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Maharashtra gets 12 new wildlife reserves, 3 sanctuaries

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In a significant move, Maharashtra on Monday announced 12 new wildlife conservation areas spread across 693 square km and three new sanctuaries including an expanded Lonar Sanctuary in Buldhana.

The decisions were taken at the State Wildlife Board’s 18th meeting, presided over by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, and it also approved setting up the Jayakwadi Bird Sanctuary in Aurangabad for which a proposal will be submitted to the National Wildlife Board.

The state has notified 15 conservation reserve areas, out of which 8 areas have been approved in the last two years alone and Thackeray expressed satisfaction over the addition of the 12 new conservation areas today.

These are: two in Dhule district at Chivatibawri (66.04 square km), Aladari (100.56 square km), four in Nashik district at Kalvan (84.12 square km), Muragad (42.87 square km), Trimbakeshwar (96.97 square km), Igatpuri (88.499 square km), two in Raigad district at Raigad (47.62 square km) and Roha (27.30 square km), Pune district’s Bhor (28.44 square km), Satara district’s Dare-Khurd for butterflies (1.07 square km), Kolhapur district’s Masai Plateau (5.34 square km) and Nagpur district’s Mogarkasa (103.92 square km).

The SWB also approved the proposal to declare Kolamarka, Muktai Bhavani and extended Lonar as wildlife sanctuaries in the state.

Besides, 10 spots have been designated as ‘endangered wildlife habitats’ in different parts of Maharashtra.

They include: Mayureshwar-Supe (5.15 square km), Bor (62 square km), Navin Bor (61 square km), extended Bor (16 square km), Narnala (12 square km.), Lonar (3.65 square km), Gugamal National Park (361 square km), Yedshi Ramalingaghat Wildlife Sanctuary (22.37 square km), Naigaon-Mayur Wildlife Sanctuary (30 square km) and the tiniest one, Deulgaon-Rehekuri Antelope Sanctuary (2.17 square km).

On the occasion, the CM directed the officials concerned to conduct a study and find out a permanent solution to the problems of wild elephants rampaging in Dodamarg region of Sindhudurg district within two months.

The plans include closing the entry of elephants at Ajra, Chandgad and Tilari areas and providing enhanced compensation to the villagers affected due to the damage caused to their farms and properties due to the elephants herds.

Discuss the rehabilitation of villagers in the forest area and the compensation to be given to them with confidence, he said.

Urging for priority to wildlife conservation efforts, Thackeray urged the officials to take the people affected by including the rehabilitation of the forest dwellers into confidence for its success.

He also asked them to consider all aspects before proposing development works in forests and clear all levels including the SWB before implementing them.

Environment Minister Aditya Thackeray said that care should be taken not to disturb wildlife paths, particularly in sensitive areas with tigers, while granting approval to road development works through jungles, and holding discussions with all stakeholders, experts and local NGOs.

Maharashtra

Mumbai Weather Update: City Sees Clear Skies After Heavy Overnight Downpour, Yellow Alert Issued; Overall AQI In Moderate Range At 63

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Mumbai: After heavy rains lashed the city on Friday, bringing brief waterlogging and traffic disruptions, Mumbai woke up to sunny skies on Saturday morning. However, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) cautioned that the respite may be short-lived, as the city remains under a Yellow Alert with a forecast of partly cloudy skies and a possibility of moderate rain or thunderstorms through the day.

According to the IMD, temperatures are expected to hover around 34°C during the day and dip to about 25°C at night. The brief spell of unseasonal rain not only cooled the weather but also brought a remarkable improvement in the city’s air quality, which had deteriorated sharply post-Diwali due to increased pollution and stagnant winds.

Overall AQI In Moderate Category

Real-time data from AQI.in showed that Mumbai’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 63 on Saturday morning, placing it in the moderate category, a notable recovery from the unhealthy levels recorded earlier in the week.

Among the city’s monitoring stations, Wadala Truck Terminal reported the highest pollution level with an AQI of 190, followed by BKC (75), Kurla (73), Worli (73) and Chembur (72). While mild traces of smog lingered in some of these areas during the early morning, visibility and air freshness improved significantly across most parts of Mumbai.

