"Shinde-Sena MLAs have 40 crores while the newly inducted NCP group in the government is getting 50 crores," claimed Leader of Opposition Ambadas Danve in the Vidhan Parishad today. (File photo)Mumbai News Highlights (July 24): Highlighting the difference in payouts to MLAs for their constituencies during the ongoing Assembly session, Leader of Opposition and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve said some lawmakers are getting Rs 20 crores. He claimed that some MLAs from the Shinde Sena have been allotted Rs 40 crores while the newly-inducted NCP group is getting Rs 50 crores. Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis said the allocation is done by the finance minister depending upon the availability of funds.
In other news, a ‘yellow’ alert has been issued for Mumbai and Thane today indicating moderate to light spells of rain in isolated locations. “We haven’t issued any adverse warning for Mumbai as of now since the conditions appear to be favourable for the heavy rain to recede slowly,” IMD Mumbai scientist Sushma Nair said. For the landslide-hit Raigad and Palghar districts an ‘orange’ alert is being issued for Monday and Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the National Disaster Rescue Force (NDRF) called off search and rescue operations at the landslide-hit village of Irshalwadi in Raigad district’s Khalapur tehsil. According to data provided by the State Disaster Management Authority, the death toll climbed to 27, while 57 villagers remained untraced.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis dismissed Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan's claim that Ajit Pawar would be appointed as the chief minister replacing Eknath Shinde in August.
Fadnavis said Ajit Pawar is well aware of the fact that he would not become the chief minister and the same was conveyed to him during the meetings held before July 2.
The science branch of Archeological Survey of India has begun conservation work on Lankeshwar cave, part of the renowned Ellora Caves in Aurangabad in Maharashtra, an official said. The Lankeshwar cave contains sculptures of Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh and Ravanugraga
A total of 483 farmers have committed suicide in the first six months of this year in Maharashtra's Marathwada region, including a high of 92 deaths in June, a state revenue department official said.
The number of deaths has seen a steady increase, starting with 62 in January, 74 in February, 78 in March, 89 in April, before a slight dip to 88 in May, and 92 in June, he added. Beed district accounted for 128 of the 483 deaths, followed by 90 in Osmanabad and 89 in Nanded, as per a report from the revenue department covering Aurangabad division.
Traffic movement towards Mumbai, which was blocked due to a landslide on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, resumed in the early hours of Monday as two lanes from Pune towards the Maharashtra capital on the expressway were opened for vehicles, an official said.
The highway police said they have decided to shut the Pune to Mumbai traffic on the expressway from 12 noon to 2 pm on Monday to remove the debris and heavy stones from the hills.
In another incident, a landslide took place near Khandala in Pune district at around 1.30 am on Monday and blocked the traffic between Urse and Talegaon. The road was opened for traffic in the morning after the removal of debris. (PTI)
Eight MNS workers were arrested for allegedly ransacking a toll plaza in Nashik a day earlier after party leader Amit Thackeray's vehicle was stopped, a police official said.
Amit Thackeray, who is the son of MNS founder Raj Thackeray, was stopped at Gonde toll plaza in Sinnar at 9:15pm on Saturday due to some mismatch in his vehicle's Fastag details while he on his way to Mumbai, the official said. At around 2:30am on Sunday, a mob ransacked the plaza and made a functionary there apologise. A video of the incident went viral on social media.
Eight MNS workers were arrested late Sunday night in connection with the toll plaza ransacking, the Wavi police station official said.
Deputy CM Ajit Pawar said that while BMC elections were to happen in February 2022, they have been delayed. As the matter remains pending in the Supreme Court, the government felt that rather than the Municipal Commissioner having all the powers, it should be shared with someone elected by the people and hence the Guardian Minister was selected.
"However there should be no favouritism and we will take a meeting and look into the matter. The well-being of all wards should be taken into consideration," Pawar said.
Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Anil Parab raised the issue of Mumbai's Guardian Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha being given an office in the BMC headquarters, when elections have not been held.
"In the BMC, funds are being distributed based on recommendations of the Guardian Minister while it should be based on the size of the ward. If this continues, we will have to approach the courts," he said.
Inquiry in the Trimbakeshwar temple incident, where a procession of Muslims had shown loban from the entrance, will be completed within one month, Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis informed the Maharashtra Assembly. He added that an SIT had been formed to probe whether this was a tradition being followed since the past few years.
Fadnavis' response came after an the government was asked why there was a delay in the report on the incident.
Yuva Sena functionary Suraj Chavan, who is close to Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackerey, is being questioned by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Mumbai police Economic Offences Wing (EOW) in the alleged financial irregularities worth nearly Rs 12,024 crore in BMC.
The Supreme Court on Monday extended by two weeks the interim bail of former Mumbai Police officer Pradeep Sharma, who was arrested in connection with the Antilia bomb scare case and the killing of businessman Mansukh Hiran, in view of his wife's surgery.
