Do 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 April 20. Aries March 21 – April 20Expenses just seem to creep out of the woodwork. Do have faith in intuition. Cosmic tip: Don’t be in too much of a rush to give a commitment if you’ve just met someone new. Taurus April 21 – May 20Consider the offer of a transfer in a practical manner. Positive thoughts attract what’s truly needed in your life. Wear the colour purple today if possible.Cosmic tip: Maintain these disciplined habits you’ve inculcated. GeminiMay 21 – June 21Study the financial fund before investing in for the long-term. Retail therapy is enjoyable, but stay within the budget.Cosmic tip: Don’t react impulsively as you may repent it for a long time afterwards. Cancer June 22 – July 23Karmic lessons learnt have been slightly harsh, but you’ve come through with flying colours. Writers enter a karmic cycle of acclaim.Cosmic tip: Analyze past mistakes, learning from them and not repeating them again. Leo July 24 - Aug 23Those appearing for an interview are in perfect sync with the interviewer. Friends are expected at home in the evening, so completing work quickly is important.Cosmic tip: Don’t ignore body signals if feeling unwell. Virgo Aug 24 – Sept 23Spend time alone and in quietness to nurture high energy needed for your work. Working long hours can’t be helped.Cosmic tip: Enjoy the professional competition (there will always be someone trying to compete). Libra Sept 24 – Oct 22Stay within legal norms if self-employed to have business run in a streamlined manner. Do maintain a healthy diet.Cosmic tip: Be on your guard before signing a contract. Understand the fine print carefully. Scorpio Oct 23 – Nov 22A slow karmic cycle limps along, taking as much time as it feels like. Be patient.Cosmic tip: Tone down your attitude, especially with family (you can be forcefully blunt, even rude at times). Sagittarius Nov 23 – Dec 22A karmic cycle of making friends begins. A part of life had been put on hold for quite a while. Now it’s time for it to move forward.Cosmic tip: Don’t doubt your capabilities. Capricorn Dec 23 – Jan 20A new project is just the kind of work you enjoy. Make good use of this new insight or burst of creativity.Cosmic tip: Good naturedly connect with extended family living in far-off lands. Aquarius Jan 21 – Feb 19Sometimes cutting your losses and moving on is the wisest decision to take and follow through.Cosmic tip: Be good to family as they are your fellow karmic travellers on this earthly plans. Pisces Feb 20 – March 20Unofficial news of a raise in salary perks up spirits, (keep it to yourself for now). Those starting a new business could advertise through Facebook/ other internet groups.Cosmic tip: Enjoy work related travel.
20 April,2024 12:02 AM IST | Mumbai | Shirley BoseThe Maharashtra Congress on Friday sought to counter Prime Minister Narendra Modi's assertion that no development took place in the country under governments headed by the grand old party and called such a viewpoint false and politically motivated, reported the PTI. In a statement, Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole said that successive Congress governments did "magnificent" work in various fields for 60 years, according to the PTI. Nana Patole's remarks came after PM Modi addressed a Lok Sabha elections 2024 rally in Wardha in the Vidarbha region in Maharashtra and criticised the Congress on various issues, as per the PTI. PM Modi reportedly said at the rally, "Before 2014, there was a perception that nothing good can happen in the country. There was despair all around, especially among the poor, farmers, women. A poor man's son (referring to himself) has worshipped those who had been left out (of development) race. Now, the country is filled with self-confidence," the news agency reported on Friday. Nana Patole said that the Congress took forward the agenda of development whenever it was in power. "This (no development under Congress rule argument) is completely false and politically motivated. In fact, it was Congress governments that did magnificent development work in various fields for 60 years," said Nana Patole, reported the PTI. The public sector was put on a strong footing under the Congress rule, Nana Patole asserted. "It were Congress governments that set up public sector institutions. State-run institutions sold in the last 10 years (under BJP-led NDA's rule) were established by Congress governments. PM Modi's statement that everything happened in the country after 2014 was misleading," he said. In his speech, PM Modi made baseless accusations against the Congress, party MP Rahul Gandhi and the opposition INDIA alliance, Nana