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Tuesday,03-February-2026
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Maharashtra

NGT Bench fined Rs 3 crore 48 lakh to Dudhwala Group of Mumbai for its Rock Corner building project

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National Green Tribunal bench has ordered to file criminal cases against BMC officials for environmental degradation

MUMBAI: The National Green Tribunal Bench, Pune has ordered the developer Dudhwala Group of the Rock Corner building, at Belasis Road, near Bus Depot, Mumbai Central East, to pay the fine of Rs 3.48 crores within two months for granting construction permission to the said project from the Building Permit Department of Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation(BMC), without obtaining the permission of the Environment Department. The NGT bench has also instructed to file criminal charges against the municipal officials who granted construction permission to the developer. In its order NGT Bench said, “If the permission for construction was given wrongly, then conduct a departmental inquiry through the BMC Commissioner and publish the report on the MCGM and MPCB websites.

Environmental activist Sayyed Mohammad Sabir had requested the NGT Bench, Pune to demolish the unauthorized construction which is without environmental department permission and impose a penalty on the builder Dudhwala for constructing the Rock Corner building without obtaining necessary permission. Accordingly, National Green Tribunal, Pune bench had ordered to form a joint committee of five members and asked them to submit a joint report in this case. In this committee members comprises were Principal Secretary of Environment Department, Government of Maharashtra, State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) and Collector, Mumbai City and BMC Commissioner. The committee had inspected the site and submitted a report to the NGT Bench to fine the developer for environmental degradation.

The complainant filed a complaint with the Green Tribunal regarding the illegal and irregular construction without obtaining environmental clearance from the State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) of the Government of Maharashtra and the consent of the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) against the Dudhwala Group. The final hearing of the said application was held on January 12, 2023 before the Hon. Judge Dinesh Kumar Singh of Green Tribunal and Dr. Vijay Kulkarni, an Environmental Expert. The Green Tribunal Bench passed its final verdict on January 30. Also, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board has ordered the payment of penalty amount within two months from the date of the environmental compensation order by breaking down separate figures for the environmental damage caused due to non-observance under the Water Act, 1974 and Air Act, 1981 since 2011.
A high-level committee was also constituted by National Green Tribunal. The said committee submitted its report. A clear finding of guilt was recorded. Taking this report into account, the bench gave this historic decision. In the said case, Adv. Nitin Lonkar, Adv. Sonali Suryavanshi, Adv. Tanaji Gambhire and Adv. Pradnya Bheke appeared / represented the environmental activist and complainant Sabir Syed.

Crime

Mumbai Crime: 26-Year-Old Man Arrested For Sexually Assaulting 10-Yr-Old Boy In Lower Parel Railway Yard

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Mumbai: The Churchgate Police have arrested a 26-year-old man under the POCSO Act (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) for allegedly sexually assaulting a 10-year-old boy in the Lower Parel railway yard area on January 31. The accused is currently in police custody.

According to the Government Railway Police (GRP), the incident occurred on January 31 between 9:30 AM and 11:00 AM. The accused, a native of Madhya Pradesh, is unemployed and lives on footpaths in Mumbai. He has a criminal history, with several cases of theft registered against him at various police stations.

The investigation revealed that the accused lured the boy by promising him Rs.10,000 for watching a bag. He told him that his bag was stuck in the local train. He took the boy from Churchgate on a local train and alighted at Lower Parel. There, he led the boy inside the yard to a parked train and sexually assaulted him before fleeing.

The victim was found crying by the Mumbai Central Railway Police, who then traced his mother. The boy’s family resides on a railway platform. A case was registered and transferred to the Churchgate Railway Police Station.

Using CCTV footage and human intelligence, the police arrested the accused. The Churchgate Railway Police have registered a POCSO case against him. The boy is in the 3rd standard. 

