The West Bengal government on Friday banned hookah bars in the capital city of Kolkata citing the effects on public health.

Siliguri (West Bengal) [India], July 7 (ANI): After a long gap of two years, a private bus operator with the help of North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC) started the Siliguri-Kakkarvitta-Kathmandu bus service on Wednesday afternoon.

Kolkata Apr 18 PTI The West Bengal government on Monday decided to write to the Centre urging it to increase the allotment of IAS and IPS officers as the state administration is planning to raise the number of districts and that will require more such officialsState Industry Minister Partha Chatterjee claimed that some neighbouring states that are smaller than West Bengal have more IAS and IPS officers compared to what this state hasThe state Cabinet on Monday okayed a proposal to constitute a panel of officials to recruit more West Bengal Civil Service WBCS and Police Service WBPS officers to run the administration more efficiently Chatterjee said We have 23 districts and restructuring of the districts is being done Some neighbouring smaller states with 20-22 districts have more IAS and IPS officers compared to what our state hasThe CM has asked the chief secretary to write a letter to the USPC to increase the allotment of fresh IAS and IPS cadres for West Bengal because we will be having more districts he saidThe Cabinet also decided to fill up a total of 11551 vacancies in the health department with contractual temporary workers primarily for the infrastructure development in urban and rural areas Chatterjee saidThere will also be recruitment for 342 vacancies for data entry operators in the food and supplies departments he addedThe industry minister said that a decision was also taken to allot land to chip and semiconductor manufacturers at the states Silicon Valley Hub in the cityChatterjee said the state Cabinet also decided to provide government jobs to the family members of 26 people who were killed in lightning strikes in Hooghly and Murshidabad districts last yearTransport Minister Firhad Hakim said that the Cabinet decided to streamline the fee structure of the trucks used for exportsWe have noticed that the fee structure for trucks taking goods across the border is abnormal We have decided to streamline this he said Hakim also said that it was also decided to allow the movement of vehicles carrying perishable goods on a priority basis so that exporters can avoid lossHe said that the department will soon be issuing a notification in this regardThe state Cabinet also okayed recruitment of staff on contractual basis for parking lots in land ports Hakim saidThe state government has taken direct control of the parking lots that were under the respective local bodiesThe transport department will pay the salary of the staff he said PTI SCH NN NN

Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], March 18 (ANI): West Bengal Minister Firhad Hakim on Friday celebrated Holi and Shab-e-Barat conveying a message of togetherness to the people in Kolkata.

Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], March 13 (ANI): Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim on Sunday inspected the site of the fire in the Tangra area of Kolkata.

Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], January 7 (ANI): West Bengal government on Monday launched an open-air classroom programme Paray Shikshalaya (Neighbourhood Schools) for primary and pre-primary students, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kolkata Nov 29 PTI Former Kolkata Municipal Corporation KMC mayor Firhad Hakim and Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees sister-in-law Kajari Bandopadhyay on Monday filed their nomination papers as TMC candidates for elections to the civic body on December 19 Hakim who is contesting from ward number 82 said I wont be seeking votes during my campaigns I will be renewing my bond with people I am sure of victory Banerjee filed her papers from ward number 73 Meanwhile a high-level meeting was held at the State Election Commission SEC headquarters during which it was decided the EVMs will be kept in individual strong rooms in all 144 wards one of its officials said The SEC has also emphasised that all COVID-19 protocols should be followed during electioneering and polling in line with the health ministrys directives the official added PTI SUS RMS RMS

Islamabad [Pakistan], October 3 (ANI): The terrorist organisation Islamic State (Daesh) has claimed responsibility for killing a Sikh community member earlier this week in Pakistan's Peshawar.

Peshawar [Pakistan], September 30 (ANI): A Sikh community member was brutally murdered in Peshawar city of Pakistan after unidentified assailants barged into his clinic and shot at him four times.

Kolkata The Kolkata Municipal CorporationKMC has decided to act tough against a section of people who will be found littering lanes and bylanes in an indiscriminate manner causing inconvenience to their fellow citizensThe third time they will be served a notice and dragged to the municipal courtThere are such provisions in the ambit of KMC law and we will ensure strict implementation of the same Chairman Board of Administrators KMC Firhad Hakim saidHakim expressed concern and apart from directing the Director General Solid Waste Management to clean up the area he asked the concerned SWM team in the borough level to be vigilant against suchactivitiesHe asked DG SWM to convene a meeting with SWM officials in the borough level and issue instructions on the responsibility of the person concerned to curb such practices of littering