At Tarakeswar, Mamata announces slew of developmental projects

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday announced the formation of a police commissionerate for Hooghly along with a university, a medical college and a development board for Tarakeshwar.

She chaired the administrative review meeting of Hooghly district here on Thursday afternoon.

Banerjee said she would select the site for the proposed university and would not listen to any lobby. The medical college will come up on an area of 5 acre at a place between Tarakeshwar and Singur. The CM also urged the district magistrate to look into the matter. The medical college will be named after Prafulla Chandra Sen, former Chief Minister and Gandhian leader.

Meanwhile, she granted Rs 5 crore for the Tarakeshwar development board. The board will look after the development of the temple and its adjoining areas. Firhad Hakim, state Urban Development minister, will be the chairman of the board and Becharam Manna will be the vice-chairman. Another Rs 4 crore will be given to set up an auditorium. She allotted Rs 10 crore to upgrade the drainage system. The bus stand will be upgraded at an estimated cost of Rs 1 crore and to upgrade crematoria, a sum of Rs 20 lakh will be allotted.

Banerjee also instructed the police to take stern actions against those who indulge in communal violence. "Do not spare the members of any community that is creating trouble. I am not going to tolerate communal violence. If needed, beat up those inciting such violence," she said. She also asked the police to arrest extortionists who are creating trouble in Polba.

This came after an industrialist from the area sought her intervention to take action against extortionists. "I have taken up the matter with the Director General of Police and no criminal will be spared," she said. Banerjee reiterated that the railway link between Kamarpukur and Jairambati will be set up and if needed, an alternative waterbody will be created where the fishing community will be provided with all possible support. A modern bus stand will also come up at Jairambati. Banerjee said, a hub of decorative lighting will come up at Chandannagar along with a silk hub at Serampore. Banerjee also proposed a tourism hub at Mahesh off Serampore.

The Chief Minister instructed the Hooghly district administration to upgrade all the Madhyamik schools so that students from the district can get admission in the institutions. She asked the district officials to visit all the 6,502 ICDS centres at least thrice a year. Banerjee expressed her displeasure at the poor performance of the district in 100 days work and asked the officials to pull up their socks. She said that all district magistrates, block development officers, MLAs and MPs will install a brick to inaugurate the construction of 18,000 km of rural roads on June 12 at 4 pm.

She said the district administration should give equal importance to all areas. Speaking to senior officials of the district, she said: "Do not give priority to those MLAs who are vocal. Work seriously for the comprehensive development of the district."