Notification for Cattle Free Roads

In terms of notification number 1228-UD/)/M/HID/41-02/2017 dated 20.4.2018 of the State Govt in UD&MA Department, the amendment to the NKDA Act vide NKDA (Amendment) Act 2018 comes into effect from 20.4.2018.

The Amendment was passed in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly in March 2018 and after following the procedures and after getting the assent of the Governor, the amendment has been made effective.  As per this amendment, if any cattle, horse, pig, dog or any other animal or bird is kept on any land or premises in contravention of the provisions or is found straying, the chairman may direct any officer or employee of the NKDA authority to seize them. I will hold a meeting at NKDA office on Wednesday 25th to take steps to make operational the amended portion of the Act

In order to keep the seized animals with care, a cattle shed and a pet creche have recently been constructed in New Town. The cattle shed has facilities for feeding the animals, a small adminisrative office and an open ground for the cattle to graze. The area is spread over 3 acres, is located in Action Area 1D and action is being taken to frame draft rules regarding fees and procedure to be followed in confining the animals and releasing them subsequently. The rules will then be notified in official gazette after following procedure. Meanwhile, a Veterinary Doctor and assisting staff are also to be selected and appointed, for which an advisory committee is already formed.

A pet creche, treatment centre and burial ground has also just been completed by Hidco and the property handed over to NKDA for commissioning and operations. Spread over 25 kottahs, there are 10 creches for pet dogs, a small walking lawn, a veterinary doctor chamber and, at the rear end, pits for 30 burials. Here too, a committee wthin NKDA is proposing draft rules for fees, staff, doctor and other procedures.

A workshop was held last week at Eco Park to sensitive staff and security guards on ways to deal with stray dogs in Eco park. (see photo below).  An NGO dealing with dog care and dog vaccination delivered useful insights. Engineers of Hidco have been advised to block gaps in the fencing of the park to prevent sneaking-in of stray dogs. Work to this effect has already started. Also started is weekly sterilization and immunization of stray dogs of New Town. Awareness is to be built not to scatter food left overs on the round so that dogs are not attracted. Bamboo shields and small fenced temporary holding areas have been advised to be kept ready for dealing with the occasional rogue dog. The stress was on making Eco Park dog-free without hurting them while saving children and visitors.

Workshop on Safe Dog Handling, at Eco Park, last Friday

Mishti Hub Opening

The Mishti Hub is almost ready. Finishing touches will require a couple of weeks or so. The picture above is taken by the architect group Salient who has designed it. Construction is by Hidco. After inviting notice seeking expression of interest, the following brands have agreed to open outlets here. Interestingly, the conditions of the bid were hat the sweet shop had to be in operation for 25 years or more and that other things being equal, the more ancient outlet would be preferred over other younger ones:
Nalin Chandra Das
Balaram Mullick & Radharaman Mullik
Ganguram Sweets
Banchharam
K C Das
Hindustan Sweets
Gupta Brothers
Some others like Naba Krishna Guin have shown interest also and newer brands are also trying to get a slot.
Other than branded traditional sweet outlets, a special counter will be there for displaying on a rotating basis ethnic specialities from the districts, such as Saktigarh Lyangchya, Burdwan's Sitabhog/Mihidana, Berhampore's Chhanabora, Krishnanagsr's Sarpuria/ Sarbhaja etc.

Counter for Ethnic District Specialities

Each counter for branded sweets will have a glass front showcase freezer, a backroom for storage and a rear entry for supplies. Each counter will have its own cash counter and packaging but near the exit there will be a security check and a Mishti Hub wrapper. A shop-in-shop concept. There will be tall tables for eating inside.

Shops in Mishti Hub

 There is a Mishti Hub Office where a caretaker will be there on behalf of Hidco to manage the facilities.
A central attrium will glass walls bring in sunlight inside. Cast iron carvings outside remind one of the old Calcutta charm, the old sweet traditions of Bengal. On front side, a drive in lane allows shoppers free parking for a limited period (30 minutes), enough to shop and taste.

