General
Maharashtra gets 18 new wildlife reserves, 7 proposed sanctuaries
Cheering environmentalists, Maharashtra will get 18 new wildlife reserves and 7 proposed sanctuaries, taking the total of such protected areas in the state to 52, officials said here on Wednesday.
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde approved the proposals at a meeting of the State Wildlife Board in the presence of Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar and others, which will now take the protected areas in the state to around 13,000 square km.
The 18 new reserves are: Velhe-Mulshi (87.41 square km) and Lonavala (121.41 square km) in Pune-Raigad districts, Naneghat (98.78 square km) in Pune-Thane districts, Bhorgirigad (37.64 square kms) in Pune district, Dindori (62.10 square km), Surgana (86.28 square km), and Taharabad (122.45 sq.kms) – all in Nashik district.
Besides, there is Khareghat (97.45 square km), Chinchpada (93.91 square km) in Nandurbar district, Ghera Manikgad (53.25 square km), Alibaug (60.03 square km) in Raigad district, Gumtara (125.50 square km) in Thane district, Rajmachi (83.15 sq.kms) in Thane-Pune districts, Jawhar (118.28 square km), Dhamani (49.15 square km), Aherigarh (80.95 square km) in Palghar district, Atpadi (9.48 square km) in Sangli district, and Ekara (102.99 square km) in Chandrapur district.
The CM said that Conservation Reserve Areas (CRAs) are declared for the purpose of protecting the habitats of flora and fauna in the territory adjacent to national parks or sanctuaries or connectors to such reserved areas.
The proposed CRAs include Saptashringigad in Nashik district, Bhairavgad in Thane district, Dhareshwar, Trikuteshwar, Kannad, Pedkagad in Aurangabad district and Kinwat in Nanded district, he said.
Mungantiwar proposed that a ‘State Wildlife Fund’ should be established for various conservation efforts, biodiversity projects and compensation to the locals, at the meeting attended by top officials like Venugopal Reddy, Dr. Y.L.P. Rao, Sunil Limaye, and others.
The development came two days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address a national conference of all Environment Ministers in the country.
Maharashtra
Issuance of QR code-based identity cards for registered hawkers

The efforts to resolve the issues pending for years to establish genuine and officially operating hawkers and remove unauthorised hawkers in Mumbai are now succeeding. As part of this, a representative launch of QR code-based identity cards for registered hawkers is being held today, Mumbai Mayor Ritu Awade said. As per the court directions and on the basis of the Municipal Street Vendors Act, the process of distributing QR code-based identity cards to a total of 99,435 registered urban street vendors (hawkers) was formally inaugurated by Mumbai Mayor Ritu Awade. The inauguration ceremony held at the Standing Committee Hall of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation headquarters was attended by Leader of the House Ganesh Khankar, Standing Committee Chairman Prabhakar Shinde, Shiv Sena Group Leader Aimee Ghole, Indian National Congress Group Leader Ashraf Azmi and others. Chairperson of the Improvement Committee, Chairperson of the Education Committee, Scindia Doshi, Rajeshree Shravadkar, Corporator Deep Malabadhe, Corporator Preeti Satam, Corporator Sheetal Gambhir, Corporator Dr. Syeda Khan, Corporator Ramakant Rahete, Corporator Tejendra Singh Tiwana, Corporator Shivkumar Jha, Licensing Superintendent Anil Katte etc. were present on the occasion. On this occasion, about 100 registered city street vendors (hawkers) from different areas of Mumbai were provided with QR code based identity cards by Mayor Ritu Tawde and various dignitaries. Speaking on the occasion, Mayor Ritu Tawde said that after taking charge of the Mayor, I got all the information about the hawker policy and the current situation to solve the problem of hawkers in the Municipal Corporation. Continuous efforts were made to solve the problems in this regard.
Although the election of the City Street Vendors i.e. Hawker Committee was held in August 2024, the counting process could not be completed due to legal reasons. The court allowed the process to proceed and the Law Department was directed to make efforts in this regard. After the permission was granted by the court, the counting process was completed and the issue of the City Street Vendor Committees was resolved. As per the directions given by the court and within the stipulated time, QR code-based identity cards are being distributed to a total of 99,435 hawkers on the basis of the City Street Vendors Act. We will continue our efforts to resolve various issues related to hawkers. The Mayor said that we will continue comprehensive efforts so that no one is abused and no deserving person is deprived of benefits.
Maharashtra
Mumbai: Fraudulent cyber gang exposed, more than 90 fraudsters, wanted in more than 3,000 fraud cases, 500 complaints in the state

Mumbai: The Cyber Cell of Mumbai Crime Branch has claimed to have busted a gang that used to send APK files to hack mobile accounts and withdraw money from bank accounts. Two members of this gang have been formally arrested. So far, the police have arrested six accused in this case. The accused used to send APK files to mobile phones and ask them to open them and hack the mobile phones and loot all the money. More than 3,000 complaints have been registered on the cyber portal in this case, while more than 90 complaints have been registered in Mumbai. The investigation of one case revealed who prepared the APK file and from where this group operated. This group is also involved in the National Cyber Portal case. 5000 cases are from Maharashtra. The complainant was asked to pay Rs 10 on the phone in the name of Mahanagar Gas Connection and after that the complainant’s mobile was hacked. So far, 6 people have been arrested in this case and two have been arrested so far. Investigation is underway with them. Many of the accused were used only to talk on mobile phones and send APK files. In this, the accused belong to Jharkhand and other provinces. This information was given here today by Mumbai Cyber DCP Bajrang Bansode.
Maharashtra
Abu Asim demands CM Fadnavis to register FIR against Nazia Elahi Khan and arrest her, risk of spreading unrest

Mumbai: Strict action should be taken against the insolent Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) Nazia Elahi because it poses a threat to law and order. In such circumstances, there is a fear of unrest in the state. Therefore, a law should be enacted with a sentence of more than ten years against those who commit blasphemy and blasphemy against important personalities. This demand was made here today by Mumbai Maharashtra Samajwadi Party leader and MLA Abu Asim Azmi. He has demanded from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis that Muslims are visiting police stations across the state to register FIRs against Nazia Elahi, but so far no action has been taken against the insolent blasphemer, which has angered Muslims. Today, Samajwadi Party Mumbai/Maharashtra State President and MLA Abu Asim Azmi said that BJP minority leader Nazia Elahi’s inflammatory statements against the Prophet of Islam and Islam on social media have hurt the sentiments of Muslims, therefore there is a wave of anxiety and tension in the country and the state and this has affected peace and order. There is a danger to him. Therefore, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was requested to register an FIR and arrest him.
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