The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has stepped up its crackdown on unauthorised constructions, carrying out a demolition drive in Airoli on the instructions of NMMC chief Dr Kailas Shinde. The drive was carried out under the guidance of Additional Municipal Commissioner Dr Rahul Gethe and Deputy Commissioner (Encroachment) Dr Kailas Gaikwad, with the encroachment department acting against illegal structures raised without civic permissions in Sector 2, Airoli. Civic officials said unauthorised constructions were detected at two sites — SS-II/B-229 and SS-II/B-230 — allegedly developed by property owners Baban Babu Pawar and Premanand Prajapati, with contractor Gufran Khan and architect Omkar Nirgude, without NMMC approval. The G Division office had earlier issued notices under Section 54 of the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) Act, 1966, directing those concerned to remove the illegal constructions. However, as the notices were ignored and work continued, the civic body proceeded with demolition. The partial demolition was carried out under the supervision of Nainesh S Badle, assistant commissioner and division officer, Airoli. Officials said a penalty of Rs 5000 per structure was imposed, with a total of Rs 10,000 recovered as punitive charges. NMMC officials warned that strict action will continue against unauthorised constructions across the city and urged citizens to obtain proper permissions before undertaking any building activity.
04 February,2026 07:47 AM IST | Mumbai | Amarjeet SinghParth Pawar is likely to be nominated to the Rajya Sabha in place of his mother Sunetra Pawar, who took oath last week as deputy chief minister of Maharashtra. However, with Parth’s name linked to the controversial Pune land deal, there is a possibility that the party may instead consider other son Jay Pawar for a role in Delhi politics. After the death of Ajit Pawar in a plane crash in Baramati on January 28, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is going through major changes. Sunetra, a Rajya Sabha member, resigned from Parliament after taking the oath as deputy chief minister, stepping into the role previously held by her husband, Ajit. According to NCP leaders, there is a strong view within the party that Parth should be sent to Delhi politics by nominating him to the Rajya Sabha seat vacated after his mother’s resignation. “The party will soon meet and formally approve Parth’s nomination to the Rajya Sabha,” a senior party functionary said on condition of anonymity. Parth Pawar is NCP’s preferred choice for nomination However, due to the controversial Pune land deal linked to Parth, the party is also considering the option of nominating Jay, Parth’s younger brother. According to sources in the NCP camp, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has already said that he would extend all possible support to the party’s decision. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Sunetra contested from Baramati but lost to Supriya Sule, the daughter of NCP founder Sharad Pawar and Ajit’s cousin. That year, the Ajit Pawar-led NCP failed to win any Lok Sabha seats except Raigad, where party state president Sunil Tatkare emerged victorious. After his wife’s defeat, Ajit, in 2024, got Sunetra nominated to the Rajya Sabha by the NCP. Parth made his electoral debut in 2019 by contesting the Lok Sabha elections. He ran as a candidate of the undivided NCP from the Maval constituency but lost to Shrirang Barne of the undivided Shiv Sena. Now, if nominated to the Rajya Sabha, Ajit’s elder son would finally enter Delhi politics, this time through an indirect route. New deputy CM to visit Delhi There is a possibility that after February 10, new Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar will visit Delhi to meet NDA leaders and may also pay courtesy visits to the president and the Vice President of India. Meanwhile, senior NCP leader Praful Patel asserted that the two NCP factions had come together only for local polls. “There were no talks of merging the two parties. All this should stop now,” Patel stated. He further clarified that Sunetra Pawar will become the national president of the party. “I am certainly not becoming the party president,” Patel said.
