Kolkata Mar 31 PTI Jaldapara National Park in West Bengals Alipurduar district has registered a rise of 55 one-horned rhinos in the last three years taking the current headcount to 292 a senior forest department official said on Thursday The number of rhinos was 237 in 2019 and the national park added 18-19 rhinos to its population every year Chief Wildlife Warden Debal Roy told PTI quoting the recently released rhino census report of the department The 292 rhinos included 179 adults 45 sub-adults and 68 calves the report said The enumerators found 101 males 134 females while they were not able to confirm the gender of 57 other herbivores In 2019 there was 130 adults 57 sub-adults and 50 calves in the forest The enumeration drive took place after a gap of three years The national park was divided into 55 blocks for the enumeration exercise which took place on field on March 25 and 26 and each team consisted of four to six members The teams comprised forest staff guides NGOs and forest management committee members of locals Altogether 450 people were involved in the enumeration drive Two rhinos were spotted outside the enumeration zone - one sub-adult in Nilpara range which went back to Hasimara beat on March 27 and another sub-adult in Patlakawa forest which returned to Sisamara beat on March 29 the forest official said The national forest area recorded 40 births of rhinos from February 16 2019 till March 25 2022 Forty-six deaths including poaching were also registered during that period the forest department report said The habitat is conducive for the one-horned rhinos and various steps by the department to increase the forest cover to stop poaching to sensitise the local people living in neighbouring areas of the forest has led to this increase But we must continue the work and bring down the number of deaths another forest official said Like Assams Kaziranga Jaldapara is known to be the habitat of one-horned rhinos in West Bengal PTI SUS RG RG

Kolkata Mar 18 PTI West Bengal on Friday reported 62 fresh COVID-19 cases taking the tally to 2016737 a health department bulletin said One more person succumbed to the infection in the last 24 hours pushing the toll to 21193 As many as 141 patients recovered from the disease since Thursday taking the total number of COVID-19 recoveries to 1994455 people the bulletin said West Bengal currently has 1005 active COVID-19 cases The state had reported 94 fresh COVID-19 cases and one one fatality on Thursday A total of 18795 samples were tested during the day taking the total number of such clinical examinations to 24582155 The positivity rate was 033 per cent PTI SUS RG RG

Kolkata Feb 18 PTI Indian Institute of Management Calcutta has signed a Statement of Intent SOI with Capacity Building Commission Government of India for knowledge partnership with the aim to improve governments human resource management practices IIM-C said in a statement on FridayThe SOI was signed by Prof Uttam Kumar Sarkar Director of IIM Calcutta and Hemang Jani Secretary Capacity Building Commission New Delhi on February 17 the statement saidThe Capacity Building Commission CBC constituted in April 2021 has the mandate to improve the governments human resource management practices and augment the capacity of Indias 25 million civil servantsAs part of this initiative the commission entered into a knowledge partnership with IIM-C to structure a comprehensive strategy of innovative management development training for civil services at multiple levels the statement saidThe IIM-C Director said our collaboration with the Capacity Building Commission is another instance of our commitment to public good as an eminent institution of management education in the country Under the general framework of this SOI IIM Calcutta will lend its expertise to the design and execution of training programmes for countrys civil servants and support them through enhanced learning competencies in their efforts of effective governanceProf Bhaskar Chakrabarti Dean Academic congratulated the Capacity Building Commission for its efforts to broad-base on-the-job learning for countrys civil servants through knowledge partnershipHe said through this partnership we at IIM Calcutta wish to support CBC in its important national endeavour of creating well-trained human resources We look forward to working closely with CBC over the next two years to build a knowledge repository for the benefit of all civil servants The Indian Institute of Management Calcutta has been recognised for its thought leadership through research and teaching modalities in the field of management and has a well-established reputation for delivering world-class training for practicing managers and administrators both in the private and public sectors PTI SUS RG RG

