Former BJP MP Kirit Somaiya, in a letter to the Municipal Commissioner of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Ashwini Bhide, has demanded strict guidelines and enforcement of bans on the open and illegal slaughter of animals in residential areas, societies, and open spaces during Bakri Eid.

In the letter dated November 4, Somaiya stated that he has been following up on this issue with the municipal corporation for the past two years.

He highlighted that animals are frequently slaughtered illegally in open spaces, housing societies, chawls, public squares, and streets.

Somaiya specifically pointed out that open slaughters routinely take place in areas such as Shivaji Nagar, Govandi, Mankhurd, Kurla, Malwani, Byculla, Bhendi Bazaar, Vikhroli Park Site, Ghatkopar (West), Mumbadevi, and Goldeval.

He alleged that municipal officials often ignore complaints from local residents and respond with irresponsible or negligent circulars.

He noted that open slaughters cannot be permitted in residential housing societies and chawls.

He suggested that if members of the Muslim community wish to perform sacrifices for religious rituals, the municipal corporation should arrange designated stalls, shops, or spaces within nearby markets rather than permitting open-air slaughter.

He emphasised that there is no scarcity of market spaces near residential localities across Mumbai to facilitate alternative arrangements.

Somaiya further claimed that certain individuals deliberately carry out open slaughter and issue threats to intimidate Hindus, calling for strict police action against such acts.

He also urged the civic body to launch public awareness campaigns—involving religious leaders and artists from the Muslim community—to propagate that open-air slaughtering of animals during Bakri Eid will not be permitted.

He appealed to the Municipal Commissioner to review existing regulations and ensure their strict enforcement to curb environmental pollution, foul water runoff, blood discharge, and intimidation in residential localities.

Taking to social media platform X, Somaiya publicly shared details of his letter, calling for urgent administrative measures to prevent urban filth, environmental pollution, and animal cruelty resulting from unauthorized open-air sacrifices.

“Goats cannot be slaughtered in residential complexes, housing societies, and chawls on the occasion of Bakri Eid,” Somaiya stated, adding that “I have requested the Mumbai Mayor, BMC, and Police Commissioner. We will NOT allow open slaughter in the name of religious ceremony.”

Somaiya in his social media post, also called on prominent Bollywood personalities and public figures—specifically naming actors Diya Mirza, Naseeruddin Shah, Aamir Khan, Shahrukh Khan, Salman Khan, and Shabana Azmi—asking civic authorities and citizens to issue public appeals raising awareness against pollution, filth, and cruelty associated with non-standardized animal slaughter during festival celebrations.

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited (APSEZ) on Thursday announced the acquisition of Netherlands-based Evos B.V., Europe’s second-largest independent liquid storage operator, in an all-cash transaction valued at an enterprise value of 2.56 billion euros.

Under the agreement, APSEZ will acquire a 100 per cent stake in Evos from Igneo Infrastructure Partners.

The deal values Evos at an equity value of 1.18 billion euros and implies an acquisition multiple of 11.7 times CY25 EV/EBITDA.

The transaction will be funded through debt and remains subject to regulatory approvals and works council consultation.

“APSEZ, India’s largest and one of the world’s fastest growing Integrated Transport Operator, agrees to acquire 100 per cent stake in Netherlands-headquartered Evos B.V. (Evos) from Igneo Infrastructure Partners. The proposed transaction is an all-cash deal at an enterprise value of 2.56 bn euros,” the official statement said.

For calendar year 2025, Evos reported revenue of 392 million euros and EBITDA of 219 million euros, translating into a robust EBITDA margin of 56 per cent.

Following the acquisition, the combined entity’s pro forma net debt-to-EBITDA ratio is expected to stand at 2.76 times and decline to around 2.5 times by FY27.

Commenting on the deal, Karan Adani, Managing Director of APSEZ, said the acquisition marks a significant milestone in the company’s journey toward handling one billion tonnes of cargo and building a truly global integrated transport platform.

“Evos marks an important milestone in APSEZ’s trajectory towards handling 1 billion tons of cargo and building a truly global, integrated transport platform. We are delighted to welcome Evos into our portfolio, giving us significant presence across key global liquid storage and energy hubs,” Karan Adani noted.

“We look forward to partnering with Europe, supporting its sustainable energy transition and creating enduring value while maintaining the financial prudence that underpins our growth,” he added.

Headquartered in the Netherlands, Evos operates 6.3 million cubic metres of storage capacity across eight strategically located port-based terminals in the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Belgium and Malta.

The company has a presence in major energy and industrial hubs, including the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp region, Hamburg and the Mediterranean.

At least two people have died, while another injured person was rescued from the rubble after a three-storey under-construction building collapsed in Old Delhi Chawri Bazaar on Thursday, officials said.

Several people are still feared trapped, according to rescue officials.

The information about the collapse was received at 9:50 a.m. from Gali Sitara, near Chawri Bazaar Metro Station, they said.

Subsequently, six fire units, including a water tender and other rescue vehicles, were rushed to the incident site.

Rescue operations are currently underway, and further details are awaited.

The incident comes amid a festive rush in one of the busiest markets in the national capital.

This comes two months after the tragic building collapse in Delhi’s Satya Niketan, which claimed seven lives.

The collapse occurred on the afternoon of September 6. Due to the weekend and concurrent rainfall, students were inside the building at the time of the collapse.

Following the tragedy, the Supreme Court had directed authorities across the country to file affidavits on the steps taken to comply with its earlier directions on unauthorised constructions.

The incident had also prompted the Delhi government to initiate action against MCD officials, with five officials suspended and directions issued for a drive against buildings having unauthorised fifth floors.

A series of other tragic building collapses in the national capital in the past few months.

A portion of a multi-storied building collapsed in north Delhi’s Seemapuri area on October 7. Four people were killed in the incident.

On October 25, an under-construction structure (ground-plus-two floors) in Milan Garden, Harsh Vihar in Northeast Delhi collapsed after an illegal attempt to add an extra lintel/floor caused the lower slab to cave in.

A 60-year-old father, Chanderpal, and his 33-year-old son, Vijay Kumar, lost their lives.