The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) on Monday criticised the BJP-led Mahayuti government and linked recent panic buying of fuel and gas in parts of Maharashtra to lack of transparency on the situation, reported the IANS. The party urged the state to provide clear and transparent information about the country’s energy reserves instead of warning citizens against spreading rumours. In an editorial published in its mouthpiece Saamana, the Shiv Sena (UBT) said that the transparency would help reduce panic and prevent misinformation. The editorial alleged that the current wave of panic began in Gujarat, where long queues were reportedly seen at petrol pumps and gas agencies. It claimed that people were stockpiling fuel due to fears of shortages, according to the PTI. According to the party, this anxiety is linked to past experiences such as demonetisation and the COVID-19 lockdown, which had triggered similar reactions among citizens. Impact on businesses and services The editorial further claimed that nearly 50 per cent of hotels and roadside eateries in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra have shut down due to an alleged gas shortage, the news agency reported. It also stated that industries have been affected, with foundries in western Maharashtra halting operations and several tile manufacturing units in Morbi, Gujarat, reportedly shutting down. The party linked the situation to the ongoing tensions involving Iran and Israel, which have impacted the Strait of Hormuz — a key route for India’s LPG imports. While the government has maintained that sufficient fuel stocks are available, the editorial claimed that public confidence remains low. Alleged contradictions in govt statements According to the IANS, the party pointed to what it described as conflicting statements by leaders, including Devendra Fadnavis and Chhagan Bhujbal, as contributing to confusion. It also cited the reported resumption of kerosene distribution as an indicator of underlying supply concerns. The Shiv Sena (UBT) demanded that the government release detailed data on fuel stocks, daily supply, LPG imports, and shipping movements through the Strait of Hormuz. It said such measures would help counter rumours and restore public trust. Warning over erosion of trust The editorial concluded that without transparency, speculation would continue to grow. It warned that rumours thrive when public trust weakens and called for clear communication from the government. (with IANS inputs)
30 March,2026 11:19 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentTo address misconceptions that portray leopards as villains in human-leopard conflict zones, an exposure visit was organised to Jawai in Rajasthan, a region known for its model of human-leopard coexistence. Public representatives from Maharashtra’s sugarcane belt regions that have witnessed human-leopard conflict were taken to the Jawai Leopard Safari to showcase relatively peaceful coexistence. The visit was aimed at demonstrating how leopards can be seen as an asset rather than a liability. Maharashtra legislators Amol Khatal (left) and Sharad Sonawane (right) Districts such as Nashik, Pune, and Ahilyanagar have reported instances of human-leopard conflict, including fatalities and injuries. Residents in these areas have also staged protests against the state forest department and the government, alleging inadequate measures to mitigate the conflict. Man behind the idea Praveen Pardeshi, the chief minister’s chief economic advisor, who is known for his interest in wildlife conservation and played a key role in protecting several areas in Maharashtra during his tenure as forest secretary, was instrumental in planning the exposure visit. “The exposure visit was aimed at changing perceptions of leopards from being seen as threats to valuable assets, and by understanding and respecting their behaviour, coexistence becomes possible, as demonstrated in Jawai, an approach that can be replicated in Nashik, Pune, and Ahilyanagar to reduce conflict while creating sustainable livelihood opportunities,” said Pardeshi. The Habitats Trust played a key role in planning this visit. MLA Speak Junnar MLA Sharad Sonawane said, “Our exposure visit to Jawai in Rajasthan has completely changed our perspective on leopards. We observed how they can become an asset for local communities by generating livelihoods through homestays and safari tourism. We would welcome similar initiatives being implemented in the Junnar region.” Praveen Pardeshi, chief economic advisor to CM Devendra Fadnavis. FILE PIC Ashish Thakare, chief conservator of forest, Pune, told mid-day, “A similar model could be developed in Junnar, integrating leopard-based tourism with other attractions such as forts and temple tourism to create a broader visitor experience.” The visitors Cabinet Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil; MLAs Dilip Walse Patil, Amol Khatal, Kashinath Date, Sharad Sonawane, and Vithalrao Langhe; along with Chief Conservator of Forest Dr Jitendra Ramgaonkar, Chief Conservator of Forest G Mallikarjun, and Conservator of Forest Ashish Thakare, visited the sanctuary. All of the public representatives hail from districts that have reported cases of human-wildlife conflict. Voice Rushikesh Chavan, director, The Habitats Trust ‘Capturing leopards is a temporary fix, not a solution. True resolution comes from designing landscapes where humans and wildlife can safely coexist. As seen in Jawai, the goal is to turn potential conflict into a shared resource, moving beyond the struggle and finding ways to turn a common challenge into an opportunity’ Dr Jitendra Ramgaonkar, Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife), West “Recently, public representatives from Pune, Nashik and Ahilyanagar districts—where human-leopard conflict has led to deaths and injuries—visited Jawai in Rajasthan as part of an exposure visit. The aim was to demonstrate how leopards can be seen as an asset rather than a liability.”