Front parking: being readied

The Mishti Hub is located on Biswa Bangla Sarani (Major Arterial Road) on way to airport, on left side so that tourists leaving Kolkata by air can carry the fresh and best sweets. It is located close to the Seven Wonders, near Gate 3 of Eco Park

Heat Wave

The National disaster Management Authority has issued an advisory recently in their letter number 1-38/2016-PP dt 7.3.2018 that the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted a heat wave in 2018 till May 2018. The seasonal average maximum, minimum and mean temperatures will be above normal. While the extent will vary in different states, the maximum temperature anomalies in West Bengal are likely to be between 0.5 deg and 1 deg.
On receiving this through the State Department of Disaster Management and Civil Defence, I held a meeting with Hidco, NKDA and PHED officers. Some of the measures we decided were as follows:
1. Construction of bus sheds at three points (opposite to Techno India College, at road crossing near Westin and near Owl More junction)

Existing temporary bus stand Hidco Bhavan

2. Construct two additional water ATMs near Gate 1 (Rabi Aranya) and Gate 3 (Mishti Hub) of Eco Park.  (There are two Water ATMs already near Gate 2 and & Wonders)
3. Mobilise through PHE Department Water Pouches (as we see in Kolkata Book Fair) in certain pockets of Eco Park.
4. Advise road repair and other construction agencies to keep ORS for workers and work in evening shifts with lights when possible

Blockchain: Genesis to Congress

Of the various emerging technologies like AI, ML, IoT, VR, Robotics, Industry 4.0, Fintech and Blockchain, perhaps Blockchain is the most fundamental mover and there are still ways in which the government, the industry and the academicians are trying to grapple with it. It is fiendishly complex to explain the basics, that consist of encryption and hash values, distributed ownership and consenus, proof of work and a difficulty level that increases with machine power.

Like last month's knowledge workshop on Cybersecurity (a great success of IT&E Deptt/ Wbeidc/ Nasscom Kolkata , where 350+ participants attended), a Blockchain Knowledge Workshop will be organised next week, on 13th April 2018 (Thursday) at the Biswa Bangla Convention Centre. The IT&E Department with Wbeidc/ Nasscom would be driving it, in addition to the group Bengal Blockchain Believers. Already more than 450 registrations have poured in (fully on-line) and the process has had to be closed. Since there are 400 seats in the hall, a preliminary scrutiny is being done and confirmation mails are being sent.

The name of this event is Genesis: signifying the originating block of any blockchain, marking a beginning for Bengal in 2018 which would be culminated in a Global Blockchain Congress in December 2018.

Designed Theme for Genesis Blockchain Knowledge Sharing Workshop 

(Design from web; yet to be created by us). Global Blockchain Congress planned in Dec 2018

Blockchain is not only for cryptocurrency.
It is for Central Bank originated digital currency.
It is for creating loyalty tokens.
It is for storing unchangeable historical data.
It is for recording transactions infallibly.
It is for crowdfunding projects through ICOs (Initial Coin Offerings)
It is for cybersecurity.
It is for Fintech.

The idea is to acquire skills on Blockchain and knowing use cases that can be replicated or modified.
The sequence of speakers for the workshop is as follows:
***
Blockchain Summit – Genesis
Date: 13th April, 2018
Time: 10:00 to 16:00
Venue: Biswa Bangla Convention Centre
  DG Block, Action Area I,
  New Town, Kolkata – 700156

Timing Agenda
09:00 – 10:00 Registration
10:00 – 10:05 Welcoming the dignitaries on stage by Managing Director, WBEIDC, Government of West Bengal
10:05 – 10:20 Welcome Address by Mr. Debashis Sen, Additional Chief Secretary, Government of  West Bengal
10:20 – 10:30 Address by Hon’ble MIC DIT&E, Government of West Bengal, Shri Bratya Basu
10:30 - 11:00 De-mystifying Blockchain by Mr. Diptiman Dasgupta (Bengal Blockchain Believers) & Mr. Debojyoti Das (Bengal Blockchain Believers)
11:00 - 11:30 Break (Tea / Coffee)
11:30 – 12:00 Speaker – Mr. Saurabh Bhattacharya (Director, PwC) on - Blockchain in Government | Future synergies
12:00 – 12:20 Speaker – Mr. Jitan Chandanani (Partner & Blockchain Leader, IBM) - Blockchain | India perspective
12:20– 13:00 Panel Discussion – How do Corporates envisage Blockchain technology (Entrepreneurs' View point)

