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Tuesday,17-June-2025
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Maharashtra

First in India, ‘Maharashtra Gene Bank’ project approved by State Cabinet

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With an aim to document native natural resources and conserve them with the help of the local community that will ensure not just biodiversity conservation but also inclusion of traditional knowledge, the Maharashtra Cabinet on Thursday approved the ‘Maharashtra Gene Bank’, a first-of-its-kind project in India.

While clearing the proposal for the Maharashtra Gene Bank, the Cabinet headed by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray considered that the recommendations of the two-volume report of the pilot project by the same name, if implemented properly, would help in better conservation of the state’s rich biodiversity that will also ensure availability of natural resources for the future generation.

The Cabinet’s decision would guarantee the permanent continuation of the project that was run as pilot by Maharashtra government’s Rajiv Gandhi Science & Technology Commission across 27 districts. It would now be run by the State Biodiversity Board to sustain and continue the work.

“The Chief Minister understood and supported that biodiversity conservation cannot be a time-bound project. It is essential for survival, especially in these times of changing climatic conditions. Now, it will be a permanent institutionalised system cutting across 10-12 departments,” member secretary, Maharashtra State Biodiversity Board (MSBB), Praveen Srivastava, told IANS.

The Maharashtra Gene Bank is unique because it has tried to authenticate traditional knowledge by scientific institutions such as the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune, and the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Goa, Srivastava said, adding that CSIR institutions, several agricultural universities in Maharashtra and 25-odd NGOs too were part of the pilot project.

The government also sanctioned Rs 172.39 crore for implementing the action plan for the next five years. Earlier, the Maharashtra government budget had created a separate account head for the same, which will benefit the local communities using traditional and scientific knowledge for sustainable development.

Marine biodiversity; local crop/seed varieties; indigenous cattle breeds; freshwater biodiversity; grassland, scrubland and animal grazing land biodiversity; conservation and management plans for areas under forest right, and rejuvenation of forest areas are the seven main themes identified for the Gene Bank work.

Ecologist and former Secretary in the government of India, Madhav Gadgil, had conceptualised the project that aims to bring the members of the grass-roots community and the scientific community together.

Maharashtra

Mumbai: Despite heavy rains, the threat of water shortage persists in Mumbai

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Mumbai: Despite heavy rains, the threat of water shortage persists in Mumbai. Now only 8.60 percent water is left in the lakes supplying water to Mumbai, so the administration has appealed not to waste water. It has been raining continuously in the city for the last two days. 86 mm of rain has been recorded in Kalabhata, Mumbai and 100 mm in Santacruz. Due to rain, the water level of Madhya Veternah has increased. Due to two days of rain, the water level of the lakes has increased, but there is still a threat of water shortage. Yellow and red alerts were issued due to rain in Palghar and Raigad of Mumbai, but today the rain stopped.

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Maharashtra

BMC orders strict action against those who dump industrial waste and garbage in drains, first case registered

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Mumbai: Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has now started strict action by registering a case against the factory owners and the concerned person who throw garbage and waste in the drains. Now throwing garbage in the drains is a crime and those who throw company’s garbage or waste in the drains without any reason will not be spared. In this case, BMC has registered the first case in Dharavi and the search for the unknown accused is on. Despite regular cleaning of drains in many areas of Mumbai, garbage is being dumped again. Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has started strict action against those who throw industrial waste and garbage in the drains in the backdrop of monsoon season.

Due to which there is a danger of blockage of drains, due to which the problem of waterlogging is increasing in the city. After cleaning the T-junction drain in Dharavi, it was found that a large amount of industrial waste has been dumped in it. Under monsoon works, work is being done to remove garbage from the rivers and drains of Mumbai Metropolitan Area. The work of removing garbage is going on in a planned manner and Artificial Intelligence (AI) system is being used for this work. Artificial Intelligence is helping a lot in increasing the effectiveness and transparency in the garbage removal work. Along with this, senior officials of Mumbai Municipal Corporation are directly visiting and inspecting the work of garbage removal from drains in the city, eastern suburbs and western suburbs. Apart from this, they are giving instructions to do the drain cleaning work properly.

Although the work of removing garbage from big and small drains has been completed, the drains have to be cleaned repeatedly due to the accumulation of floating garbage with the tide. The Solid Waste Management Department, Storm Water Drainage Department of Mumbai Municipal Corporation is working tirelessly. The work of removing garbage from drains and removing garbage is going on regularly. The Municipal Administration is taking many steps to prevent garbage from going into the drains. The Municipal Administration has laid nets at some places on an experimental basis to prevent garbage from going into the drains. However, various types of floating materials like thermocol, plastic bags, furniture, rubber, wrappers are being thrown into the drains by some individuals / establishments. Due to which the movement and drainage of sewage is being obstructed.

The Municipal Corporation recently cleaned the drain leading to the T-junction in Dharavi. Along with removing the garbage, floating objects were also removed. However, on Monday, June 16, 2025, when the officials of the North Zone Solid Waste Management Department inspected the drain, they found that unknown persons had thrown various industrial items like thermocol, rubber, wrappers, parcel boxes etc. into the drain. Taking serious cognizance of this and as per the instructions of the seniors, a complaint has been lodged at the Sahu Nagar Police Station. This act of obstructing the cleaning work of the drain is serious and is creating difficulties in disaster management. In this regard, a case has been registered against the accused under Section 326 (A) of the Indian Penal Code, 2023.

The police is searching for the concerned person / establishment. Citizens should not throw plastic bags, bottles, thermocol and other similar garbage in drains or sewers, so that the garbage does not get stuck and the drains do not get clogged and the water keeps flowing fast. Residents and citizens living near the drain should not throw any garbage directly in the drain with the Mumbai Municipal Corporation. Garbage should be thrown only in the garbage dump. The Mumbai Municipal Corporation administration is making a humble appeal to the citizens to cooperate with the Municipal Corporation administration.

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Maharashtra

Nitesh Rane criticized Uddhav

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Mumbai: Maharashtra minister Nitesh Rane criticized Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and said that Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray should be asked what is Aghori Puja, he is an expert in it, what is buried in his bungalow in Karjat, as well as what happens in Matoshree, should also be found out. He strongly criticized Uddhav and also called him Aghori CM. Nitesh Rane has claimed to ensure maritime security and patrol the sea with sea boats and modern boats.

He said that maritime security will be done on priority basis. So far, modern boats have been deployed to protect the sea coast and five boats have been added. Along with this, the sea is also being protected with CCTV cameras and drones. The process of monitoring illegal activities and suspicious persons is also going on. Necessary instructions have also been issued to keep the sea safe.

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