The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has directed bakeries, hotels, restaurants, and other similar establishments to switch to green fuel options in compliance with the orders of the Supreme Court by July 8 or face action. The Mumbai civic body said that just as dust and other pollutants from construction and developmental projects contribute to air pollution, the establishments using wood and charcoal as fuel also play in causing air pollution. "Air contains many dangerous components, such as gases that increase the risk of lung diseases, heart problems, and other illnesses. Businesses using wood and charcoal as fuel contribute to the presence of these harmful elements in the air. Mumbai has a significant number of bakeries, hotels, restaurants, street food vendors, and tandoor establishments that use wood and charcoal, sometimes even using substandard wood or damaged furniture as fuel. These practices release harmful gases, threatening public health," the civic body said in a press release. With the aim of protecting the environment and public health, the Mumbai civic corporation said that it is necessary to adopt clean fuel. The Supreme Court, in a hearing on January 9, directed that businesses using wood and charcoal as fuel should switch to alternative clean fuels within six months. The apex court also directed the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board and BMC to take action against those not complying with the order. Accordingly, Additional Municipal Commissioner (City) Dr Ashwini Joshi expedited the implementation of the SC order through BMC’s Environmental Department. The Mumbai civic is urging all businesses, including bakeries, hotels, restaurants, street food vendors, and tandoor establishments, to comply with the Supreme Court's order. Specifically, businesses using wood and charcoal must stop using these fuels immediately and instead start using available clean and green fuels, such as compressed natural gas (CNG) and piped natural gas (PNG), the Mumbai civic body said in a press release. Dr Joshi has also clarified that 29 bakeries in Mumbai voluntarily stopped using wood and charcoal and switched to green fuels in the past three months. She has urged other businesses to follow suit and make the transition as well. The Mumbai civic body has also implemented a set of 29 guidelines to control dust pollution on the instructions of BMC Commissioner and Administrator Bhushan Gagrani and Dr Joshi.
17 February,2025 08:11 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentShiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray will meet his party MLAs and MPs on February 20 and 25 respectively, party leader Sanjay Raut said on Monday amid talk of desertions, reported the PTI. The meeting with MLAs is scheduled on February 20, while the meeting of MPs will take place on February 25, Rajya Sabha MP and party spokesperson Sanjay Raut said. "It is a routine meeting," Sanjay Raut asserted. The Shiv Sena (UBT) has been hit by functionaries from the Konkan region in Maharashtra quitting, including former Rajapur MLA Rajan Salvi, who joined the rival Sena faction led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Over the past few days, Guhagar MLA Bhaskar Jadhav has also been making public his resentment about party affairs. The Shiv Sena (UBT) has nine MPs and 20 MLAs. Last week Eknath Shinde was on a visit to Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra and while addressing a "thanks giving" rally which was aimed at celebrating the party's impressive victory in the Konkan region, Eknath Shinde had Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), stating that it works for a family, while his Shiv Sena works for Maharashtra. The opposition runs a fake narrative, but the Shiv Sena does positive work which is why people voted for it in the assembly polls, Eknath Shinde said. Shinde also attacked the opposition parties for blaming the Election Commission, Supreme Court, Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and alleging discrepancies in the voters' list for their electoral loss, according to the PTI. The Mahayuti alliance of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) registered a landslide victory in the assembly polls held in November 2024. In the Lok Sabha elections (held months prior to that), the Shiv Sena got 2 lakh more votes than the Shiv Sena (UBT). In the assembly polls, Sena (UBT) contested 97 seats, but won only 20. The Shiv Sena fought 87 seats but won 60 seats, and 15 lakh more votes than Sena, Shinde said. "Then tell me which Shiv Sena is real. People have shown which one is the real Shiv Sena that runs on the ideals of Bal Thackeray," he said, as per the PTI. During the rally, former MLA of the undivided Shiv Sena Subhash Bane, who was with the Shiv Sena (UBT), joined the Shinde-led party. (with PTI inputs)
17 February,2025 08:07 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Santacruz Chembur Link Road (SCLR) extension Phase-I has crossed a major milestone with the successful launch of the 215m Orthotropic Steel Deck (OSD) span over the Vakola Flyover, the officials said on Monday "It is an engineering feat that ensures seamless East-West connectivity in Mumbai," said an official. It is Asia’s first cable-stayed bridge with a 100m sharp curvature, which is 25m above the ground, crossing over the Western Express Highway. The bridge will provide a seamless link from Kurla to Panbai International School near the airport, and it has an innovative Y-shaped pylon for structural efficiency. It features a two-lane carriageway for smoother traffic movement and has been designed to enhance connectivity from Navi Mumbai, EEH, and BKC to the airport, said an official. Currently, motorists traveling from the SCLR towards the Vakola junction via the Western Express Highway (WEH) face significant traffic congestion near the Vakola junction due to the traffic signal and ongoing construction work on the SCLR connector. Once completed, the bridge will enhance connectivity from the Vakola Nullah to Panbai International School on WEH. The cable-stayed bridge on SCLR will measure 215 meters in length, with a width of 10.5 meters and a 7.5-meter-wide carriageway. Additionally, the bridge will provide faster access to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), the officials said.
