Maharashtra
Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar Directs Officials To Draft Policy For Renewing Lease Agreements Between Sports Clubs & Iconic Mumbai Maidans
Mumbai: Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has instructed officials to draft a detailed policy for renewing lease agreements between sports clubs and the iconic Oval, Azad, and Cross Maidans. Alongside the lease renewals, he stressed the importance of upgrading basic infrastructure, including the construction of washrooms and changing rooms at each of these grounds.
Pawar chaired a high-level meeting at Mantralaya to discuss the lease renewal process with officials from the revenue, sports, public works (PWD), and urban development departments. The meeting was attended by Sports Minister Dattatray Bharne, Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare, Finance Department Additional Chief Secretary OP Gupta, and BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani.
Maharashtra Deputy CM On Promoting Sports
Reiterating the government’s commitment to promoting sports, Pawar stressed the importance of a well-structured policy that balances the interests of sports clubs and government regulations.
“Encouraging sports and supporting athletes is a priority for this government. All relevant departments must collaborate to frame a fair and comprehensive policy,” he stated.
The Oval, Azad, and Cross Maidans serve as crucial training grounds for thousands of athletes in Mumbai. Managed by the revenue department but leased to sports clubs through the sports department, these grounds host over sixty clubs that provide training facilities to aspiring players. As part of the infrastructure upgrade, Pawar instructed officials to ensure that new washrooms and changing rooms are strategically placed at the corners of the grounds so they do not interfere with sporting activities. He also reinforced that the playgrounds must remain dedicated to sports purposes only. Once finalised, the comprehensive lease renewal policy will be presented before the state cabinet for approval.
Maharashtra
Tansa Lake, which supplies water to Mumbai, is full.

Mumbai: Tansa Lake, one of the seven lakes supplying water to the Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) area, overflowed today (July 22, 2026). The BMC’s Hydraulic Engineer Department reported that the lake started overflowing at 8:51 am today. Out of the seven lakes supplying water to the BMC area, Vihar Lake started overflowing at 9:00 pm on July 7, 2026. Soon after, on the same day, July 7, 2026, Tulsi Lake also started overflowing at 11:43 pm. Now Taunsa Lake has also started overflowing since this morning. As a result, as of July 22, 2026, three of the seven lakes supplying water to the BMC area are overflowing. The water level in the reservoirs has increased rapidly due to continuous, heavy rains in the catchment areas for the past few days. As per the measurements taken at 6:00 am today, the total water storage in all seven lakes is 61.90 per cent of their total capacity. Tansa Dam is located in Shahpur taluka of Thane district and is one of the few dams in the country that are built with stone masonry. The maximum water storage capacity of Tansa Lake, which is flowing since today, is 14,508 crore litres (145,080 million litres). Last year, Tansa Lake started flowing at 5:40 pm on July 23. Earlier, it started flowing at 4:16 am on July 24, 2024. On July 26, 2023 at 4:35 am; on July 14, 2022 at 8:50 pm; and on July 22, 2021 at 5:48 am. Earlier, on August 20, 2020, it started flowing at 7:05 pm.
Additional Information
Tansa Dam is one of the longest dams in the world with a length of 2,743.20 meters.
Year of construction: 1892
Daily supply: 455 MLD (million litres per day)
Contribution to total water supply: 11.00%
Location: 106 km from Mumbai
Maharashtra
Shinde pays emotional tribute to Ajit Pawar on birth anniversary, hails his enduring legacy