30 March,2026 10:01 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet JadhavIn a bid to tackle worsening air quality, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation has unveiled an 18-month “Air Pollution Eradication Programme”, positioning it as a full-scale engineering intervention to bring down PM10 and PM2.5 levels and shed the city’s growing “dust-bowl” tag. Teen sawaal with Sagar Naik, leader of the House, NMMC Navi Mumbai is a planned city. Why is air quality slipping now?Our growth has outpaced our traditional systems. Large infrastructure projects, over 700 construction sites, and years of accumulated dust have created a perfect storm. This is not a routine clean-up; it is an engineering intervention. Who ensures this does not remain on paper?Accountability is built into the plan. The Municipal Commissioner, Dr Kailas Shinde, will oversee implementation. Each ward will have supervisors reporting to a central Environmental Command and Control Centre. What happens to violators?We are moving from requests to penalties. New bylaws will mandate wheel-washing, real-time monitoring, and strict dust-control compliance. Violations will invite work-stoppage orders. The problem, in numbers 700+ active construction sites 1000 km road network under dust load Rising PM2.5 levels are pushing air quality into “poor” Years of accumulated “legacy dust” on road shoulders The core fix: Zero exposed soil What changes>> No loose soil on road edges, vacant plots, or open land>> Mandatory paving, turfing, or gravel covering>> Private plots left uncovered face compliance action Why it matters>> Most dust is not industrial; it is loose soil becoming airborne daily Tech meets enforcement On the ground>> 14 vacuum sweepers>> 11 water jet trucks>> Five-phase deep-clean cycle across 1000 km In the air>> Helium balloon sensors up to 500 metres>> Tracks whether pollution is local or drifting in
30 March,2026 09:29 AM IST | Mumbai | Abhitash SinghMumbai continued to witness an improvement in air quality on Monday morning, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) dropping to 40, placing it in the ‘good’ category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board’s Sameer App. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported a partly cloudy sky over the city and suburbs in the morning. The maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to hover around 34 degrees Celsius and 25 degrees Celsius, respectively. AQI across Mumbai Across the city, AQI levels remained largely in the good to satisfactory range. Bandra Kurla Complex recorded an AQI of 27, while Borivali East stood at 54. Byculla (44), Chembur (38), Colaba (38), and Ghatkopar (36) also reported moderate readings. Lower AQI levels were seen in Bhandup West and Mulund West at 24 each, while Worli recorded 32. Neighbouring regions reported slightly higher but still satisfactory air quality levels, with Thane at 62, Kalyan at 70, and Navi Mumbai at 54. Maharashtra weather update: Warm to hot conditions prevail across Maharashtra Meanwhile, Maharashtra continued to experience generally warm conditions, with maximum temperatures hovering around normal levels in most parts of the state. Malegaon recorded the highest temperature at 40 degrees Celsius, followed by Parbhani (39.4 degrees Celsius) and Sholapur (39.2 degrees Celsius), indicating hot conditions in central regions. Several other cities, including Aurangabad, Osmanabad, Satara, and Udgir, also reported temperatures above 37 degrees Celsius. Mahabaleshwar records below-normal temperatures In contrast, coastal and hilly areas remained relatively cooler. Mumbai (Colaba) recorded 33.4 degrees Celsius, while Santacruz saw 32.4 degrees Celsius. Mahabaleshwar was the coolest at 30.1 degrees Celsius, notably below normal. Temperature deviations across the state were mostly marginal. However, Mahabaleshwar, Nashik, and Kolhapur recorded below-normal temperatures, while Harnai saw slightly above-normal conditions. Humidity levels across Maharashtra Humidity levels showed a sharp contrast between coastal and interior regions. Coastal areas such as Harnai and Mumbai recorded high evening humidity levels, while interior districts like Osmanabad, Parbhani, and Jeur experienced much drier conditions. Overall, the state is expected to continue witnessing warm to hot weather, with humid conditions along the coast and relatively dry weather prevailing inland.
