Kolkata , Feb. 7: While the waterbodies in the city are diminishing rapidly, almost 12,500 hectares of wetland in east Kolkata are being preserved and maintained, all thanks to a handful of fishermen who have let “nature” be their “teacher”.
Around 254 fisheries in the area are under the vast Kolkata wetlands and is a remarkable example of an aquatic eco-system. “The pisciculture in the area is entirely dependant on the sewage water that comes from the city.

Kolkata ,Feb. 7: The real-life hero image of the Communist icon Jyoti Basu is now being chronicled in Bengali folk theatre (Jatra-pala)!
Yes, Alor Sikha Amar Jyoti (the flame of fire — the eternal) on Basu, or, the man of the masses, is ready to hit rural Bengal where he has had a larger than life image even after his death. The Anjali Opera has taken care of not only to focus on the arc lights on Basu’s behind-the-screen lifestyle, but also projects his passion to fight for the workers and the peasants even he being an aristocrat. The proposed pala has already received a good feedback from nayaks (agents) who want to organise its show in rural Bengal.

Kolkata, Feb. 7: The 34th Kolkata Book Fair concluded on Sunday in the presence of chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. The book lovers will now have to wait for another one year for this extravaganza.

Kolkata, Feb. 7: The state university is running without major administrative officials since 2009. Various posts, including that of deputy registrar, deputy controller of examination, assistant controller of examination and finance officer of the Barasat University are lying vacant. The state higher education department had advertised for the posts on May 21, 2009. However, the varsity is yet call the shortlisted candidates for the interview.

Purulia , Feb. 7: Two days before Union home minister P. Chidambaram’s meeting with the chief ministers of four Maoists-affected states in the city, incharge of the Operation Greenhunt and special director-general (central zone) of the CRPF, Vijay Raman, visited the Maoist-infested Purulia on Sunday.

Bethuadahari ,Feb. 7: Despite the ban on corporal punishment, a Class 6 student of Bethuadahari JCM High School was brutally beaten up by a teacher for failing to wear proper uniform.

A boy enjoys a ride on an English Mastiff as a Greyhound looks on during a dog walk to spread awareness about stray animals in Kolkata organised by the Debasree Roy Foundation and Prabha Khaitan Foundation on Saturday.     PHOTO: Abhijit Mukherjee

Kolkata ,Feb. 6: The CPI(M) central committee has formalised its strategy to drive a wedge between the Congress and the Trinamul Congress. The beleagured Left Front in Bengal feels its best bet for the 2011 Assembly elections is to divide the anti-Left vote which could be possible only if their alliance could snap.

Kolkata , Feb. 6: Putting to rest all speculation about the 20th party congress, the CPI(M) has decided to hold the congress in 2012 instead of scheduled 2011. The party will instead convene an extended meeting of the central committee in August 2010 to chalk out the political roadmap to meet the current political situation.

Kolkata, Feb. 6: The CPI(M) on Saturday condemned the attempts by the Shiv Sena and the MNS to intimidate film actor Shah Rukh Khan. The major controversy surrounding the badshah of Bollywood following the Shiv Sena’s tirade against him figured in the three-day CPI(M) state committee meeting which came ended in the city on Saturday.