News / Author / Joydeep Thakur

Joydeep Thakur

Joydeep Thakur is a Special Correspondent based in Kolkata. He focuses on science, environment, wildlife, agriculture and other related issues.

Articles by Joydeep Thakur

Netaji’s ‘great escape’ Wanderer car unveiled after restoration

The black German Wanderer sedan that Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose rode for his great escape in January 16, 1941 rolled out again after 58 years in a museum.

President Pranab Mukherjee with the historic Wanderer car in which Sisir Kumar Bose drove Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in January 1941, at Netaji Bhavan in Kolkata on Wednesday.(PTI)

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Updated on Jan 19, 2017 09:05 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Kolkata | ByJoydeep Thakur

West Bengal: Buying baby Hilsa fish could land you in jail

The West Bengal Fisheries Department is planning to initiate a process that will introduce stiff penal provisions under CrPC and IPC and allow the police to arrest anyone for catching, selling and buying Hilsa weighing less than 500 grams.

West Bengal Fisheries Department is planning to initiate a process that will introduce stiff penal provisions under CrPC and IPC and allow the police to arrest anyone for catching, selling and buying Hilsa .(Representational Photo)

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Updated on Jan 17, 2017 01:04 AM IST

Kolkata, Hindustan times | ByJoydeep Thakur

ZSI involving tribals and fishermen to identify new animal species

They are in a hurry to discover new species.

ZSI scientist Santanu Mitra (right) catching crabs with tribal youths of Mizoram.(File Photo)

cities

Published on Jan 13, 2017 12:34 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJoydeep Thakur, Kolkata

Kolkata may miss out on winter chill on New Year’s Day

Western disturbances that triggered snowfall on Christmas Day in Shimla after a gap of almost 24 years is playing havoc with the winter in Kolkata.

The chill, which gave Kolkatans a miss on Christmas Day, is unlikely to return even on New Year day of 2017, met officials have predicted.(Ashok Nath Dey/HT PHOTO)

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Published on Dec 29, 2016 10:40 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJoydeep Thakur

Up, up & away: Kolkata joins the lunar journey

For the first time in the history of the country’s space programme, an instrument designed and built by a team of scientists from Kolkata would be landing on the moon’s surface in January 2018.

S K Chakrabarti (second from right) with ISRO and Team Indus officials in Bengaluru with the model of the payload to be sent to the moon. Behind them is the model of the lunar lander.(HT Photo)

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Published on Dec 26, 2016 10:02 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJoydeep Thakur

Amta residents to raise goats to save fishing cats from extinction

The goats will be given to villagers who often lose their livestock to attacks by fishing cats and kill these predators in retaliation.

The population of fishing cats, the state animal of West Bengal, is set to decline by 30% in the Ganges-Brahmaputra delta over the next two decades.

cities

Published on Dec 21, 2016 11:10 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJoydeep Thakur, Kolkata

Kolkata Book Fair: Latest victim of demonetisation

Publishers and Booksellers Guild, which organises the show, warned that the event this time may see a 50 per cent drop in the number of new and old Bengali titles and fewer Bengali publishers.

Bengali publishers are printing just 50 per cent of the new books and reprinting around 20 per cent of the existing and old ones.(HT Photo)

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Published on Dec 14, 2016 09:52 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJoydeep Thakur

Swacch Bharat Mission enters the forests

Tourists would be provided with glass bottles and carry bags made out of canvas by the forest department against a refundable security deposit

The union ministry of environment, forest and climate change has sent an advisory to the chief wildlife wardens and forest secretaries of all states urging them to take steps in and around the national parks and sanctuaries so that the forests could be kept clean of garbage.(HT Photo)

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Published on Dec 10, 2016 01:41 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJoydeep Thakur

Tigers, rivers and now long queues: Cash crunch makes life harder in Sunderbans

Life even at the best of times is difficult in these regions. And now it has got harder amid the cash crunch as villagers are being forced to travel for hours by rickety boats across choppy rivers to reach the banks or the nearest Customer Service Points.

