The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Tuesday said that it provided additional facilities for the smooth immersion of Lord Ganesh idols during the Maghi Ganeshotsav 2025. In an official statement, the BMC said that it deepened artificial lakes at various locations. The routes for the immersion processions were planned in coordination with the police administration. The BMC has requested all public Ganeshotsav mandals and devotees to immerse the idols in the artificial lakes provided by the corporation, following the directions from the High Court and the guidelines issued by the Central Pollution Control Board. It said that for the Maghi Ganeshotsav, the BMC made several arrangements, keeping in mind the demands of local public organisations and citizens. The scope of these services and facilities has been expanded accordingly. Ahead of the festival, the BMC had on January 6, 2025, issued a circular regarding the Maghi Ganeshotsav. The circular made it clear that public Ganesh mandals must not install idols made of Plaster of Paris (PoP). It stated that all home Ganesh idols should be made from eco-friendly materials. The circular instructed that all idols should be immersed either in the home premises or in the artificial lakes provided by the BMC. The Maghi Ganeshotsav began on February 1, 2025. Following the Bombay High Court’s orders, the public Ganesh mandals gave an assurance to the BMC that they would adhere to the guidelines set by the Central Pollution Control Board. Based on this, the BMC granted permission for the installation of the idols after thorough examination of the applications. However, some public Ganesh mandals raised concerns about immersing the idols in artificial lakes, arguing that the idols were too large, and the capacity of the artificial lakes would not be sufficient for proper immersion. In response, the BMC enhanced the facilities, particularly increasing the number and depth of artificial lakes at various locations to accommodate the large idols, statement said. The BMC said that the following arrangements were made: - At the artificial lake in Sanjay Gandhi National Park, idols up to 15 feet tall could be immersed. - At Dahisar Sports Foundation, idols up to 6 feet tall can be immersed. - In Kandivali (East), at Maharana Pratap Udyan, idols up to 6 feet tall could be immersed. - At Kadamwadi Ground, an artificial lake has been made for idols up to 19 feet tall.
11 February,2025 05:17 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIn a significant decision, the Maharashtra cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, approved the revised administrative sanction of ₹2,599.15 crore for the Deharji Medium Irrigation Project in Palghar district. The project, located in Mouje Suksale, Vikramgad taluka, is being developed as a water supply initiative, with financial backing from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA). An agreement between MMRDA and the Konkan Irrigation Development Corporation was signed on 23rd September 2022 to execute the project. The Deharji Dam, with a capacity of 95.60 million cubic meters, is a composite dam structure incorporating earthen and masonry elements. It is designed to allocate 69.42 million cubic meters of water for drinking purposes in the Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation area. Additionally, the project will cater to other areas under MMRDA, benefitting approximately 4 million residents. The initial administrative sanction for this project was granted in 2019 for ₹1,443.72 crore. However, considering increased costs and infrastructure needs, the cabinet has now approved a second administrative revision, raising the budget to ₹2,599.15 crore. The additional funding and completion of the project within the next three years will be MMRDA’s responsibility. The Maharashtra cabinet has sanctioned ₹438.47 crore for converting the open canals of the Janai-Shirsai Lift Irrigation Scheme into a closed pipeline distribution system. This scheme, benefiting farmers in the drought-prone talukas of Daund, Baramati, and Purandar in Pune district, is managed by the Maharashtra Krishna Valley Development Corporation. The scheme currently draws water from the Khadakwasla project, but its open canals suffer from significant water loss due to seepage in the hilly, porous terrain. These canals, constructed over 25 years ago, have deteriorated due to lack of sufficient water flow. Consequently, more than 40 villages in the region face acute water shortages, prompting farmers and local representatives to demand a transition to a closed pipeline system. The initial plan required the acquisition of 415.505 hectares of land for canal and distribution infrastructure. However, with the adoption of a closed pipeline system, land acquisition will no longer be necessary. Additionally, this transformation will prevent the evaporation and leakage of 1.06 TMC (thousand million cubic feet) of water. Once completed, the Janai Lift Irrigation Scheme will provide irrigation for 8,350 hectares in Daund, Baramati, and Purandar, while the Shirsai Lift Irrigation Scheme will supply water to 5,730 hectares in Baramati and Purandar. Considering these benefits, the cabinet has granted financial approval of ₹438.47 crore for implementing the closed pipeline system. Amendments to Maharashtra Disaster Management Authority Rules 2019 The Maharashtra cabinet has approved amendments to the Maharashtra Disaster Management Authority Rules, 2019, revising the structure of the authority. As per the amendments, the Chief Minister will serve as the ex-officio Chairperson, while the Deputy Chief Minister will be an ex-officio member. The authority will now consist of nine members, including ministers nominated by the Chief Minister. Additionally, experts with experience in disaster risk reduction will be appointed as non-official members. Previously, the authority’s composition included the Chief Minister as the ex-officio Chairperson, with the ministers of Revenue, Finance, Home, Relief and Rehabilitation, and Public Health serving as ex-officio members. The authority also included three non-official members with expertise in disaster risk management, nominated by the Chairperson. Furthermore, the Chairperson of the State Executive Committee also held an ex-officio position as Chief Executive Officer. With these amendments, the authority aims to enhance disaster preparedness and risk management by incorporating domain experts and refining administrative oversight.
