CM assures fisherfolk
MUMBAI, August 17: Chief Minister Manohar Joshi on Friday assured a delegation of fisherfolk that the government would consider their demands before choosing a site for the Vikrant.
Last month, the Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT) cleared two sites for permanently berthing the Vikrant, one at Oyster Rock and the second one at Jamshetji Bunder. Fishermen have opposed the Jamshetji Bunder site on the grounds that it will affect their livelihood. Damodar Tandel, convener of the Akhil Maharashtra Machchimar Kriti Samiti, said that the CM had also decided to abolish the annual diesel quota system of 34 kilo litres per trawler. He also agreed to take up with the Centre, their demand for a waiver of the Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) notification to enable them to construct houses.
SC/ST teachers support strike
The All India Bahujan Teachers Union with members from SC/ST category have extended their support to the ongoing all India college teachers strike. It submitted aseparate 10 -point charter of demands including implementation of the UGC recommended pay scales, exemption from income tax for teachers belonging to SC/ST categories, free education to teachers’ children and total reimbursement of the medical expenses of teachers and their families.
SOS chief transferred
Deputy Commissioner of Police, Parambir Singh, who headed the Special Operations Squad (SOS) of the Mumbai police has been transferred as the DCP Detection. Singh , whose transfer comes in the wake of the disbanding of the SOS, will take over charge as the DCP Detection tomorrow, from DCP K L Prasad, who has in turn been transferred to Zone VII.
Signature garden inaugurated
The foundation for `Signature Garden’, a project initiated by the Society for Improvement, Greenery and Nature (Signature) was recently inaugurated by Union Minister of Environment Suresh Prabhu. Signature is founded by a group of walkers from Breach Candy who came together to improve the environment.KumarSubramaniam, executive director of Silverline Industries, Signature’s chairperson, welcomed the dignitaries, including M P Lodha, MLA, Kishan Jadhav, Leader of the Opposition in the BMC, Subhash Mayekar.