Sop for land losers

Siliguri, Aug. 18: Bengal urban development minister Asok Bhattacharya said today that the new township project spread over 302 acres at Kawakhali would go ahead “come what may happen”.

Some new incentives were announced in addition to the package already declared for the rehabilitation of the people whose land was acquired for the project. They include 60 per cent compensation for those who did not have documents on the ownership of the land and soft bank loans of Rs 80,000 for BPL families.

Bomb scare

Jalpaiguri: A polythene bag found abandoned near a shop close to the Kali temple at Dinbazar here on Monday morning caused a bomb scare. Policemen from Kotwali station found only a chargeable battery in the bag.

NH blocked

Siliguri: Residents of Farabari Basti near Bhaktinagar on the outskirts of Siliguri on Monday blocked NH31 to protest against the delay in the construction of a bridge over the Sahu. “The SJDA had sanctioned the bridge in 2005 but no work has taken place,” said Dipendra Thapa, convener of the Farabari Gram Sudhar Samiti that led the agitation.

Road mishap

Siliguri: Somnath Gupta (45) from Tamluk died when a truck hit the bike he was pillion-riding at Mallaguri here on Monday afternoon. Ranjit Pal Choudhury, who was riding the two-wheeler, was admitted to the Siliguri District Hospital with injuries. The driver of the truck has been arrested.

Bus timings

Siliguri: The North Bengal State Transport Corporation has changed the schedule of some of its distance bus services ahead of a strike called on August 20. An official of its Siliguri division said all buses would leave Tenzing Norgey Bus Terminus on Tuesday as follows as: Siliguri to Jamshedpur — 10 am; Siliguri to Ranchi —11am; Siliguri to Digha — 11.30am; Siliguri to Calcutta — 12 noon; Siliguri to Calcutta (Rocket) — 1pm; Siliguri to Bankura — 2pm; Siliguri to Assansol — 3pm and Siliguri to Balurghat — 8pm.