Patole said, as per the PTI. The BJP, which "insults" Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, (social reformers) Mahatma Phule, Shahu Maharaj and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, has no right to take the name of these luminaries. Shivaji Maharaj's name is being taken only to seek votes, he maintained. In December 2016, 'jal pujan' (water worship) ceremony was held in Mumbai to build a grand memorial of Shivaji Maharaj in the Arabian Sea, but till date not a single brick of the structure has been laid, said the Congress MLA. "There is a feeling among people of being cheated by PM Modi. No matter how much the Prime Minister emphasises on the Modi guarantee, people do not believe in it," Nana Patole added. (with PTI inputs)
19 April,2024 09:59 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Friday announced that there will be a 100 per cent water cut in parts of Goregaon east on April 23 due to planned repair works. According to an official statement, the BMC said that the residents of Goregaon (East) in Mumbai's P South and P East wards are advised to brace themselves for a complete water cut from 10:00 am on Tuesday, 23rd April 2024, to 10:00 am on Wednesday, 24th April 2024. The civic body said that the 24-hour water cut is necessitated by the replacement of a 600 mm diameter water pipe with a 900 mm diameter water line at the Virwani Industrial Estate, Western Expressway. The BMC also shared the complete list of the areas that would be affected. Areas that would face a 100 per cent water cut: 1. P South Ward - Vit Bhatti, Koyana Colony, Squatter's Colony, Sharma Estate, Cama Industrial Estate, Rohidas Nagar & Santosh Nagar etc. (Tuesday, 23rd April 2024) 2. P East Ward - Datta Mandir Road, Daftari Road, Khot Kuwa Road, Khot Dongari, Makrani Pada and Haji Bapsu Road, Tanaji Nagar, Kurar Village, Raheja Complex, Sai Baba Mandir, Vasant Valley & Koyana Colony (Tuesday, 23rd April 2024) 3. R South Ward - Bandongari, Kandivali (East) (Tuesday, 23rd April 2024) 4. P South Ward - Pandurang Wadi, Gokuldham, Jayprakash Nagar, Naikwadi, Gogatewadi, Kanyapada, Koyana Colony , I. B. Patel Road, Yashodham ,Santosh Nagar, Vishweshwar Road, Pravasi Industrial Estate, Rajiv Gandhi Nagar, Aarey Road & Shreyas Colony etc. (Wednesday, 24th April 2024) 5. P East Ward - Pimpri Pada, Pal Nagar, Sanjay Nagar, M.H.B. Colony, Islamiya Bazar, Janu Compound, Shantaram Talav, Omkar Layout, Chitravani, Swapnapurti, Gharkul, Gokuldham, Yashodham, Suchidham, Dindoshi Depot, A. K. Vaidya Road, Makrani Pada, Rani Sati Road (Wednesday, 24th April 2024) The BMC urged the residents of the affected areas to use water judiciously during the period and make necessary arrangements to mitigate the inconvenience caused by the water cut, the statement said on Friday. Meanwhile, the BMC has so far removed 5,895 metric tons of water hyacinth, a free floating perennial herb found at the surface of water bodies, from the Powai lake in Mumbai, the civic body said. The removal of these plants will help in protecting the lake's biodiversity along with enhancing its natural richness, the BMC said in a release on Wednesday. The BMC said it has cleared 23 per cent of the total 123 acres of water hyacinth-infected area of the lake, built during the British era.
19 April,2024 08:44 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe United Arab Emirates' (UAE) major transit hub, Dubai International Airport, faced significant disruptions due to unprecedented flooding recently, leading to flight cancellations and operational challenges. The CEO of Dubai Airports expressed optimism, stating that services are expected to return "close to normality" within 24 hours. The CEO of Dubai Airports said Friday in a media statement said that he expects services to return "close to normality" within 24 hours after the major transit hub was hit by unprecedented flooding. In response to the situation, Air India announced the cancellation of its flights to and from Dubai for the day, citing ongoing operational disruptions at the airport. The airline is planning to resume its flights from Saturday, April 20, informed a spokesperson from the Air India. “Air India regrets to inform cancellation of its flights to and from Dubai due to continued operational disruptions at Dubai Airport, for today (April 19). We are doing our best to get affected customers on their way by re-accommodating them on flights as soon as operations resume. Customers booked on our flights with valid tickets for travel till 21st April 2024 will be offered a one-time waiver on rescheduling and full refunds for cancellation,” the airlines said in an official statement.