04 February,2026 07:44 AM IST | Mumbai | Sanjeev ShivadekarA male Sambar deer was rescued from Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) after it was found trapped in a wire snare, bleeding heavily and suffering from maggot-infested wounds. The metal wire is suspected to have been illegally laid to hunt wild animals. On February 1, the Wildlife Welfare Association (WWA) received an SOS from Adivasi residents of Barik Payari village in Malad, who reported that a Sambar deer had a wire rope entangled in its antlers. The animal was visibly injured and bleeding, prompting an urgent rescue response. Injured male Sambar deer A WWA team member said the wire appeared to have caused severe injuries. “The deer was badly hurt and bleeding, requiring immediate medical attention. We alerted the SGNP rescue team and rushed to the spot,” the member said. The rescue operation was carried out under the guidance of Dr Nikhil Bangar, Veterinary Officer (Wildlife), SGNP. However, due to poor visibility and difficult terrain, the injured animal moved deeper into the forest before it could be tranquillised, forcing the team to suspend the operation for the day. Given the animal’s critical condition, authorities planned a fresh search and rescue effort the following morning. “Teams resumed the search at dawn on February 2 and, after several hours of combing the forest, traced the injured sambar around noon. The animal was then safely tranquillised by Dr Bangar for treatment,” a WWA member said. Metal wire he was trapped in “Immediate treatment was administered on site, and the wire was carefully removed to prevent further injury”, he added. Wildlife conservationists said the incident underscores the continuing threat posed by poaching. “Such traps cause prolonged suffering and endanger not just individual animals but the entire ecosystem. Stricter monitoring and enforcement are urgently needed to curb illegal practices and ensure long-term protection of wildlife within the park,” said a wildlife expert, requesting anonymity.
04 February,2026 07:41 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet JadhavAfter months of delay, restoration work on Swami Vivekanand Sarovar on Swami Vivekananda Road in Bandra West is finally set to begin, with the work order issued on February 2. According to a Letter of Acceptance accessed by mid-day, the contractual period for the project is 18 months, excluding the monsoon season. The estimated cost of the work is Rs 15.60 crore, and the contract also includes the operation and maintenance of the talao for three years. Despite repeated restoration attempts over the years, civic representatives have raised concerns about the long-term effectiveness of the work. Discarded garbage floats on the water's surface.Pics/Shadab Khan “Although restoration work is carried out every two years, it has become a redundant exercise,” said Rehbar Khan, municipal corporator from the H West ward. “Large amounts of public money are spent repeatedly, yet the talao keeps slipping back into a poor condition. The civic body should now consider awarding a long-term maintenance contract to a private agency that has a vested interest in sustaining the project. That may yield better results.” As per the scope outlined in a previous tender issued in September 2025, the project includes several key components aimed at restoring and maintaining the lake. These include rejuvenation of the talao, dewatering and desilting of the lake, repair of flooring on the existing bridge, and restoration of damaged sections of the promenade. Confirming the timeline, H West ward Assistant Commissioner Dinesh Pallewad told mid-day that work would commence shortly. “Now that the work order has been issued, the work should begin within eight to fifteen days. No further delays are expected,” he said.
04 February,2026 07:38 AM IST | Mumbai | Madhulika Ram KavatturWith only a week left to go for the Std XII board exams, education inspectors across the city are asking students who are facing discrepancies with Maharashtra Secondary School Certificate and Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) board exam admit cards to bring their problems to the attention of the board or inspectors’ offices promptly. “Even if a child’s parents have not been able to pay their Std X fees, the schools cannot withhold admit cards from students. If any such cases are noticed, parents can reach out to their education inspector’s office,” said Mustaq Shaikh, education inspector of the North Region. Ahead of the exams, the Vigilance Committee, comprising the district collector and education inspectors, among others, met on Monday to ascertain all arrangements for the ‘Copy-Free Campaign’ of the board examinations. As per the norms, police presence will be ensured at custodian centres with sensitive information, and inspectors and the collector will be making surprise visits to examination centres. In Mumbai, stated education inspectors, a total of 12 flying squads have been arranged, of which nine are for the suburbs. “We do not have many sensitive centres in the suburbs. In case we are informed of malpractices at any centres, a stationary squad will be sent to those schools. We also plan to write to the respective electricity providers of our areas to ensure that there are no power cuts amid examinations,” said Shaikh.
04 February,2026 07:34 AM IST | Mumbai | Aditi AlurkarThe Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to temporarily move the penguins from public view during the off-season months of June, July, and August to facilitate the expansion of their existing enclosure and living space. The upgrade will increase the capacity of the facility to accommodate up to 40 penguins. The current enclosure can house only up to 25 birds. At present, the Byculla Zoo has 21 Humboldt penguins, 14 of which were born in Mumbai over the past nine years. mid-day had first reported in July last year that the BMC was planning to provide the penguins with a larger habitat. During the expansion of their existing 1800 sq-ft enclosure and display area, the penguins will be shifted to an adjacent enclosure. This facility was earlier used to quarantine the birds when they were first brought to Mumbai in 2016 and closely replicates their current living space. The expansion is part of the ongoing construction of an aquarium at the Byculla Zoo, for which work has already begun. At the time the original penguin enclosure was built, space behind it had been reserved for future expansion projects. Zoo’s revenue Mumbai’s Humboldt penguins remain one of the biggest attractions at the Byculla Zoo. Over the past three financial years — from March 2023 to January 2026 — the BMC has earned Rs 28.1 crore in revenue from the zoo. Entry fees are Rs 50 for adults, Rs 25 for children, and Rs 100 for a family of four (parents and two children). Zoo revenue typically dips during the monsoon months of July, August, and September, with collections also lower in June compared to the rest of the year. The highest revenue is recorded in May, coinciding with school vacations, and during the festive months of November and December.
