Mumbai this week: Fadnavis presents first Budget under CM Shinde-led govt; BMC panel to combat dust pollution

In a bid to combat the deteriorating air quality in Mumbai, municipal commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal directed the formation of a seven-member committee to chalk out measures to mitigate dust pollution in the city. Chahal’s move comes days after 650 citizens wrote to him urging to expedite measures to control Mumbai’s air pollution.

The ‘unpredictable’ moves of NCP chief Sharad Pawar

Following the old adage – if you cannot beat them join them – Sharad Pawar decided to allow his party’s MLAs to join the BJP-led coalition in Nagaland as he knew it would be futile to convince the latter to play the role of the Opposition.

Uddhav’s salvo at BJP at first rally after losing Sena name, symbol

Addressing his first public rally since losing the party name ‘Shiv Sena’ and symbol ‘bow and arrow’, Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray launched a scathing attack on the BJP and termed it “most corrupt” and “opportunist”. He said the leading national party had earlier stolen Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel from Gujarat and Subhas Chandra Bose from West Bengal, and now it was stealing his father Bal Thackeray from Maharashtra.

IIT-B professor questions panel report on suicide

Days after a panel set up to probe the suicide of a first-year student in IIT-Bombay last month cited his “deteriorating academic performance” as a possible cause, a professor at the institute has questioned the findings. The chemical engineering student, Darshan Solanki from Ahmedabad, died by suicide on February 12, a day after his semester exams concluded.

BMC yet to take final decision on smog towers

A month after it announced the move, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), it appears, is yet to reach a consensus on installing smog towers in Mumbai. Earlier this week, the BMC announced an action plan to combat air and dust pollution in Mumbai. Interestingly, however, there was no mention of the smog towers in the plan.

Other important news this week:

1. Sena UBT leader’s ‘aide’ in ED custody till March 15
2. Man on London-Mumbai flight booked for smoking in toilet, misbehaving with passengers
3. Untimely rains damage crops on 13,729 hectares across 8 districts: Fadnavis
4. 3-year-old girl dies in drunk driving accident on Holi
5. Mumbai sees drop in road accidents, Maharashtra witnesses rise
6. No women minister in cabinet: Opposition attacks Maharashtra government on Women’s Day
7. WRI identifies 5 open spaces along Mithi river to help mitigate floods

Photo of the week:

Holi celebration at Nerul in Navi Mumbai. (Express photo by Narendra Vaskar)

News to watch out for next week

1. Days after Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis presented the state budget in ongoing Assembly session, a discussion will be held on the budget.
2. After Uddhav Thackeray’s rally in Khed, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena has also announced it’s party’s rally in Khed on March 19.
3. BMC to take over the work from railways this week as the latter is supposed to finish demolition of the Gopal Krishna Gokhale Bridge in Andheri by Sunday afternoon.
4. Bombay HC on March 15 to hear a plea filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against the bail granted to Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut and his alleged associate Pravin Raut in a money laundering case.
5. High Court on March 16 to hear plea by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi seeking quashing of a defamation case filed against him and proceedings before magistrate court.
6. The Bombay High Court is likely to hear on March 17 a plea by Reliance (ADA) Group chief Anil Ambani against the Income Tax department allegation that he had evaded Rs 420-crore taxes on Rs 814 crore held in two Swiss Bank accounts. HC had directed no action against Ambani till further orders.

News from Mumbai: February 27 – March 5

News from Mumbai: February 20 – 26

News from Mumbai: February 13 – 19

News from Mumbai: February 6 – 12

News from Mumbai: January 30 – February 5