In a desperate bid to prevent power theft, CESC has decided to introduce paper seals on cutouts containing the fuse that control supply to the premises of individual consumers. The decision to introduce “modernised proprietary paper seals” over the existing lead seals has been taken to make the system foolproof, a spokesperson for the power utility said. “We were concerned over the use of spurious lead seals by miscreants. We have now decided to put holographic paper seals on the supply points over and above the existing seals,” the spokesperson added. The CESC officer claimed that the adhesive used in the holographic seals will make it difficult for anyone to tamper with them. He also warned consumers that any attempt to disturb or interfere with the paper seals will be construed as a bid to obtain “unauthorised access” to power supply. The spokesperson said the initial affixing of CESC paper seals on the cut-outs will be done in a phased manner. “Information about the affixation on the premises of individual consumers will be intimated through the monthly electricity bills,” he added. Two criminals managed to escape after the police raided a Lenin Sarani address where they had gathered to plan a dacoity at the Commercial Point office complex on Monday night. DC, central, Zulfiquar Hasan said four men — Asmat Ali, Akbar Ali, Naushad and Mohammed Shahjahan — were arrested, while two of their associates escaped. Arms and ammunition were recovered from the arrested persons. The RSP-controlled body of state government employees, Joint Council, will march to Writers’ Buildings on February 20 demanding absorption of casual employees and filling up of about 50,000 vacancies with permanent employees. Samaresh Sarkar, general secretary of the Joint Council, said their CPM-controlled counterpart, Coordination Committee, had refused to join the agitation. “We also want implementation of all provisions of the Fourth Pay Commission,” he added. Ajay Kumar, the chief manager of State Bank of India’s Shakespeare Sarani branch, was arrested at his office on Tuesday on charges of being involved in a Rs 3.13-crore bank scam, DC, headquarters, K.L. Tamta said. Rajmata Gayatri Devi of Jaipur met chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee at Writers’ Buildings on Tuesday and requested him to arrange for maintenance of the armoury of the historic palace of her father, the Maharaja of Cooch Behar. She said there was a rare collection of antique rifles and guns imported from Europe that needed to be looked after. An agreement between the Japan Environment Consultants and the Calcutta Municipal Corporation (CMC) will be signed on Wednesday to conduct a survey on solid waste management in the city. According to mayor Subrata Mukherjee, the CMC will provide the company with office accommodation. The employees of Horizon Hi-Tech Engicon Ltd. engaged in the work of doubling of the railway line between New Alipore and Akra, were assaulted by local people on Tuesday. Work was stopped for some time as a result. Deputy chief engineer, construction, of Eastern Railway’s Sealdah division, P.K. Singh, said trouble started when people began to demand that the road be widened by demolishing the adjacent slums. This could only be done by the local authorities. The police persuaded residents to withdraw their agitation and work on the railway project resumed. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will invest Rs 220 crore to bring about infrastructural development in the underdeveloped pockets of east Calcutta. The fund includes a loan package on environment improvement projects in the added areas of Behala, Garden Reach and Jadavpur. O eastern railway for achieving an improvement in carrying of freight from April 2002 to January 2003 over the target set by the Railway Board for the period
Monday, 05 May 2025