04 February,2026 07:31 AM IST | Mumbai | Eeshanpriya MSGruelling treatments, emotional rollercoaster rides, life-altering uncertainty, lost time — these are but a few of the battles that cancer patients find themselves in. However, for Neha Kale, 54, and Shourya Uday Devrukhkar, 17, their determination and commitment to vanquish the emperor of maladies were bigger than all the hurdles. Case Study 1The meaning of hope Neha Kale, assistant headmistress of the English secondary section of Vidya Mandir School in Dahisar, was diagnosed with malignant mixed Mullerian carcinosarcoma in October 2021. “I bled continuously for six months. Considering my age, my doctors first thought it was because of menopause. However, it didn’t stop despite a hysterectomy and removal of my ovaries. And then the biopsy reports came back positive for cancer,” said Kale. While Kale did take a short break of three months initially for her rigorous chemotherapy sessions, she resumed teaching in no time. “It wouldn't have been possible without the support of my family, friends, colleagues, and students. Some days were terrible, and some days were good. The first week was ridiculously painful every time I returned from a chemo session. I wasn’t even able to get up for simple things. The nausea and headache felt deadly. But things got better by the third week. I had to undergo six chemotherapy sessions, each of which took place after a break lasting 21 days,” said Kale. Kale spoke of how her students supported her. “I would sweat a lot. Wearing a wig was just not convenient for me. I would tie a bandana or a scarf, but even that did not help. Seeing my discomfort, my students said, ‘Miss tumhi bald pan khup sundar dista’ [Miss, you look beautiful even if you are bald right now].’ This was major encouragement,” the Marathi teacher said. She chose not to let the disease derail her passion for education. “Even today, I experience numbness in my feet. Her colleagues say her determination was evident from the very beginning, as she balanced medical appointments with classroom responsibilities, refusing to give up on the role she loved. Case Study 2Sheer willpower Shourya Uday Devrukhkar’s courageous battle against stage 4 neuroblastoma has emerged as a powerful story of resilience and hope. Diagnosed at a young age with the aggressive form of cancer, the teenager faced a long and physically exhausting journey marked by intense chemotherapy sessions, repeated hospital visits and prolonged periods of isolation from school and friends. “She got admitted to Sathaye College in the Science stream after scoring 82 per cent in SSC. Two months later, she was detected with cancer, and her life changed in the blink of an eye,” said her father, Uday Devrukhkar. Despite the severity of the illness, doctors and family members say it was her unwavering willpower that stood out the most. "Even during the toughest phases of treatment, she remained focused. Giving up was never an option for her," said Shraddha Devrukhkar, Shourya’s mother. The teenager underwent a total of 33 proton therapy sessions and eight chemotherapy sessions every other month. Her chemotherapy concluding in December last year. “Her right side is quite weak, and she is undergoing physiotherapy,” added Uday. While the road to full recovery remains long, her progress has brought renewed hope to her family and caregivers. “A cheerful, talkative girl otherwise, today she has become a total introvert and does not wish to even speak to her friends. But she is not giving up. She never says no to medical visits. That gives us strength and hope that she will return to her original self,” said Shraddha. Though this year, too, Shourya won’t be able attend classes, Uday said she continues to hope to pursue a career in the medical field.