Moderator Mr. Atul Agarwal (Chairman – NASSCOM East). Panelists- Mr. Rangin Lahiri (CEO, Qlikchain), Mr. Sugata Roy (CEO, Arodek), Mr. Avelo Roy (Founder, Kolkata Ventures), Mr. Anand Raje (Head of Internet Governance Initiatives, Cyber Peace Foundation)
13:00 – 13:45 Lunch Break
13-45 - 14:00 Blockchain Quiz
14:00 – 14:25 Speaker - Mr. Ramyanshu Datta (Program Director – Industry Solutions & Offering, IBM US) on Blockchain | A Global Scenario
14:25 – 14:45 Speaker – Mr. Debasis Pramanik (Vice President,  Accenture) on - Blockchain | A trusted backbone & driving force in the financial sector
14:45 - 15:30 Panel Discussion | How Blockchain can change the future of Fintech

Moderator Dr. Santanu Paul (Founder – TalentSprint). Panelists – Dr. Bimal Roy (Centre Head – RC Bose Center for Cryptology and Security, ISI), Mr. Vishal Anand Kanvaty (Senior Vice President, NPCI), Ms. Indrani Saha (Associate Vice President, CTS), Mr. Rajesh Dhuddu (Senior Vice President, Quatrro Processing Services)
15:30 - 15:40 Summarizing the takeaways by Mr. Ambarish Dasgupta (Senior Partner and Founder at Intueri consulting LLP)
15:40 - 16:00 Closing Note address by Mr. Debashis Sen, Additional Chief Secretary, Government of  West Bengal & Vote of Thanks


* * *
(Later)
See http://www.millenniumpost.in/kolkata/it-dept-to-organise-blockchain-tech-workshop-on-april-13-293595

Cooking Contest for Senior Citizens on Poila Baisakh

For the first time, a cooking - cum- recipe contest will be held at Swapna Bhor for Senior Citizens on Poila Baisakh (15 April 2018).

Two expert chefs from Cafe Ekante will judge the best dishes.

The members will bring in cooked food from their residences. After the judges reach their verdict, the food items will be available for all members for tasting.

Time: 5 pm

A large number of other resident-involved activities are also being planned for Poila Bousakh (15th April, Sunday) at New Town:

1. Special Buffet at Cafe Ekante, Eco Park Island

2. Special Lunch / Dinner at New Town Business Club

3. Special Cultural Function at Eco Island, Eco Park

4. Free documentary film show at Nazrul Tirtha Hall 3: 10 am: Satyen Bose

5. Cultural Event (Barshobaran) at Nazrul Tirtha by New Town Boimela Samity

6. Special Cultural Function at New Town Business Club

Online Birth Registration begins in New Town

In terms of notification number 16554[KDA/Admn-1721201 dated :0410412017, online birth registration has been started for New Town by NKDA. Earlier, demand for birth registration was absent as no hospital in New Town had a Gynecology wing. Now with the commissioning of the  Bhagirathi Neotia Woman and Child Care Centre at New Town, requests are coming in. Hence the online system of birth registration has been started from yesterday.

Few features are as follows:

1. Completely online with provision for uploading the necessary documents.
2. Only two documents are required, i.e. Identity proof and hospital / doctor’s certificate of birth.
3. No need to visit the office. No paper works are needed to be done.
4. Electronically digitally signed certificates will be issued.
5. Simplified verification process.
6. Step by step intimation of the progress of the case through SMS and email.
7. Provision of tracking of application.
8. The applicant has to log on to www.nkdamar.org
9. Functional from 04-04-2018

Corporate Corner for Big Property Tax Payers

In order to help and guide big taxpayers in respect of property tax payment - to be effective from Monday 2 April 2018 - a separate "Corporate Corner" in a smart new office has been set up by NKDA. A senior officer with a dedicated team will give exclusive attention to help the corporate entities in New Town to file their self assessment on-line. The strategy is to mop up large collections quickly. I am also writing letters to many business firms of New Town informing them of the special arrangements made for their convenience.

