Mumbai this week: City gears up to welcome Ganpati bappa; Maratha leader Manoj Jarange Patil ends hunger strike

• No Ganesh Utsav mandal has fundamental right to privately create immersion pond in public park
• BMC, other civic authorities have to make arrangements for safe immersion of idols

Meanwhile, the BMC is set to increase the number of artificial ponds and tanks in the city from 154 last year to 210 this year. It has also advised advised devotees and management of Ganesh mandals to exercise caution while using 13 old rail overbridges, which are in a precarious condition. While one arm of the Delisle bridge has been opened, a penalty remains in place for digging potholes to set up Ganpati pandals.

Here is The Indian Express’ guide on the most authentic Ukadiche Modak you can get in Mumbai

Following are the other important updates from Mumbai and Maharashtra in the past week (September 11-17):

Maratha protest ends with govt assurances

🔴 The week began with Manoj Jarange Patil’s hunger strike, demanding reservation for Marathas in education and jobs, entering its second week. Continuing to brush aside government assurances, Patil stopped his water intake and refused medical assistance, stating that Marathas need the “saline of reservation”.

🔴 While Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the government will ensure no injustice is done to the OBC community while building consensus for Maratha reservation, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said after an all-party meeting that his government is taking care that the decision taken on reservation survives the test of law and not get scrapped.

🔴 The Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court while hearing a PIL pertaining to the protests said that it is a duty of state government to maintain law and order and peace and tranquillity in society at any cost. Leaders from the Maratha community, meanwhile, were at the receiving end of abusive phone calls and heckling for not doing enough to ensure reservations.

🔴 By the 17th day of his strike, Patil agreed to end his fast and gave the government a month’s time to decide on the Maratha reservation issue. He broke his fast with a glass of juice offered by the CM. Read Shubhangi Khapre’s report on the ‘non-player’ who scored over Maharashtra govt on Maratha quota

Maratha activist Manoj Jarange Patil broke his fast on September 14, after a discussion with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.(X/@CMOMaharashtra)

Crackdown on city eateries

A month after a customer at a city hotel spotted a dead mouse in a chicken dish, the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) exposed glaring violations in 68 hotels it inspected in the first 12 days of September. Among te eateries against whom action was taken is the iconic Bademiya in Colaba, whose three outlets were ordered to be closure as they lacked valid food safety licences.

While the FDA found cockroaches, rats and maggots at Bademiya, Krishna Fastfood in Charkop and Paradise Home Kitchen in Bandra were fined for violating hygiene safety regulations.

On the political front

➡️ Uddhav Sena was quick to hit out at the usage of ‘Bharat’ on PM Modi’s placard at the opening ceremony of the G20 Summit, with its chief saying, “The BJP is irritated and rattled since we named our alliance INDIA. Now they are changing the country’s name to Bharat.”

➡️ Ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, the Maharashtra BJP has stressed the need for better coordination with its alliance partners, the Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and the NCP faction led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.

➡️ The disqualification petitions filed by the Nationalist Congress Party led by Sharad Pawar with Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar has proven that he is left with the support of only 11 MLAs while 41 have extended support to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. Pawar senior, meanwhile, urged the Election Commision of India to not entertain the petition by rebel Ajit Pawar’s group, staking claim on the party name and symbol. Bringing fresh controversy to the table was the suspension of the X account (formerly Twitter) of the Ajit Pawar faction.

➡️ Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar began hearing the disqualification petitions filed against the MLAs of two rival factions of Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray.

Other important news this week:

1. BEST’s last iconic double-decker non-AC bus bids goodbye; AC double-decker fleet size to increase to 900 in next 9 months
2. New ‘world class’ Taraporewala aquarium to replace 72-yr-old iconic structure
3. Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal moves Bombay HC against ‘illegal arrest’ in ED case; lodged at Arthur Road jail after court sends him to judicial custody
4. Man held for killing live-in-partner in Naigaon, dumping body in Gujarat; a look at other ‘suitcase murders’
5. Sanatan Dharma row reaches Maharashtra with FIR against Udhayanidhi Stalin in Mira Road
6. Private jet skids off Mumbai airport; pilots, passengers injured
7. ‘Will transform region’: CM Shinde announces Rs 45,000 crore for Marathwada at special cabinet meet
8. Bullet train work: 2 BKC roads will be closed for next 10 months
9. Toll at 5 nakas to increase from Oct 1
10. Thane lift collapse kills seven, contractors booked; lift had been malfunctioning since three months, one worker had joined project 4 days before incident
11. Fire incidents killed 102 in 5 years in Mumbai: fire brigade
12. ‘Regressive mindset’ that women must do all household work should change: Bombay HC rejects divorce plea

Photo of the week

Dark clouds gather over worli. (Express photo by Pradip Das)

News to watch out for next week:

1. Rains may lash Mumbai during the coming week, as the IMD predicts formation of a low pressure that may lead to moderate to heavy rainfall during festive season.
2. Civic officials will carry out a site inspection at the Gokhale Bridge to check the progress. The encroachments around the bridge that were hindering the construction works were removed last week and the BMC has started assembling of girders.

News from Mumbai: September 4-10

News from Mumbai: August 28-September 3

News from Mumbai: August 21-27