04 February,2026 07:27 AM IST | Mumbai | Ritika GondhalekarDo you know what the stars hold for you in terms of love life, career, business and personal wellness today? Well, read on to know your astrological predictions as per your zodiac sign for February 4. Aries March 21 – April 20Those seeking a first job may have to move to another city, so carefully consider this possibility first. Cosmic tip: Keep people guessing. Don’t discuss your life or future plans with anyone. TaurusApril 21 – May 20A call waited for since morning finally comes in after lunch (with good news). Being able to deliver work as promised is the norm, not an exception.Cosmic tip: Network, to expand career/ business growth. GeminiMay 21 – June 21Carrying only as much money as is needed when stepping out for buying some items is wise thinking. Health is good.Cosmic tip: Keep life and situations in a proper perspective by living with awareness. Cancer June 22 – July 23You don’t know whether to believe the office grapevine buzzing with news of your promotion. Enjoy life wholeheartedly. Cosmic tip: Write down a list before packing for a trip, so nothing important is forgotten. Leo July 24 - Aug 23Renegotiating terms and conditions of the present job may not be possible as of now.Cosmic tip: Be mentally prepared for life to evolve in another manner, bringing in newer situations to deal with. Virgo Aug 24 – Sept 23Promoting your own interests should be in the forefront; others can look to their own welfare. Some matters require waiting and watching.Cosmic tip: Clearly verbalise what’s expected and what’s not. Libra Sept 24 – Oct 22Travel for leisure, work or business increases. Some may decide to buy property overseas to live in or even to develop.Cosmic tip: Maintain closeness with family (they are your pillars of strength). Scorpio Oct 23 – Nov 22Business/career move ahead slowly, but it’s obviously going in the right direction. A chance meeting with an old friend is enjoyable.Cosmic tip: Go with the flow of life. Sagittarius Nov 23 – Dec 22A karmic cycle that requires working longer hours begins. Accepting love back in life makes a big difference.Cosmic tip: Make happiness and contentment a part of daily life, counting your blessings. Capricorn Dec 23 – Jan 20Complete mundane everyday chores as quickly as possible. Obstacles to success disappear as surprisingly as they appeared. Cosmic tip: Deal with life through another perspective as circumstances alter. Aquarius Jan 21 – Feb 19Differences of opinion fade away slowly with a turning point in life. Let matters be. Cosmic tip: Listen to advice from well-meaning friends, even if you don’t follow it. Be open to another view-point. Pisces Feb 20 – March 20Working towards resolving a family property matter takes longer than expected since everyone has a different view of the matter.Cosmic tip: Think out the matter from all angles before giving you opinion.
04 February,2026 03:54 AM IST | Mumbai | Shirley BoseThe Bombay High Court has set up a high-powered committee (HPC) to recommend steps to curb and prevent air pollution in Mumbai and the wider metropolitan region. According to PTI, the committee will be chaired by Amjad Sayed, former Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court, with former Bombay High Court judge Anuja Prabhudessai as a member. Mandate and oversight role In an order dated January 29, the Bombay High Court said the HPC will oversee compliance with its directions on air pollution and examine weekly reports submitted by ward-level assistant municipal commissioners. A bench led by Bombay High Court Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar said the committee will make recommendations to civic bodies and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board on immediate, medium- and long-term measures to combat and prevent air pollution in Mumbai and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), which includes districts adjoining the financial capital. Expert inputs and focus on vulnerable groups The panel is empowered to seek inputs from technical and medical experts, including specialists in paediatric pulmonology, to address the impact of pollution on vulnerable groups such as infants and children, reported PTI. GRAP for Mumbai, Navi Mumbai As per PTI, the HPC will also advise on the formulation of a Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) specifically for Mumbai and Navi Mumbai, the court order said. The court has directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to pay each committee member an honorarium of Rs 1,00,000 per sitting. The BMC has also been instructed to provide full logistical support to the committee, including office space and a nodal officer. Any refusal by officials to assist the HPC will be treated as a breach of court orders and may invite contempt proceedings, the court warned. Timeline and background According to PTI, the committee is expected to meet weekly and submit its preliminary report to the court by March 5. On January 29, the court had observed that steps taken by authorities to tackle air pollution were “not sufficient and satisfactory”. The High Court had taken suo motu cognisance of rising air pollution levels in Mumbai and adjoining areas in October 2023. (With PTI inputs)
