Mumbai: After facing flak from the Bombay High Court over unabated encroachments and the prolonged issue of rehabilitating slumdwellers in Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), the state government has drawn up a plan to construct a protective wall around the park at a cost of approximately Rs 196 crore.

As many as 16 government resolutions (GR) were issued on Monday to accord administrative approval for the construction of the compound wall that aims to protect the 103.84sq km park spread across Mumbai and Thane districts.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is likely to chair a meeting on Tuesday to discuss the rehabilitation plan for 90 acres of land that will be handed over to the Maharashtra Housing Area and Development Authority (MHADA). After the meeting, the state will file an affidavit before the HC to spell out its plan to protect the park, as well as the rehabilitation of slumdwellers.

While hearing a contempt petition over non-compliance with a 1995 order of the HC in a public interest litigation (PIL), a bench comprising the then Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar had directed the state to file an affidavit on the steps taken to ensure removal of the slums that had come up before January 1, 1995.

Observation Made By The Bench

“We cannot allow SGNP to slip away from Mumbai city. We just cannot allow it,” the bench had said. “What would happen if encroachment reaches the two lakes in the park that supply water to Mumbai,” the bench had asked.

The state is likely to submit details of the plan for the construction of the protective wall as well as the administrative approval given to it. The wall, according to the GRs, will be built covering areas such as Mulund, Yeoor, and Ghodbunder Road (Thane), near the Vihar Lake, Dahisar, and Magathane.

Former Maharashtra minister and Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray on Monday slammed trolls for doubting cricketer Mohammed Shami and writer Javed Akhtar’s patriotism because of their religion during the India vs Pakistan match in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy.

Taking to X, Aaditya wrote, “The worst of where our andh bhakts are taking our country to.”

“Doubting Shami and Javed Akhtar ji on their patriotism because of their religion. Both proud Indians, contributing actively to Indian glory through their own skill,” he added.

Shiv Sena (UBT) pointed out that BJP leader and former union minister Anurag Thakur was spotted watching the match with former Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi, who has been “outspokenly anti-Bharat.”

“But the same trolls are too afraid to speak on a BJP leader and former minister who sat with a cricketer who has been outspokenly anti-Bharat. The very same former minister whose party tells every other opposition member to ‘go to Pakistan’ and this minister screams ‘desh ke gaddaron ko’ on the streets,” he said.

Highlighting both incidents, he questioned, “Aaj desh ka gaddar kaun hai?”

Aaditya further said that if the politician was from any party other than the BJP, it would have resulted in FIRs, protests, being called anti-India, and being told to go to Pakistan.

Targeting BJP for its ‘divisive’ politics, he said, “Sadly, this is what the BJP’s philosophy is – create divisions within our own country, make us fight within our own country – divide Hindus and Muslims – so that BJP can win. But their bosses and boss’s families can chill, party with those from Pakistan, especially those who have been openly anti-India.”

Upping his attack on the BJP, he said “this is the same BJP-run BCCI that played cricket with Bangladesh (in an informal tournament by invitation) when the BJP’s social media ecosystem and media told us that Hindus in Bangladesh faced violence.”

“BJP now is: Elections done, Hindus forgotten, Patriotism forgotten. Or is it ‘time please’ for BJP from patriotism,” the Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA said.

“When they teach you patriotism and Hindutva again, show them this photo of their leader enjoying the match with the anti-India cricketer and ask the BJP if they are ok with this? My Patriotism and Hindutva is clear: respect mine, I respect yours. But no compromise with hate – of any kind, from anyone,” he concluded his post with these remarks.

Along with the post, Aaditya shared several screenshots in which trolls targeted Javed Akhtar and Mohammed Shami over their religious beliefs. He also shared a picture of Anurag Thakur and Shahid Afridi and a screenshot of a news article about Shahid Afridi’s anti-India remarks.

Thane: A massive fire broke out in the Bhiwandi area of Maharashtra’s Thane district on Sunday night, February 23, causing chaos and disruption. The blaze erupted near Vedant Hospital at Vanjarpatti Naka around 10:30 pm, engulfing an auto parts shop and leading an immediate emergency response.

Two fire tenders and local police arrived swiftly to tackle the raging flames. Visuals of the blaze surfaced on the internet. As the fire spread, vehicular traffic was severely affected, leading to traffic jams in the Vanjarpatti Naka area. The Bhiwandi Nizampur Municipal Corporation (BNMC) dispatched five additional fire engines to aid in firefighting operations.

Fire Doused Off After 4 Hours

After several hours of intense efforts, the fire was brought under control by 2 am on Monday. Cooling operations continued into the morning to prevent any rekindling of the flames. An official from the BNMC’s fire control services confirmed that an investigation was underway to determine the exact cause of the fire.

Another Major Fire Reported Just Days Before

Just days before, on Wednesday, February 19, another major fire erupted at a logistics company godown in Bhiwandi, leading to the widespread destruction of stored goods, including perfumes and cardboards. The blaze broke out around 4:30 am at the godown near Yevai Naka on the Mumbai-Nashik Highway.

Civic officials from the BNMC stated that, fortunately, no casualties were reported in this incident. However, the fire caused major material losses as it consumed the warehouse’s contents. Firefighters battled the flames for several hours, finally bringing the situation under control by 1 pm.

The cause of this fire is also under investigation, as authorities seek to understand whether it was due to an accident, negligence, or other factors.

These back-to-back incidents have raised concerns among residents and local authorities about fire safety measures in Bhiwandi. The area, known for its warehouses and commercial hubs, may require stricter safety protocols and inspections to prevent such dangerous events in the future.