For all residents too, a systematic help desk arrangement has been made in the same premises, at Utility Building, 5th floor of AA-1, Street 24, New Town (the building is identifiable easily as being near Water Tank No 3 and has "Gautam's" restaurant on ground floor). At the 5th Floor, there is a reception and waiting area where dedicated officials will help address all visitors' queries one by one. A token system similar to that prevailing in many bank branches these days will make the visitor management smooth and easy while those waiting for their turns may watch the TV (soon to be installed) in comfort. Leaflets and standees will be distributed / displayed in many parts of New Town to create awareness. I along with CEO NKDA D Biswas and AO NKDA Debjit Ganguly inspected the arrangements and tweaked few arrangements.

Meanwhile, more than 50 Tax Sathis have been trained and are ready to help any resident for self-assessment and payment for first quarter or first year. For annual payments, a 5% rebate is allowed. Services of Tax Sathis can be availed by residents free of cost: they will be given an honorarium directly by NKDA. A dummy form has been devised to help fill up on-line form effortlessly. No physical forms or documents are to be submitted initially by anyone.
* * *
Some salient features of property tax in New Town:

> Based on Unit Area System of assessment
> Entire method would be in on-line mode based on two step mobile phone-OTP authentication process
> e-District Portal of Govt of West Bengal or NKDA website will take one to the opening page
> 5% rebate on timely payment of quarterly dues
> 5% rebate on yearly dues if paid in first quarter
> Self Assessment to be filed on-line by 2 June 2018
>Procedure for Self-Assessment :Step 1: Visit www.nkdamar.org and Click on “Assessment & Payment of Property Tax”...Step 2: After checking all the necessary details click on“Apply for Self-Assessment and Payment of Property Tax”....Step 3: Login using your user name & Password if already registered, else Click on “Citizen Registration” and follow the instructions to register...
Step 4: Choose the service “Assessment of Property Tax in NKDA” and submit your self assessment

11th Conventions India Conclave at BBCC in August 2018

The India Convention Centre Bureau (ICPB) (see http://icpb.in/ ) recently visited the Biswa Bangla Convention Centre (BBCC) at New Town and were greatly impressed and proposed that the 11th Conventions and India Conclave be held here. ICPB was set up in 1988 to tap business in Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE). The ICPB is an apex body sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism, Govt of India for promotion of India as a convention destination. It is so planned that it will be participated by various states and various industry organisations from around the world.
In its Board Meeting held on 29th March, Hidco agreed to be a Platinum Sponsor to the event.

100% Online Unit Area Property Tax from FY 2018-19

New Town's property tax system is based on unit area  system. This is the most scientific way of determining property tax. New Town is divided into 7 zones. each is assigned a basic valuation per unit area. Then multiplication factors are applied (self occupied or rented, location etc). Then the tax payable can be easily calculated.

The whole system is on-line. It is quite unique. No paperwork to be submitted. The data and self assessment can be fed through a net connected computer from home. There are dozens of Tax Sathis who are being trained to help the house owners at no cost to the owner. They are expected to carry intenet connected laptops. e-Help desks of NKDA also have net-connected computers. Details of  trained Tax Sathis will be available on the net. In addition, there will be e-help kiosks at NKDA offices at AA1 and AA2. There will also be a helpline during office hours.

We suggest that before calling the Tax Sathi, keep your sanctioned building plan, land deed and identity documents handy, keep your bank IFSC code account number PAN, Aadhar (if any) and other KYC documents handy.

The property tax scheme will be effective from FY 2018-19, with effect from Monday April 2, 2018, the planned date of notification to this effect.

Few other salient points on New Town Property Tax are as follows:

* * *

As per provision of Chapter-VIIA of the New Town Kolkata Development Act, 2007, Property Tax is  to be introduced in New Town Kolkata by the New Town Kolkata Development Authority by final publication of the scheme under section 36H of the said act,  on the  2nd April, 2018.
Salient features:
1. The property tax system is based on Unit Area system of assessment.
2. Entire process will be in electronic mode based on mobile phone-OTP verification access.
User friendly feature: **Document uploading is not mandatory.
3. Provision of self assessment of property tax by citizen on line, by logging in the –e-district portal of Government of West Bengal.
4. Provision of payment of property tax online as well as offline (by generation of challan and making payment with the challan at bank).
5. Provision of 5% rebate on timely payment of property tax of each quarter.
6. Provision of addition rebate of 5% on payment of property tax for the entire year within the due date of first quarter.