SBI customer service point at Laxbagan on Satjelia island of Sunderbans in West Bengal.(HT file photo)

india news

Updated on Dec 09, 2016 04:57 PM IST

ByJoydeep Thakur, Gosaba/satjelia

Kolkata is just a degree away from winter

A one degree drop in the night temperature is all that will take the weathermen to make it official.

The night temperature in Kolkata has been dropping steadily over the past fortnight bringing a sharp nip in the air. While many have stopped switching on their fans and ACs at night, the chill at dawn and the early hours have forced morning walkers to drape a shawl or muffler as they head out for a healthy stroll.(HT Photo)

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Published on Nov 18, 2016 10:59 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJoydeep Thakur, Kolkata

National Green Tribunal restricts Poush Mela to three days, imposes curbs on fire crackers and loud music

This year’s Poush Mela, which starts on December 23, has to be wound up within three days, the National Green Tribunal directed.

NGT has also imposed certain restrictions on bursting of fire crackers, playing loud music on microphones, food stalls among others to ensure that the festival is held in accordance with Maharshi Devendranath Tagore’s philosophy.(Wikipedia)

cities

Published on Nov 16, 2016 10:57 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJoydeep Thakur and Surojit Ghosh Hazra, Kolkata

After cash crunch, food inflation looming in Bengal?

With truck loads of fish, eggs, vegetables and fruits stuck on highways, city’s markets could go dry in the next few days resulting in inflation and food crisis.

With truck loads of fish, eggs, vegetables and fruits stuck on highways and at various interstate borders and farmers unable to harvest their crops because of severe cash crunch, experts apprehend that the city’s markets could go dry in the next few days resulting in inflation and food crisis.(HT Photo/Subham Jyoti)

cities

Updated on Nov 15, 2016 01:01 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJoydeep Thakur, Kolkata

Print the new notes with pictures of Netaji, Bose family members demand

Family members to submit memorandum to the Prime Minister on his return from Japan.

Chandra Kumar Bose (taking the flag from Amit Shah) joined BJP before the Bengal assembly elections.(HT Photo)

cities

Published on Nov 11, 2016 05:30 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJoydeep Thakur, Kolkata

Numismatists to preserve Rs 500, Rs 1000 samples for antique value in future

There are instances of a Rs 10,000 note fetching Rs 10 lakh in an auction in Mumbai.

Collecting coins and currency notes are both a hobby and an investment option with some.(HT Photo)

cities

Published on Nov 10, 2016 10:23 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJoydeep Thakur, Kolkata

Solar panels to light up govt offices in Bengal

The initiative is aimed at slashing crippling power bills and promote green energy.

The project has been christened as Aloshree. The initiative plans to cover all state government offices, municipalities, corporations, panchayats, state run public sector undertakings and all other autonomous bodies of the government.(HT Photo)

cities

Published on Nov 02, 2016 10:59 AM IST

Hindustan Times | BySumanta Ray Choudhuri and Joydeep Thakur, Kolkata

Kolkata metro stations up for branding

Tenders will be floated soon.

cities

Published on Oct 28, 2016 09:53 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJoydeep Thakur, Kolkata

Kolkata’s appetite for non conventional meat rising fast

Focus on health and boredom with mutton and chicken are increasingly driving people to quail, duck and turkey.

Duck meat, earlier restricted to a few Chinese restaurants, is now becoming popular with sale of processed meat rising from ‘Haringhata’ counters. Roast duck was clearly the most popular item in a five-day food fest organised by the state government recently.

cities

Published on Oct 27, 2016 10:01 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJoydeep Thakur, Kolkata

Cyclone Kyant can spoil Diwali plans in Bengal, Odisha coast

Met officials tracking the cyclone are hopeful that Kyant will not pack as much intensity as did its predecessors Aila, Phailin and Hudhud, even as fishermen have been warned not to venture out into the sea.