30 March,2026 09:24 AM IST | MumbaiAfter repeated objections from parent groups, students and activists, ex-students of BD Hiray College said they were finally asked to collect their mark sheets. However, many alleged that the subjects listed did not match what they had studied. Students from the first batch (2021-2024) said they were called to the college office on Sunday, March 22, in the morning to collect mark sheets for all semesters. Those who missed it claimed they were later asked to collect documents from the college gate on Monday. The mark sheets, copies of which were shared with mid-day, were issued by ‘Sikkim International University’. Students said they remain unclear about the university’s credentials. They also alleged that subjects appeared shuffled, some names had been changed, a few were unfamiliar, and their dissertation work was missing from the mark sheets. Meeting cancelled With no clarity, students said they returned with unanswered questions. On March 22, they were promised a meeting with the management on March 23. Students claimed this meeting was cancelled. Legal route “We had given the college an ultimatum to meet us on March 23, but they failed to do so. We have not received satisfactory responses. While students have got mark sheets, there is no clarity on the university. We will now approach authorities or take legal action,” said Nitin Nanavare, activist, Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthi Sena. This newspaper tried to get in touch with the authorities from the BD Hiray College but did not receive a response by press time. Student Speak Shruti Sorap, (Batch of 2021-2024)‘Since I was unable to collect the mark sheets on Sunday, I went to the college on Monday morning and was stopped at the gate itself. We were handed our mark sheets outside and treated with hostility. Despite graduating two years ago, I was not able to find a suitable job because I had no recognised documents in hand. Now that the mark sheets have come in, we still have many doubts about their reliability’. Nidhi Raut, (Batch of 2021-2024)‘I was initially studying interior design at another renowned college, but I moved to this study centre for better education. Despite not having attended my first year, they still gave me mark sheets for it. My marks disclosed in college, and those printed on the mark sheets are different. I have lost my job since I could not produce documents’ Mar 22Day when the students were called to collect their mark sheets
30 March,2026 09:18 AM IST | Mumbai | Aditi AlurkarWhile Mumbai celebrates the engineering marvel of the Atal Setu, a disturbing reality is unfolding in full public view beneath it, where mangroves near Ulwe are allegedly being buried under debris, even as thousands of commuters pass overhead every day. The core issue —administrative deadlock >> CIDCO has not transferred mangroves to the Forest Department despite court deadlines>> The Forest Department claims it cannot act without jurisdiction>> MMRDA now controls the Atal Setu stretchResult: Overlapping authorities, no enforcement Why this matters Mangroves act as natural flood barriers, protect against storm surges and tidal flooding, support marine biodiversity and fisheries, and are recognised as eco-sensitive zones by the Bombay High Court What is being seen >> Mangrove patches near Ulwe gaothan visibly turning from green to grey>> Alleged dumping of debris using heavy machinery in an open, high-visibility zone>> Activity taking place right below a landmark infrastructure project Voices from the ground >> “This is nothing but a daylight murder of mangroves,” Sunil Agarwal, environmental activist. >> “The main problem is that CIDCO has not handed over the mangroves to the Forest Department despite numerous deadlines set by the Bombay High Court. The fence itself is eating the crops, and as expected, nothing happens,” Sunil added. >> “Everyone is passing the buck to each other. The Forest Department says the land has not been transferred to us by CIDCO. There is no use sending correspondence to CIDCO as they don’t reply. And now the Atal Setu stretch is under MMRDA,” said Advocate Pradeep Patole. Complaint tracker Location: Ulwe gaothan near the bridge entryFiled: March 28, 2026Complaint ID: 1900Platform: Mangrove Suraksha AppStatus: AcknowledgedGround action: Not visible
30 March,2026 09:09 AM IST | Mumbai | Abhitash SinghThe Woollen Mill Mumbai Public School in Matunga has become the ultimate grocery shopping destination for residents whose own wards grow fruits and vegetables using the drip irrigation method under the terrace garden initiative of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Launched two years ago in 25 civic-run schools, the programme has caught on and expanded, with both the number of plants and the students who tend to them increasing, and profits rising over the months. The terrace garden at the Woollen Mill Mumbai Public School in Matunga. Pics/By Special Arrangement At the aforementioned Matunga school, while tasks related to bio-fertilisers, seedlings, and irrigation are one-off, students of all ages are responsible for monitoring the progress of their nursery. They must look out for infected leaves, yellowing, or pests and learn to fix these issues with the help of the school faculty. Every week, students as young as Std II participate in the process. Along with gardening and maintenance, the students have learned to tally profits and losses, according to Jyoti Vakharia, the school principal. Voices Jyoti Vakharia, principal of school‘We have tried to grow diverse plants. After vegetables like tomatoes and cucumbers, the students have started growing lemongrass, butterfly pea flowers, and marigolds. Whenever the school has guests or visitors, students pick these out, and they are used to prepare tea or beverages’ Aditya Tiwari, Std VIII student“We have up to 10 beds where tomatoes, brinjal, ginger and watermelon, among other things, are grown. We use the leftovers from midday meals for compost used for kitchen gardens. We have also made lip balms and teas out of flowering plants. At the parent-teacher meetings, vegetables are sold in stalls. We have made sales of Rs 5000 by selling brinjals and other vegetables’ Manthan Mirkale, Std VII pupil‘My parents have bought okra, pumpkins, and other vegetables, and they prefer them because we sell completely organic vegetables. The vegetable beds have 50 per cent coco peat and 50 per cent soil, and we garden thrice a week. We are taught to set up beds, plough soil, plant saplings, inspect them, and harvest the vegetables. We have also organised campfires where we cooked our produce’.
