Power by 2011

Calcutta, July 18: Every rural household will get electricity on demand by 2011, a year ahead of the deadline set by the Centre, power minister Mrinal Banerjee said.

Bengal is behind schedule, but Banerjee claimed during the debate on his department’s budget that power would reach all villages by 2007.

Later, he said the state had approached Steel Authority of India to take over the Coke Oven plant of Durgapur Projects Ltd so that DPL could be developed exclusively as a power plant. Coke Oven now procures coking coal from SAIL, converts it to coke and supplies it back to SAIL.

Rape arrest

Bolpur: A baul singer has been held for allegedly raping a 19-year-old whom he had promised to give a break on radio. Rabi Das Baul, 50, took the girl to Calcutta, 190 km away, and showed her Akashvani Bhavan from a distance.

JU deal

Calcutta: Jadavpur University will help the government forecast floods. The irrigation minister said an agreement had been signed with the varsity to modernise the system.

Jetro talks

Calcutta: Japan External Trade Organisation chairman Osamu Watanabe met Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. They discussed investment proposals in chemicals, electronics, leather and ceramics.