Met officials tracking the cyclone are hopeful that Kyant will not pack as much intensity as did its predecessors Aila, Phailin and Hudhud.(Photo: Accuweather)

india news

Updated on Oct 25, 2016 05:47 PM IST

ByJoydeep Thakur, Kolkata

Alipore Zoo to get four kangaroos from Japan

Zoo officials spend sleepless nights as zebra gives birth to a calf.

cities

Updated on Oct 25, 2016 01:50 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJoydeep Thakur, Kolkata

Avian flu scare: Vets collect blood samples of birds at zoo

Samples are being collected from pelicans, storks, pheasants, spoonbills, ostriches and peacocks, among others.

The samples would be tested in a government laboratory to check if the birds have been infected by Avian Flu (H5N1) virus that has already struck Delhi and Gwalior zoos.(HT Photo)

cities

Published on Oct 23, 2016 12:10 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJoydeep Thakur, Kolkata

Avian flu scare: Kolkata zoo to start screening of birds

Veterinarians and bird specialists will begin random screening of the species in the zoo’s aviaries to detect if any inmate has been affected by any form of avian flu virus.

Employees maintaining bird cages have been asked to wear masks and gloves mandatorily while collecting carcasses of birds which, in turn, must be sent to the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases in Bhopal.(HT File Photo)

cities

Published on Oct 22, 2016 01:19 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJoydeep Thakur, Kolkata

Kolkata Zoo on avian flu alert after death of migratory birds in Delhi

The Delhi zoo has been temporarily shut after the death of nine birds.

The Central Zoo Authority of India (CZAI) has put zoos in Alipore, Kolkata, and Darjeeling on avian flu alert after the death of some migratory birds in Delhi.(HT Photo)

cities

Published on Oct 21, 2016 10:38 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJoydeep Thakur and Saptarshi Banerjee, Kolkata

Monsoon to withdraw from south Bengal by next week

The monsoon had already started withdrawing from parts of India since the last week of September.

The southwest monsoon is likely to bid farewell to Kolkata and other districts of south Bengal by next week, Met officials said.(HT Photo)

cities

Published on Oct 15, 2016 12:01 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJoydeep Thakur, Kolkata

WhatsApp puts Bengal government on fast track

Employees are forming groups through which circulars, instructions and information are being exchanged.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wants immediate action on almost everything and the WhatsApp groups suit her style of functioning perfectly.(HT Photo)

cities

Published on Oct 14, 2016 10:55 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJoydeep Thakur, Kolkata

Bengal moves closer to setting up India’s second dolphin community reserve

About 3,100 to 3,200 Gangetic dolphins that are found in the Ganges, Brahmaputra and their

The Ganges at the Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary. It is the first sanctuary for these endangered species in the country.(HT Photo)

cities

Published on Oct 13, 2016 10:11 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJoydeep Thakur, Kolkata

Going green, the Puja way

The face of Bengal’s biggest festival has changed with more and more organisers in Kolkata and the interiors of Bengal adopting environment-friendly measures to reduce pollution and promote public awareness on green hazards.

During Durga Puja, thousands of lights gild the pandals in and across the city. These consume thousands of units of power which comes mainly from the coal-based thermal power plants.(Ram Krishna Samanta /HT Photo)

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Published on Oct 07, 2016 04:41 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJoydeep Thakur, Kolkata

Get ready to sweat it out during Durga Puja

There may be occasional showers on a day or two

Like it or not, the weather gods are not smiling this autumn. So, brace for a hot and sultry week ahead and get ready to sweat it out while pandal-hopping during Durga Puja!(HT Photo)

cities

Published on Oct 05, 2016 10:04 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJoydeep Thakur, Kolkata

Now nutrient enriched ice-cream, bread and cookies from seaweed

A result of a broader study, the products have been demonstrated before CSIR experts in Bengaluru.

Some varieties of seaweeds found in our coastline are rich in protein, vitamins and minerals and calcium, copper, iodine and iron.

cities

Published on Oct 01, 2016 10:40 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJoydeep Thakur, Kolkata

Kolkata fourth most polluted megacity with coarse dust particles in the air

Construction activity the main culprit.