30 March,2026 08:50 AM IST | Mumbai | Aditi AlurkarMid-Day has introduced a new initiative: DEAR GOVERNMENT. In this your favourite newspaper will print your questions to BMC, Police and State Government every Monday, and will get answers on your behalf. Be it roads, water crime, government policy, whatever your query, write to us at mailbag@mid-day.com or tweet to us at @mid-day and we will try and get responses to your problems. Problems Garbage on the road Why don’t political parties let all the vendors and food stalls operate on the footpath outside their homes? In that way they will be safe and guarded by them and will also save the taxpayers’ money blown up on their protection. For a while, we have been complaining about the garbage opposite the Sahkari Bhandar located near Agar Bazar, Kashinath Dhuru Marg, Dadar, which is a junkyard, and no concrete steps have been taken to clear this space.Shilpa Nayak Illegal stall on footpath Residents of Navjivan Co-op Housing Society at Lamington Road have raised a serious complaint against the illegal overnight installation of an Aarey stall (Stall No. 37) on a public footpath on Patthe Bapurao Marg, near the Navjivan Society Bus Stop and Balaji Hotel. The stall was allegedly unloaded after midnight on June 10, 2025, using a crane, blocking over 80 per cent of the pedestrian walkway. Despite a formal complaint filed with the BMC (Complaint No. 723073127), the civic body has wrongly marked the complaint as ‘Action Taken’ while the stall remains in place. Citizens visiting the D-Ward office were verbally told of a ‘transfer order’ from Breach Candy, but no document has been shown or officially produced. Local residents have expressed outrage, citing public endangerment, misuse of civic infrastructure, and possible administrative collusion. Late-night repair work is also reportedly taking place, suggesting unauthorised commercial activity. Citizens have also cited Supreme Court and Bombay High Court rulings restricting hawkers to designated zones and have warned of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) if no action is taken.Jayesh Doshi, Satish Bokadia, Haresh Doshi Kabutar khana nuisance at Forjett Street The Kabutar Khana on the junction of Forjett Street (D Ward) is fully operational. The health hazard is compounded with the horrendous green sheet full of pigeon shit and feathers! Despite complaints to local representatives and requests to locals not to feed pigeons, nothing is being done.Bapsy Framji Patel Landline not working I am a 78-year-old senior citizen and my MTNL phone number has been out of order for a year and the only reply I keep getting is that cables are not working. Please help me get my phone back in working condition.Menino Gomes Responses After Mumbaikars sent in their questions and woes to mid-day last Monday, some of the authorities concerned responded. We haven’t given up on the rest. We shall continue to hold authorities accountable for the state of the city. Rodent infestation Sushant ShettyResponse: The secretary of the building Chirag Khatri informed mid-day that L&T has informed them that the house lock can be broken only under police protection for which the latter has already applied. The Malad West police has informed the secretary, L&T and mid-day that they would provide protection once permission is obtained from the CP’s office. Please add more Metro coaches Chandan SharmaResponse: “In view of sustained high ridership, Mumbai Metro Line-1 has initiated plans to augment train capacity by adding coaches to four-coach trains. Necessary technical, operational and infrastructure assessments are underway and the rollout will be undertaken in a phased manner upon completion of requisite approvals. However, all this is subject to lead time for procurement of coaches which is not in our hand,” a Mumbai Metro One official said. Pothole on speed breaker Kiran P ChaudhariResponse: Following a call from mid-day, the BMC R/North ward undertook temporary pothole repairs at the speed breaker. A detailed story was covered on the issued in mid-day edition dated March 28. Noisy Vendors KSN IyerResponse: An official from the Encroachment Department of G/North ward said, “Action will be taken against the hawkers, if they are not authorised with a licence. Action is taken on a continuous basis against hawkers encroaching footpaths.”
