1. Onion Prices Shoot Up To Rs 165/kg In Kolkata
The retail onion prices are showing no signs of cooling down, touching as high as Rs 165/kg on Friday even as the government grapples to boost the supply through imports.
The government in Parliament informed that imported onions will arrive by 20 January.
In most cities, onion was quoting above Rs 100/kg in the retail markets, while at Nashik in Maharashtra – the key producing centre – the rates were ruling at Rs 75/kg on Friday, as per the data maintained by the consumer affairs ministry.
Retail onion prices were ruling high at Rs 165/kg in Panaji (Goa), Rs 160/kg in Mayabunder (Andaman) and Rs 150/kg in Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, Thrissure and Wayanad in Kerala on Friday.
(Source: The Telegraph)
2. Road Dust Deadly Mix Of Pollutants: NEERI
Road dust, household emissions, and transport exhaust are the top contributors to Calcutta’s air pollution.
Road dust is a dangerous cocktail of pollutants that have been found to be the biggest source of air pollution in Calcutta, environmental scientists and engineers have said.
Road dust in the city consists of loose soil on broken or unpaved roads, particles that settle down on the road after emerging from the tailpipes of vehicles and construction-demolition waste that settles on a road.
A preliminary report of the National Environmental Engineering and Research Institute (Neeri) states that road dust and emissions from houses and vehicles are the top contributors to Calcutta’s air pollution.
The West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB) had commissioned the Centre’s Nagpur-based environmental research organisation to conduct a source apportionment study for Calcutta’s air pollution. The final report is expected later this month.
(Source: The Telegraph)
3. Teen Arrested For Allegedly Having Sex With Minor In Kolkata
A teenager was arrested from Kolkata's West Port police station area on Friday, 6 December, for allegedly having sexual intercourse with a minor girl, a police officer said.
On Thursday, the girl's mother lodged a complaint with the Garden Reach police station about some unknown people having sex with the minor girl on the first-floor bathroom of a house on Taratala Road.
A case was recorded under Section 376 (rape) of the Indian Penal Code as also under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
"Thereafter, a 19-year-old youth named SK Danish was arrested in connection with the case. Investigation is in progress," the officer said.
(Source: NDTV)
4. Airport Plan To Rein In VIP Cars Fails
Space designated for parking of VIP vehicles stays empty while such vehicles are parked in a no-parking area
The airport authorities’ plan to prevent VIP cars from being parked in front of the terminal for long durations has failed. Such vehicles, in fact, now rule the space.
The airport authorities had decided to note down the numbers of the VIP vehicles, mostly belonging to senior government functionaries, parked along the curb in front of the terminal at both arrival and departure levels and send them to the departments concerned with the request that the drivers be asked not to break the rule.
Vehicles are not allowed to park in front of the terminal for more than 10 minutes.
On Friday afternoon, Metro found a long queue of VIP vehicles parked along the curb for more than half an hour defying “No parking” signage. The space designated for parking such vehicles, near the terminal building, was empty.
(Source: The Telegraph)
5. Buses On 20 Routes In North Kolkata To Stay Off Roads From Monday
Owners of 20 bus routes in north Kolkata and suburbs have called an indefinite strike from 9 December demanding immediate measures to help them tide over financial losses due to the closure of arterial Tallah Bridge.
The Tallah Bridge is on B T Road, on which the 20 bus routes ply.
One-and-a-half months after the closure of the Tallah Bridge, at least 20 bus routes are being forced to take a detour from B T Road through Dumdum Chiria More-Paikpara stretch which is taking a long time and incurring operating losses for the owners, West Bengal Bus and Minibus Owners’ Association Secretary Pradip Narayan Bose said.
“We provide service to the public but our interest is not being looked into despite several reminders to the transport department for fare revision or providing a financial subsidy to the bus operators,” Bose said.
(Source: The Indian Express)
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