Mumbai, July 22: Marking the birth anniversary of the late Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Shiv Sena chief and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday paid a heartfelt tribute, describing the occasion as a poignant mix of celebration and sorrow.
He said the day was marked by contrasting emotions, as it celebrated Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ birthday while also remembering the late Ajit Pawar, whom he described as the architect of the Mahayuti alliance.
“Today brings joy in one eye and tears in the other. No one can truly fill the void left by Ajitdada. I pray that Deputy Chief Minister Sunetratai finds the strength to carry forward his dream of building a prosperous Maharashtra by continuing the path of development he laid down,” Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said in his message.
Reflecting on Pawar’s distinct leadership style, Shinde highlighted how the late leader served as an inspiration for an entire generation of politicians. He lauded Pawar’s hallmark traits.
“Administrative Command: Exceptional discipline and firm control over governance. Punctuality & Commitment: A tireless dedication to utilizing every moment of the day for public service. Deep Expertise: A thorough understanding of finance, agriculture, and the cooperative sector, visible in his work as Finance Minister,” he stated.
Shinde emphasised that the state budget presented by Pawar to fulfill Mahayuti’s promises remains a cornerstone of inspiration for Maharashtra.
Reflecting on their shared goals, Shinde shared that they had envisioned numerous economic and social milestones for the state before fate unexpectedly took Pawar away. He remarked that actively realising those grand visions for development is the greatest and most authentic homage the coalition can pay him.
The deputy CM paid tribute with poetic lines honouring his memory: “Days will come and go, the wheel of time will turn…But the fragrance of Dada’s memories will forever remain.”
Reaffirming their shared commitment to public welfare and joint development, Shinde expressed lasting gratitude for Ajit Pawar’s immense contribution to Maharashtra.
Earlier, recalling past years filled with joy, warmth, and widespread celebrations, Sunetra Pawar, wife of Ajit Pawar, expressed the pain of adjusting to life without her lifelong partner.
“For so many years, I celebrated your birthday with such joy, enthusiasm, and pride… The home and family would be filled with happiness, showers of blessings all around. But today, observing this very same day as your ‘jayanti,’ my heart breaks completely from within. Even today, my heart refuses to accept this bitter truth, Dada,” she said.
She described the sudden emptiness left in her life following his untimely demise, highlighting how Ajit Pawar stood as her pillar of strength through every stage of life. Addressing her late husband directly, Sunetra Pawar emphasised that while he may no longer be physically present, his political legacy, public service, and strict discipline will remain immortalised.
Maharashtra
Dictatorships crash when dialogue fails: Shiv Sena(UBT) in ‘Saamana’

Mumbai, July 22: The Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) on Wednesday criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Central government, alleging that the Modi administration has entered a period of decline following recent youth-led protests in New Delhi.
In a scathing editorial published in its mouthpiece, ‘Saamana’, the party characterised the police action against protesting youths in the national capital as an act of high-handedness, accusing the ruling administration of using force rather than engaging in dialogue with aggrieved citizens.
“On the streets of Delhi, police were lathi-charging youth, while angry young people quietly stood their ground and absorbed the blows. When protesters are born who say, ‘Hit me more, but I will not move from here’, what harm can dictators do to them? On Monday, the tyranny of the world’s largest democracy was seen on the streets of Delhi. Government violence on India’s land of ‘Buddha’ proved to be a mockery of humanity. Modi calls himself a Vishwaguru. Blind followers consider him the 13th incarnation of Vishnu. However, on the streets of Delhi, they are running a demonic regime that breaks the heads of innocent youth. If those in power do not initiate a dialogue, it seems their rule will not last long,” said the editorial.
The editorial claimed that despite being struck, protesters refused to yield, signalling growing defiance against the administration.
It argued that the administration consistently avoids direct communication with movement leaders, journalists, and affected citizens. It questioned why Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has not been asked to resign in the wake of the ongoing youth discontent, claiming the government fears a domino effect of ministerial resignations.
“In reality, taking the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan was easy, but PM Modi does not take this resignation. Because after that, a queue of resignations would follow in the Cabinet. At least a dozen ministers who are statues of vices like corruption, looting, and inefficiency would have to resign. Every time, the public will come onto the streets and knock on Modi’s door to demand the resignations of corrupt officials,” noted the editorial.
The editorial highlighted nationwide land and environmental disputes, including ongoing tree-felling protests in Rishikesh and forest clearances in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. It also pointed to farmer agitations across several Maharashtra districts, such as Nashik, Akola, Solapur, Bhandara, and Buldhana, over infrastructure projects, land acquisition, and ring-road construction.
The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena accused the ruling party of undermining constitutional machinery, asserting that judicial appointments and the Election Commission are heavily influenced by the executive. It also criticised Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis over parliamentary proceedings and the absence of a designated Opposition Leader in the state legislature.
Drawing parallels with global student- and youth-led revolutions in countries like Libya, Bangladesh, and Nepal, the editorial warned that a total breakdown in dialogue between rulers and citizens historically leads to civil unrest and the downfall of authoritarian regimes.
“Dialogue is crucial in politics. However, dialogue between the Modi government and the public has ended. For the BJP, the voter has become a purchasable commodity. The ego of Modi — who ruled for 12 years on the formula that elections can be won by buying this commodity — has been reduced to dust by the anger of the youth,” remarked the editorial.
The editorial cautioned that “corrupt and non-responsive regimes are historically dismantled when public patience runs out”.
It concluded by accusing the ruling party of “capturing” democratic institutions, including the judiciary and the Election Commission, while attempting to run a state completely devoid of opposition representation.
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