30 March,2026 08:21 AM IST | Mumbai | Team mid-dayMumbai on Sunday recorded the first ‘Good’ air quality day of 2026, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) reading of 46. This is also the best AQI reading reported in the city since October 27, 2025, when it was recorded at 45, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). This year, March has recorded no ‘Poor’ AQI days. The 29 days of March have seen AQI readings in the ‘Satisfactory’ category. In comparison, January 2026 recorded only eight ‘Satisfactory’ days, and February recorded seven ‘Satisfactory’ days. On Sunday, all areas across Mumbai had AQI readings under 100, the best this year. Out of the 24 active AQI monitoring stations across Mumbai, 14 stations reported AQI in the ‘Good’ category, and 10 recorded AQI in the ‘Satisfactory’ category. The areas of Borivli, Malad, and Kandivli in the western suburbs had the best AQI readings on Sunday, followed by Sewri and Sion in the eastern suburbs. Even the bad AQI hotspots of BKC and Bandra East reported AQI in the ‘Good’ category on Sunday. Best March since 2020 The month of March 2026, so far (29 days), has seen the best AQI for the month of March since 2020 as per data available with the CPCB, despite the lockdown due to COVID that started mid-March 2020. 2026 AQI snapshot January 2026Satisfactory: 8 daysModerate: 23 daysWorst AQI: 140 on January 4 Worst pollutant: PM10, followed by NO2 and CO February 2026Satisfactory: 7 daysModerate: 21 daysWorst AQI: 145 on February 21Worst pollutant: PM10, followed by ozone March 2026 (29 days)Good: 1 day (AQI at 46 on Sunday)Satisfactory: 23 daysModerate: 5 daysWorst AQI: 127 on March 9Worst pollutant: NO2, along with CO, and PM10 March AQI over the years… 2025Satisfactory: 14 daysModerate: 17 daysWorst AQI: March 11 (159) 2024Satisfactory: 15 daysModerate: 16 daysWorst AQI: March 22 (144) 2023Satisfactory: 10 daysModerate: 15 daysPoor: 6 daysWorst AQI: March 4 (281) 2022Moderate: 25 daysPoor: 6 daysWorst AQI: March 2 (216) 2021Satisfactory: 3 daysModerate: 27 daysPoor: 1 dayWorst AQI: March 6 (211) 2020Satisfactory: 15 daysModerate: 16 daysWorst AQI: March 17 (197) Areas with ‘Good’ AQI on Sunday Borivali East: 21Mindspace, Malad West: 28Sion: 31Sewri: 32Kandivali West: 33Siddharth Nagar, Worli: 35Bandra Kurla Complex: 37Khindipada, Bhandup West: 37Chembur: 39Kandivali East: 39Ghatkopar: 43Kherwadi, Bandra East: 44Chhatrapati Shivaji Intl Airport T2: 49Vile Parle West: 49 Areas with ‘Satisfactory’ AQI on Sunday Worli: 87Chakala, Andheri East: 72Colaba: 66Deonar: 66Shivaji Nagar: 62
30 March,2026 08:10 AM IST | Mumbai | Eeshanpriya MSWestern Railway (WR) had a brush with history when it replaced one of the oldest structural components on Mumbai suburban railway, a 129-year-old span near Kandivali, a move that will boost the speed of services on the section. A plaque on the old structure has been preserved. Fabricated by the same firm that had worked on the iconic Jubilee Bridge in West Bengal (spanning the Hooghly River between Naihati and Bandel), which was opened in 1885 to commemorate Queen Victoria’s 50th year on the throne, the bridge at Kandivali had been a living relic of early railway engineering. Forged in 1897, when Mumbai was gripped by a brutal plague, this span has outlived a crisis that reshaped the city itself. The operation Eight old steel girders were carefully delaunched and replaced with 28 PSC slabs and eight retainers. A temporary cofferdam (watertight enclosure) was built along the Poisar river to anchor heavy machinery, while cranes worked through the day and night to position the new structures. Nearly 180 workers were deployed for the effort, which was executed under the supervision of senior engineering officials. The block, which began at 10.50 pm on March 28, was completed on schedule by 7.30 pm the following day. It was supervised by Senior Divisional Engineer Ajay Singh Rajput and his team. Official Speak The Brandon Bridge Building Company Limited plaque, which has been preserved “During a 21-hour mega block, one of the longest in suburban railway history, the WR undertook the regirdering of Major Bridge No. 61, replacing four spans of ageing steel structures on the Down and Up local lines. For over a century, these riveted steel members had carried millions of commuters, surviving floods, rising traffic loads and the relentless expansion of the suburban system. Their replacement with modern pre-stressed concrete (PSC) slabs marks an engineering upgrade,” said Vineet Abhishek, chief public relations officer (CPRO), WR. Heritage aspect The CPRO added, “We have also saved the old plaque, which documents the construction of the original infrastructure that once defined the city’s growth.” The plaque reads “The Brandon Bridge Building Company Limited, BB&CIR. 595, Contract BB-8, Motherwell, NB 1897 (sic),” where BBCIR stands for the Bombay Baroda and Central India Railway and NB stands for North Britain.