A bench of Justices AS Bopanna and Bela M Trivedi, however, said since the interim bail is being extended time and again, this will be the last extension.
"If the surgery does not happen within this period, the petitioner (Pradeep Sharma) will have to surrender after two weeks. There will not be any more extensions of interim bail", the bench told senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Sharma.
Rohatgi said he will surrender if the surgery of his wife is not conducted by then.
"This time surgery could not be conducted as her blood pressure was not stabilising", he said.
The bench said after Sharma's surrender, the court will take up his plea for regular bail.
Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for NIA, said Sharma has been seeking extension of interim bail time and again citing various reasons.
On June 26, the top court had extended by four weeks the interim bail granted to Sharma. PTI
DyC Fadnavis says that funds are being allocated now depending on merit and that he will look into the issue brought up in the Vihdan Sabha through discussions with CM Eknath Shinde and finance minister Ajit Pawar.
"People from NCP who haven't joined also have been granted funds... Will give a list of Congress leaders who have been allocated funds," he added.
"Various departments put up proposals before the government. Then depending upon the availability of funds, the allocation takes place by the finance minister," says DyC Fadnavis responding to Leader of Opposition UBT Shiv Sena Ambadas Danve who raised the issue of all political parties purportedly not receiving equal fund allocation from the state government.
Referring to the past to "answer the questions raised", Fadnavis says during his term as chief minister such questions were never raised. "When Uddhav Thackeray was the CM, not a single penny was granted," he adds addressing the Assembly.
Shiv Sena UBT leader and MP Sanjay Raut said that the type of fund allocation that is taking place in the government is an embezzlement of money.
On Shinde led Sena MLA, Bharat Gogawle getting a fund of Rs 150 crores. Raut said, "I heard about this figure today and I was shocked to know. Are You trying to silence someone? Are you paying the price for not being given a ministerial post? (to Gogawale)"
MSRDC along with IRB (toll collection agency) & State highway Police continue to remove boulders from the Mumbai-Pune Expressway Ghat section where a night crack occurred Monday. The boulder removal work will continue for two hours. Traffic remains affected.
After the Irshalwadi landslide incident in Raigad, the Opposition asked the Maharashtra government why the Dr Madhav Gadgil Committee report on Western Ghats had not been implemented. In an interview with The Indian Express on his report, Dr Madhav Gadgil spoke to about why he was sceptical about the claims made by the state government in the house.
Read the full interview
DyCM Ajit Pawar assures the state government will make a detailed statement to address the concerns of members voicing hardships faced by farmers and people in villages adversely hit by rains.
At least four districts in the Western Vidarbha region - Yavatmal, Washim, Buldhana, Akola - are worst hit with water overflowing from rivers and flooding agricultural land and homes due to heavy rainfall. BJP MLA Sanjay Kute urges the state government to provide Rs 10,000 cash compensation to families affected immediately.
Nowcast warning issued at 10 am: Moderate spells of rain are very likely to occur at isolated places in the districts of Mumbai, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg and Kolhapur during the next 3-4 hours, says IMD Mumbai.
Amidst incessant rains in various parts of the state, the Panchaganga river in Kolhapur reaches the 'danger' mark. The district administration begins the relocation process of villages along the river banks.
Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde asks authorities to carry out Panchanamas of crops affected by rains and floods to enable the government to help farmers. A Panchanama is a document prepared by the officer noting the facts and proceedings of an investigation.
There was a night crack on the Pune-Mumbai highway in the wee hours of Monday. The Mumbai channel on the Expressway will be completely closed today between 12 pm and 2 pm to remove debris from Sadar Darad and stones stuck on the mountain, an MPO official said.
The Old Pune Mumbai Highway will continue at Shingroba Ghat for cars only.
Mumbai has recorded over 100 mm of downpour in the past 24 hours ending 8.30 am on Monday. Even as heavy rains continue to lash Mumbai, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) downgraded the orange alert and has issued a yellow alert for the city as well as Thane for Monday. In the neighbouring districts of Palghar and Raigad, meanwhile, the IMD has sounded an orange alert indicating that heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to occur in isolated places.
While the Santacruze observatory recorded 101 mm of rain between Sunday and Monday, the Colaba observatory registered 45 mm of showers.
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Three persons have died in rain-related incidents in Maharashtra's Yavatmal district, state Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Anil Patil said and announced an assistance of Rs 4 lakh to the families of each of the deceased. Patil directed the district administration to immediately distribute food grains and provide an assistance of Rs 5,000 to more than 1,600 flood-affected families in the district.
Besides the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), an Mi-17 V5 chopper of the Indian Air Force was also pressed into service for the rescue operation at Anandnagar Tanda village.
Heavy rains have lashed Yavatmal in the last few days, and more than 77 circles (in the district) received more than 100 mm downpour.
Two persons were swept away in flooding in Akola Ba and Savar villages on Saturday, out of which one of the bodies was yet to be recovered. Besides, a woman died after her house collapsed in Waghadi village.