11 February,2025 04:56 PM IST | MumbaiA team of Mumbai Police has arrived at the residence of YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia in connection with the ongoing controversy surrounding his remarks on the YouTube show India’s Got Latent, ANI reports. The visit by law enforcement follows a formal complaint lodged against Allahbadia and other individuals associated with the show. The controversy has ignited significant backlash, with growing calls for legal action and demands for a complete ban on the programme. On Monday, a lawyer officially filed a complaint against Allahbadia, comedian and show host Samay Raina, influencer Apoorva Makhija, and the organisers of India’s Got Latent. According to Mumbai Police sources, the complaint alleges that inappropriate and offensive language was used during an episode, sparking outrage among viewers. The controversy erupted when Allahbadia, widely known for his YouTube channel BeerBiceps, made what has been described as offensive remarks during a recent episode. ANI reports that his comments drew widespread criticism, prompting a strong response from various industry bodies, including the All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA). In a strongly worded statement, AICWA condemned Allahbadia’s remarks, branding them "abhorrent" and "disrespectful" to societal and family values. The association demanded immediate and stringent action against those involved in the show. As per ANI, AICWA’s official statement read: "The All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) vehemently condemns the reprehensible and offensive remarks made on the YouTube show India’s Got Latent. Such disgraceful content is utterly unacceptable and poses a significant threat to the moral fabric of our society." The organisation further called for a complete ban on the show and urged the film and entertainment industry to sever ties with those associated with it. "We call upon all actors, filmmakers, directors, and technicians to immediately cease any collaboration with individuals involved in this show, including host Samay Raina and Ranveer Allahbadia," AICWA added. Following the growing outrage, Allahbadia issued a public apology via a video shared on his X account. ANI reports that he acknowledged the inappropriateness of his comments, admitting they were neither appropriate nor humorous. "My comment wasn’t just inappropriate, it wasn’t even funny. Comedy is not my forte, I am just here to say sorry," Allahbadia stated in his apology. The YouTuber also addressed concerns about his influence on younger audiences, vowing to exercise greater responsibility when using his platform. "Family is the last thing that I would ever disrespect," he added. Furthermore, Allahbadia revealed that he had requested the producers of India’s Got Latent to remove the contentious sections from the episode in which his remarks were made. "I have asked the makers of the video to remove the insensitive sections from the video. All I can say in the end is sorry, I hope you can forgive me as a human being," he concluded. In addition to AICWA’s condemnation, a formal complaint has been submitted to the Mumbai Commissioner and the Maharashtra Women’s Commission. The complaint alleges that the show deliberately used abusive language and made obscene remarks about women to garner viewership and financial gain through online broadcasts. (With inputs from ANI)
11 February,2025 04:40 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Bombay High Court has allowed the Adani Group to cut 209 mangroves for the construction of a high-voltage transmission line proposed to increase electricity supply in Mumbai on the grounds that it was a project of public importance, news agency PTI reported.The electricity transmission line construction project is critical for Mumbai as the existing capacity of the transmission corridor is not sufficient to carry any further power into the city, a division bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Bharati Dangre said in its order on February 6.The court allowed a petition filed by Adani Electricity Mumbai Infra Limited, seeking permission to cut the 209 mangroves located near Vasai creek for setting up a High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) link between two of its transmission substations, PTI reported.The project involves an 80-kilometre stretch, of which 30 km would be overhead transmission lines while the remaining 50 km would be underground cable in the mangrove area. The HVDC lines would pass through Mumbai, Thane and Palghar districts.As per the petitioner company, only one kilometre of the HVDC passes through the mangrove areas, PTI reported.The bench stated in its order that a balance must be struck between the need for sustainable development and the requirement to maintain the environment."The HVDC project would enable additional power to be supplied to Mumbai and suburbs and shall meet the ever increasing energy demands of the city," the court said."Considering the public importance of the proposed project, which shall benefit the electricity consumers in the city of Mumbai and its suburbs and which will lead to a potential growth, we deem it appropriate to confer the desired permission," it further observed.As per a 2018 order of the high court, there exists a "total freeze" on the destruction of mangroves across the state. As per the order, it is mandatory to seek permission from the HC each time an authority wishes to fell mangroves for any public project.The court noted that as per the transmission license, Adani was required to commission the project by March, and has received all necessary statutory permissions to cut the mangroves. (With PTI inputs)