What property owners have to do after final publication of the scheme u/s 36 H ?

1. From 2nd April 2018, property owner will have sixty (60) days time to submit online self assessment of property tax and to make payment for the current quarter (1st Quarter). 
2. There will be trained personnel empanelled by NKDA, termed as “Tax Sathi” whose service may be availed by citizens for this purpose free of cost.

Nazrul Archive at Nazrul Tirtha to Collaborate with Society for Natural Language Technology Research

The Society for Natural Language Technology Research (SNLTR) is an autonomous organisation under the Department of Information Technology and Electronics, Govt of West Bengal. Located in SDF Building in Sector 5, it has been doing a great deal of research on Bangla language and literature, archiving, scripting and fonts as well as developing technology for assisting the visually challenged.

Last month, SNLTR received recognition as a Content Partner of the National Digital Library of India. All works of Rabindranath Tagore and Bankimchandra Chattopadhyaya which were digitally archived by SNLTR are now accessible through the National Digital Library Portal (See, for example, Nationa Digital Library Link ) . SNLTR is also doing good research on works of Kazi Nazrul Islam (see Nazrul Rachanabali ) .

On the other hand, the Nazrul Archive in Nazrul Tirtha is a pioneering initiative of HIDCO where physical and digital records of Nazrul's works are being preserved. it is a one-of-its kind initiative in the country. Researchers can work at the archive and those from out of station can put up at the four guest rooms at Nazrul Tirtha. The archive is to facilitate research on Nazrul in our country. The Nazrul Archive was inaugurated in December 2017 by Minister Firhad Hakim in presence of members of families of Nazrul Islam. The archive has books by and on Nazrul, facsimiles of magazines Dhumketu, Langol and Gonobani edited by him, letters to and from him as well as songs and notations. There are over 500 songs and 25,000 documents on hard discs at the archive (See Telegraph story, for example here ).

Now the Nazrul Archive officials and SNLTR officials will collaborate to create a synergy on research, technology and archiving of Nazrul's works.

Transport Technology in New Town

Three electric buses have been delivered recently in New Town. These are procured jointly by Hidco and Coal India. These are air-conditioned, 32 seaters and have special charging stations at AA3 Bus Terminus, Pride Hotel Building Bus Terminus in AA1 and near Eco Urban Village at AA2. A committee with Hidco, NKDA and a representative of PVD (Public Vehicles Directorate) have been formed to suggest routes and timings where these buses would run. Initially, no fares would be levied during the trial runs, and the objective is to give a connectivity in certain pockets where buses don't reach and residents are dependent on totos and autos. I think of the inter-terminal coach services between the airport terminals in Delhi and other places. The buses have got safety certificates from ARA  (Automobile Research Association of India) at Pune and are awiting registration with PVD in Kolkata. Of course, the range of travel (150km on one charge), charging time safe speed, driver-helper shifts and other factors will have to be considered by the committee.

New AC Electric Buses in New Town

Recently, representatives of Zoomcars discussed with us the possibility of introducing self-driven electric vehicles on a public hiring scheme. Quite like the GPS tagged Apps driven public shared bicycles that are already in operation in New Town, the idea is to have driver-less rent-an-electric-vehicle (like e2o ) using apps. Of course, one has to register beforehand and have driving licence that will have to be scanned and uploaded and approved before registration on-line is approved. Public charging points will help take the matter forward as the EVs will have to be kept charged.

Recently, representatives of Pratt & Whitney discussed with us the possibility of having electric three wheelers on a shareable basis roughly like an Ola/Uber. Locating a local site for charging stations of 150 such eTotos is an area they are looking to solve, they informed. I suggested time sharing in existing parking lots near Axis Mall / Home Town etc where the eTotos could be charged during 10pm-6am on payment of a fee.

New Town Dockless Bi-Cycle Sharing (watch video)

Meanwhile, PEDL, who is operating the public cycle sharing scheme in New Town is looking at expanding to Sector 5 Salt Lake while Bike Taxis which are operating in New Town and Salt Lake are looking at expanding to KMC area. Also, at NKDA we have taken a decision that all paid parking areas would be slowly integrated with Apps and digital sensors (ultrasound or magnetic induction) so that car users would know in advance the availability of parking spaces, NKDA would be able to cross verify the quantum of revenues collected and discount pricing through intelligent software at the back-end could free up spaces taken up on roads at least during off-peak hours.