19 April,2024 08:06 PM IST | Mumbai | Prasun ChoudhariA fire broke out at a factory manufacturing plastic products in Maharashtra's Thane district on Friday afternoon, officials said, reported the PTI. The officials said that no one was injured in the incident. The blaze erupted around 3 pm at the factory in Kalam village on the Mumbai-Agra road in Shahapur taluka, a police official said. The firefighting operations were underway, and water tankers were pressed into service, said an official with the district disaster management cell. According to officials, smoke bellowed in the area, and the flames could be seen from a long distance. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, they said. Meanwhile, a major fire broke out at a godown in the Reay Road area of Mumbai on Thursday. There was no report of injury to anyone in the blaze, the civic body said. The fire erupted at the Devidayal Compound in Darukhana locality on Reay Road at around 10.40 am, the BMC said. "The fire was confined to a single storey godown," the civic body said. Twelve fire engines and other fire brigade vehicles were rushed to the spot, the BMC said. Local civic ward staff, Mumbai Police, Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) personnel and ambulance had also reached the spot. The fire was extinguished at around 5:20 pm, the officials said. The cause of the fire was yet to be known, they said. In an another incident, three people were injured after a parapet of a building in Fort area of south Mumbai collapsed on Friday afternoon, the civic officials said. According to the officials, the incident of parapet of a balcony collapse was reported at Wadia Building located on M G Road, near the Bombay High Court in Fort area of Mumbai. The information regarding the parapet collapse incident was reported to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) at around 12:52 pm on Friday. After the information was received by the BMC, the civic officials and the Mumbai Fire Brigade rushed to the spot to launch a rescue and relief operation. According to the civic body, the parapet of the terrace of a ground-plus-upper-two-floored structure collapsed on Friday afternoon, resulting in injuries to three individuals. "The building was reportedly undergoing demolition work at the time of the incident. The authorities have cordon off the area temporarily," an official said. (with PTI inputs)
19 April,2024 07:12 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentThe Western Railway, while sharing Mumbai local train updates, on Friday said that it will carry out a jumbo block of five hours between Borivali and Goregaon on Sunday. The Western Railway, in an official statement said, to carry out maintenance work of tracks, signalling and overhead equipment, a Jumbo Block of five hours from 10.00 hrs to 15.00 hrs between Borivali and Goregaon will be taken on UP and DOWN Slow lines on Sunday, 21st April, 2024. According to a press release issued by Sumit Thakur, Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, during the block period, all UP and DOWN Slow line trains will be operated on UP and DOWN Fast line between Borivali and Goregaon Stations. "Some UP and DOWN suburban services will remain cancelled and some Andheri and Borivali trains will be worked up to Goregaon on Harbour line," the Western Railway said on Friday. During the block period, no trains will be operated from Platform No. 01, 02, 03 and 04 at Borivali station. Detailed information to this effect is available with concerned station masters. The list of cancelled trains will be available in station master’s office. Passengers are requested to please take note of the above arrangements, the Western Railway said. Western Railway achieves record scrap sale Meanwhile, in an another statement, the Western Railway said that it is committed to make all its railway establishments and units, scrap free under the “Mission Zero Scrap”. It had launched a massive drive of scrap identification, mobilization and sale of scrap lying on various railway premises over its jurisdiction. Continuing in this direction, the Western Railway has achieved total scrap sale of Rs. 469.27 crore in the financial year 2023-24. According to a press release issued by Sumit Thakur – Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, in the past six years, Western Railway has been consistently selling scrap of approx. Rs 500 crores which have helped in the monetization of blocked funds and consequent revenue generation. Going ahead in the direction towards the “Zero Scrap Mission”, in the financial year 2023-24 also Western Railway has sold scrap worth Rs. 469.27 crores. Western Railway has also achieved first position in the procurement of Goods and Services through GeM among all Zonal Railways with a cumulative purchase value of over Rs. 885 crore till March 2024, the statement said.
