No procession with arms on Ram Navami, says Mamata

Hooghly/East Burdwan: No arms will be allowed at processions to observe Ram Navami and the police should intensify vigil to ensure that there aren't any untoward incidents and that peace is maintained, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Tuesday afternoon.

Addressing administrative review meetings in Hooghly and East Burdwan districts, she added that since Higher Secondary examination will be on, the Mahavir Jayanti procession will be allowed after 5 pm. She also directed the police to step up security and ensure that peace is not disturbed. It may be mentioned that the BJP has decided to take out arms in the procession to celebrate Ram Navami.

She also asked the police to ensure that no communal tension takes place over an incident. "However small an incident might be, please do not neglect it and ensure that no communal tension breaks out. If any incident is attended to immediately and steps are taken, then the administration is never affected," she said.

Urging the Block Development Officers (BDOs) and Circle Inspectors (CIs), she said the ground level officers should cooperate for better functioning of the administration. "The BDOs and CIs are the faces of any government. So go to the people and listen to their grievances." She also asked the Hooghly district administration to step up vigil and act promptly when incidents break out in correctional homes. "Ensure that no prisoner is using cell phones or laptops. You should take action immediately after any incident is reported."

Surajit Kar Purkayastha, Director General of Police said after the Chandannagar Commissionerate has come into existence, there is a marked decrease in the number of crimes.

Banerjee asked senior police officials to set up watch towers near the "black spots" on the National Highways. "Every life is precious and watchtowers will help the police to spot errant drivers," she remarked.

Coming down heavily on the CPI(M), she said because of a handful of people who are receiving support from the Left Front, Bishnupur-Tarakeshwar railway tracks could not be laid. "CPI(M) did not do any development work during its tenure and now, efforts are on to spoil the projects taken up by the state government."

She also directed the District Magistrates of Hooghly to speak to the people and then take a decision on the matter. She asked the Hooghly district administration to carry out the development of the areas surrounding Kamarpukur, Jayrambati and Phur Phura Sharif.

Banerjee also said that a Rs 500 crore project has been taken up to prevent floods in the lower Damodar basin and once completed, it will save the lives of those residing in East Burdwan, Hooghly and Howrah from freak floods which are often caused by irrational release of water by the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC).

She urged the municipalities to launch drives to create awareness against the vector-borne diseases. The Chief Minister further added that a cluster will be set up where all rice mills in East Burdwan will be shifted. The "Misti hub" in East Burdwan will be fully operational from April.

Urging the Panchayat members to go to the public and serve them, she maintained: "Go to the people and listen to their grievances and try to address them. Always remember that it is a government of Ma, Mati, Manush."