17 February,2025 07:31 PM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentHarshvardhan Sapkal will take charge as the new Maharashtra Congress chief on Tuesday in the presence of senior leaders, a party functionary said, reported the PTI. He will take charge at an event organised at Birla Matoshri Auditorium, a party statement issued in Mumbai on Monday said. Harshwardhan Sapkal, who hails from Buldhana district, was appointed chief of the party's state unit last week after Nana Patole completed his four-year tenure. Sapkal takes over at a time when the Congress is on a low following its disastrous performance in the November assembly polls, in which it would win just 16 seats in the 288-member assembly. It had contested 101 seats in alliance with the Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP). His immediate focus would be the civic polls, which are due in several cities of Maharashtra since early 2022. Local body polls are likely to be held this year. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge had last week on Thursday appointed Harshwardhan Sapkal as the new chief of the party's Maharashtra unit with immediate effect, as per the PTI. He will be replacing former Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole. The Congress president also approved the appointment of Vijay Namdevrao Wadettiwar as the leader of the Congress Legislative Party in Maharashtra with immediate effect. Harshwardhan Sapkal was a Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from 2014 to 2019, representing the Buldhana Assembly Constituency in Maharashtra. "The Congress President has appointed Harshwardhan Sapkal as the president of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee with immediate effect. The party appreciates the contributions of the outgoing president Nana Patole," a statement from All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal said, according to the PTI. Nana Patole had tendered his resignation after the party's rout in the Maharashtra Assembly Elections where the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) comprising of the Congress, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP SP) led by Sharad Pawar failed to form its government and lost badly to the ruling BJP-Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP's Mahayuti alliance of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). (with PTI inputs)
17 February,2025 07:00 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentTo help students achieve success in scholarship exams, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has launched the 'Quality Enhancement' initiative, the officials said on Monday. As part of the civic body's Quality Enhancement' initiative, students who will appear for the scholarship exams next year have already received study books this year, they said. According to an official statement, through a partnership with the Adani Group and Utthan Group, a total of 5,541 students received scholarship exam books. The books, which cover subjects in Marathi, Semi-Marathi, Urdu, and English mediums, were distributed from the CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) fund of Adani Electricity, Adani Foundation, and Utthan Group. The distribution of books was conducted by Dr. Amit Saini, Additional Municipal Commissioner (Eastern Suburbs), on February 17, 2025. Some selected students received their book sets from him during the event, it said. The event, held at the BMC headquarters, was attended by several officials, including Dr. Prachi Jambhekar (Deputy Commissioner - Education), Rajesh Kankal (Education Officer - Primary), Sujata Khare (Education Officer - Secondary), and Mukhtar Shah (Deputy Education Officer – Public Participation Department), along with representatives from Adani Electricity, including Sanjeev Murudkar, Kailash Shinde, Subodh Singh, and Pooja Agarwal. Dr. Amit Saini highlighted the importance of scholarship exams in a student's life. He noted that these exams help build confidence from an early age, which is beneficial even in higher education. He also interacted with the students, encouraging them to read both Marathi and English books to improve their skills. At the event, Dr. Jambhekar spoke about the 'Quality Enhancement' initiative, explaining that the scholarship exams are held statewide every February, usually on the second or third Sunday. In 2024, 3,525 students in class 5 and 3,365 students in class 8 appeared for the exams, and 605 students made it to the district merit list. Dr. Jambhekar is confident that this initiative will lead to an increase in the number of successful students in the upcoming exams. "The BMC will also provide extra coaching for students during the summer holidays. Online learning options will be available through the BMC's education department. From September 2025, mock exams will be conducted for these students to help them practice and improve their performance. It will assist in increasing the number of students who make it to the merit list in the scholarship exam results," the official statement said.
