1. Jet Grounds Flights To Northeastern Towns To Cut Cost
Caught in air turbulence, Jet Airways is trying to stay afloat by slashing flights on less profitable routes and adding capacity on those that offer high yields.
On the chopping block are several routes in the Northeast, a move that would severely affect connectivity to the region as well as send ticket prices soaring. The full-service carrier has already stopped accepting bookings to several towns in the Northeast and other parts of India for February and beyond.
Travel agents from Kolkata pressed the panic button when no bookings were available beyond 10 February on direct flights to multiple destinations from Kolkata. “We tried to first book a flight to Silchar in mid-February but failed. We then tried Aizawl, Imphal and Jorhat without success. Coming barely days after 14 Jet flights had to be cancelled after pilots reported ‘ill’, this does not augur well for the airline and Indian aviation industry,” a travel agent said.
(Source: The Times Of India)
2. Sinthee Woman Slaps Rape Charge On Husband
A recently-married man has been booked for rape after his wife accused him of forcing her to have sex with him against her consent. She has also lodged complaints of dowry demand and torture against her in-laws.
The woman, a resident of Sinthee, approached the court to register a case after she claimed the physical assault continued even after she got pregnant. The legal fraternity said this was one of the first cases of domestic abuse, where a woman has slapped rape charges on her husband.
(Source: The Times Of India)
3. Chariot Duel Rolls In Bengal's Cooch Behar
Before the chariot rolls, the Madanmohan chant.
Trinamool leaders in Cooch Behar have invoked Madanmohan, the most revered local deity housed in a temple built by the royals, ahead of a Rath Yatra to be flagged off by BJP Chief Amit Shah on Friday, 7 December.
“Cooch Behar-e sudhu Madanmohan Thakur rath-ey choren (In Cooch Behar, only Lord Madanmohan rides a chariot)” is the refrain among ruling party leaders, including minister and district Trinamool Chief Rabindranath Ghosh. “As Cooch Behar residents, we cannot think of a Rath Yatra with anybody other than Lord Madanmohan. The BJP yatra will be a flop show,” said Ghosh.
(Source: The Telegraph)
4. The Curious Case Of Kolkata's Closed Flyovers
Traffic seldom sleeps in Kolkata but several of the newer flyovers leading to the airport are put to bed between 10 pm and midnight, catching motorists by surprise and occasionally creating a bottleneck.
The police strategy of using guardrails to block flyovers, most of them along the way to the airport from the EM Bypass, has not only stumped motorists but also raised questions about the rationale behind limiting the use of infrastructure meant to ease rather than block out traffic.
(Source: The Telegraph)
5. Batanagar Flyover Ready, But Use Potholed Road
The Jinjirabazar flyover has been lying ready, but unused for almost a month.
The result: people have to use the cratered road below.
The construction was completed in October but there’s been no official communication regarding its inauguration, a urban development department official said.
“We are waiting for a date from the government. The flyover is ready,” the official said.
Some engineers have raised safety concerns, though. Steel frames for flowerpots fixed on the flyover is unnecessary and can lead to accidents, an engineer said.
(Source: The Telegraph)
6. Officials Cite Political Pressure As KMC Plans More Tube Wells
Far from attempting to eliminate the risk of groundwater contamination in areas such as Jadavpur, Behala, Tollygunge and some off EM Bypass by implementing the ban on drawing groundwater, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation is chalking out a plan to give out permits for installation of more tube wells to mitigate water crisis. However, a section of public health experts feel that the attempts of the civic body should have been to ensure supply of more potable water by replacing groundwater in areas where traces of arsenic have been found.
A CAG survey also pointed out dangers of tapping groundwater in several parts of the city for drinking. The national audit body sought an explanation from the civic body on why it has failed to provide treated water to residents of large areas on the southern fringes.
(Source: The Times Of India)
7. Shrinking Open Space Traps Pollutants In City: Study
The city’s shrinking open space has left Kolkata gasping for breath. An alarming dip in the city’s open spaces, thanks to massive real-estate development, has caused a build-up of the post-Diwali noxious air, since it has got no place to escape, said a study by an environment advocacy group.
Open space is important for faster dispersal of pollutants from the ambient air. The study revealed that the city’s open space has shrunk to an alarming 5.5 percent, from around 13 percent of the city’s total area, because of extensive real-estate development. According to World Health Organization (WHO), a city must have at least 15% open space.
(Source: The Times Of India)
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