19 April,2024 06:27 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe police have registered a case against the owner of an event management company in Mumbai after one of its employees accused her of caste discrimination at workplace, an official said on Friday, reported news agency PTI. The 23-year-old complainant told the police that the owner of the company, located in Goregaon area, passed a snide remark showing caste discrimination on April 14, the birth anniversary of Dalit icon Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. The man received a WhatsApp message from his employer that day asking him whether he belonged to the SC (Scheduled Castes) community, the official said citing the complaint, reported PTI. When the man replied in the affirmative, the company owner said she didn't employ people from the "backward" community, he said. In the WhatsApp exchange, the employer said "main Jai Bhim wale ko job pe nahi rakhti (I don't employ Dalits)," the complainant alleged, reported PTI. The man, who had joined the company as a marketing executive, informed his parents about the experience and then approached the Goregaon police station with a complaint, the official said, reported PTI. Acting on the complaint, a case was registered against the company owner under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, and the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955, the official said, reported PTI. As the man lives in the Vokola area, the case was transferred to the Vakola police station for further investigation, the official said, reported PTI. Meanwhile, a purported screenshot of the WhatsApp exchange between the man and his employer went viral on social media. In another case, a 47-year-old man from Navi Mumbai was allegedly duped of Rs 46 lakh by fraudsters posing as officials from the Mumbai cyber police, who threatened to register a case of money laundering and drugs against him, police said on Friday, reported PTI. The police on Thursday registered a case under section 420 (cheating) and other relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code and Information Technology Act against four persons, an official said, reported PTI. As per the complaint, the accused allegedly posed as officials of the Mumbai cyber police and contacted the victim, a resident of Nerul, on WhatsApp, claiming that they had received a complaint of money laundering and drugs against him, he said, reported PTI. The accused demanded money from the complainant to avoid a police case, and he transferred Rs 46 lakh to different bank accounts between April 10 and 15, the official said, reported PTI. No arrests have been made so far, and a probe has been initiated, he said. (With inputs from PTI)
19 April,2024 06:00 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA massive fire broke out in a Phoenix mall in Pune city of Maharashtra, officials said on Friday. The fire broke out at the mall located on Ahmednagar road in Pune, the ANI reported. Maharashtra | Fire breaks out in a shopping mall located on Ahmednagar road in Pune. 6 fire tenders rushed to the spot, says Pune Fire Department PRO.(Video source: Pune Fire Department) pic.twitter.com/UqdUfucmgv — ANI (@ANI) April 19, 2024 "6 fire tenders rushed to the spot," Pune Fire Department PRO said, according to the ANI. Meanwhile, in an another incident, a fire broke out at a factory manufacturing plastic products in Maharashtra's Thane district on Friday afternoon, officials said, reported the PTI. The officials said that no one was injured in the incident. The blaze erupted around 3 pm at the factory in Kalam village on the Mumbai-Agra road in Shahapur taluka, a police official said. The firefighting operations were underway, and water tankers were pressed into service, said an official with the district disaster management cell. According to officials, smoke bellowed in the area, and the flames could be seen from a long distance. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, they said. Meanwhile, a major fire broke out at a godown in the Reay Road area of Mumbai on Thursday. There was no report of injury to anyone in the blaze, the civic body said. The fire erupted at the Devidayal Compound in Darukhana locality on Reay Road at around 10.40 am, the BMC said. "The fire was confined to a single storey godown," the civic body said. Twelve fire engines and other fire brigade vehicles were rushed to the spot, the BMC said. Local civic ward staff, Mumbai Police, Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) personnel and ambulance had also reached the spot. The fire was extinguished at around 5:20 pm, the officials said. The cause of the fire was yet to be known, they said. In an another incident, three people were injured after a parapet of a building in Fort area of south Mumbai collapsed on Friday afternoon, the civic officials said. (with PTI and ANI inputs)
