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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.

Maharashtra

Muslim organizations’ legal action to register case against Kirit Somaiya

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Mumbai: Muslim organizations have now started legal proceedings against Mumbai BJP leaders and former MP Kirit Somaiya. In an important meeting of Muslim elders and scholars in the Mumbai Peace Committee, it was decided that a case should be registered against Kirit Somaiya for disturbing communal harmony in Mumbai city, creating enmity between two communities, and spreading religious hatred. Applications should be filed in various police stations of the city to register a case against Kirit Somaiya. Despite all these legal proceedings, if the police is unable to register a case against Kirit Somaiya, then they should approach the court against it. Muslim organizations have also decided to knock on the door of the court if the case is not registered.

Mumbai Peace Committee President Fareed Sheikh said that the atmosphere of the city has deteriorated due to the provocations of BJP leader Kirit Somaiya and the loudspeaker removal campaign against mosques. There is also a risk of communal violence and religious hatred. This has also created a rift between Hindus and Muslims. Therefore, a request has been made to the Mumbai Police to register a case against Kirit Somaiya. At the same time, we have also demanded that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis take action against the mischievous leaders because this is deteriorating the atmosphere of Maharashtra. Maulana Ijaz Ahmed Kashmiri, the preacher and imam of Handiwala Mosque, said that the provocation of Kirit Somaiya regarding the removal of loudspeakers from mosques in Mumbai has led to communal tension and in such a situation, a law and order problem has arisen in Maharashtra and Mumbai.

He said that this meeting was held regarding the issue of loudspeakers in mosques as well as the legal action against Kirit Somaiya’s provocation, in which it was decided that NGOs and organizations will approach the police stations to register a case against Kirit Somaiya. If a case is not registered despite all these requests, then the court should be approached soon. He said that it is very important to stop leaders like Kirit Somaiya to maintain a peaceful atmosphere in Mumbai. Kirit Somaiya has started a campaign to make Mumbai free of loudspeakers, due to which he visits police stations within the limits of mosques and tries to put pressure on police officers, due to which there is law and order here. The problem of discipline arises. In all these situations, there is a risk of tension in Mumbai. Therefore, we also demand from the government to take action against leaders like Kirit Somaiya and make efforts to maintain peace and order in Mumbai city. Maulana Anis Ashrafi, Naeem Sheikh, Shakir Sheikh, APCR head Aslam Ghazi, Advocate Abdul Karim Pathan were also present in this meeting.

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Maharashtra

Accused of beating blind woman in disabled compartment of Mumbai local train arrested

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Mumbai: The Railway PRP has claimed to have arrested Mohammad Ismail Hassan Ali for allegedly beating up a blind woman in a disabled compartment in a Mumbai local train. Mohammad Ismail Hassan Ali was travelling in a disabled compartment with his pregnant wife and 10-year-old daughter in a train departing from Mumbai’s CST railway station. During this, a blind woman, 33, entered the compartment. Other passengers requested Hassan Ali to give up his seat for the disabled woman. He refused. During this, the victim abused him, so Hassan Ali, 40, got angry and started beating up the woman. Somehow, the passengers in the compartment saved the blind woman and the beating went viral on social media, after which comments on it also started on social media. Taking notice of this, Kalyan GRP took action and arrested Mohammad Ismail Hassan, a resident of Mumbra, and the matter has been handed over to the police for further investigation. A case has also been registered against Hassan Ali for traveling in a disabled compartment without any excuse, assaulting, and violating the rights of a blind passenger.

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Maharashtra

Traffic police collect fines worth over Rs. 556 crore

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‎Mumbai: Through the ‘Mumbai One State One Challan’ digital portal, the Mumbai Traffic Police Department has collected challans worth a whopping Rs 556 crore 64 lakh 21 thousand 950 (₹5,564,219,050) between January 1, 2024 and February 28, 2025. This revelation came through an RTI application. During the said period, a total of 1,81,613 online complaints were received on the portal, out of which 1,07,850 complaints were rejected. That is, about 59% of the complaints were rejected.

Right to Information (RTI) activist Anil Galgali had sought information from the Mumbai Traffic Police on e-challan complaints. According to Mumbai Traffic Police, the classification of complaints received based on vehicle types (such as two-wheelers, four-wheelers, goods vehicles, passenger vehicles, etc.) is not available on the ‘One State One Challan’ portal, due to which it is currently impossible to analyse the action taken on specific vehicle categories.
‎Complaint Investigation Procedure:

‎All complaints are investigated at the Multimedia Cell, Traffic Headquarters, Worli, Mumbai. It involves examining the images of the vehicle and the visual evidence around it. If the images or evidence are not clear, it is sent to the concerned traffic department or police station for investigation. The final decision to uphold or cancel the challan will be taken only after receiving the local investigation report.
‎RTI activist Anil Galgali said that it is the need of the hour that the e-challan system should be transparent. Citizens should be given a full and fair opportunity to present their views and every complaint should be investigated fairly and thoroughly.

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