the monsoon currents are, however, not very strong and it will take some more time for the intensity of the rainfall to rise. The Met office said in its forecast that rain or thundershower would occur at many places in Gangetic West Bengal.

While three districts of Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Coochbehar in North Bengal were experiencing heavy rainfall for the last several days, severe heatwave conditions in southern and western districts of the state, have claimed the lives of over 60 people in the last couple of weeks. The highest number of people died in Asansol in Burdwan district, owing to severe heat
conditions.

The members also observed two minutes silence in respect of The members also observed two minutes silence in respect of departed souls. .

The West Bengal Chief Minister Miss Mamata Banerjee will hold a meeting with representative of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) to discus the recommendations of the Shyamal Sen Committee tomorrow. The Morcha leadership is upset at the recommendations of the Shyamal Sen Committee on the inclusion of Mouzas in the Tarai and Dooars regions of West Bengal. 

On contrary of including 297 Mouzas in the GTA teretory, the Shyamal Sen Committee have given them 5 Mouzas. The Chief Minister Miss Mamata Banerjee is holding a meeting tomorrow with the GJM leadership, to find an amicable solution to the impasse. 

Besides this, the Chief Minister will also hold meetings with the representative of civil society of the Darjeeling hills to come to an amicable solution.

In West Bengal, ruling Trinamool Congress has retained both the Bankura and Daspur assembly seats in the bye election. 

The party candidates defeated their nearest CPIM rivals by comfortable margins.

West Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra on Monday called on Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee to seek a special package for the state.

Speaking to reporters in New Delhi after the meeting, Mr Mitra said discussions are going on.

The Mamata Banerjee government, which came to power in July last year, has been demanding special package in the form of interest moratorium.

The state government has a debt of about 2 lakh crore rupee rupees and its current annual outgo towards interest payments is around 22,000 crore rupees.

AIR correspondent reports, the centre had already set up a committee to look into problems being faced by three debt-stressed states- West Bengal, Punjab and Kerala.

The Centre has fixed a target of five lakh 70 thousand crore rupees direct tax collection this year. Inaugurating an Aaaykar Sewa Kendra in Kolkata this morning the Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said that besides this target government desires that the direct tax collection should reach 12 percent of the GDP. Referring to the various customer friendly steps for tax payers Mr. Mukherjee said that the aim is to promote more and more voluntary tax compliance. The Finance Minister said that two Income Tax Offices will be opened at Durgapur and Jalpaigudi of West Bengal soon.

The West Bengal government has decided to set up a University in the name of rebel poet Kazi Nazrul Islam at Asansol in Burdwan district of West Bengal.

Announcing the decision at a function in Kolkata this evening, the Chief Minister Ms. Mamta Banerjee said, the government has taken the decision to set up the university at the poet 's home town to pay homage to him. The function was held to celebrate the 114th birthday of the poet today.

Ms. Banerjee also laid the foundation stone of Nazrul Bhawan which will be built at Rajarhat area of the city. Ms Banerjee also conferred the Nazrul award to noted Nazrul Geeti exponent Firoza Bajum besides presenting other awards to the eminent personalities from different field.

The Chairman of Press Council of India, Justice Markandey Katju also graced the occasion with his presence.

The West Bengal Government has decided to repeal the State Special Economic Zone Act. Announcing this, the state Commerce and Industries Minister Mr. Partha Chatterjee said that the decision was taken at the meeting on cabinet sub-committee for infrastructure and industries chaired by the Chief Minister Miss Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata on Wednesday.

Mr. Chatterjee also informed that, the cabinet sub-committee also finalized the state Information-Technology policy. He said the Government is trying to provide all kinds of help to the IT major Infosis, to set up their unit in the state by giving alternative facilities of SEZ.(i remember Infosis decline to go ahead with its two plan in wase bengal.

The Chief Minister, Ms Mamta Bannerjee will present the Bongo Vibhushan and Bongo Bhushan awards to eminent personalities of different fields at a function in Kolkata this evening. They include Sitar Maestro Ravi Shankar, Noted Bengali Cine Actress Suchitra Sen and others. 

The West Bengal Government has decided to bring the women of Self Help Groups (SHG) under Helath Insurance Scheme.

Launching a project under National Rural Livelihoods Mission “Anandadhara” the Chief Minister, Miss Mamata Banerjee said in Kolkata on Thursday that the Helath Insurance Scheme for Self Help Groups will be implemented within next three months.

Miss Banerjee also announced that the State Government’s subsidy to this sector will be hiked to thirty percent from present’s twenty percent.

The Chief Minister said Marketing Centres for selling the products of SHGs will be opened at all State Capitals and each District of West Bengal.