19 April,2024 05:19 PM IST | Pune | mid-day online correspondentMaharashtra Minister and Ajit Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader, Chhagan Bhujbal, who was eyeing to contest as Mahayuti candidate in the Lok Sabha elections 2024, has withdrawn from the race on Friday over the delay in the announcement of the candidate for the Nashik seat, reported news agency PTI. "I am withdrawing from this fight. It's taking longer. Only discussion is going on. I am withdrawing from contesting the Lok Sabha elections," Bhujbal said while addressing a press conference on Friday. Bhujbal claimed that he was told by NCP leaders Ajit Pawar and Praful Patel that Union Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah has suggested his name for the Nashik seat, reported PTI. "On the day of Holi festival, Ajit Pawar and Praful Patel called me and said that when Nashik seat was discussed in the meeting, Amit Shah said that Chhagan Bhujbal will contest from Nashik seat, though Sameer Bhujbal's name was also raised," the NCP leader said. He further alleged that the naming the candidate for the Nashik seat was taking longer despite "having the circumstances," while urging the party to announce the candidate for the seat soon. "When I went to Nashik, I received support from everyone, including the OBC, Marathas and ST communities. I called Devendra Fadnavis and asked him to give the candidature to Sameer Bhujbal from Nashik. Devendra Fadnavis also said that you will have to contest the elections. The Centre, which is Amit Shah and the Prime Minister also expressed the same wish. Despite these circumstances, the seat has not been announced yet," he said. "The issue regarding Nashik seat has not been cleared yet. The MVA declared its candidates three weeks ago and started campaigning. The more time we take the more loss we will face. Therefore, this deadlock had to be broken...I decided that I did not want to be part of this fight...I have decided that I will not be the candidate (from Nashik)...," Bhujbal said, reported PTI. The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) has fielded Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Rajabhau Waze from Nashik, while a dispute over the seat has been going on among the alliance partners of the ruling coalition, Mahayuti, which includes the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Shiv Sena-Shinde faction and Ajit Pawar's NCP. Reportedly, the Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the NCP have both staked claims over the seat, which is still undecided. The voting in Nashik will be held on May 20 in the fifth phase. Meanwhile, Maharashtra, which has 48 seats in the 543-member Lok Sabha, is polling in five seats today. The polling is held in Chandrapur, Bhandara-Gondiya, Gadchiroli-Chimur, Ramtek and Nagpur on Friday. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP won 23 out of 25 seats it contested in alliance with the undivided Shiv Sena. Elections to the 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra will be held in five phases. The counting of votes will be held on June 4. (With inputs from ANI)
19 April,2024 05:09 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAtleast three people were injured after a parapet of a building in Fort area of south Mumbai collapsed on Friday afternoon, the civic officials said. According to the officials, the incident of parapet of a balcony collapse was reported at Wadia Building located on M G Road, near the Bombay High Court in Fort area of Mumbai. The information regarding the parapet collapse incident was reported to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) at around 12:52 pm on Friday. After the information was received by the BMC, the civic officials and the Mumbai Fire Brigade rushed to the spot to launch a rescue and relief operation. According to the civic body, the parapet of the terrace of a ground-plus-upper-two-floored structure collapsed on Friday afternoon, resulting in injuries to three individuals. "The building was reportedly undergoing demolition work at the time of the incident. The authorities have cordon off the area temporarily," an official said. The officials said that the emergency response agencies including the BMC's Mumbai Fire Brigade, Mumbai Police personnel, 108 Ambulance services, and the local BMC ward staff were mobilized to the spot for rescue and relief operations. The BMC said that one of the injured individuals, identified as Sanjay Singh (48) received treatment. The condition of the other two injured individuals were reported to be stable, and they refused hospitalisation. Major fire breaks out in godown at Reay Road Meanwhile, in an another incident, a major fire broke out at a godown in the Reay Road area of Mumbai on Thursday. There was no report of injury to anyone in the blaze, the civic body said. The fire erupted at the Devidayal Compound in Darukhana locality on Reay Road at around 10.40 am, the BMC said. "The fire was confined to a single storey godown," the civic body said. Twelve fire engines and other fire brigade vehicles were rushed to the spot, the BMC said. Local civic ward staff, Mumbai Police, Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) personnel and ambulance had also reached the spot. The fire was extinguished at around 5:20 pm, the officials said. The cause of the fire was yet to be known, they said.
19 April,2024 04:15 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Despite promises of redevelopment, the residents of Santacruz’s Khotwadi are stuck in dire circumstances. The builder Transcon Iconic Pvt. Ltd. (previously known as Sanjay Construction and Finance Pvt. Ltd.) has failed to provide rent for homes and commercial spaces for the last six years, informs a Khotwadi resident Kunal Gupta (35). He is currently residing in Virar while he awaits the allotment of his house in the redeveloped society. The project, spearheaded by Aditya Kedia and Kirti Kedia of Transcon Developers, aimed to uplift the living standards of residents through modernisation and revitalisation efforts, Gupta tells Midday. However, the prolonged delay in providing compensation has left many families in financial straits, with no respite in sight. Like Gupta, several residents have been residing in different parts of the city as they are yet to be allotted housing in Sai Durga Cooperative Housing Society. Not only this, they have not received the due rent for their homes and commercial spaces for the past six years. How the community crisis unfolded 2005: Developer Transcon Iconic proposed a slum redevelopment program for Khotwadi situated near Milan International Hotel, Santacruz West. 2011: The slum was registered under Sai Durga SRA CHS Ltd. and the developers received an allowance to redevelop it. The directors of the company include Aditya Kedia, Kiriti Kedia, Rishi Todi and Irfan Sheikh.When this newspaper reached out to developer Aditya Kedia, he disassociated himself from the builder company by quoting “I am no longer a part of this project since 2023.” 