Institute For Future Cities: "Light As a Service"

Ms Manjari Chakraborty (Br DHC), Dr Richard Bellingham, me, Robert Rogerson, Debapriya Biswas,
Debjit Ganguly: Yesterday (28 Feb 2018) at Hidco

Daniel Broby, joining in from Glasgow, Scotland over Skype

At last BGBS, we from NKDA had signed an MoU with the University of Strathclyde's Institute of Future Cities. Yesterday, we had a detailed meeting at Kolkata with Dr Bellingham, Director of the Institute of Future Citiesand Robert Rogerson Deputy Director for Institute of Future Cities. Daniel Broby and George Pasky joined in from Glasgow, Scotland, UK over Skype. It was snowing in Sctland and weather was harsh and the connectivity wasn't very good. but we managed. Dr Robert is doing work on Blockchain and time stamping of blocks while the second professor is doing work on geothermal energy.

We decided to collaborate on several areas such as renewable energy, fintech and data observatory.

In renewable energy, the concept of 'light as a service' was discussed where the lifetime costs for illuminating streets could be lowered using geothermal  and solar energy as supplements, efficient light accessories, controlling level of illumination by smart controls, waste to energy, multitasking street poles for data connectivity, pollution monitoring and innovation district.

In Fintech, fast broadband access, large capacity local servers and blockchain stratups using the Institute's atomic clock for time stamping the blocks could be looked at.

In Data Observatory, a Centre of Observation in Kolkata was discussed, using public cycles and buses to monitor air quality parameters among other things.

A scoping memorandum would be proposed by Dr Bellingham shortly based on which future collaboration would be founded.

Calendar on Emerging Technology Workshops

Yesterday I was in Santiniketan. I visited the IT Park where a certificate course is going on, being conducted by NIELIT.
I interacted with the trainees. Most were from Tier 3 towns of Rampurhat / Bolpur. I asked them if anyone knew some coding like C+ or Java. Few raised their hands. Some had also done some mobile apps programming. I asked all to learn coding while they were still young if they wanted to be in the IT field for careers.

I informed them that WIL, on behalf of State Govt, was already conducting introductory 5-day on Start-Ups throughout their 100 plus district units. Some inputs would be given here too at IT Park Santiniketan. I asked them to think creatively: Santiniketan's handicrafts and Bolpur's / Rampurhat's / Tarapith's Totos / Rickshaws could be co-ordinated through Uber-Ola-like apps that could be homegrown by the trainees' start-ups. I suggested that digital marketing could be an area where small groups in small towns could also be profitable.

In the afternoon, as I was waiting at Bolpur Railway Station for returning by Kanchanjangha Express, two trainees came up to me and said that they had been thinking and they thought that the idea f digital marketing was great and they would work upon it. I assured them that some inputs were given to them in their present course too: I talked to the Course-coordinator too. While on the train, I requested IT Department's Honorary Advisor Mr Ambarish Dasgupta to give me a concept note on how govt may make digital marketing as a career option for the districts in Bengal. He has agreed.

At the State Level, we plan to have a series of workshops organised by the IT&E Department to usher in a proper eco-system in emerging trends in IT. So far we have fixed the calendar for the next quarter. This is as follows:

1. 16th March 2018: Workshop on Cyber Security
2. 13th April 2018 :  Workshop on Blockchain
3. 18th May 2018: Workshop on Artificial Intelligence

(Some of the other areas that we will work on for the next quarters would be Embedded Software and Technology, Animation & Gaming, Fintech, AI driven Digital Marketing, Face Recognition etc.)

Cybercrime as a Course in colleges

I was in the Jhargram Administrative meeting yesterday where Hon'ble Chief Minister held meeting of all administrative matters and where all senior secretaries of the government and many ministers were present along with DM, SP and other officers of Jhargram district.