17 February,2025 06:41 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA Western Railway’s Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel on Sunday recovered a lost bag with valuables worth Rs 15.83 lakh in Mumbai which was later returned it to passenger who it belonged to, the officials said on Monday. According to the Western Railway, the RPF officials during their duty had made the recovery of the lost at Bandra Terminus in Mumbai on February 16, 2025. It said that a left behind bag containing valuables was found and after due verification was returned to the rightful owner. "On Duty Sub Inspector, Yogesh Kumar Jani and Constable Hanuman Prasad Chaudhary found an unattended bag under the seat of an AC coach in Train No. 12479, Jodhpur – Bandra Terminus Suryanagari Superfast Express," an official said. According to a press release issued by Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, Vineet Abhishek, the unattended bag was brought to the RPF post and opened in the presence of other staff. It was found that the bag contained a mobile phone, clothes, and a polythene bag containing expensive jewellery items. The RPF personnel brought the bag to the post, documented its contents and informed the concerned RPF officials at Bandra Terminus. A person, Shailesh Ganesh Mali, resident of Colaba area in south Mumbai later came inquiring about his lost bag. He provided his travel details, and told the officials that he had traveled from Jodhpur in Rajasthan to Bandra Terminus in Mumbai via Train No. 12479 along with his two children and multiple bags. He realised one of his bag was missing after reaching home. Mali had also contacted the helpline number 139 to report his missing bag and seeking help to recover his belongings, the officials said. The passenger, Shailesh Ganesh Mali, identified his bag, which was opened and inspected in his presence, revealing valuables including gold items including a mobile phone, children's clothes, jewellery (a gold mangalsutra, bangles, armlets, earring, ring, and nose pin) worth a total of Rs 15.83 lakh. The bag and all items were safely returned to Mali, who expressed heartfelt gratitude to RPF Bandra Terminus and the helpline for their exceptional service, said an official statement.
17 February,2025 06:28 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA 50-year-old school teacher, who was allegedly harassed over a loan, died by suicide at Atal Setu, the country’s longest sea bridge linking south Mumbai and Navi Mumbai, an officer said on Sunday. The victim, a resident of Alibaug in Raigad district in Maharashtra, died by suicide near Ulwe, close to the Nhava Sheva end of the bridge, on Friday morning, reported news agency PTI. According to police, the teacher had borrowed money through an instant loan app the previous month to settle some debts and was struggling to repay an outstanding amount of Rs 12,000. His family informed the police that, unable to pay, he had been receiving calls from the loan app's recovery agents over the past week, who allegedly threatened to publicly shame him, PTI reported. They also claimed that the agents had circulated morphed images of the primary school teacher among his contacts and in WhatsApp groups. The police said the man drove to the Atal Setu, got out of his car, and jumped into the waters below. Surveillance camera footage captured the moment, prompting police to launch a search operation. His body was discovered the following day near Nhava creek in Navi Mumbai, approximately 12 kilometres from where he had jumped, PTI reported. In September, a 35-year-old banker from Pune also died by suicide at the Atal Setu Bridge. The police revealed that the banker had been in Mumbai to visit a relative. It is believed that work-related stress may have led him to take the step. 65-year-old doctor dies by suicide in Mumbai A 65-year-old doctor, allegedly died by suicide on Saturday afternoon in Nagpada area of Mumbai, police said. The victim's body was recovered at Orchid Enclave Tower, an officer informed. He had been diagnosed with cancer six months ago and was depressed and stressed, preliminary probe revealed. The doctor's wife and son were in the house when the incident took place. Further investigation is underway, the officer added. Man dies by suicide in Thane districtA 55-year-old man allegedly died by suicide at his house in Ambernath in Thane district of Maharashtra on Wednesday, police said on Saturday. The victim, who was employed in South Africa, had to leave his job owing to domestic issues, and was depressed after losing his wife to cancer. The police said on the day of the incident, his brother tried calling him and on not getting an answer, went to check on him. However, he found the victim's flat locked from inside. The brother said that one of the neighbours managed to enter the flat from the balcony and found the body. (With PTI inputs)