2016: Resident Shrikant Morye (36) tells Midday, “In 2016, Kedia asked us to vacate the plot by promising that he would start the redevelopment and pay us rent.” Following this 250 slum dwellers agreed to the development of a 300 sq. ft room in a span of 2 years. 2018: The entire plot was vacated by the members of the society in 2018. However, promises made by the developers remain unfulfilled. 2024: For the past six years leading up to 2024, the slum members have been deprived of their transit rent which now amounts to Rs 16 crore. In response, Satish Lokhande, the CEO of the SRA Authority has blacklisted 150 SRA developers in Mumbai, including Transcon Iconica, which was added to the list in 2022. Also Read: Why is it so tough to find rental accommodation in Mumbai? Bureaucracy hand in glove with developers? Resident Sachin Naik (39) who currently resides in Vile Parle tells Midday, “Though the slum redevelopment of the Khotwadi is near completion - the construction of the rear building remains incomplete. Not only this, the developer has constructed smaller (269 sq. ft) rooms in Wings “A to F” as opposed to the promised figure of 300 sq. ft.” Additionally, the developers have also illegally constructed 50 more houses on the land without obtaining the consent of the residents, adds Naik. Disappointed with false claims, several complaints regarding various irregularities like inordinate delay in the construction of rehab buildings, non-payment of rent and unauthorised construction work beyond approval in the building were lodged by complainants Sheri Pradeep Tiwari, Shri Pradeep Laxman Singh Thakur and advocate Himanshu Satija. They have been constantly pursuing SRA and various offices at the government level to take action against the developers. Several tenants reached out to Lokhande for illegal construction. In response, the SRA office had called for an explanation from the developers from time to time. Additionally, a ‘Stop Work Notice’ was issued to the developers by the Slum Rehabilitation Authority. The developers had been informed about the illegal construction for the 2nd and 3rd floor of the sale wing and were directed to pull back the unauthorised work. Despite the notice, the developer failed to restore the property, informs Gupta. Residents are of the opinion that bureaucracy has been siding with the developers. “Despite multiple complaints, nothing changed. CEO Lokhande is working in the developer’s favour,” said Morye in a telephonic conversation. The residents have approached 50-60 officials at SRA but have received no redressal for their issues. At the time of publishing this story, this newspaper reached out to the CEO of SRA via telephone and email but received no response. However, SRA has granted permission to prosecute the developer under the Monopolistic and Restrictive Trade Practices Legislation (MRTP) Act, 1966 by lodging an FIR against them for non-compliance with instructions given in the notice, as per Pratap Mirchandani (SRA). Additionally, SRA has approved informing Designated Officer and Executive Engineer, BMC to initiate demolition of the illegal construction, according to the MRTP letter to Designation Officer HW Ward. Also Read: Mumbai housing dilemma: To buy or rent? Expert advice inside No respite in sight The hearing on the case has been going on for the last eight months. Non-payment of transit rent to slum members continues. Additionally, several corruption complaints remain pending, with no final orders issued yet, informs Gupta. Amidst the ongoing hearing and issuance of stop-work notices, the SRA Authority has granted permission for the conversion of a 36-flat wing in the rehab building into a sales shop. Over the past month, members have vehemently opposed this illegal action by the developer. However, the developer has resorted to seeking assistance from Santacruz police to suppress the voices of the impoverished slum dwellers, informs Morye. False complaints have been filed against members who are opposing the illegal acts of the developer and the SRA Authority, prompting swift action by the police. Residents express deep concern over the lack of response from Transcon Developers regarding their outstanding rent payments. Despite numerous attempts to communicate with the developers, their pleas have fallen on deaf ears. Moreover, there have been reports of intimidation tactics employed by the builders' representatives, adding to the residents' distress. "People are really in pain as the builder has not given them rent for their homes and commercial spaces for the past six years. This situation has put our lives at stake. We trusted the promises made by Transcon Developers, but now we are left struggling to make ends meet," shares a resident who wished to remain anonymous. The plight of Khotwadi residents highlights the urgent need for accountability and transparency in redevelopment projects. The community urges Transcon Developers to fulfil their obligations promptly and provide the necessary support to ensure a smooth transition for all residents. Residents are also appealing to the government for immediate action and assistance in resolving this matter and safeguarding their rights. Also Read: Mumbai: Builder ignores MahaRERA order, rents flat to 3rd party
19 April,2024 02:42 PM IST | Mumbai | Ainie RizviADVERTISEMENT
