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Clerks on casual leave cripple CMC
Revenue-collection and other administrative work in all the Calcutta Municipal Corporation’s (CMC) offices came almost to a stop on Wednesday owing to mass casual leave taken by clerical employees at the call of the CMC’s pro-left clerks’ union in support of a 15-point charter of demands. According to office records, out of about 8,000 clerical employees more than 6,000 were absent. Municipal commissioner Debashis Som said the employees who did not turn up for duty might face a salary cut and discontinuation in service. However, the steps to be taken against them would be finalised after mayor Subrata Mukherjee is back from Delhi.
Autorickshaw in fatal mishap
An autorickshaw driver was killed when an oil tanker dashed into the three-wheeler that hit a lamp post. Surojit Mukherjee, a 27-year-old resident of Hari Ghosh Street, was sitting in his own vehicle near Holy Child School on Beadon Street, under Burtolla police station, when the speeding oil tanker hit it from behind. The vehicle hit a lamp post and was reduced to a mangled mass of metal and shattered glass. An unconscious and profusely bleeding Mukherjee was taken out of the twisted framework with great difficulty by the police. He was then rushed to RGKar Medical College and Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The driver of the tanker was arrested and the vehicle impounded, police said.
Factory attacked
Thirty armed dacoits stormed the factory of Bishnu Cotton Mills in Barasat and escaped with goods worth about Rs 1 lakh. According to police, the dacoits entered the factory on Tuesday night and overpowered the guards. They even snatched a rifle from one of the armed guards.
Healthcare help
Two Malaysian companies have shown interest in investing in the health sector. Representatives of Health Solutions (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, and Babkak and Brown met chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee at Writers’ Buildings. Health minister Surjya Kanta Mishra also attended the meeting. The Malaysian team, including Desmond Foo, director of Health Solutions, and Babkak and Brown managing director Willy C.M. Lim, visited a few state-run hospitals in Calcutta, including the demolished Mayo Hospital site on Wednesday, and during their previous trips to the city. Health officials said it was yet to be decided whether they would rebuild the existing structure or would build their own hospital on a government plot.
Plea for water aid
Urban development minister Asok Bhattacharya on Wednesday urged the Centre for funds to solve the problems relating to drinking water in Calcutta. In a letter to Union finance minister, Jaswant Singh, Bhattacharya urged him to include the city in the list of cities chosen for special assistance for drinking water supply projects.
Thumbs Up
To Bodhayan for organising a sports
tournament involving 585 mentally challenged children on
the St Xavier’s College grounds
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