11 February,2025 04:35 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMaharashtra Minister Dhananjay Munde remained absent from the cabinet meeting on Tuesday due to medical reasons following eye surgery, reported the PTI. As per an official statement, doctors have advised Munde to avoid exposure to sunlight and bright lights for 10 days after the surgery. Dhananjay Munde, the minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection, is facing the heat over the arrest of his close aide Walmik Karad in an extortion case related to the murder of Beed sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh. Sources said the minister underwent surgery on both eyes under the supervision of senior ophthalmologist Dr T P Lahane. It has been six days since the procedure, and he continues to follow medical advice. Officials confirmed that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar were informed about his inability to attend the cabinet meeting, according to the PTI. "There is no other reason behind his absence from the cabinet meeting," the statement read. Last week, Dhananjay Munde had said that he underwent an eye surgery and was advised to take rest for the next four to five days, hence he will not be able to meet anyone, the PTI reported. He had earlier said that he was likely to resume work on February 10. Munde had said that he underwent surgery at noted ophthalmologist Tatyarao Lahane's private hospital in Maharashtra's Mumbai city, PTI reported. Meanwhile, last week, social activist Anjali Damania had alleged a Rs 88 crore scam in the agriculture department when Dhananjay Munde held the portfolio in the previous Mahayuti government in the state. The minister has termed the allegations as "baseless" and claimed that he will file a defamation suit against her. In a statement, Damania accused Munde of attempting to bypass the DBT system by authorising the procurement of agricultural items without the necessary approval from a committee comprising the chief secretary, finance secretary, and planning secretary. These items, including nano urea, nano DAP, battery sprayers, metaldehyde, and cotton bags, were allegedly purchased at inflated rates, resulting in significant losses to the state exchequer, the PTI had earlier reported. (with PTI inputs)
11 February,2025 04:05 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe fast-paced urbanisation of Maharashtra has often distanced people from their rural roots, but one literary figure continually reminded them of their origins—Ra. Ra. Borade. A leading writer known for his evocative portrayal of rural life, Borade’s passing marks a significant loss to Marathi literature. His departure has severed the vital connection between urban and rural literary traditions, said Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister, Eknath Shinde, in his condolence message. Borade was recently announced as the recipient of the prestigious Vinda Karandikar Lifetime Achievement Award for his immense contributions to Marathi literature, conferred by the state’s language department. A grand felicitation ceremony had been planned in his honour. However, fate had other plans, and his untimely demise has left the literary community, his admirers, and students who revered him in profound shock, Shinde expressed. Born into a humble farming family, Ra. Ra. Borade was a literary embodiment of Maharashtra’s rich rural culture. His writings vividly captured the transformation of villages, the struggles of agrarian life, and the evolving socio-economic conditions of rural Maharashtra. Despite his immense success, he led a simple life, dedicating himself to storytelling through novels, short stories, and children's literature. His works included acclaimed novels such as 'Pachola', 'Aamdar Saubhagyawati', and 'Charapani', along with renowned short story collections like 'Kansaan Ani Kadba', 'Perani', 'Taalmel', 'Malni', 'Naatigoti', and 'Kholamba'. His children's novel 'Shika Tumhi Ho Shika' and works like 'Rahat Palna' further cemented his legacy. Beyond his literary contributions, Borade played an instrumental role in Maharashtra’s cultural and literary landscape. He served as Chairman of the Maharashtra State Literature and Culture Board, President of the Gramin Sahitya Parishad, and presided over the 1989 Marathwada Literary Conference in Hingoli. His demise is an irreplaceable loss to the world of Marathi literature, Deputy Chief Minister Shinde remarked, adding that Maharashtra has lost a distinguished literary stalwart whose influence will be felt for generations.