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Crime

Mumbai Police’s Anti-Narcotics Team Attacked By Suspected Drug Traffickers In Navi Mumbai; Several Injured

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Navi Mumbai: In a shocking incident, the anti-narcotics team of the Mumbai Police was attacked by suspected drug traffickers during an operation in the Ulva area of Navi Mumbai last week. The incident occurred when the team conducted a raid in the Ulva locality while tracking suspects linked to a drug trafficking case who were located near Shagun Chowk.

When officers attempted to arrest them, the accused allegedly launched a violent attack on the police team using sharp weapons, including choppers, swords, hockey sticks and a village axe. In the attack, Assistant Police Inspector Kiran Mandhare of RCF Police Station was injured in the attack. Other police personnel, including Firoz Siddiqui, Ahmed Raza Qureshi and Atul Jaisawal, also sustained injuries and are currently undergoing treatment.

Following the attack, the senior police inspector at the Ulva Police station immediately sent a team of police for help. Moreover, a case has also been registered against all eight accused.

The report also stated that the Mumbai Police team did not seek help from the local police station before conducting the raid and had not informed the Navi Mumbai Police in advance about the operation.

Earlier In January 2026, three men were taken into custody for allegedly arguing with and assaulting traffic police personnel during a vehicle-checking drive at a naka bandi in Panvel on New Year’s Eve, leaving a traffic constable injured.

The incident took place around 2.30 am on December 31 at Shivshambho Naka, where traffic police had intensified checks as part of security arrangements for New Year celebrations.

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Maharashtra

BMC Announces Strict Sanitation Fines In Mumbai: ₹250 Fine For Spitting, ₹500 For Littering & ₹25,000 For Transporting Garbage Without License

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The Mumbai Municipal Corporation has stepped up efforts to improve cleanliness and sanitation across the city by intensifying awareness around solid waste management rules and imposing penalties for violations. The move is part of a broader push to ensure cleaner public spaces and better waste handling practices across residential, commercial and public areas.

The civic body is creating awareness about regulations related to waste generators, establishments, waste service providers and solid waste processing. These rules govern the storage, segregation, transportation, and disposal of waste. Officials have made it clear that strict penalty action will be taken against citizens and establishments that fail to comply.

Under the revised enforcement, fines have been specified for common violations. A penalty of Rs 250 will be imposed for spitting in public places. Dumping garbage will attract a fine of Rs 500, while failure to segregate wet and dry waste will result in a fine of Rs 200. Transporting garbage without a valid licence will invite a penalty of Rs 25,000.

As per the directions of Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, regular action is being taken to maintain cleanliness within municipal limits. Additional Municipal Commissioner City Ashwini Joshi, under the guidance of Deputy Commissioner Solid Waste Management Kiran Dighavkar, said continuous efforts are being made to strengthen solid waste management systems in the city.

Special cleanliness drives and activities are also being organised from time to time to reinforce these measures.

The bylaws will apply to all waste generators and to public and private places. This includes residential buildings, business and commercial establishments, professional and industrial premises, government and semi-government offices, educational institutions, religious places, recreational spaces and all other areas of public use.

The focus of the rules is on preventing littering and nuisance, ensuring clean premises and mandatory segregation of solid waste at source.

The regulations lay down detailed responsibilities regarding storage and collection of municipal solid waste, duties of producers, municipal authorities, representatives and contractors, and the handling of material recovery facilities. They also cover biomedical waste, e-waste, construction and demolition debris and plastic waste.

Additional fines have been announced for specific offences. Throwing garbage on roads, footpaths, gardens or public places will attract a fine of Rs 500. Bathing in public places will result in a fine of Rs 300. Urinating or defecating in public places will attract a fine of Rs 500 each. Feeding animals or birds in public spaces will also invite a fine of Rs 500.

Failure to keep courtyards or premises clean can result in fines ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 1,500.

Dr Ashwini Joshi appealed to citizens and establishments to strictly follow the bylaws and cooperate with the municipal corporation in keeping Mumbai cleaner and more beautiful.

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