Thane: Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday said the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) will construct eight lakh houses across the state in the next five years.

Shinde, minister for Housing & Urban Development, made the announcement at a lottery for 2,147 houses and 117 plots in the Konkan division.

The people’s trust in MHADA was increasing due to its transparent lottery system, he said, noting that more than 31,000 persons applied for 2,147 houses in the present lottery.

Shinde also stressed the importance of cluster development projects, calling them an effort to build well-planned cities within existing urban areas.

On February 9, Bhoomi Poojan or groundbreaking ceremony of several cluster projects will take place in Thane, he said.

The construction quality of MHADA houses has significantly improved over the years, Shinde noted.

The state’s new housing policy will include provisions for textile mill workers and Mumbai’s famous `dabbawalas’ (tiffin carriers), ensuring that they have access to affordable housing, Shinde said.

Mumbai: BMC started a 30-hour water cut in several Mumbai wards on Wednesday morning. The water cut started at 11 a.m. to prepare to commission the new 2400 mm pipeline. Water cut is expected to affect major parts of Mumbai, such as the LBS Road area in Kurla, Bandra Terminus, International Airport Road and SEEPZ MIDC. Civic wards like S (Bhandup), L (Kurla), K East (Andheri East), H East (Bandra East), and G North (Sion, Matunga) will face water cut.

BMC has provided all the detailed lists and timings of the water cut and also specified the names of the areas that will face the water cut issue in Mumbai.

BMC mentioned the areas that will face the issue while the pipeline is preparing. The water supply in S ward-Bhandup will be cut off entirely in the designated block. Shrirampada, Khindipada, Tulshetpada, Milind Nagar, Shivaji Nagar, Maroda Hill, Gautam Nagar, Filter Pada, Mahatma Phule Nagar, Paspoli Village, Tanajiwadi Udanchan Kendra, Morarji Nagar, Sarvodaya Nagar, Gaodevi Tekdi, Tembhipada, Ramabai Nagar, Sai Hill Bhandup Reservoir, Tembhipada, Gaodevi Marg, Datta Mandir Marg, Sonapur Junction to Mangatram Petrol Pump, LBS Marg, Pratap Nagar Marg, Phule Nagar Hill and others.

L ward: Kurla’s water supply will also be totally cut off during the block time in L ward. The following areas are impacted: Kajupada, Kapadia Nagar, New MHADA Colony, Gafoor Khan Estate, Pipe Line Marg, LBS Marg (East and West), Kranti Nagar, Sambhaji Chowk, Ramdas Chowk, Anna Sagar Marg, 90 Feet Road, Kurla – Andheri Marg, Jarimari, Ghatkopar – Andheri Link Road, Saki Vihar Marg, Marwa Udyog Marg and others.

G North ward: During the block period, the water supply in G North ward will also be totally cut off. the included areas are Dharavi Main Marg, Ganesh Mandir Marg, Dilip Kadam Marg, Jasmine Mill Marg, Mahim Phatak, A. K. G. Nagar, Matunga Labour Camp, Sant Rohidas Marg, 60 Feet Marg, 90 Feet Marg, Sant Kakkaya Marg among others.

K East ward:  K East ward’s water supply will also be totally cut off. the included areas are Om Nagar, Kanti Nagar, Rajasthan Society, Sai Naga, Sahar Village, International Airport and SEEPZ- MIDC, Road No. 1 to 23, Maheshwari Nagar, Upadhyay Nagar, Thakur Chawl, Salve Nagar, Bhavani Nagar, Chakala, Prakash Wadi, Govind Wadi, Hanuman Nagar, Mota Nagar, Shivaji Nagar, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Colony, Charat Singh Colony, Mukund Hospital, Technical Department, Lelewadi, Indira Nagar, Airport Road Area, Marol Industrial Area, Ramakrishna Mandir Road, J. B. Nagar, P & T colony and others.

H East ward: During the block period, the water supply in H East ward will also be totally cut off. The affected areas include: Bandra Terminus, Kherwadi Service Road, Behram Pada, Khernagar, Nirmal Nagar and others. The BMC has requested citizens to note the timings of water cut and use water sparingly.

About 2400 mm pipeline

The hydraulic department has finished laying a new water pipeline with a diameter of 2400 mm between Powai Anchor Block and the Maroshi Water Tunnel (Tunnel Shaft). As a result, Tansa East and West’s two 1800 mm water pipelines will be partially cut off in order to commission the new water pipeline.

Kolhapur: More than 250 persons fell ill due to suspected food poisoning after attending a village fair in western Maharashtra’s Kolhapur district, police said on Wednesday.

About 50 persons were undergoing treatment at hospital at Shirol at present and the condition of all of them was said to be stable, said an official of Kurundwad police station.

A fair had been organised at Shivnakwadi village on Tuesday where `kheer’, a sweet preparation made from milk, was served as `prasad’, he said.

Statement Of A Police Official

“People started complaining of diarrhoea, nausea and fever since today morning. So far, 255 people have fallen sick due to suspected food poisoning. Most of them are claiming that they had `kheer’ at the fair. But there were food stalls too,” the police official said.

More than 50 persons were undergoing treatment at the hospital and the rest were discharged, he said, adding that all the admitted patients were stable.

“Food samples from the fair have been sent to the forensic laboratory to ascertain if it was food poisoning,” said the official.