The West Bengal government has cancelled leaves of all its employees, citing the need to maintain public services amid the escalating tensions with Pakistan.
A notification dated May 7 and circulated on Thursday stated: “In view of the prevailing situation and in the interest of maintenance of public services, it is hereby ordered that all leave sanctioned to the employees of the Government of West Bengal, except leave on medical grounds, stand cancelled with immediate effect. No official shall leave their headquarters without the written permission of their respective Heads of the Departments.”
“This order is being issued in the public interest and shall remain effective until further orders,” the notification added.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee warned traders not to raise prices of essential items by taking advantage of the current situation in the country.
Addressing a meeting of the Agriculture Marketing Department at Nabanna, the state secretariat, the CM warned of strict action against any attempts to increase prices of vegetables, fish, and meat through black marketing. “The administration will take stern action if anybody will be arrested for doing black marketing. We will not spare anyone,” she added.
“Don’t panic. We have no problem right now. But you never know what will happen in the future. We have plenty of food stocks, and the state is constantly monitoring food prices. We, however, have to stay alert and increase monitoring so that prices do not increase.”
She also instructed officials to maintain tight surveillance across the state. “We should ensure no arms and ammunition are smuggled into the state…. All ministers, officers, and the police should be proactive,” she added.
She said the chief secretary would remain in constant touch with district magistrates to monitor the situation.
Amid this, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) asked its disaster response teams to remain on high alert, particularly during nighttime, PTI quoted officials as saying.
The KMC also asked departments to stock up on emergency supplies such as tarpaulin sheets, rice, lentils, and dry food items, they said.
The KMC control room will now operate round-the-clock.
Senior and essential officials have been directed to remain present in the control room.
Moreover, strict instructions have been issued to ensure that officials keep their mobile phones switched on, even during the night.
Increased surveillance has also been ordered at key municipal infrastructure points, including the Tala water tank and other critical reservoirs in the city, they added.
Meanwhile, a two-day review of “holistic preparedness and readiness of assets” was undertaken by a senior Coast Guard official in Haldia. —With PTI inputs