11 February,2025 02:13 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA group of Members of Parliament (MPs) from the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition staged a protest within the premises of Parliament on Tuesday, calling for an extension of the time limit for soybean purchases. The protest was led by Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP Supriya Sule, both of whom voiced their concerns regarding the challenges faced by soybean farmers in Maharashtra. The protesting MPs were seen raising slogans demanding that the time limit for soybean procurement be increased, with chants of "Soyabean khareed ki samay seema badhayi jaaye" (Increase the time limit for soybean purchases). Their demonstration comes amid mounting pressure on the government to ensure that farmers in Maharashtra, a key producer of soybeans, receive fair treatment and support in selling their crops. This protest follows an earlier initiative by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who in January 2025 directed the state’s marketing department to establish a permanent mechanism to streamline soybean procurement. Fadnavis's move was aimed at addressing the issues surrounding the procurement process and stabilising the soybean market, ensuring that farmers could sell their crops in a hassle-free manner. As per ANI, Fadnavis has advocated for the creation of an agro hub along the Samriddhi Highway under the Magnet Project. He has instructed that all preparations be completed by October so that the procurement process, scheduled to begin in November, proceeds without any complications. In line with this, the registration of farmers should be completed by October to ensure smooth operations. The establishment of agro-logistics hubs in all four divisions of the state has also been suggested, with the Onion Chawl being considered as a potential option for onion storage. Soybean, a kharif crop, is typically harvested between October and November, depending on its maturity, and Maharashtra plays a pivotal role in soybean cultivation within India. The state's government, through procurement agencies such as NAFED and NCCF, purchases various agricultural commodities at an assured Minimum Support Price (MSP). The aim of these procurement agencies is to safeguard the interests of farmers and provide them with a reliable market to sell their produce. In the backdrop of this protest and ongoing discussions, the government is under pressure to ensure that these efforts translate into tangible benefits for farmers and that the soybean procurement process operates smoothly, especially as Maharashtra's farmers continue to face challenges in the agricultural sector. (With inputs from ANI)
11 February,2025 12:43 PM IST | MumbaiA major fire broke out at the Oshiwara furniture market in Mumbai's Jogeshwari area on Tuesday, according to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). According to the BMC, the fire broke out at 11:52 AM at the Oshiwara Furniture Market, near A1 Darbar Restaurant on Swami Vivekanand Marg in Jogeshwari West. The blaze was confined to a ground-floor furniture godown. Mumbai Fire Brigade had declared the blaze as a level 2 fire (major fire). The incident was reported to the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB), which immediately responded to the emergency. Following the information regarding the blaze, the Mumbai Fire Brigade, local police, and 108 Ambulance services were mobilised to the scene. Fire breaks out in scrap shop in Kurla area A firefighter was injured after a major fire broke out in a scrap godown at Kurla West area of Mumbai, the civic officials said on February 1. The fire was reported at a scrap godown near Lal Bahadur Shastri Road at 2.50 pm, officials said. Fireman Suraj Tanaji Nakashe, 25, was injured in the incident. He sustained injuries to left his knee, the civic body said. Nakashe was rushed to a hospital where he was treated and was later discharged, an official said. According to the Civic Disaster Management Department, the fire broke out in 2-3 gallas near the Equinox Building. As many as four fire engineers and 6 water jets with other machinery deputed on the spot. Till 5 pm the fire was covered from all sides. An official from Mumbai Fire Brigade said, although the fire was not big. But fire caught compostable material like plastic spreading rapidly. Also temporary structures create challenges. "Fire was confined to scarp material stock, electric wiring, electric installations, cardboard stock, furniture, plastic material, stock of chemical drums etc in 08 nos. of galas at gali No. 2 and 03 Nos. of galas in galli No. 3 admeasuring in area about 100’ X 200’ sq.ft having ground floored and ground plus upper one floored structure," said an official said. The fire was completely extinguished at around 8:30 pm. In a similar incident, on January 25, a major fire was reported at Goregaon furniture market which had affected 20-30 gallas. The blaze was extinguished after 6 hours. In an another incident, on December 28, 2024, at least 50-60 gallas caught fire at Sakinaka Khairani Estate. These were also scrap godowns.
