Mumbai: As Ashray Yojana, the housing project for the BMC’s conservancy staff, continues to be stuck in limbo, former BJP corporator Makarand Narwekar has urged the civic body to expedite works else he will be “compelled” to take legal recourse.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the project, located at Cochin Street in Fort, was conducted in October 2024. Estimated at a cost of Rs17 crore, the plan envisages 54 houses, each measuring 238 sq ft. However, even 10 months after the ceremony, no construction work has begun.

Former BJP Corporator Makarand Narwekar’s Letter To Civic Chief Bhushan Gagrani

In a letter to civic chief Bhushan Gagrani, Narwekar said, “If immediate steps are not taken to commence the project on a war-footing, we will be compelled to raise this matter vigorously across all appropriate platforms, including the courts.” He pointed out that beyond their vital role in keeping Mumbai clean, the conservancy staff also play an important part in initiatives like deep clean drives.

“It is deeply disheartening that the project is yet to commence. There is a growing perception that projects only gain momentum before elections to secure votes,” said Narwekar.

He added, “The work has been sanctioned for the redevelopment of buildings 1 and 2. However, the silence and inaction following the tender process indicate a lack of seriousness from the departments concerned.”

Such negligence sends a dangerous message that the welfare of conservancy workers is not a priority for the BMC, Narwekar asserted. He urged the BMC to address the issue with urgency or face legal consequences. Kiran Dighavkar, deputy municipal commissioner (solid waste management), was not available for comment.

Thane: The issue of missing children in Bhiwandi has escalated significantly, leading to heightened public concern. Over the past six months, 142 children, comprising 47 boys and 95 girls, have vanished from the area. In response, the Bhiwandi police have undertaken extensive investigations and successfully located 126 of these missing children, reuniting them with their families.

The increase in missing minors has created numerous challenges for local law enforcement. The police, faced with this alarming rise, registered kidnapping cases and employed technical tools and CCTV surveillance to assist in their search. Investigation findings suggest that many children left home for various reasons, including familial disputes, deceptive romantic promises, and academic pressure.

A significant number of the missing girls were reportedly lured into relationships, resulting in their abduction to other states. The police collaborated with other state forces to locate and rescue these individuals. Anecdotal evidence indicates that external pressures from parental expectations and romantic pursuits often contribute to children’s decisions to leave home. The Supreme Court’s directives to classify these incidents as kidnappings have led to a more accurate record of these cases, making the issue more visible.

The data shows a worrying trend, particularly in the months following school exam results, where children often flee due to academic disappointment or parental anger. The situation has prompted increased anxiety among parents, particularly in a densely populated city like Bhiwandi. Between January and June, 142 minors went missing, with 44 boys and 82 girls successfully traced; however, as of now, 16 children remain unaccounted for.

In Bhiwandi, police stations have established specialized teams to find missing minors, achieving a remarkable 90% success rate in investigations. Recovered children receive counseling before being reunited with families. Some investigations uncover physical abuse, leading to charges under the POCSO Act.

A recent case of a 14-year-old girl abducted in Narpoli emphasizes these issues, as her mother reported an unidentified suspect. Mental health professionals, like Dr. Vijay Teli, stress the importance of improved parent-child communication, especially amidst digital distractions. Parents are urged to engage more with their children to prevent disappearances and provide emotional support while guiding them through adolescent challenges.

Mumbai: The Indian stock market ended Monday on a strong note, with the BSE Sensex rising 418.81 points (0.52%) to close at 81,018.72, crossing the key 81,000 mark. During the day, it touched a high of 81,093.19. The NSE Nifty also surged by 157.40 points (0.64%) to end at 24,722.75, after hitting an intraday high of 24,734.65.

Top gainers and losers

Among major gainers on the Sensex were Tata Steel, BEL, Adani Ports, TCS, Tech Mahindra, Bharti Airtel, HCL Tech, Trent, M&M, Reliance Industries, UltraTech Cement and L&T.

On the flip side, Power Grid, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, and Hindustan Unilever ended the session with losses.

Why the market rallied

The market’s rally was mainly driven by strong performances in the metal and auto sectors. According to experts, a weakening US dollar, strong auto sales, and positive Q1 results from key companies helped boost investor confidence.

Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services, said,

“Consumption-driven companies are showing recovery in volume demand. Also, weak US job data may lead to interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve.”

Global cues positive

Asian markets mostly ended in the green with Hong Kong, South Korea, and China posting gains. However, Japan’s Nikkei closed in red.

European markets were trading positively, while US markets had ended lower on Friday.

Oil prices also slipped, with Brent crude falling 1.15% to USD 68.87 per barrel.

Meanwhile, Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) sold shares worth Rs 3,366.40 crore on Friday, as per exchange data.