30 March,2026 08:03 AM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarLet the game begin Young wrestlers train at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Vyayamshala Kusti Akhara at Central Railway Workshop in Matunga Bricks of uncertainty The artwork titled, Everything in its right place? Pics courtesy/Sajid Wajid Shaikh At a time when cities are constantly being built and unbuilt, Navi Mumbai–based artist Sajid Wajid Shaikh’s installation Everything in its right place? presented at ARCO Madrid in early March, reflects on the instability embedded within our built environments. The bricks used to construct the artwork appear both standing and collapsing portraying that balance is fleeting. Sajid Wajid Shaikh “The work considers the brick as both a symbol of shelter and a tool of erasure, foregrounding how quickly spaces of safety can turn precarious. For me, the brick carries the memory of shelter, belonging, and the promise of permanence, yet it is also the material through which homes are demolished and cities are erased; by pushing it to the edge of balance, I’m asking when a structure of safety quietly begins to collapse, and when a home stops being a home,” Shaikh said. Delish memories Hotel Lijesh (right) Kerela style chicken roast. Pics courtesy/Sachin Sadanandan For foodies with a penchant for Keralam cuisine, the news of Matunga’s Hotel Lijesh closing will come as a blow. For five decades, this popular hole-in-the-wall joint, run by Sheela and Sadanandan Sukumaran, served authentic Malayali fare from delightful parottas and chicken curry to biryani. (From left) Sheela, Sadanandan with children Devika, and Sachin Sadanandan This diarist recalls walking in to snack on pazham poris. However, son Sachin Sadanandan confirmed, “We will be closing down permanently as it is becoming a challenge to manage it, especially with my parents’ advancing age. We did not expect people to give it so much love over the years.” Voices for our mangroves (With mic) Akshar Oza and (front) Nishna Mehta perform the song during the play. Pic courtesy/Nishna Mehta As mangrove deforestation continues to threaten Mumbai’s fragile coastline, a street performance transformed into a moment of cultural resistance. Musician Akshar Oza joined Nishna Mehta, theatre maker and founder of Nature Narratives, for a duet in Mangrove Mudda, a street play organised by Save Mumbai Mangrove. A view of the mangroves in Charkop. Pic courtesy/Wikimedia commons Blending beatboxing with song, the act stood out within the narrative, using rhythm and voice to foreground the ecological crisis. Mehta said the piece “emerged as random impromptu verse that connected strongly with audiences; we’ve staged Mangrove Mudda at earlier rallies in Charkop and Andheri earlier this month, using a deliberately loud and exaggerated form to convey a pressing concern.” Oza added that “the urgency of the issue demands it be brought up repeatedly, so it remains impossible to ignore.” Mind and movement Patients attend physical therapy dance sessions to improve motor skills. Pics courtesy/PDMDS Marking World Parkinson’s Day (April 11) alongside its 25th anniversary on April 6, the Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorder Society (PDMDS) in Lower Parel centres care and celebration. “Our whole motive is to provide free therapy to whoever needs it,” said CEO, Dr Maria Barretto (right, below), noting that patients will receive tailored motor and cognitive therapies after assessment, with dietary guidance. The celebrations of the day will culminate in patient performances, bringing participants together and closer as a community.
30 March,2026 07:57 AM IST | Mumbai | Team mid-dayADVERTISEMENT