17 February,2025 06:00 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Maharashtra government has taken a significant step towards the effective implementation of Minimum Support Price (MSP) schemes by forming a dedicated committee to study and implement the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA). The government issued an order on Monday outlining the formation of the panel, with a clear mandate to submit a detailed report within one month, offering suggestions and recommendations for the smooth rollout of MSP schemes across the state. The move comes as part of the state's ongoing efforts to ensure the successful implementation of the PM-AASHA, which aims to provide better price support to farmers for their agricultural produce. The MSP schemes, which include the Price Support Scheme (PSF) and the Price Stabilisation Scheme (PSS), are designed to protect farmers from price fluctuations by guaranteeing the purchase of essential commodities at a fixed MSP. These schemes were introduced under the Union government's initiative to safeguard the interests of farmers. The committee formed by the Maharashtra government will be tasked with reviewing the existing framework for MSP implementation in the state and making recommendations on how to strengthen the process. According to the government resolution (GR) issued on Monday, the committee will assess the current functioning of MSP schemes, identify areas for improvement, and ensure that the support systems are effectively managed at the state level. The guidelines for the implementation of MSP schemes were issued in October 2018 by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare under the Union government. These guidelines stipulate that the Central government guarantees the purchase of up to 25% of the total production of essential agricultural commodities at the MSP. The National Cooperative Consumer Federation of India (NAFED) serves as the nodal agency for the purchase, while state-level nodal institutions play a crucial role in facilitating and overseeing the process. The GR further mentions that state-level nodal institutions must ensure the establishment of well-equipped purchase centres for MSP procurement and monitor their functioning. The committee will also be responsible for evaluating whether the existing facilities and systems are adequate and functioning as intended. The panel will be chaired by the Managing Director of the Maharashtra State Cooperative Marketing Federation in Mumbai, with members including the Managing Director of NAFED in Mumbai, the Marketing Director of the State in Pune, the Chief Marketing Officer of the State Agricultural Marketing Board in Pune, and other relevant stakeholders. As per PTI, the formation of this committee is seen as an essential step towards addressing the challenges farmers face while implementing MSP schemes and ensuring that they receive fair compensation for their agricultural produce. PTI reports that the committee’s recommendations are expected to guide the Maharashtra government in making informed decisions regarding the future of MSP implementation in the state. The state government remains committed to upholding the welfare of farmers, and the formation of this committee demonstrates a proactive approach towards addressing issues related to price support and stabilisation in Maharashtra’s agricultural sector. (With inputs from PTI)
17 February,2025 05:30 PM IST | MumbaiThe National Commission for Women (NCW) has asked Ranveer Allahbadia, Samay Raina, Apoorva Mukhija, Ashish Chanchlani and others to appear before the body in March in connection with the ongoing 'India's Got Latent' show controversy, news agency ANI reported.NCW said that many of those summoned cited concerns about their personal safety, prior foreign travel commitments, and other logistical challenges as reasons for their absence on Monday. Accordingly, the commission considered the reasons given by them and has rescheduled the hearing to allow those individuals to comply with the summons.The commission said that Allahbadia had informed that he is receiving death threats and requested a new hearing date after three weeks. The commission has accepted his request and rescheduled the hearing for March 6 accordingly, reported ANI.Meanwhile, Mukhija has communicated that she fears for her safety and can only attend the hearing virtually. Her lawyer, in an email said that Mukhija will attend in person once the situation stabilises. The Commission has accepted her request and rescheduled her hearing also for March 6.Raina, who is currently in the United States (US) on a pre-planned tour, assured NCW that he will make himself available for a hearing upon returning to India. The commission has accepted his request and rescheduled the hearing for March 11.Singh is also abroad, on a tour to Paris and will return to India by March 10, and said he will cooperate with the commission's inquiry. The women's commission has rescheduled his hearing also for March 11, ANI reported.'India's Got Latent' row: Ashish Chanchlani asked to appear on March 6 Chanchlani's lawyer appeared on his behalf on Monday and stated that he was unwell. Accordingly, his hearing in person has also been rescheduled for March 6.Tushar Poojari, the producer of 'India's Got Talent', have failed to respond to the commission's notice. NCW said it strongly condemns their "lack of seriousness" and issued a resummon for them for March 6.Balraj Ghai informed the Commission that he is outside India and will respond once he returns. The Commission has accepted his request and rescheduled the hearing for March 11, 2025.In the resummon, the National Commission for Women instructed the accused individuals to cooperate with the proceedings and appear as instructed.The show hosted by Raina embroiled in controversy over comments made by podcaster Allahbadia. 'India's Got Latent' row: Complaints filed with Maharashtra women's panel Following this, NCW summoned Allahbadia, Raina and others on Monday at its office in New Delhi.In a press release, NCW that the commission has taken serious note of the "vulgar and offensive remarks" made by Allahbadia, Raina, Makhija, Singh, and Chanchlani, as well as the shows producers."These comments, which have sparked widespread public outrage, violate the dignity and respect owed to every individual, particularly in a society that upholds equality and mutual respect. In light of this concern, under the instructions of NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar, a hearing has been scheduled to address the controversial remark made by the content creators on 'India's Got Latent'," NCW stated in the release.Apart from the NCW, a formal complaint has been filed with the Mumbai Commissioner and the Maharashtra Women's Commission against the show and its hosts.The complaint alleges that the show used abusive language and made obscene remarks about women in an attempt to gain popularity and financial benefit through online broadcasts.The complainant has called for strict action against the individuals involved in the show, especially concerning the remarks made by Allahbadia and Raina. (With ANI inputs)
