Thane: The Anti-Extortion Squad of the Crime Branch, Thane, acting on secret information, raided a gang involved in the illegal sale of Mephedrone (M.D.) and arrested two accused. Police seized 108.8 grams of Mephedrone worth Rs 10.88 lakh, a country-made pistol, and a live cartridge—totaling Rs 11.41 lakh.

According to the sequence of events, on the night of December 8 around 10:50 PM, the police team raided Shri Gajanan Residency in Adavali-Dhokali, Kalyan East, and caught Aakib Iqbal Bagwan (33). A large quantity of M.D. and an unlicensed country-made pistol were recovered from his possession. Further probe revealed that Bagwan was already wanted in two NDPS cases at Bazarpeth Police Station, Kalyan.

During interrogation, Bagwan disclosed that the pistol was supplied to him by Bharat Shatrughna Yadav. Using technical investigation and confidential sources, the police detained Yadav as well. A live cartridge was recovered from him during the search.

A case has been registered against both the accused at Manpada Police Station under relevant sections of the NDPS Act, the Indian Arms Act, and the Maharashtra Police Act.

The operation was carried out under the guidance of DCP Amarsingh Jadhav and ACP Vinay Ghorpade by Senior Police Inspector Shailesh Salvi, Assistant Police Inspector Sunil Tarmale, and team members Bhosle, Kanade, Thakur, Rathod, Shinde, Patil, Gaikwad, Jadhav, Gadge, Pavaskar, Hivare, Waykar, Shejwal, and Bhosle.

Mumbai: Amid anti-government slogan-shouting that culminated in an opposition walkout, the state government on Friday announced that a comprehensive plan will soon be drafted for the self-redevelopment of old housing societies in Mumbai, particularly those under the Slum Redevelopment Authority (SRA) and the earlier Slum Redevelopment (SRD) schemes.

The issue of dilapidated houses posing dangers to residents in slum rehabilitation schemes was raised by member Sachin Ahir during question hour in the state legislative council. He said that rehabilitated and earlier developed housing schemes are now nearly four decades old and urgently require redevelopment.

Replying on behalf of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Tourism Minister Shambhuraj Desai told the House that the July 23, 2025 housing policy includes provisions for redeveloping old and precarious buildings. He added that SRA has been directed to amend DCPR-2034 rules and by-laws to enable such redevelopment. A joint plan by the urban development and housing departments will be finalised within two months.

The minister said the government has received the report submitted by the Pravin Darekar-led Cooperative Housing Societies Self-Redevelopment – Cluster Redevelopment Study Committee. The urban development, housing, and cooperation departments have been instructed to study the report and incorporate feasible recommendations before submitting a final proposal to the government.

Darekar, present in the House, said he has already submitted a 300-page report to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. He said the recommendations aim to fast-track pending redevelopment projects and ensure residents’ interests are protected, offering relief to thousands of Mumbai families seeking modern, upgraded homes.

He also sought additional FSI and relaxations on conditions such as mandatory road width to make self-redevelopment projects financially viable. Since the 2019 policy was launched, 18 of 19 key demands have been met. To address evolving needs, a new committee was formed in April 2025 which has submitted practical suggestions.

Senior Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anil Parab highlighted that several housing projects developed under Mumbai’s SRD scheme—launched in 1991 as the original Slum Redevelopment Scheme—have now become dilapidated. He urged the government to bring these buildings under the scope of the new self-redevelopment policy. The SRD scheme was the precursor to the present SRA, established in 1995.

New Delhi, Dec 12: The production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for food processing industries (PLISFPI) has generated about 3.39 lakh direct and indirect employment opportunities so far, the Parliament was informed on Friday.

Minister of State for Food Processing Industries, Ravneet Singh, said that 170 applications have been approved under various categories of the PLISFPI till September 2025.

“The scheme has led to an increase in food processing capacity of 35.00 lakh MT per annum in the Country,” the minister told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply to a question.

The incentives under the PLISFPI are admissible where the entire chain of manufacturing processes, including primary processing, of the food products applied for coverage under the scheme takes place in India.

According to the minister, total export of agricultural processed food products approved under the PLISFPI has increased with a CAGR of 13.23 per cent as on 2024-25 with reference to 2019-20.

Under the PLISFPI, a cumulative investment of Rs 9,207 crore has been made by the approved applicants, the Parliament was informed earlier. Also, 25 mega food parks approved by the ministry are currently operational across the country, Union Food Processing Industries Minister Chirag Paswan told the Lok Sabha in a reply.

The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) is also implementing a centrally sponsored PM Formalisation of Micro food processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme for providing financial, technical and business support for setting up/upgradation of micro food processing enterprises in the country. The scheme primarily adopts the One District One Product (ODOP) approach aimed at fostering balanced regional development across all districts of the country.

The initiative aims to select, brand, and promote at least One Product from each District (One District One Product) of the country for enabling holistic socio-economic growth across all regions, he added. Under the ODOP initiative, products have been selected by states/UTs by taking into consideration the existing ecosystem on the ground in the districts. ODOP have been approved for 726 districts across 35 states/UTs under the scheme.