Considering the adverse effects of air quality due to climate change on human life, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has emphasized on implementation of measures with standardized procedures. Going beyond that and conducting a thorough study, necessary measures for air pollution control should be taken on time. Municipal Commissioner and Administrator Shri. Given by Bhushan Gagrani.

Each administrative department office (ward) of the Municipal Corporation should take measures according to local needs to reduce air pollution in its area of ​​operation Measures should be implemented effectively and coordination officers should be appointed for monitoring, instructions that Shri. Gagrani has given.

Municipal Commissioner and Administrator Shri. A meeting was held yesterday (September 24, 2024) at Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation headquarters under the chairmanship of Bhushan Gagrani. At that time Mr. Various instructions were given to Gagrani.

Additional Municipal Commissioner (City) Dr. (Mrs.) Ashwini Joshi, Deputy Commissioner (Solid Waste Management) Shri. Sanjog Kabare, Deputy Commissioner (Parks) Shri. Kishore Gandhi, Deputy Commissioner (Environment and Climate Change Department) Shri. Minesh Pimple, Deputy Commissioner (Special Engineering) Shri. Yatin Dalvi, Deputy Commissioner (Infrastructure) Shri. Ulhas Mahale, Director (Planning) Smt. Prachi Jambhekar along with Deputy Commissioners of all Circles, Assistant Commissioners of 24 Administrative Divisions, concerned officers and representatives of organizations in the field of environment and climate change attended the meeting.

The main objective of the meeting was to get all the departments of the Municipal Corporation to come together to identify the effects of air pollution and climate change and work together to make Mumbai a more eco-friendly and climate-friendly city. Similarly, by reviewing the measures taken for air pollution control in Mumbai for the past few years, ensuring that these measures are followed as well as standard procedures and rules, appointing coordination officers according to the administrative department (ward), inspecting the construction sites and ensuring that all rules are followed there. , this topic was also discussed in the meeting.

Additional Municipal Commissioner (City) Dr. (Mrs.) Ashwini Joshi said that climate change has already been found to be adversely affecting the air quality of the entire Mumbai region, including the Mumbai metropolitan area. It is experienced that air quality deteriorates mainly in winter. In this background, it is necessary to be alert and speed up the measures before the onset of winter this year. If it is found that there is an increase in air pollution, there is a need to implement effective measures to prevent it. He directed the Department of Environment and Climate Change to continuously review the risks arising due to climate change in the Mumbai metropolis. Dr. also said that awareness of environmental responsibility should be created among the officers and employees of the Municipal Corporation. (Mrs.) Joshi mentioned.

Deputy Commissioner Shri. Pimple emphasized the importance of strict monitoring of construction sites, prevention of open burning of waste and use of wood as fuel to control air pollution and to take immediate action at its sources. As the number of days with poor air quality in Mumbai is increasing, immediate action is required, he noted. Air pollution causes serious health problems such as low birth weight, premature birth and long-term health problems. It can also cause heart disease, neurological problems, asthma and other diseases. Therefore, since the effect of air pollution is not immediate but long-term, it is necessary for the citizens to take measures at their own level and contribute to the efforts of the municipal administration, he also mentioned.

Maharashrta Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday (September 25) defended the police in Badlapur sexual assault accused’s encounter saying that the officials were acting in self-defence and that they did not carry guns as a ‘showpiece’. He was speaking at Mumbai Conclave organised by India Today.

“The police shot in self-defence. They had guns not for showpiece. If he would have fled, the Opposition would have criticised and said that we made him flee. This is an unfortunate incident. The cops got injured in the encounter. We should support the police,”.

Akshay Shinde, the man accused of sexually assaulting four-year-old girls in a Badlapur school, was killed in a police encounter on Monday (September 23). As per police, when Shinde was being taken from Taloja jail to Badlapur, he snatched a gun from a police official and opened fire. Police say that Shinde was killed as the officials returned fire as self-defense.

There was immense public anger against Shinde after the sexual assault. Locals staged multiple rail-roko at Badlapur railway station in day following the sexual assault.

CM Shinde hinted that the accused had criminal tendencies.

“The woman had filed an FIR against him (Akshay Shinde). She gave a statement and said he was a monster. He had four wives. Imagine what cruelty he had meted out to them,” he said in the Mumbai conclave.

“When he had sexually assaulted those girls (in Badlapur) who are the same age as his daughters, imagine what they (victims) had gone through. This is an unfortunate incident,” he said.

Role of police questioned

Although nothing incriminating has been raised officially, the police officers involved in the encounter are facing allegations that they killed Akshay Shinde in a ‘staged’ encounter.

On Wednesday, Bombay High Court directed the state CID to look into the allegations after Shinde’s father approached the court. The court has ordered a probe into the encounter.

“The investigation has to be done fairly and impartially. If we find that this is not done then we would be constrained to pass appropriate orders,” a bench of Justices Revati Dere and Prithviraj Chavan said.

The court has directed that the forensic evidence be taken carefully. It has also said that ‘handwash’ of the police officials should be taken to see if there was any gunpowder residue.

Mumbai: To facilitate the construction of the 6th line between Goregaon and Kandivali stations, the Western Railway (WR) will carry a major block of 3.30 hours on UP & DOWN Fast line and 5th line from 00.15 am to 04.45 am during the intervening night of Wednesday, September 25 and Thursday, September 26.

During the block, all UP Fast line and 5th line trains will run on the UP Slow line between Borivali to Goregaon/Andheri. Due to this block, few suburban trains will be affected and will be cancelled/short terminated during the block period.

Check below the WR list of trains cancelled/short-terminated during the block.

The WR has requested passengers to take note of the change in trains arrangement due to the block and said that detailed information will be available with the concerned station masters.

During the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday, i.e. on 24th/ 25th September also a block was undertaken by western railways to facilitate the construction of the 6th line between Goregaon and Kandivali stations.