03 February,2026 10:45 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAn Air India and an IndiGo aircraft were involved in a minor accident on the taxiway at Mumbai airport on 3 February, officials said. No injuries were reported, and all passengers on both flights are safe. The incident occurred when Air India flight AI2732, scheduled to operate from Mumbai to Coimbatore, was taxiing from C1 towards M4 for departure. At the same time, an IndiGo flight 6E 791, arriving from Hyderabad, was taxiing after landing and joining taxiway B1. During this movement, the right wingtips of both aircraft came into contact. Both aircraft were taxiing at the time of the incident. Following the wingtip contact, both aircraft were returned to their respective bays for inspection. Air India said the wingtip of its aircraft was damaged and, as a precautionary measure, the aircraft has been grounded for technical checks. All passengers were safely disembarked, and alternative travel arrangements are being made. Air India says In a statement, an Air India spokesperson said the airline regretted the inconvenience caused and stressed that the safety of passengers and crew remains its highest priority. "Flight AI2732 operating from Mumbai to Coimbatore on 3 February was delayed after the aircraft scheduled to operate the service came into contact with another airline’s aircraft while waiting on the taxiway prior to take-off. The wingtips of the two aircraft made contact, resulting in damage to our aircraft’s wingtip. As a precautionary measure, the aircraft has been grounded for further technical checks. All passengers were safely disembarked, and our ground teams are making alternative arrangements to fly them to their destination at the earliest. The incident has been reported to the regulator. Air India regrets the inconvenience caused to passengers due to this event. The safety of our passengers and crew remains our highest priority," an Air India spokesperson said. Indigo says IndiGo also confirmed the incident, stating that the wingtip of its aircraft came into contact with another airline’s aircraft while taxiing after landing. The airline said all passengers were safe and disembarked after parking, and the aircraft is undergoing maintenance inspections. “We confirm that the wingtip of one of our aircraft operating flight 6E 791 from Hyderabad to Mumbai on 3 February 2026 came in contact with an aircraft of another airline while taxiing, after landing. All passengers are safe and disembarked after parking. The aircraft is undergoing maintenance inspections. In line with established protocols, the relevant authorities were promptly informed and the matter is being investigated. At IndiGo, the safety and security of our customers, crew and aircraft remain our highest priority,” an IndiGo spokesperson said. Regulator Informed, Probe Underway Officials said the incident has been reported to the aviation regulator. DGCA officers in Mumbai reached the site shortly after the incident, and a detailed investigation is underway. Further information is expected.
03 February,2026 10:37 PM IST | Mumbai | Madhulika Ram KavatturFormer Mumbai mayor and Shiv Sena (UBT) elected corporator from Lower Parel, Kishori Pednekar, is likely to take charge as the Leader of the Opposition in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), according to information from the office of the municipal secretary. The development comes after the completion of party-wise registration of corporators following the recent elections. Apart from the Shiv Sena led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, all political parties had completed their party-wise registrations earlier. However, the 29 corporators of the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) have now also completed their registration process. On Tuesday, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Nationalist Congress Party (SP) completed the registration of their four corporators at Konkan Bhavan. With this, all 227 corporators have completed their registrations with the Mumbai civic body, the office of the municipal secretary confirmed. Leadership roles finalised The Leader of the House from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will be Ganesh Khankar, as the BJP has emerged as the single largest party in the BMC. Both Ganesh Khankar and Kishori Pednekar are expected to hold their respective positions for a five-year tenure, unless their parties decide otherwise during the term, sources said. BJP appoints Khankar as group leader; Shiv Sena appoints Amey Ghole Meanwhile, the BJP on Monday appointed Ward 7 (Dahisar) corporator Ganesh Khankar as their party leader in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Apart from BJP, Shiv Sena has also appointed Amey Ghole as their leader in BMC. Ghole, during the recently concluded BMC elections, was elected as a corporator from ward 178, Matunga. BJP emerges as the single largest party in BMC elections 2026. The appointment of Ganesh Khankar comes after the BJP emerged as the single largest party in the recently concluded BMC elections 2026, winning 89 corporator seats. The announcement was made at the BMC headquarters during a formal meeting where both the BJP and the Shiv Sena registered their elected representatives. Shiv Sena’s Ghole offers administrative experience Amey Ghole, a two-time corporator from Shiv Sena, brings significant administrative and political experience to the role. During his previous tenure in the BMC, when he was part of the undivided Shiv Sena, he served as the chairman of the civic body’s Health Committee, where he also played an important role in shaping public health initiatives. Amey Ghole also holds the position of general secretary of the Yuva Sena, the party’s youth wing, and is known for his strong connection with grassroots workers and young party cadres in Mumbai and Maharashtra.
03 February,2026 10:08 PM IST | Mumbai | Eshanpriya MSADVERTISEMENT