Kolkata Dec 25 PTI Braving Omicron threat people visited churches in the city on the occasion of Christmas on Saturday The festive spirit started with special midnight masses held in churches with adherence to COVID-19 norms and singing of carols The churches allowed 50 per cent occupancy for midnight mass In the daytime people trooped inside prayer hall throughout the day as entry was regulated by the church staff Thousands of people also flocked to different tourist destinations in the city and elsewhere on the occasion of Christmas Long crowds were seen at citys favourite spots like Alipore Zoo Eco Park Victoria Memorial Millennium Park Indian Museum since the morning but many were seen not donning masks The most favoured destination remained Park Street where bright illuminations of Chandernagore lined along the path on two sides as popular eateries like Trincas Peter Cat Mocambo Marco Polo and others displayed no seat board outside with diners patiently waiting for their turn The aroma of cakes and muffins wafted in the air as one passed by Flurys which also witnessed a filled house There was frequent announcement on public address system by police urging people to wear masks to ward off the new coronavirus variant but many were seen flouting the guidelines Nothing will happen We have been jabbed twice Priyanka Roy a housewife accompanying her family said Singers belted popular Western Hindi and Bengali tracks as the crowds swayed to the beats in the musical show at Allen Park as well as in places like an illuminated Bow Barracks inhabited by the Anglo-Indian community where singer Anjan Dutt belted his popular rock numbers in Bengali Elsewhere in getaway weekend spots in Chandannagar in Purulia in Mukutmanipur in Bankura and others there was a big crowd In Darjeeling Hills there was brief snow fall much to the delight of tourists Met department sources said Members of the eunuch and transgender community donned the hat of Santa Claus this Christmas and decided to surprise the people of the city distributing gifts at important crossingsInstead of asking for money the community members handed over gifts to public at Victoria Memorial Ballygunge Phari EM Bypass and Phoolbagan crossing One of the initiators of the move Sourav Chakraborty said many people tend to disassociate themselves from this community However this community has a lot to offer to us Through this activity we have tried to showcase a different side to our friendly trans people where instead of receiving benefits they are spreading joy and happiness at a time when people are coping up from the depressed pandemic situation PTI SUS RG RG

Kolkata Nov 27 PTI The air quality ambience across the city ranged from poor to very poor on Saturday a pollution control board official said He attributed it to the smog phenomenon typical of the wintry conditions at this time of the year The air quality level ranged from moderate to poor in the city for the past one week he said However on Saturday the air quality index at Rabindra Bharati University air monitoring station in North Kolkata read 312 PM 25 at 1 pm which is in very poor category in environmental parlance the official said Such air quality conditions have the potential to cause serious breathing problem for COPD patients living in the neighborhood of BT Road Cossipore Sinthi North Dumdum Paikpara areas particularly those afflicted by Covid-19 virus green crusader and environmentalist S M Ghosh said The air quality index AQI had ranged between 270 to 320 at Rabindra Bharati air monitoring station this November he said In rest of the city AQI was poor in the southern parts as well reading 245 at Ballygunje air monitoring station and 224 at Jadavpur on Saturday at 1 pm the WBPCB official said Poor means breathing difficulties but not as severe as very poor In Rabindra Sarobar Victoria Memorial and Bidhannagar areas the first two pockets having large green cover and the last one a satellite township the air quality was moderate indicating the situation may not be as grim as in other parts but neither satisfactory as well In Rabindra Sarobar the AQI was 147 in Victoria Memorial area it was 145 and in Bidhannagar 180 less than 21 points of poor category Last week AQI ranged from 150 to 250 across the city except Rabindra Bharati University the official said As the subtle particulates hanging in air caused by vehicular emission and other commercial activities refuse to go away due to foggy conditions in this season the air quality index takes a dip in winter The pcb is taking steps like banning smoke belching vehicles in Kolkata and Howrah banning coal-based oven in road stalls and spraying water in construction sites to check the menace he said PTI SUS RG RG

