Maharashtra
Cessed buildings: Bombay High Court wants mechanism wherein developers stop re-development midway
Mumbai: The Bombay High Court recently initiated a suo-motu (on its own) petition to develop a mechanism for situations where developers stop re-development midway, leaving tenants without home or transit rent for decades.
The division bench of Justices Gautam Patel and SG Dige observed that in Mumbai it’s an “increasingly common problem of the human condition” where projects are abandoned. A consequent dereliction in payment of property tax would result in the civic body and Maharashtra Housing Area Development Authority having a claim against the property itself.
“With the members (tenants) out of their homes, deprived of transit rent, the building incomplete (or, in some cases, not constructed at all), and years and even decades passing without a resolution in sight? Entire generations pass in the meantime,” said the justices, adding, “We have to ask ourselves if this is really what society re-development means or was ever intended to mean, and whether encouraging or incentivising private participation in such projects is meant to only benefit profit-driven developers when it should primarily assist the residents of this city?”
According to a report from November 2019, nearly 50,000 families are stranded due to stalled redevelopment in over 2,152 cessed buildings in Mumbai.
After being informed about an amendment to the MHADA Act is yet to be enforced, the court said its orders in the present petition can be used as a model till then.
The court passed the order in a petition filed by one Upkar Kochhar seeking arrears of transit rent and allotment in a redevelopment premises. Mr Kochhar and 44 other tenants had vacated their cessed premises known as Ratilal Mansion at Parekh Street in Girgaon in 2009. The private developer, Orbit Corporation Ltd, was in liquidation.
As for now, there are arrears of property tax, an attachment is levied by the MCGM. And in the meantime, the society members are in a difficult situation without rent.
Crime
Accused of demanding ₹2.5 crore extortion from hotel owner, all arrested
Mumbai: Gangster DK Rao and 6 others accused of demanding ₹2.5 crore extortion from hotel owner, all arrested.
The Anti-Extortion Cell of Mumbai Crime Branch received a complaint from a hotel owner, in which he made serious allegations. According to the complaint, notorious gangster DK Rao and his six associates conspired and tried to take over the hotel. Apart from this, they demanded ₹2.5 crore extortion from the hotel owner and threatened to kill him if their demand was not met.
Taking this matter seriously, the Anti-Extortion Cell of Mumbai Crime Branch took immediate action. Based on the information and evidence provided by the hotel owner, an FIR was registered against the accused under the relevant sections of the Indian Justice Code.
After interrogation and investigation, the police have arrested gangster DK Rao and his six other associates. All these accused are now in police custody. According to police officials, other aspects related to this conspiracy are being thoroughly investigated from the accused.
DCP Datta Nalawade said that the case is part of the ongoing police action against organised crime and extortion in the city. He said that the police will complete all evidence and legal procedures to ensure strict punishment to the culprits in such cases.
At present, the case is being investigated in depth and the police are trying to ensure that the hotel owner and other victims get justice.
Maharashtra
Ban on petrol-diesel vehicles in Mumbai Metropolitan Region? Committee formed to promote CNG and electric vehicles
Mumbai: The government has taken a big step to deal with the problem of increasing traffic jam and pollution in Mumbai. A committee of experts has been formed to ban petrol and diesel vehicles in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and promote CNG and electric vehicles.
Court’s concern and order
The Mumbai High Court had expressed serious concern over the suo-moto petition filed regarding traffic jam and pollution.
The Court said that the existing measures are inadequate to control the increasing number of vehicles and pollution in Mumbai.
- This problem is not only disturbing the environmental balance but is also having a negative impact on the efficiency, standard of living and health of the citizens.
Committee formation
On the instructions of the court, the state government has formed an expert committee to study this problem and suggest solutions.
Chairman of the Committee: Former IAS officer Sudhirkumar Srivastava.
Committee members:
- State Transport Commissioner.
- Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Maharashtra.
- Managing Director of Mahanagar Gas.
- Project Director of Mahavitaran.
- President of Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers.
Secretary: Joint Transport Commissioner, Maharashtra.
Objectives of the Committee
- Study of the possibility of banning petrol-diesel vehicles.
- Suggesting concrete steps to promote CNG and electric vehicles.
- Analysis of the environmental and economic effects of this decision.
Time limit for submitting the report
The committee will complete its study within three months and submit the report to the government. The government will take further decision based on this report.
Cause and solution of pollution
Smoke emitted from vehicles is the main reason for increasing pollution in Mumbai.
- The court said that pollution is having a bad effect on the health of citizens along with environmental imbalance.
Objective of the government
The government wants to solve the problem of pollution and traffic jam by promoting CNG and electric vehicles. This is expected to improve the standard of living of Mumbaikars.
Traffic and pollution have become big problems in a metropolis like Mumbai. Banning petrol-diesel vehicles and using eco-friendly vehicles can be a positive step in this direction. However, to make it successful, development of infrastructure and change in the mindset of the public will also be necessary.
Maharashtra
16 ministers are still waiting for PA, what problems are they facing in work?
Mumbai: PA (Personal Assistant) plays an important role in the functioning of ministers. PA is required for daily administrative work, management of meetings of ministers, implementation of government policies etc. But at present, work is being hampered due to vacant posts of PA in the offices of many ministers.
Due to delay in appointment of PA, ministers are facing difficulties in discharging their responsibilities. Some ministers have demanded the administration to complete the selection process quickly. However, this situation has arisen due to administrative delay and procedural bottlenecks.
There is a need to appoint persons with proper qualifications and skills, because due to absence of PA, ministers may fail to manage time properly and maintain balance in work. This situation may have a negative impact on the decision making process of the government.
Ministers have expectations of filling the vacant posts soon by increasing coordination between the ruling party and the administration. This will improve the pace of work and timely implementation of government policies will be possible. There is a big challenge before the government to complete this process quickly.
Who are those 16 ministers?
16 ministers in the state cabinet are still awaiting the appointment of personal assistants (PAs). These include Sanjay Rathod, Prakash Abitkar, Girish Mahajan, Gulabrao Patil, Ganesh Naik, Nitesh Rane, Uday Samant, Dadaji Bhuse, Jaykumar Rawal, Atul Save, Shambhuraj Desai, Ashish Shelar, Aditi Tatkare, Jaykumar Gore, Makarand Patil and Akash Fundkar.
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