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Maharashtra

‘Plastic Flowers Not Banned Due To Low Littering Potential’: Union Government Says To Bombay High Court

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Mumbai: The Union government has informed the Bombay High Court that plastic flowers are not included in the list of banned single-use plastic items as they do not meet the criteria of “high littering potential and low utility”. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), in an affidavit, stated that the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) had forwarded the matter for consideration but without any supporting analysis.

The affidavit was filed in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) by the Growers Flowers Council of India (GFCI), which sought a ban on plastic flowers in Maharashtra. The PIL argued that plastic flowers, particularly those less than 100 microns thick, contribute to environmental pollution and should be included in the list of prohibited singleuse plastic items.

The High Court had earlier issued notices to the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), CPCB, and MoEFCC, seeking their response on the demand for a ban. In October 2024, the court had asked the Centre whether it had considered CPCB’s recommendations for banning plastic flowers.

The MoEFCC, in its affidavit, clarified that an expert committee constituted by the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals (DCPC) had identified 40 single-use plastic items for detailed analysis. However, plastic flowers were not among them.

Refuting the petitioner’s claims, the affidavit stated that the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, do not specify a minimum thickness requirement of 100 microns for plastic flowers.

The government argued, “The petitioner states that… violation of this thickness requirement has resulted in difficulties in decomposing. This is wrong and misleading. There is no such provision in Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016,” the MoEFCC affidavit emphasises.

The plea also highlighted that the Maharashtra government had issued a notification on March 8, 2022, banning several single-use plastic items.

Maharashtra

The decision to keep cattle markets closed on Eid-ul-Azha in Maharashtra was withdrawn

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Mumbai: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has also withdrawn the proposal to ensure peace and order on Eid-ul-Adha in Mumbai and to keep the cattle market closed. Earlier, a proposal was made to keep the cattle market closed during Eid-ul-Adha, which was opposed by Muslims, and after that, this decision has also been withdrawn. Before Eid-ul-Adha in Mumbai, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has issued necessary orders for Eid-ul-Adha in a peaceful atmosphere. In a meeting of Muslim representatives, the Chief Minister accepted all the demands of Muslims and assured them of taking necessary steps during the sacrifice, from providing facilities at the goat market in Deonar to providing necessary facilities. Abu Asim Azmi said that BJP leaders Kirit Somaiya and Nitish Rane are trying to spoil the atmosphere.

They are announcing that there will be no sacrifice to put pressure on the society, but this demand was also made to the Chief Minister that there should be no obstruction in the process of sacrifice in those societies where sacrifice is done. Muslim representatives also demanded to keep an eye on the mischief of miscreants during the sacrifice and take necessary action against anti-social elements. The Chief Minister assured that like every year, the sacrifice process will end peacefully this year too. He has accepted all the demands of the Muslims and given special consideration to every issue. Abu Asim Azmi said that there is a need to curb the mischief of miscreants during the sacrifice so that the situation remains peaceful. Instructions have also been given that animal traders in Deonar do not face any kind of problem. At the same time, the distress of the traders due to the animals’ carts not being emptied for 36 hours was also discussed. The Chief Minister has also banned the collection of additional fees.

In an important meeting, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis assured that like every year, facilities will be provided on Eid-ul-Adha this time too, and peace and order will be maintained. The proposal to close the animal market was withdrawn and the fee for sacrificial animals was reduced from Rs 200 to Rs 20. The Chief Minister also issued an order to take action against those involved in corruption. Those spreading hatred are trying to spoil the atmosphere on Eid by creating Hindu-Muslim differences. Azmi has also demanded a ban on the language of these sectarians. The Chief Minister has directed to pay special attention to maintaining order during the sacrifice.

Abu Asim Azmi told the Chief Minister that an additional fee was collected for emptying the animal cart, Rs. 500 instead of Rs. 200, Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 5,000 was collected for parking, the fee of the goat of the trader who is not sold during Eid-ul-Adha should be refunded, earlier the fee of the goat for deonar was Rs. 20, it should be increased to Rs. 200, five gates and five push gates should be set up for unloading the goat in deonar, along with this, there is a rush of buyers during the sacrifice, three windows should be started for the convenience of the customers, the Chief Minister approved all these demands and issued necessary orders.

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Maharashtra

Thieves caught stealing MTNL cables in Vakola, Senior officer caught them red handed

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Thieves were caught red handed while stealing cables from MTNL’s underground manhole in Vakola area of ​​Mumbai.

A senior MTNL official caught the thieves while they were removing the cables with the help of a JCB machine and a tempo. This incident took place just 100 meters away from Vakola police station, while a police blockade was also going on at a distance of just 50 meters.

MTNL’s goods, tempo and JCB machine have been taken to the police station.

According to sources, the involvement of some scrap dealers (Bangar Wale) and some MTNL workers is suspected in this theft. At present, interrogation is going on at Vakola police station.

So far, MTNL has suffered a loss of about Rs 500 crore due to cable theft in Mumbai.

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Maharashtra

Visit to Deonar Bakra Mandi on the occasion of Eid-ul-Adha, important meeting led by Mumbai Congress President Prof. Varshatai Gaikwad

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Mumbai: On the auspicious occasion of Eid-ul-Azha, a delegation led by Lok Sabha MP and Mumbai Congress President Smt. Prof. Varshatai Gaikwad saheb visited Deonar Bakra Mandi (Slaughterhouse).

On this occasion, she had a special meeting with the General Manager of Deonar Slaughterhouse, Mr. Kaleem Pasha Pathan and discussed in detail the problems faced by the public and traders present in the mandi.

The main points of the discussion were as follows:

Problems faced by traders
Care and maintenance of animals
Cleanliness situation in the mandi
Traffic problems and their solutions
Difficulties faced by common citizens

Professor Gaikwad saheb gave necessary instructions to the concerned authorities for the early resolution of all these problems and assured that Mumbai Congress stands with the people.

Honorable MLA Mr. Aslam Sheikh Sahib, Honorable MLA Mr. Amin Patel Sahib, MLA Dr. Jyoti Tai Gaikwad Sahib, former Corporator and former Chairman of Mumbai Congress Minority Wing Haji Babbu Khan Sahib and other senior leaders and office bearers of Mumbai Congress were also present in this important visit.

The visit was a positive effort for mutual discussions, identification of problems and effective steps to resolve them, which makes an auspicious occasion like Eid more meaningful.

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