Mumbai: After facing flak from the Bombay High Court over unabated encroachments and the prolonged issue of rehabilitating slumdwellers in Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), the state government has drawn up a plan to construct a protective wall around the park at a cost of approximately Rs 196 crore.

As many as 16 government resolutions (GR) were issued on Monday to accord administrative approval for the construction of the compound wall that aims to protect the 103.84sq km park spread across Mumbai and Thane districts.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is likely to chair a meeting on Tuesday to discuss the rehabilitation plan for 90 acres of land that will be handed over to the Maharashtra Housing Area and Development Authority (MHADA). After the meeting, the state will file an affidavit before the HC to spell out its plan to protect the park, as well as the rehabilitation of slumdwellers.

While hearing a contempt petition over non-compliance with a 1995 order of the HC in a public interest litigation (PIL), a bench comprising the then Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar had directed the state to file an affidavit on the steps taken to ensure removal of the slums that had come up before January 1, 1995.

Observation Made By The Bench

“We cannot allow SGNP to slip away from Mumbai city. We just cannot allow it,” the bench had said. “What would happen if encroachment reaches the two lakes in the park that supply water to Mumbai,” the bench had asked.

The state is likely to submit details of the plan for the construction of the protective wall as well as the administrative approval given to it. The wall, according to the GRs, will be built covering areas such as Mulund, Yeoor, and Ghodbunder Road (Thane), near the Vihar Lake, Dahisar, and Magathane.

Mumbai, Feb 25: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for a heatwave in Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, and Navi Mumbai for the next three days, with no significant relief in sight.

The IMD reported that temperatures are currently six to seven degrees above normal, with Mumbai recording 38.5 degrees Celcius in February –the highest for the month in five years. The city is experiencing hot and sultry weather, with afternoon temperatures soaring past 36 degrees, making conditions increasingly uncomfortable.

According to private weather agency Skymet, Mumbai will remain humid and hot for the rest of the month, with multiple factors contributing to the muggy conditions. The delayed onset of the sea breeze, prolonged exposure to land winds, and rising mercury levels will continue to add to the discomfort.

The financial capital has been witnessing soaring temperatures for over a week. The Santacruz observatory has consistently recorded temperatures above 36 degrees, with a high of 36.7 degrees on February 14 — the warmest in two months.

Prior to that, Mumbai recorded 37.3 degrees on December 4, 2024. On Monday, Santacruz registered a high of 36.3 degrees, around 4.5 degrees above normal, according to Skymet.

Meteorologists attribute the scorching conditions to a combination of factors. An anticyclone over the northern and eastern Arabian Sea, coupled with another over Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, is pushing warm air towards Mumbai.

Additionally, a north-south trough extending across Coastal Karnataka, Konkan, and Goa is altering wind patterns. As a result, the city is experiencing hot land winds from the east and southeast, instead of the usual cooling sea breeze.

The delayed onset of the sea breeze is playing a crucial role in Mumbai’s rising temperatures. Typically, the sea breeze sets in around noon, helping regulate daytime temperatures.

However, even an hour’s delay can push temperatures up by 2-3 degrees. Over the past few days, hot northeasterly winds have dominated afternoon conditions, making them unbearably warm.

Meteorologists predict that Mumbai will continue to experience temperatures around or above 36 degrees on Tuesday, with high humidity adding to the discomfort. The heatwave conditions are expected to persist for at least another week, keeping Mumbaikars sweating through the final days of February.

Former Maharashtra minister and Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray on Monday slammed trolls for doubting cricketer Mohammed Shami and writer Javed Akhtar’s patriotism because of their religion during the India vs Pakistan match in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy.

Taking to X, Aaditya wrote, “The worst of where our andh bhakts are taking our country to.”

“Doubting Shami and Javed Akhtar ji on their patriotism because of their religion. Both proud Indians, contributing actively to Indian glory through their own skill,” he added.

Shiv Sena (UBT) pointed out that BJP leader and former union minister Anurag Thakur was spotted watching the match with former Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi, who has been “outspokenly anti-Bharat.”

“But the same trolls are too afraid to speak on a BJP leader and former minister who sat with a cricketer who has been outspokenly anti-Bharat. The very same former minister whose party tells every other opposition member to ‘go to Pakistan’ and this minister screams ‘desh ke gaddaron ko’ on the streets,” he said.

Highlighting both incidents, he questioned, “Aaj desh ka gaddar kaun hai?”

Aaditya further said that if the politician was from any party other than the BJP, it would have resulted in FIRs, protests, being called anti-India, and being told to go to Pakistan.

Targeting BJP for its ‘divisive’ politics, he said, “Sadly, this is what the BJP’s philosophy is – create divisions within our own country, make us fight within our own country – divide Hindus and Muslims – so that BJP can win. But their bosses and boss’s families can chill, party with those from Pakistan, especially those who have been openly anti-India.”

Upping his attack on the BJP, he said “this is the same BJP-run BCCI that played cricket with Bangladesh (in an informal tournament by invitation) when the BJP’s social media ecosystem and media told us that Hindus in Bangladesh faced violence.”

“BJP now is: Elections done, Hindus forgotten, Patriotism forgotten. Or is it ‘time please’ for BJP from patriotism,” the Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA said.

“When they teach you patriotism and Hindutva again, show them this photo of their leader enjoying the match with the anti-India cricketer and ask the BJP if they are ok with this? My Patriotism and Hindutva is clear: respect mine, I respect yours. But no compromise with hate – of any kind, from anyone,” he concluded his post with these remarks.

Along with the post, Aaditya shared several screenshots in which trolls targeted Javed Akhtar and Mohammed Shami over their religious beliefs. He also shared a picture of Anurag Thakur and Shahid Afridi and a screenshot of a news article about Shahid Afridi’s anti-India remarks.