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Maharashtra

BMC Orders Strict On-Site Engineer Presence For Desilting, Mandatory Mesh Barriers To Prevent Plastic Waste

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Mumbai: To enforce strict accountability and transparency in the desilting of rivers and drains, Deputy and Assistant Engineers must remain on-site full-time without exception. Work shall follow rigorous drain-wise and day-wise planning, with mandatory daily updates in the system, warned Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) Abhijit Bangar on Wednesday. Installation of mesh barriers at key points to prevent floating solid waste—especially plastic—has been made compulsory; non-compliance will not be tolerated, he added.

As part of pre-monsoon works, desilting of rivers and major and minor drains across Mumbai is underway. Bangar inspected ongoing river and drain-cleaning operations in the western suburbs on Wednesday. He conducted on-site visits to Walbhat River in Goregaon (East) near the Western Express Highway, Oshiwara River near the Goregaon (West) Metro station, the SNDT drain near Gazdharbandh pumping station, and the North Avenue drain in Santacruz (West).

Bangar began his inspection at the Walbhat River in Goregaon (East), which originates from Sanjay Gandhi National Park and flows about 5 km through Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari and Gokuldham before meeting the Bimbisar nullah. Noting heavy silt inflow from the national park during monsoon, he reviewed ongoing desilting works and directed that excavated silt be disposed of within the stipulated time and prevented from re-entering the river. Bangar also instructed that ramps for deploying heavy machinery be constructed under the supervision of Storm Water Drains (SWD) and ward engineers, who must remain present on-site. To avoid public misunderstanding, he further directed that clear signage be displayed at ramp sites explaining the purpose of the work.

He also reviewed the recurring waterlogging near Oberoi Mall, Goregaon (East), caused by obstruction in the Piramal nullah originating from Dindoshi.

Bangar stressed the need for a permanent solution, directing the SWD Department to overcome constraints posed by traffic on the Western Express Highway. He ordered thorough desilting and cleaning of culverts with mandatory video documentation, and instructed steps to enhance flow capacity. Noting that two 5 m x 2.5 m culverts beneath the Oberoi Mall junction have lost capacity due to utility lines and heavy siltation, he directed removal of all debris and careful, possibly mechanised cleaning, ensuring no public inconvenience.

Bangar called for augmentation of the SWD near the SRPF compound service road in P South ward, where drainage is sluggish. He instructed immediate pumping arrangements for monsoon relief, along with preparation and approval of estimates, tendering during the monsoon, and execution post-monsoon. At Oshiwara River near Goregaon (West) Metro station, he noted that a permanent ramp has been successfully provided for deploying machinery, calling it a good practice model. Bangar reviewed ongoing works at Oshiwara River, Mogra Nullah, and Irla Nullah, where pumping stations are being constructed.

During inspection of the SNDT nullah at Bandra (West), Bangar noted that multiple drains—including Shastri Nagar, Relief Road, PNT, Raheja Plot, North Avenue, South Avenue, and Main Avenue—feed into it, causing earlier flooding in the Link Road and SV Road (J.K. Mehta Road) stretch. He observed that box drains at Link Road and drainage upgrades at J.K. Mehta Road have resolved waterlogging, while 3-metre-high mesh barriers at Main Avenue have significantly reduced solid waste inflow. He directed thorough cleaning of culverts 24 and 25 near the railway colony stretch of SV Road and instructed coordination with Metro authorities to ensure timely completion of works in active construction zones.

Maharashtra

Youth are not with you, you are just doing politics, Shrikant Shinde attacks the opposition

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During the debate in the Lok Sabha on the amendment bill to prevent irregularities in public examinations, Shiv Sena MP Dr. Shrikant Shinde lashed out at the opposition. He said that while the Modi government is taking decisive steps to secure the future of the youth, the opposition is merely playing politics over the students’ woes. Dr. Shinde remarked that the anger expressed by the youth should not be seen as a mere protest but as the beginning of a systemic change. No single exam determines the entire life of a student. If a student does not succeed in an exam, he should not despair but focus on the future of his life, his family and the country.

