Navi Mumbai: The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has achieved the highest Super Swachh rating in the Swachh Survekshan, securing third place nationally and first in the state. Commissioner Dr. Kailash Shinde emphasised transforming the cleanliness campaign into a sustainable movement rather than mere competition, enabling maximum public participation. Diverse stakeholders, including students, NGOs, and marginalized groups, were actively involved to foster a clean city identity.

The city’s waste management strategy is notable, with the generation of 750 tons of waste daily, comprising 350 tons of wet and 400 tons of dry waste. The corporation employs a fleet of 206 vehicles for transportation, equipped with GPS trackers for real-time monitoring.

Waste processing projects at 38 sites convert wet waste into biogas and fertiliser while reusing construction waste for paver blocks. The old dumping ground has been transformed into a nature park, and innovative projects, like processing old clothes, have garnered national recognition.

In terms of sanitation facilities, Navi Mumbai boasts a nearly complete sewerage network (99.9%), processes all sewage, and repurposes the output for parks and industries. Public amenities include 465 toilets, and sanitation workers are honoured as Swachhatadut. The city achieved a seven-star rating for waste management and the highest Water Plus rating for its open defecation-free efforts. Future plans aim to enhance the Swachhata Abhiyan and develop projects for energy and biogas generation from waste.

In the Swachh Survekshan 2024-25, Indore, Surat, and Navi Mumbai emerged as the cleanest cities. The MoHUA ceremony recognized 78 cities and institutions for sanitation excellence, with Prayagraj awarded Best Ganga Town and Secunderabad Cantonment Board commended for sanitation efforts. Cities like Visakhapatnam were honoured for sanitation worker safety.

An assessment framework spotlighted 34 Promising Swachh Shehars, and President Murmu emphasised sustainable growth. The Swachh City Partnership links top performers with underperformers, while the Accelerated Dumpsite Remediation Programme addresses legacy waste. MoHUA officials stressed long-term strategies for Viksit Bharat 2047.

Bengaluru: In a joint operation, the Maharashtra police and Mysuru police have raided a narcotics manufacturing factory on the outer ring road of Mysuiru and seized 13 kg of MDMA and 37 kg of liquid being used to manufacture MDMA, all worth over Rs 100 crore in the international market.

Interestingly, the narcotics manufactured here were being supplied to Maharashtra and the raiding police squad have arrested four persons in this connection. The Mysuru city Commissioner has suspended the Narasimharaja police station inspector Lakshmikanth Talawar for dereliction of duty, under whose jurisdiction the factory comes.

Recently, a drug peddler who was arrested by the Maharashtra police had confessed that he was procuring drugs from Mysuru. He had told the police that a large quantity of the MDMA was stored in Mysuru either in the form of powder or pills and was being supplied to Maharashtra.

Based on the information, the Maharashtra police approached the Mysuru City Police Commissioner Seema Latkar, who organised the raid. In the early hours on Sunday, the police team raided an old garage near Belavattha in the outer ring road. Among the four arrested, two are from Mysuru and the other two are outsiders. The police have refused to divulge any details of the arrested, as it would hamper the future investigations.

Reacting to the drug factory in Mysuru, Karnataka Home Minister Dr G Parameshwar said that it was a disturbing development, as Mysuru was a quiet place without much such activities.

“Now we have unearthed the factory, we are taking strict action against such activities. Even our police are investigating various angles of the incident,” he added.

Mumbai: After nearly a decade since the Maharashtra government entrusted the redevelopment of the historic Bombay Development Department (BDD) chawls to the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA), the first set of redeveloped homes is finally ready for handover in Worli, likely on Independence Day.

Built between 1920 and 1925, the BDD chawls were among the city’s earliest affordable housing units, constructed to accommodate mill, dock, and railway workers. The redevelopment project began in earnest in 2016 and in 2021, MHADA initiated work on 14 buildings in Worli.

2 Towers Ready For Possession

Now, two of those towers, each 40 storeys tall, are ready for possession, pending a final date from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CMs Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar. By this Independence Day, 556 flats in Worli are expected to be allocated to residents,

Originally scheduled for handover on Gudi Padwa (March 30), the ceremony was delayed due to construction-related issues. This year, MHADA expects to complete a total of 3,989 flats: 2,246 in Worli, 1,401 in Naigaon and 342 at N M Joshi Road.

What Will BDD Residents Get After Redevelopment?

The shift marks a massive improvement in living standards for residents, who will move from 160 sq. ft. units to spacious 500 sq. ft. homes. Each new flat includes a living room, master bedroom with attached bath, a second bedroom, a separate bathroom, dining space and a utility area.

MHADA is also providing community facilities including a clubhouse, school, hospital, playground, library, welfare centre, dispensary, society office, and community hall. According to the report, Kiran Mane, General Secretary of the Akhil BDD Chawl Bhadekaru Hakk Sarankshan Samiti, confirmed that residents will receive individual parking spaces and that maintenance will be covered for 12 years through a dedicated fund.

Systematic Plan For Mass Redevelopment

The Rs 16,000 crore project covers 121 chawls in Worli, 42 in Naigaon, 32 in NM Joshi Marg and 12 in Sewri. Through redevelopment, MHADA plans to use 68 per cent of the land to rehouse original tenants, while the remainder will be sold to private developers to recover costs.

In future phases, MHADA will rehouse 5,198 families in Worli alone and develop a 1.8 lakh sq. metre commercial complex. Additionally, housing through lotteries will be offered to 1,860 middle-income and 1,036 high-income families.

Work continues at other sites, with Naigaon units expected by March 2026 and N M Joshi Road housing 1,260 families by April 2026. Redevelopment in Sewri will follow post the land transfer from the central government.