In course of the meeting Hon'ble CM asked Higher Education Department to introduce courses on Cyber-crime so that students would stand a good chance of  getting jobs in the police department and elsewhere. After the meeting, on the way out, I spoke to Secretary of Education Department and said that IT&E Department could help them frame the syllabus as we were already working on this and other fronts within the new Centre of Excellence on Cyber Security. This is based on the assessment by the CoE (Centre of Excellence) that skills at entry, middle and senior levels on cyber-security and digital forensics were in scarcity and commanded high remuneration. And that with increasing digitization of all aspects of our lives, the chance of cyber vulnerabilities would also increase manifold. Furthermore, not unlike physical warfare or actual crimes, the defence must be internal to the states' own set-up, almost a sovereign function which cannot be delegated easily. As such, the intervention to introduce education on a broad scale on cybercrime, cybersecurity, digital forensics etc is indeed a step very well directed and timely.

IIIT

I am in Delhi today (returning today) to attend the meeting of the Search-cum-selection committee constituted by MHRD (Ministry of Human Resources) for the post of Director of IIIT at Kalyani.

The IIIT Kalyani is like the other 15 IIITs constituted by an Act of the Parliament with shares and partnerships among MHRD, DoIT&E (State Govt) and Industry Partners. For Bengal, the Industry Partners are Coal India and Roltas.

Today's meeting was a marathon meeting where Directors of 7 IIITs are being recommended.

In the morning, I went to MeITY to invite MeITY officers for our forthcoming workshop on Cybersecurity on 16th March.

OYOs and Totos in New Town: The Economy of Pooling

While compiling data for the freshly launched "New Town Info Book", I discovered that there are 19 OYO Rooms in New Town. I will hold a meeting with them on 28th February 2018 not only to see that they are complying with all rules (Trade Licence etc) but to also understand this sector and help them. Because, this is part of the great sharing economy: OLA, Uber, AirBnB, and now, New Town's own Dockless Bicycle sharing scheme by PEDL. In fact we want to encourage this sector and already the IT Deptt is handholding a start-up who won the State Hackathon recently, that will give an Apps to Totos and Autos for shared paratransit options.

Planning Cities the Future Way

We have already coined the phrase "New Town - the New Future" in many of the digital communications . An example:

In New Town there are dockless GPS controlled public bicycles, bike taxis, public hotpots, Wi Fi Enabled Biswa Bangla Sarani of 10 km length, LED street bulbs with auto-timers to switch on and off, SCADA enabled Water Treatment Plant, New Town's own Citizen Connect Social Network, Induction Loop controlled light saving mode in street lights where one third poles switch off after 10pm when no care move, mobile charging USB ports on each chair n the main huge auditorium of Biswa Bangla Convention Centre, an Optical Fibre Duct Newtwork throughout the city and plans to introduce blockchain based loyalty tokens to tourists. Now Hidco is also designing the Gitabitan Township in Bolpur: work is going on in full swing.
And now a recent decision has been taken entrusting Hidco to plan the 60 acre Sports City in Howrah, only few kilometres away from Nabanna. Work has started and survey is on. Regulations laid down under the Town and Country Planning Act, the UDFI norms, the IGBC Green City Norms,  the Township Policy of State Govt and all the experience of New Town Rajarhat will be infused into the planning of the new Sports City.

New Town's Own Social Network: New Town City Connect

No one needs any training to do Facebook. It is intuitive and easy. So no one will need to learn about New Town's own social network. After registering, it is just as easy.

Then why not use Facebook itself?

Because fake news (and other objectionable or indecent remarks / comments/ posts) can be removed by NKDA. No need to go on long arguments and pleas. For example, a very old and fake photo is going viral in social media saying that a bridge in New Town near Axis Mall has developed cracks. I'd been to see he spot immediately when it came to my notice along with Arup Ghosh, General Manager (Engineering) three days ago. The building at the back was now completely different, there was no crack, only an expansion joint that is there on all such bridge. The very old picture is being circulated and one can do nothing but cry "fake news" as a "comment". But WhatsApp and Facebook "shares" keep on pouring in.

For connecting to New Town, there is already a SMS service. One can just send an sms with the word "Newtown" to 92300 6000 and one gets registered autmatically to get regular updates on the events in New Town. But this is a one-way communication: citizens' comments can't be sent by text messages to this number.

To supplement the connection with citizens by technology, therefore, Minister Firhad Hakim today launched the New Town City Connect, a Social Network site that enables Hidco and NKDA to touch people's lives, exchange comments and build a community feel by 'liking' each other's posts and responses. To begin with, it does not have graphic support but I think we will be able to evolve slowly so as to add further features.