On the other hand, several localities recorded remarkably clean air. Thakur Village in Kandivali reported the city’s best air quality with an AQI of 25, while Parel-Bhoiwada (32), Malad West (38), Borivali East (40), and Kandivali East (43) also registered good air quality, offering much-needed relief to residents.

As per AQI.in’s classification, readings between 0–50 indicate “Good” air, 51–100 “Moderate”, 101–150 “Poor”, 151–200 “Unhealthy”, and above 200 “Severe” to “Hazardous.”

Friday’s rain marked the third unseasonal spell after the official monsoon withdrawal and was accompanied by lightning, thunder and gusty winds. The IMD had issued a Nowcast warning late Friday evening, alerting of potential thunderstorms and moderate rainfall over Mumbai and adjoining districts. Meanwhile, most parts of Maharashtra, excluding the Vidarbha region, continue to remain under a Yellow Alert for the next few days.

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Maharashtra

Brave officer risked his life to save injured girl

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Mumbai: Mumbai Police Traffic Officer has shown bravery in saving a young girl from the clutches of a cruel lover, after which this officer is being praised. He took the injured and bleeding girl to the hospital and risked his life to free her from the armed youth, after which the youth committed suicide.
‎Today at 10:17 am, a call was received from the MTP helpline of the Byculla Traffic Department Group that two-wheelers and four-wheelers were parked on the footpath in front of Meoresh Building, Dataram Lad Marg, Kalachowki, causing inconvenience to the passers-by. In response to the said call, Rider Police Constable Karan Suryavanshi of the Byculla Traffic Department reached the spot. When he was taking action at the said place, some people present there told the officer that a boy was attacking a girl with a knife in the cabin of Astha Nursing Home. Seeing the seriousness of the incident, Kiran Suryavanshi immediately went to the spot and tried to free the victim girl from the clutches of the accused boy and took her out of the nursing home. Since she was in an injured condition, he showed haste and without a moment’s delay, put the girl in a taxi and brought her to Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Hospital, Ranibag. The girl was given first aid there. Officers and personnel from Kalachowki took the injured woman to JJ Hospital for further treatment.

Besides, in this incident, the attacker also stabbed himself and was taken to KEM Hospital with the help of Kalachowki Police Station.

The Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone 4, Assistant Commissioner of Police as well as Senior Police Inspector of Kalachowki Police Station visited Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Railway Hospital.

The girl is undergoing treatment at Sir JJ Hospital. Police officers from Kalachowki police station are conducting further investigations. The officer is being praised for protecting the girl without caring for his own life and saving her from the clutches of her heartbroken lover.

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Maharashtra

Samajwadi Party is not part of Mumbai Municipal Corporation Vikas Aghadi: Abu Asim Azmi

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Mumbai: The Samajwadi Party will not enter into an electoral alliance with the Maha Vikas Aghadi in the Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, not will it be part of this alliance. Those who objected to the release of innocent Muslims imprisoned for 19 years but remained silent on the release of the accused in the Malegaon blasts. Those who express pride in the demolition of the Babri Masjid, take the names of Lord Ram and Lord Vishwanath, but call the holy water of the Sangam smelly and make Uttar Bharatiyas and North Indians a target for violence. This is a province where the Pawars go to do their country’s panddan. Those belonging to such provinces insult and subject North Indians and Biharis to violence.

If such people are part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi, the Samajwadi Party will never be part of it.

The Samajwadi Party does politics of justice, secularism, constitutional values ​​and Ganga-Jamuni culture. Therefore, we cannot be part of any alliance that includes forces that spread hatred and divide the country. This kind of explanation has been given by Mumbai Maharashtra Samajwadi Party leader and MLA Abu Asim Azmi. Elections are approaching, in such a situation, Mahayoti and Maha Vikas Aghadi are very serious about their allied parties. In such a situation, the Samajwadi Party has clearly refused to enter into an understanding with Maha Vikas Aghadi and has called it biased. Now there is curiosity about the expected entry and entry of MNS in Maha Vikas. In such a situation, the Samajwadi Party has denied it and said that it is unable to participate in the elections with those who incite violence on the basis of regionalism.

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