Didi to get 'indestructible' book on Jangalmahal projects

Midnapore: West Midnapore district magistrate Jagadish Prasad Meena on Wednesday will present chief minister Mamata Banerjee an "indestructible" commemorative book to showcase projects undertaken by her government in a district that had pockets of Maoist dominance till four years ago.
The book, the production of which cost is close to Rs 10,000, has pages that made of transparable metallic plastic, the same meterial used in cellphone back covers."The book is waterproof. If someone writes something on the pages with an ink pen, it can easily be wiped off," an official overseeing the project said. The book is being published at a private press in Kolkata.
The 96-page book contains a glossary and maps on five pages, with the remaining devoted to the projects envisioned by Mamata and implemented by the administration. "The book will contain description of the projects, photographs of the foundation stone-laying ceremony or construction and completion. The book begins and ends with photographs of the chief minister. In all, there will be 10 prominent photographs of Mamata, each measuring 7.5 inch by 5.5 inch. The cover is made of transparable parachute paper.
District officials said dedicated photographers had recorded each of the 30 visits by Mamata in the past five years, sometimes with state's top bureaucrats in tow and at other times with party men. Sources said a team led by the DM has been scrutinizing the photographs for several months to short-list the ones that are being carried.
The DM had initially planned to hand over the book to Mamata during her last visit on January 5. But the plan had to be abandoned after mistakes were spotted during proof reading. The quality of some photographs and errors in captions as well as mistakes in alignment of lines led to the project being put on hold till a later date. This time, the DM hopes to present the book on February 10 at the Rajbari where she will put up for the night. On February 11, she will inaugurate two bridges - one spanning 3km across Subarnarekha river and connecting Nayagram Dahi ghat and Keshiari Bhashra ghat, and the other, 1km in length, across Kasai river connecting Lalgarh and Jhargram.
Errors were spotted on Friday as well and sent for hasty correction so that the book can be presented to her before the Election Commission declares poll dates. "Once the elections are announced and model code of conduct enforced, we may not be able to present her the book. If that happens, the entire effort will go waste," an official explained.
Apart from the specially ordered book for Mamata, six more copies are being made that will cost Rs 6,000-7,000. "What has driven up the expense is high-end printing. The photographs will be edited and printed in a 300 DPi machine. It will take Rs 50-70 to edit each photograph and the cover print will cost Rs 1,000. Binding will take another Rs 1,000-1,500," said one of the two officials deputed to ensure error-free and timely production of the book.