The city has witnessed a rise in construction activity from transport projects to real estate ones in recent years pushing up the presence of coarse particles in the air.(HT Photo)

cities

Published on Oct 01, 2016 09:51 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJoydeep Thakur, Kolkata

Soon there may be solar panels under your feet in New Town, Rajarhat

Authorities are scouting for this technology from abroad to overcome space constraint.

One of the constraints of solar power is that the panels that trap sunrays have to set up on a vast area and can be a problem where open spaces are scarce.(HT Photo)

cities

Published on Sep 28, 2016 09:32 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJoydeep Thakur, Kolkata

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Joydeep Thakur

Joydeep Thakur is a Special Correspondent based in Kolkata. He focuses on science, environment, wildlife, agriculture and other related issues.

The black German Wanderer sedan that Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose rode for his great escape in January 16, 1941 rolled out again after 58 years in a museum.

The West Bengal Fisheries Department is planning to initiate a process that will introduce stiff penal provisions under CrPC and IPC and allow the police to arrest anyone for catching, selling and buying Hilsa weighing less than 500 grams.

They are in a hurry to discover new species.

Western disturbances that triggered snowfall on Christmas Day in Shimla after a gap of almost 24 years is playing havoc with the winter in Kolkata.

For the first time in the history of the country’s space programme, an instrument designed and built by a team of scientists from Kolkata would be landing on the moon’s surface in January 2018.

The goats will be given to villagers who often lose their livestock to attacks by fishing cats and kill these predators in retaliation.

Publishers and Booksellers Guild, which organises the show, warned that the event this time may see a 50 per cent drop in the number of new and old Bengali titles and fewer Bengali publishers.

Tourists would be provided with glass bottles and carry bags made out of canvas by the forest department against a refundable security deposit

Life even at the best of times is difficult in these regions. And now it has got harder amid the cash crunch as villagers are being forced to travel for hours by rickety boats across choppy rivers to reach the banks or the nearest Customer Service Points.

A one degree drop in the night temperature is all that will take the weathermen to make it official.

This year’s Poush Mela, which starts on December 23, has to be wound up within three days, the National Green Tribunal directed.

With truck loads of fish, eggs, vegetables and fruits stuck on highways, city’s markets could go dry in the next few days resulting in inflation and food crisis.

Family members to submit memorandum to the Prime Minister on his return from Japan.

There are instances of a Rs 10,000 note fetching Rs 10 lakh in an auction in Mumbai.

The initiative is aimed at slashing crippling power bills and promote green energy.

Tenders will be floated soon.

Focus on health and boredom with mutton and chicken are increasingly driving people to quail, duck and turkey.

Met officials tracking the cyclone are hopeful that Kyant will not pack as much intensity as did its predecessors Aila, Phailin and Hudhud, even as fishermen have been warned not to venture out into the sea.

Zoo officials spend sleepless nights as zebra gives birth to a calf.

Samples are being collected from pelicans, storks, pheasants, spoonbills, ostriches and peacocks, among others.

Veterinarians and bird specialists will begin random screening of the species in the zoo’s aviaries to detect if any inmate has been affected by any form of avian flu virus.

The Delhi zoo has been temporarily shut after the death of nine birds.

The monsoon had already started withdrawing from parts of India since the last week of September.

Employees are forming groups through which circulars, instructions and information are being exchanged.

About 3,100 to 3,200 Gangetic dolphins that are found in the Ganges, Brahmaputra and their

The face of Bengal’s biggest festival has changed with more and more organisers in Kolkata and the interiors of Bengal adopting environment-friendly measures to reduce pollution and promote public awareness on green hazards.

There may be occasional showers on a day or two

A result of a broader study, the products have been demonstrated before CSIR experts in Bengaluru.

Construction activity the main culprit.

Authorities are scouting for this technology from abroad to overcome space constraint.

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