11 February,2025 12:38 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentSchool Education Minister Dada Bhuse assured on Monday that the number of non-academic tasks assigned to teachers would be significantly reduced in the coming days. He made this announcement during a one-day educational development workshop in Igatpuri, attended by teachers from across Maharashtra. For years, teachers have protested against being assigned non-academic duties, arguing that such responsibilities take away valuable time from their primary role. Addressing these concerns, Bhuse said, “Teachers’ extra-curricular and non-academic activities will be reduced by half in the future. Additionally, the government is considering merging all school committees into a single active committee to streamline administrative work.” Mahendra Ganpule, school principals’ body; (right) Vijay Kombey, president, Maharashtra State Primary Teachers Committee He encouraged teachers to enhance the quality of Marathi-medium schools. “Teachers should work in such a way that, in the future, students from English-medium schools would seek admission to Marathi-medium schools,” Bhuse said. Teachers and schools react Vijay Kombey, state president of the Maharashtra State Primary Teachers Committee, said, “Many of these tasks, such as submitting various reports to the education department, are unrelated to teaching and consume valuable instructional time. Teachers are already stretched thin with their core responsibilities. We appreciate the minister’s assurance but urge swift implementation, especially with exams and evaluation duties approaching. Even reducing such tasks to once a month or fortnight would bring significant relief, as it is not feasible for teachers to handle these duties daily.” Mahendra Ganpule, state spokesperson for the Maharashtra School Principals’ Association, said, “At times, 50 to 60 per cent of a school’s staff is occupied with non-academic duties. In rural areas, teachers are often required to verify students’ Aadhaar cards at different centres and manage their bank accounts—tasks that ideally should be handled by parents. However, due to the need for maintaining and updating student records, teachers are forced to take on these responsibilities. We are glad that these concerns are now being addressed by the the new education minister.” What the RTE Act says? At the heart of this issue lies Sections 25 and 27 of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, which prohibit assigning teachers non-academic tasks except for specific duties, which include decennial population census, disaster relief and elections to parliament, state legislatures, and local bodies. State-appointed committee In January 2024, a committee appointed by the Maharashtra government submitted a detailed report addressing concerns over non-academic tasks assigned to teachers. It recommends that teachers focus only on education-related duties and proposes a separate system to oversee school nutrition records. This initiative arose from objections to teachers being overburdened with administrative work, reports, and surveys. Teacher unions strongly opposed these duties, arguing they hinder academic work. They even boycotted the illiteracy survey under the Nav Bharat Saksharta Abhiyan, affecting its implementation. In response, a committee led by the principal secretary of the education department was formed. The report, recently presented in the legislative session, outlines key recommendations to address these concerns. . Exclusivity to the Education Department: Except for assignments related to elections and the national census, teachers should not be encumbered with tasks from other government departments. The primary focus should be on educationally necessary work. . Separate system for school nutrition records: The committee advocates for the establishment of a dedicated system to manage school nutrition records. This recommendation aims to streamline administrative processes and ensure the efficient handling of vital data. Non-academic tasks imposed on teachers Online Tasks:. Mid-Day Meal (MDM): Daily data entry and payment updates. Student portal: Admission, promotions, document uploads, and details like marks, parent information, bank details. School and staff portal management. School achievement: Updating 46 core standards in 7 domains, submitting evidence and hard copies to authorities. Swachh Vidyalaya Award: Uploading 10 proof photos, filling forms, and regular updatesMahadbt: Uploading Aadhaar, bank passbooks for student scholarships Offline Tasks:. Census, out-of-school survey, Aadhaar updates. Election duties as Booth Level Officer—voter registration, awareness. School deworming campaign, Swachhta Mission, toilet awareness. Participation in the economic survey