I remember how I used to run a blog called "The CEO's Blog" when I was the Chief Electoral Officer. Hundreds of election officials would get a gist of the Commissions's latest instructions through the blog and pose queries that all other officers would see and learn together. I'd even seen some AEROs take prints of the Blog posts - informal as they were - and try to impose codes of conduct upon candidates' agents. So the New Town City Connect social network will also be a tool to spread awareness about the importance of being green and clean, of being sustainable and inclusive and of caring for the old and poor.

This is what we put out on the write-up today for the audience: New Town City connect is an online social media platform which offers a seamless inter and intra office digital communication including the non official stakeholders. It follows a 360 degrees approach. Digitally empowered it seeks to leverage the social media platform to assess the needs and aspirations of the various stakeholders of this city. This is in addition to the existing platforms like m-mobile app, website, mass SMS gateway, existing social media interface pages etc.

The link is newtownconnect.in . Here is a screen shot:

And here are two pics from today afternoon's pics:

Old is Gold

Artist's Impression of Mishti Hub

Mishti Hub on my mobile today 4th Feb 2018

The Mishti Hub is located near Gate 3 of Eco Park. It is still under construction, but is fast nearing completion. There are 10+1 counters in the "Shop-in-Shop" concept. The ten  counters will be allotted on rent to famous sweet shops of Kolkata. The eleventh one will be reserved for the ethnic mishtis like Shaktigarer Lyangcha or Bardhamener Sitabhog or Krishnanagarer Sarbhaja or Berhampurer Chhanabora etc on a rotating basis.

But how does one select the famous sweet shops? A notice inviting Expression of Interest has been published recently. This can be seen at http://wbhidcoltd.com/uploads/tender/Tender_1890.pdf . The criteria, in short is "Old is Gold" that is, ten of the longest surviving sweet shops still operating in Kolkata will be shortlisted.

Review by Board of Nabadiganta Industrial Township Authority (NDITA)

The Board of NDITA met few days ago and took a review of completed and ongoing works in Sector 5 Salt Lake. The members expressed satisfaction at the progress made. This was a gist of what was presented to the Board:
* * *
1. Link Road to New Town in continuation with the Ring Road - Work completed
2. Beautification of the Embankment of Water Bodies adjacent to Ring Road - Work
ongoing
3. Inauguration of Beautified Nabadiganta Bus Terminus - Completed and Inaugurated
4. Inauguration of Beautified Food Kiosk - Completed and Inaugurated
5. Distribution of Bins to the food stalls - Work done
6. Resumption of construction of few floors of Administrative Building of NDITA
- Work is ongoing
6. Construction of one Compactor Station for Solid Waste disposal :completed (another one is under construction)
7. Pump House to Prevent Water Logging - nearing completion
8. Beautification of Metro Piers - Work completed
9. New Bus Shelter at Sukanta Nagar & beside E.D. Channel : under construction
10. Multi-Storied Car Parking' : Mackintosh Burn Ltd. has finalized the tender and issued work order to the selected Bidder.
11. Development of a Park from Nicco Park to Sukanta nagar Adjacent to Service Road: Ongoing
12. Strengthening of Road by Mastic Asphalt - some works have been completed, other
roads willbe taken up
13. Smart Railings: Design done
14. Installation of Drinking Water Stand at College more for public use : Completed
15. Removal of all Aerial Cable for better Nabadiganta - Street No. 13 has been made
Aerial Cable free, other roads are taken in phases
16. Use of Treated Sewage Water for Gardening - work initiated
17. Installation of Energy Efficient Lights - Almost completed
18. Street numbering in Sector 5 : Completed
19. Installation of the Public Arts & Road Signage in Nabadiganta area.
a. Pole mounted Signages installed.
b. Public Art installation with dynamic spectrum lighting completed
20. A corporate cycle competition with participation of corporates, residents and
employees under Sector-V in the campaign " Clean and Green Sector-V" was
organized on 13th August 20L7
21. Collection of Property Tax enhanced in comparison to the last few years
22. Construction of Town Hall of Nabadiganta -KMDA entrusted for the work.
23. Implementation (in phases) of the Traffic Mobility Plan prepared by IIT Kharagpur: ongoing