Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered action against Azaan and loudspeakers in mosques in the Assembly. He has issued this order after BJP members objected to Azaan and loudspeakers in the House.

He said that the provision of loudspeaker permit will not be given permanently and it will also be checked whether the temporary permit has been renewed or not and after getting the permit, if the norms of noise pollution are violated, then first the police will inform the Pollution Control Board about it and then action will be taken against the concerned institution and if many complaints are received, their permit will also be canceled and it will not be renewed again.

He said that the Pollution Control Board has the right to take action regarding noise pollution and the police should also take action on it, so there is a need to amend this law. He said that therefore he demands from the central government that guidance should be provided in this regard and changes and amendments should be made in the law so that the police also get more power to take action on it.

Devendra Fadnavis said that as per the order of the Supreme Court, permission for loudspeakers is mandatory for religious places and action will be taken against anyone who uses loudspeakers without permission. Along with this, the Supreme Court has also made it clear that there is a complete ban on loudspeakers from 10 pm to 6 am. Along with this, the Supreme Court has also laid down some guidelines which are mandatory to be followed.

The sound limit has been fixed from 55 decibels to 45 decibels. If anyone violates this, action will be taken against him. For this, instructions have been issued to senior police inspectors to tell people about the use of loudspeakers and ensure action against anyone who continuously violates noise pollution norms.

Mumbai: Citizens of Mumbai should not cut trees in view of the festival of Holi. Mumbai Municipal Corporation has informed that if unauthorized cutting of trees is found, a complaint will be lodged with the police.

The festival of Holi will be celebrated on Thursday, March 13, 2025. If any tree is being cut during this festival, then alert citizens should inform the Mumbai Municipal Corporation officials and the local police station or contact the Municipal Corporation’s toll-free number ‘1916’, such an appeal has been made to the Superintendent of Parks, Mumbai Municipal Corporation and the Member Secretary of the Tree Authority.

Under Section 21 of the Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Tree Protection and Conservation Act, 1975, it is a crime to cut any tree without the prior permission of the Tree Authority. There is a provision to impose a fine of at least Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000 on the person concerned for each offense of unauthorized tree felling. He may also be sentenced to a jail term ranging from one week to one year.

Mumbaikars should try to ensure that Mumbai is green and beautiful. It is the duty of all citizens to protect and enhance the natural resources around them. We have to protect the trees that give us life. Therefore, all citizens should cooperate.

Mumbai: Mumbai’s roads continue to remain in a deplorable state, with large sections dug up and shoddy patchwork making travel increasingly difficult for residents. Despite repeated assurances from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) about road improvement projects, the situation on the ground tells a different story.

Currently, multiple roadwork projects, including the ambitious concretisation drive, are underway across the city. However, poor planning and lack of coordination among various agencies have led to severe traffic congestion and safety hazards. Several key roads remain dug up for extended periods, while others have been hastily repaired with temporary patches that barely last until the next spell of rain.

Comedian Lashes Out At BMC & Maha Govt

Comedian Rohan Joshi slammed the BMC and Maharashtra government over the dismal state of Mumbai’s roads. In a scathing post, Joshi lashed out at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Maharashtra government, accusing them of extorting taxpayers while leaving the city in ruins.

Joshi sarcastically urged the authorities to name a final amount of money they need to stop looting the public and fix the city’s roads. “Give us a figure, I don’t care how high it is. Just tell us the number at which you will finally be satisfied and stop stealing from Mumbai’s taxpayers,” he wrote, adding that he would even initiate a donation drive to meet that amount if it meant getting the city back.

The comedian compared Mumbai’s road crisis to past tragedies, stating that even terrorists and gangsters strike and leave, whereas the government is waging a relentless war against citizens through daily mismanagement. “At least with them, we can say they came from outside. We elected you,” he pointed out, emphasizing the betrayal felt by Mumbaikars.

CM Fadnavis Assures Pothole-Free Mumbai By 2027

Meanwhile, referring to Eknath Shinde’s recent announcement about making Mumbai pothole-free, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis provided an update on the progress during the ongoing Maharashtra Budget Session.

While providing the update on the project’s progress, Fadnavis stated, in the first phase of road concretisation, 27 per cent of the work has been completed. In the second phase, work on 746 out of 1,420 roads is currently underway. He stated that the goal is to make the entire city pothole-free by 2027 under any circumstances.

Experts have criticised the BMC for its inefficient execution of road repairs, citing corruption and lack of accountability as key reasons for the poor condition of Mumbai’s roads. While the civic body has set a target to make the city pothole-free by 2027, citizens remain skeptical given the slow pace of work.

Until proper planning and strict quality control measures are implemented, Mumbai’s roads will continue to resemble a never-ending construction zone, leaving residents to navigate through dust, debris and chaos.