Kolkata Oct 22 PTI Nine luxury hotels and restaurants in the city showcased representative cuisine of France as the City of Joy joined the Got deGood France 2021 celebration around the world from October 21 at the French Consulate here Expressing his happiness in hosting the sixth edition of the unique event the new Consul General of France in Kolkata Didier Talpain said on Thursday night due to the unprecedented COVID-19 situation in 2020 the event could not take place last year This is 6th edition of Got deGood France international initiative is back with the aim of helping the profession in its sustainable transition and supporting chefs in their new role as ambassadors for more eco-friendly gastronomy The event will be held here till October 24 He said the culinary heritage having distinctive local identity will work towards fostering bond between the two distant regions which are both vibrant in passion The veteran diplomat told PTI on the sidelines after coming to Kolkata about a week back I have found how gastronomy finds an important space among the people of two regions I have been struck by the bright colours and I am looking forward I look forward to a great association after this event he added The Oberoi Grand The Hyatt Regency The Taj Bengal Novotel Hotel Residences The Westin J W Marriott The Park ITC Sonar and To Die For Restaurant - rolled out their special offerings signature French items for the evening He liked the great care and skill the chefs prepared the signature French dishes The cuisine included Rillettes de tours puffed pork crossing Pate de pommes de Terre with rocket leaves salad and grilled mushrooms Paris breast Quiche mushroom and cheese Pulled pork crostini The typical desserts included Nougat de tours candied fruit macronade tart A consulate statement said - as the Garden of France the Centre-Loire Valley Region has for centuries been shaping an exceptional way of life opening a window onto French excellence which still today is the pride and joy of its tourist industry The regions food is inextricably linked to local cultural life and Centre-Loire Valley is today at the heart of the new thriving event season of the Nouvelles Renaissances 2021 Festival which celebrates the regions historical reputation for creativity and bold innovation among all the arts PTI SUS RG RG

Kolkata Sep 23 PTI Jadavpur University has announced a free vaccination camp will be held for students and other stakeholders following persistent demands and demonstrations by different student organisations Registrar Snehamanju Basu said in a notification on Wednesday that the West Bengal government has consented to the proposal by the university in this regard and the camp will be organised soon and the date and venue will be notified Those not able to come to the university campus may go to the nearest health clinic in their respective area by carrying university identity card money receipt of universitylibrary card and aadhaar card Basu said She said it was part of the process for reopening the campus which had been closed since mid-March 2020 The Arts Faculty Students Union controlled by SFI the FETSU union of Engineering department and others including DSO had been demanding reopening of campus in a graded manner after vaccination of all students PTI SUS RG RG

Kolkata Aug 26 PTI Eminent Bengali elocutionist Gouri Ghosh died on Thursday at a private hospital in the city due to severe neurological problem after suffering a brain stroke family sources said She was 83 Ghosh wife of another critically acclaimed elocutionist Partha Ghosh died at 9 am after being in ventilation for several days since her admission to the hospital on August 1 they said She is survived by her husband and son Ayan Ghosh Ayan told reporters his mother suffered a brain stroke in March but recovered well after being treated at a hospital and returned home However she had convulsions on August 1 and got admitted to hospital again Condoling Ghoshs demise West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said her unique recitals will always be remembered by the countless listeners poetry enthusiasts Banerjee recalled the long stints of Gouri Ghosh with All India Radio Kolkata as announcer-presenter of programmes her recitals aired and the bestowing of Kaji Sabyasachi Samman on her by the West Bengal government in 2018 Another popular elocutionist Bratati Bandyopadhyay said she was like my mother I recall how she had repeatedly cautioned me about maintaining safety protocols when COVID-19 first struck We used to talk over the phone regularly She added Ghoshs pronunciation of words and the way she expressed the spirit of a poem was motivational for elocutionists of next generations Gouri Ghoshs recital of Tagores timeless Karna Kunti Sangbad with husband Partha Ghosh had been one of the hugely popular albums of the couple for over a decade PTI SUS RG RG