Yavatmal Collector Amol Yedge said around 280 people were safely rescued from the flood waters, while 6,275 people were shifted to a temporary accommodation and provided food.
Villages in Shahapur, Bhiwandi, and Vasai talukas in Thane and Palghar districts of Maharashtra are put on alert in view of the possible discharge of water from the Tansa dam.
The dam in Thane district is likely to overflow anytime due to continuous rainfall in the region and hence villages situated around the dam and banks of the (Tansa) river are put on alert, a release said.
Kalu and Ulhas rivers in the district were flowing just below the danger mark, and the dams are also getting filled. (PTI)
A 23-year-old man was killed after his motorcycle bumped into a pothole, following which a concrete mixer truck ran over him in Maharashtra's Thane district, police said. The accident occurred on Hajimalang Road around 11.30 pm on Thursday, following which the truck driver was arrested.
"The deceased Suraj Gavari, in an attempt to avoid a pothole, lost balance of the vehicle and fell down on the road just when a speeding concrete mixer truck ran over him," an official of the Hill Line police station in Ulhasnagar division said.
Mumbai Police Control room received a threat call, in which the caller informed that a tanker filled with RDX and carrying two Pakistani nationals was going from Mumbai to Goa. The caller identified himself as Pandey, according to ANI.
Investigation is underway, Mumbai Police said.
One person died due to electrocution at Kalina in Santacruz (East) after being electrocuted while cleaning the sewage line of a private medical store. The body was recovered and was sent to a local nursing home, where he was declared dead. The identity of deceased is yet to be known.
Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis defended his co-deputy CM and NCP's Ajit Pawar, rubbishing reports of the latter giving higher allocations of Rs 25 crore each to his party's MLAs. "Ajit Pawar has allocated funds for development projects uniformly to everybody including Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) MLAs as well as BJP MLAs," he said.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, along with his MP-son Shrikant and other family members, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the national capital on Saturday and discussed several issues related to the state.
Calling it a courtesy call, Shinde said that he briefed the Prime Minister on several development projects going on in Maharashtra, and the situation after heavy rainfall in the state. Read more
At the end of third week on July 23, the water level at Jayakwadi dam is just 27.65 per cent of its full capacity. The biggest dam for irrigation and drinking water in the drought-hit Marathwada region currently has 6,00,300 million litres water as against its maximum capacity of 21,70,930 million litres. Last year, the dam, located in Paithan taluka in Aurangabad district in Marathwada region, had water level 85 per cent of its full capacity. Read more
A day after Mumbai witnessed the season’s wettest day with over 200 mm of rainfall, the city recorded less than 50 mm of rainfall on Sunday morning amid a ‘yellow’ alert for the day.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), its Santacruz observatory recorded 49 mm of rain, followed by 35 mm at the coastal observatory in Colaba on Sunday morning. Read more
Dreams of buying land in Alibaug landed a 29-year-old house help, recently arrested by Malabar Hill police for allegedly stealing gold and diamond jewellery worth at least Rs 60 lakh from the apartment of a 75-year-old businesswoman, in jail.
Seven helps work in the businesswoman’s house, where the accused worked as a caretaker and allegedly stole the valuables over time, stealing small quantities each time to avoid suspicion, the police said. Read more
A Domician Republic national, who was caught at the Mumbai international airport by immigration officers recently after arriving from Dubai, managed to give the slip to security officers and escaped from the airport premises.
The foreigner was caught at the airport as a ‘lookout circular’ (LoC) had been issued against him by the DRI Mumbai office. The Sahar police have registered an offence and are trying to trace him. Read more
The toll of the Irshalwadi landslide continues to be 27 with 78 still untraced. The NDRF has begun its search and rescue operation today but heavy rains continue in the area. A meeting will take place today with local authorities to decide on further course of action.
Mohan Bhagwat and Maharashtra DCM Devendra Fadnavis inaugurated Dhankunwarben Hospital and Ramaben Cardiac Center in Mumbai North this morning. Post the event, they attended a public program in Poisar, Kandivili.
MNS workers attack Sinnar-Nashik toll Naka stopping youth wing leader Amit Thackeray's car.
Amit Thackeray is the son of MNS president Raj Thackeray and is currently touring north Maharashtra.
With rains expected to continue for the next five days, a 'yellow' has been sounded in Mumbai. Thane, Palghar districts have received an 'orange' alert.
A day after seeing the wettest day of this season by recording rainfall above 200 mm, Mumbai recorded two digit rainfall figures on Sunday.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the Santacruz observatory recorded 49 mm of rainfall in past 24-hours, followed by 35 mm recorded in the coastal observatory at Colaba.
A Gondia-based international cricket bookie lured a businessman to invest in doctored betting apps and then duped him to the tune of over Rs 58 crores. During the raid of his by Nagpur Police, more than Rs 17 crores in cash, gold weighing around 4 kg and 200 kg silver have been seized. The accused has fled and further investigation underway, Nagpur CP Amitesh Kumar told ANI.