West Bengal To Roll Out Biometric Attendance, Tighten Waste And Pollution Checks

The West Bengal government has announced plans to introduce biometric attendance systems across all government offices as part of a broader effort to strengthen accountability, improve service delivery, and ensure efficient use of public resources.

Speaking during an inspection of drainage and desiltation work along the Churial canal in Kolkata, West Bengal Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Minister Agnimitra Paul said the new system would help monitor employee attendance and reinforce workplace discipline.

According to the minister, all government employees will be required to mark their attendance through biometric systems to ensure punctuality and adherence to official working hours. She emphasised that government employees are accountable to citizens and taxpayers, whose contributions support public administration and services.

The initiative will also cover sanitation workers engaged under various municipal programmes. The government plans to introduce a biometric verification mechanism combined with geotagging technology to confirm workers’ presence at assigned locations. Sanitation personnel will also be issued identification cards to improve monitoring and transparency in municipal operations.

In addition to administrative reforms, the state government is preparing to adopt a stricter approach towards improper waste disposal in public spaces . Residents will be given a three-month period to adjust to revised waste management practices. Beginning in September, penalties may be imposed on individuals found violating waste disposal regulations.

The minister urged citizens to cooperate by segregating household waste at source using separate bins for different categories of garbage. She warned that sanitation workers could refuse to collect waste that does not comply with municipal segregation guidelines, highlighting the importance of public participation in maintaining urban cleanliness.

During the inspection, Paul also reviewed desiltation work in the Adi Ganga, drainage channels in the Bidhannagar Cantonment area, the Pujali canal, and other key water bodies. She said authorities are closely monitoring progress ahead of the monsoon season to reduce the risk of waterlogging and improve urban drainage.

The minister further cautioned industries against releasing untreated effluents into the Ganga, stressing that environmental compliance and pollution control measures are mandatory. Industries failing to adopt appropriate treatment technologies could face regulatory action, including possible closure, she said.