11 February,2025 12:34 PM IST | Mumbai | Dipti SinghThe Builders Association of India (BAI) and Maharashtra State Contractor's Association (MSCA) amongst others like the Hot Mix Association and more, took aim at the Maharashtra government which they claimed has not cleared bills of the contractors working on government projects like roads, bridges, and building construction in the State. Representatives of various associations representing contractors said, “collective bills of over R90,000 crore are outstanding with the Maharashtra government”. They said it was time to stop work, till all dues were paid at a fiery press conference at the Cricket Club of India’s (CCI) C K Nayudu hall on Monday afternoon.At the outset, they made it clear that the focus was on a lot of rural projects, interior roads and bridges in smaller places within the State. “The problem is with the non-payment of dues by the State Government, these smaller projects are affected. Projects funded by the central government or which have World Bank funds are not affected,” they stated. Anger and ire was the mood of a people driven to the edge at a press conference at the CCI on Monday Sword Anand Gupta vice-president, BAI, said, “The total outstanding is more than R90,000 crore. It has become difficult to survive without money. We have been running from pillar to post for the money. We have been given false assurances for months. Banks have started sending notices to contractors to pay back loans taken for the work, with non-payment how will they clear the loans? I want to tell the state government: play your political games but do not put a sword to our head (neck). As a respectable state government, they need to get their priorities right.” Unprecedented BAI former president Avinash Patil from Nashik explained that the government is inviting tenders and issuing work orders, “without clearing earlier dues.” He added, “This situation is unprecedented. Even earlier, we did have pending bills but the government. would clear them after five to six months. At the most eight months, as contractors, we could tide over till six to eight months. There has never been a backlog quite like this, with non-payments for three to four years. We all have read about farmer suicides. You may have contractors dying by suicide, with bank notices raining down.” Most speakers endorsed the suicide view, not as alarmists but as realists. Milind Waykar, state secretary, BAI, stressed that it is on just the contractor that is affected, but the hundreds that work under him, “There is an entire chain reaction. We want the money to be cleared by March end.” The organisations jointly said in a statement that unpaid bills are a result of the populist schemes launched by the state government ahead of the Assembly polls last year. “Ladki Bahin Yojana is one of the schemes that has taken a major toll on the state exchequer,” contractors claimed. They added, “Due to the Ladki Bahin Yojana government expenses have increased beyond revenue, pushing the fiscal deficit beyond R2 lakh crore. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had previously warned that the State’s financial condition was deteriorating.” Specifics In the interactive session following the press conference, where the press asked some questions, the speakers were told to cite examples of particular projects that were stalled due to payment trouble. They claimed, “These are roads, infra in smaller places, many in the interiors of the state.” Pressed for specifics they stated, “Kopargaon Bridge in Ahilyanagar district, Ahmednagar and the Chief Minister Gram Sadak Yojana – Pune, Nashik and Ahmednagar.” A contractor claimed that there are several persons in the industry waiting for very long for dues to be cleared for repairs on buildings in the Worli Police Camp area. There were several takeaways from the grim meeting: The State Government leaders are placating contractors with false assurances, rather than paying up. Tenders are being floated even when earlier dues are not paid up. Contractors are forced to stop work, an unfortunate and unwanted situation. They felt they must hold this conference as the Fourth Estate (press) can highlight just how desperate and unfair the situation is. There is a cascading effect as there are several industries dependent on this one, and with no money, thousands or even lakhs will be affected. People have been driven to the absolute edge with no payments, a very dark space that may push them off the cliff altogether.