17 February,2025 04:46 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMaharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Sunday dodged questions regarding the resignation of embattled Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) minister Dhananjay Munde, stating that reporters should direct such queries to Munde himself. Munde, who has come under severe scrutiny following the arrest of his close aide, Walmik Karad, in an extortion case linked to the brutal murder of Beed sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh on December 9, has been at the centre of a political storm. Both opposition and ruling alliance leaders have called for his resignation in light of the growing controversy surrounding the case. Speaking to the media in Nashik, Pawar refrained from offering a direct opinion on whether Munde should step down. "Munde claims he has no connection to the case. However, I had tendered my resignation in 2010 as the state water resources minister when similar allegations were levelled against me," Pawar said, referring to his own resignation amid an earlier controversy. He also pointed out that former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri had resigned after a train accident, emphasising that moral responsibility often calls for such actions, although many individuals in similar situations had refused to resign. "You should ask Munde whether he will quit citing moral responsibility," Pawar added, continuing to deflect questions on Munde's fate and leaving the decision to the embattled minister. The murder of Santosh Deshmukh, who was killed under brutal circumstances, has sparked widespread outrage. Pawar described the incident as "highly condemnable" but stressed that the investigation led by various agencies would reveal the truth and hold all individuals involved accountable, leaving no one spared. When asked about the recent meeting between Munde and BJP MLA Dhas, who has been calling for Munde's resignation over the Beed murder and has also accused him of corruption, Pawar revealed he was unaware of the meeting and did not offer further comments on the issue. The controversy surrounding Munde and his involvement in the extortion case has led to political tension in Maharashtra, with opposition leaders pushing for his immediate resignation as the investigations continue. As the inquiry progresses, the NCP minister’s political future hangs in the balance, and further developments are expected in the coming days. (With inputs from PTI)
17 February,2025 04:44 PM IST | MumbaiA civic body in Maharashtra's Thane district will demolish 51 buildings constructed using forged and fake documents, an official said on Monday, reported the PTI. The civic body's action has come following a court's directive to clear the illegal structures built using fabricated documents in the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) limits, the official said, according to the PTI. A senior KDMC official said an inquiry was initiated after complaints were received regarding irregularities by developers, and a verification drive revealed that 65 residential and commercial structures were constructed in Kalyan-Dombivli based on fake and forged documents. He said 57 unauthorised structures fell in the KDMC's jurisdiction, and the civic body has already demolished six. The move will affect nearly 9,000 residents, it was stated. BMC demolishes encroachments on JR Boricha Road near Lower Parel to ease traffic, pedestrian movement Meanwhile, earlier this month, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on February 5 had demolished several encroachments on the JR Boricha Road near Lower Parel in central Mumbai, the civic officials said. They said that the demolition drive was undertaken to ease traffic and pedestrian movement in the area. According to the civic body, the BMC G South Ward maintenance department carried out a major demolition drive on JR Boricha Road near Lower Parel. The operation, led by Assistant Commissioner Mrudula Ande, resulted in the removal of approximately 150 shanties and encroachments from the area. The encroachment removal was executed in close coordination with the N M Joshi Police Station, involving 60 male and 40 female police officials, along with 20 BMC engineers and 50 labourers, the officials said. The drive focused on clearing the footpath along a 300-meter stretch on either side of JR Boricha Road, restoring the space for pedestrians, they said. The officials stated that the action would result in easing traffic congestion on JR Boricha Road, a crucial route leading to the Sitaram Mill Municipal School. With the encroachments now cleared, the road has become more accessible and safer for the pedestrians including students, their parents, and the local traveling through the area. The drive was a part of ongoing efforts by the BMC to enhance urban infrastructure and ensure smooth and safe travel for the public. (with PTI inputs)
17 February,2025 04:38 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT