Mumbai: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief MNS chief Raj Thackeray only sees Hinduism, he does not see the red water flowing on Muhammad Ali Road on Bakri Eid. Crores of devotees took a holy dip during the Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj. Raj Thackeray had criticized the Kumbh Mela itself and refused to drink the Ganga water brought from Kumbh.

The BJP has taken a dig at him and Nitish Rane criticized Raj Thackeray, saying that he only sees Hindu festivals. Nitish Rane said that Raj Thackeray had gone to Gujarat, now he should come to Prayagraj. During the session of the Mumbai Legislative Assembly, Nitish Rane expressed his displeasure with Raj.

Addressing the party’s foundation day in Pune-Pimpri adjoining Mumbai, Raj Thackeray had said that when I held a meeting of my office bearers in Mumbai, some members were absent. Many of them said that they have gone to the Kumbh Mela.

On this, Raj Thackeray had asked him why he was so busy that he needed to go to the Maha Kumbh. BJP has also given importance to this statement and now it has also opened a front against Raj Thackeray.

Mumbai, March 10: The Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on Monday unanimously passed a resolution congratulating the Indian cricket team for winning the Champions Trophy.

The resolution was moved by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who said India has become the only country to have won the Champions Trophy three times. “This victory is an unforgettable gift that our team has given to countless Indian cricket fans. During this entire tournament, a team spirit was seen in the Indian team. It is worth seeing,” he said.

“Under the leadership of Captain Rohit Sharma, the Indian team worked very hard. In the last match, Captain Rohit Sharma played very well. The way he changed his usual style and hit the pitch in a medium-fast, medium-slow manner and added 76 runs. These 76 runs were decisive. Therefore, I congratulate him wholeheartedly,” reads the resolution.

“The Champions Trophy has been continuously giving us a hard time. India has become the only country to win both the ICC trophies twice in a row, last year’s T20 World Cup and now the Champions Trophy,” reads the resolution.

“Actually, in the initial stages of this Champions Trophy, many critics were talking about Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. There was a discussion about whether they are in form or not. But both of them have shown here that form is temporary, class is permanent,” said the Chief Minister. “Rohit Sharma’s classy batting, after Virat Kohli’s performance in the previous match. He showed that he is an experienced but young type of player,” Fadnavis said.

“I would like to especially praise Varun Chakravarti. He played cricket in his school days but then he became an architect. He broke off his relationship with cricket and worked as an architect. But cricket was in his blood. He turned to cricket again. Today, everyone was destroyed by his spin. He showed what he is,” he said while showering praise over Varun Chakravarti. “Varun Chakravarti and Kuldeep Yadav took important wickets at important moments,” said the chief minister.

“We definitely want to welcome this champion team. Today, we will pass a resolution of congratulations on behalf of the House. This resolution of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly should be sent to every member of the team in the form of a letter of commendation,” suggested the CM.

After the Chief Minister moved the resolution, Speaker Rahul Narwekar asked the members to pass it. Thereafter, members from the treasury and opposition benches unanimously passed the resolution.

Mumbai: Mumbai’s water stock has witnessed a significant decline as the city continues to experience above-normal temperatures for nearly three weeks. According to reports citing data from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the water level in the city’s seven lakes stood at 45.08 per cent as of March 9, marking a six-percentage-point drop in the last 15 days. On February 24, the water stock was at 51 per cent.

Decision Regarding Water Cuts This Week

Civic officials have indicated that a decision regarding water cuts will be taken this week. Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a heatwave warning for Mumbai from March 9 to 11. This comes after the city experienced a heatwave between February 25 and 26.

Officials have attributed the rapid decline in water reserves to the ongoing extreme temperatures. If the current trend continues, water levels may dip faster than anticipated. Although an immediate water cut is unlikely, officials have warned that restrictions may be imposed in the coming months, especially with the monsoon still three months away.

Water Stock In Excess This Year, Compared To 2024

BMC officials noted that each percentage point of water stock roughly accounts for two to three days of consumption. The current stock is sufficient to sustain the city for approximately four months. Last year, during a similar period, Mumbai’s water stock was at 39.73 per cent, while in 2023, it stood at 45.23 per cent.

Officials recalled that in 2023, extreme daytime temperatures led to water cuts around May. Although the monsoon typically arrives between June 10 and 15, majorly rainfall in the lakes’ catchment areas often occurs later. This delay can put additional pressure on water reserves.

Reserve Water Stock Used Last Year By BMC

Last year, following a delayed monsoon, the BMC had to rely on reserve water after obtaining approval from the state’s irrigation department. However, the reserves were replenished once rainfall picked up in July.

Mumbai relies on seven lakes for its water supply: Tansa, Bhatsa, Tulsi, Vihar, Upper Vaitarna, Middle Vaitarna and Modak Sagar. Of these, Tulsi and Vihar are located within the city limits, while the remaining lakes are spread across the satellite districts of Palghar, Thane, and Nashik. The total storage capacity of these lakes is 14.47 lakh million litres.

With summer intensifying and water levels continuing to fall, authorities are closely monitoring the situation. While immediate action may not be required, officials remain cautious and are preparing for any necessary interventions should the high temperatures persist.