Urging the youth to draw inspiration from the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, he said that Shivaji Maharaj laid the foundation of Hindu Swarajya by conquering his first fort at the age of just sixteen. Today’s youth also have the power to change the nation. Only the right direction and a strong system are needed. Dr. Shinde said that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government has not only condemned the incidents of paper leaks but has also taken concrete steps to clean up the entire system. Citing the moral accountability of the government, he pointed out that Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned from his post, and now, through this amendment bill, arrangements are being made for fast-track courts so that the accused in the paper leak case are punished at the earliest. He stressed that the government’s aim is not just to imprison the culprits but to save a precious year of millions of students. Stressing the need for educational reforms, Dr. Shinde said that the result of years of hard work and the fulfillment of dreams of families should not depend on a single three-hour exam. Students should get the opportunity to appear for the exam several times a year. The government should also take steps towards developing a question bank system, reducing the increasing mental pressure on students and implementing effective regulations for the coaching industry. He said that the Mahayoti government in Maharashtra has taken a historic initiative to provide free education to the economically weaker sections and girls belonging to EC-BC categories. This government is not just making laws but is committed to comprehensive reforms in the education system. Attacking the opposition hard, Dr. Shrikant Shinde remarked that those who are now claiming to champion the youth failed to go to Jantar Mantar during the 37-day-long student protest. They feared the emergence of a new political alternative. Now, seeing their political platform slipping, they have started doing politics in the name of the youth. He challenged the opposition to first clarify whether the youth are really with them. Inciting the emotions of the students, abusing the government, and spreading misinformation does not offer any solution to the problem. In a democracy, the government interacted with the students, listened to their concerns, and even withdrew the cases registered against them in several instances. This shows the strength of democracy and the sensitivity of the Modi government. Dr. Shinde stressed that this amendment bill is not just a law to stop paper leaks but is a firm commitment to secure the future of millions of youth, ensure transparency in the examination system and bring about educational reforms. The opposition should put aside politics and stand in support of the youth of the country and their future. During the parliamentary debate on the Examination Reforms Bill, Shiv Sena MP Dr. Shrikant Shinde said that comprehensive reforms are needed in the examination system of the country. He pointed out that conducting important examinations like NEET only once a year puts unnecessary pressure on lakhs of students. Dr. Shinde noted that many students miss the examination due to illness, family reasons or other circumstances, with students from rural areas facing more difficulties in particular. In such a situation, they lose an entire year. He suggested that serious consideration should be given to conducting the NEET examination more than once a year. In many countries, such examinations are held twice a year. Implementing a similar system in India will give students a second chance and reduce mental stress. Dr. Shinde said that the systems governing not only NEET but also other competitive exams should be updated with the changing times to ensure fair and better opportunities for students.

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Maharashtra

Terror in Mumbai! Zulfikar gang accused of demanding a week’s notice from a builder and killing him, Mumbai Crime Branch action, 12 goons arrested

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Mumbai: The Mumbai Crime Branch has claimed to have arrested gangster Zulfikar Behlim and his brother Mohsin Behlim for demanding a ransom of Rs 25 lakh from a builder. Both of them had demanded a ransom of Rs 25 lakh from the builder and also threatened to kill him. In this regard, the builder had registered a case against gangster Zulfiqar and his brother, including 12 gangsters. Crime Branch Unit 9 laid a trap and arrested these 12 accused while collecting the ransom. A case has been registered against the accused under the Extortion and Arms Acts. The court has ordered the accused to be remanded till July 31. Zulfikar and Mohsin had created terror in Mumbai city and suburbs and had also tried to demand ransom from several builders. Therefore, the police have appealed that if this gang has demanded ransom from anyone, they can register a complaint against them with the police and the Crime Branch. This action was taken by Mumbai Police Commissioner Devin Bharti Joint Police Commissioner Anil The investigation was carried out by Kanbhare DCP Nunath Dhole and Crime Unit In-charge Sachin Pranak.

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Maharashtra

Chona Bhatti MCOCA and murder suspect arrested from Navi Mumbai

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Mumbai: Crime Branch has claimed to have arrested an accused wanted in murder and MCOCA at Chunabhatti Police Station in Mumbai. He was hiding in Navi Mumbai, adjoining Mumbai, hiding his identity. The Mumbai Crime Branch received information about this. The Crime Branch conducted a raid in Kharghar, Navi Mumbai and arrested the absconding accused, Swastik Sawant, 32. A case was registered against him at Chunabhatti Police Station in 2023 and he was hiding in Sindhudurg, Goa, Chennai, Rajasthan, and Delhi areas. Crime Branch Unit 6 started searching for the accused in this regard and then information was received that he was hiding in Navi Mumbai, after which he was arrested. This operation was carried out by DCP Nunath Dhola of Mumbai Crime Branch.

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