11 February,2025 12:34 PM IST | Mumbai | Hemal AsharNearly sixty dog bites are reported on an average in Ulhasnagar every day, according to data available at civic-run hospitals in the suburb. Since January 1, there have been 335 such cases registered already while on February 10 alone, 135 citizens were bitten by stray canines. Despite the Ulhasnagar Central Hospital repeatedly raising concerns about the menace with the local municipal corporation, not much has been done to address the issue, residents told mid-day. Ulhasnagar Central Hospital officials claim that the civic body’s dog sterilisation department has been non-functional for the past six to seven months, leading to the drastic increase in the population of strays in the area. Stray dogs near a row of dumpsters in Tanaji Nagar, Ulhasnagar Dr Manohar Bansode, dean of the hospital, said, “In 2024, 21,411 cases of dog bites were reported across Ulhasnagar. Patients were given anti-rabies shots and some were referred to various hospitals. Today [Monday], 135 citizens are receiving medical treatment for dog bites.” ‘Bitten on way to work’ On Monday, Kokila Dilip Jogdand was bitten by a dog in the Tanhaji Nagar area while heading to her workplace. Ranjana Sonawane, who was bitten on her leg and is undergoing treatment at the Ulhasnagar Central Hospital According to her brother-in-law, Vinayak, Jogdand has sustained grievous injuries, “Her injury is so grievous that her bone has been damaged; she is yet to receive the rabies injection. The hospital has told us that there is no adequate supply of injections and they will shift her to a different facility tomorrow if needed. This is not an isolated incident. I request the authorities to look into the matter as we are daily-wage workers and we can’t afford treatment. We live in constant fear of these dogs.” Another local Santosh Sonawane told mid-day, “My mother, Ranjana Sonawane, was bitten on her leg and is undergoing treatment at the hospital. I want the authorities to act as this is not a new phenomenon. Dogs target senior citizens and children who cannot defend themselves.” A pack of stray dogs in Ulhasnagar. Pics/Navneet Barhate ‘They return to area’ Pinky Benjamin, another resident, said, “I take tuitions in the area and students are constantly being bitten by dogs. The municipality has been cooperative and canines have been rescued. But, they come back here. I am a dog lover and feed dogs and I understand that the dogs need to be cared for. The corporations should act on this.” MNS leader Moundin Shaikh said, “We get calls from citizens daily and have been helping them. The corporation has failed to act. Some dogs were sterilised and released, but after some days, the problem resurfaced.” When contacted, a senior UMC official stated, “Tenders have been issued to ensure the stray dog population doesn’t rise and the sterilisation department will be functional in the next couple of days.” PETASpeak Dr Mini Aravindan, director of veterinary services, PETA India, said, “Dogs are normally friendly, social, good-natured animals who would not usually attack a person unprovoked. Yet, when humans shout at stray dogs, kick or beat them, throw rocks at them, toss hot water or acid on them, poison them or abuse them in other ways as they commonly do, they may feel cornered or be put in the fearful mindset that they need to protect themselves or their puppies.” She urged citizens to support dog feeders who help build trust in dogs. According to the organisation, stray dogs are surgically neutered and then released in their own area. “They are also vaccinated against rabies. Since territories are not left vacant, new dogs cannot enter. Mating and breeding also cease. With no mating or crossing of territories, dog fights reduce dramatically. Since fighting reduces, bites to humans also become rare. The dogs are immunised, so they do not spread rabies. Over time, as the dogs die natural deaths, their numbers dwindle. The dog population becomes stable, non-breeding, non-aggressive and rabies-free, and it gradually decreases over a period of time,” Dr Aravindan said. She added, “Despite the abuse that stray dogs routinely face, it seems that many dog bites are from pet dogs, such as those who play roughly, and not from strays. For example, statistics show that stray dogs were not responsible for the majority of the bite cases reported by General Hospital Ernakulam in the six-month period. Pet dogs, not strays, were reportedly the cause of 75.6 per cent of the bite cases.”
11 February,2025 12:33 PM IST | Mumbai | Apoorva AgasheADVERTISEMENT