Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar on Friday suggested short-term and long-term plans to deal with the kind of situation that arose following the major fire broke out at Mantralaya. Short-term measures include relocating various government officers in temporary locations and after carrying out structural investigations with the help of structural engineers and experts go in for the rebuilding of Mantralaya.

Pawar rules out BOT in Mantralaya revamp

Business Standard

The Maharashtra government's initial estimates show that it would need Rs 25 crore to redo the forth, fifth and sixth floors of Mantralaya which were gutted in yesterday' fire. However, the general administration department and public works department believe that the actual cost would be decided only after the completion of structural and fire audits.

Mantralaya makeover: Rs 1,300 cr in 2009, now how much?

Inquiries with the general administration department and public works department revealed that the Maharashtra government simply did not implement recommendations made after a detailed fire audit conducted in 2008 and a study carried out with the help of architect Hafeez Contractor to overhaul the entire fire detection system in Mantralaya.

Safety plans remained on paper despite 2008 fire audit

In an indication that economic slowdown is hitting hard the property market in India&rsquo;s financial capital, property sales and purchase agreements fell sharply in Mumbai during January-May. However, leave and licence deals registered with the department of stamps and registration shot up during the period, official data showed.

Property sales fall in Mumbai due to high prices 

Maharashtra public works minister Chhagan Bhujbal has said the restoration of the iconic Mantralaya building, damaged in a major fire, would be completed in three months.

Mantralaya to be restored in 3 months

The Maharashtra government will require Rs 25 crore to redo the three Manatralaya floors destroyed in yesterday&rsquo;s fire, its initial estimates said. The exact cost, though, would be decided only after the completion of structural and fire audits, according to the general administration and public works departments.

State govt to take call on makeover of Mantralaya building

The Maharashtra government did not implement recommendations made after a detailed fire audit it conducted four years ago, besides an expert study meant to overhaul the entire fire detection system in Mantralaya, inquiries with the general administration department and public works department revealed on Friday.

Safety plans unimplemented, none sure of insurance cover

India&rsquo;s power sector, expected to attract an investment of Rs 11 lakh crore during the 12th Plan period, is in crisis. Procedural and regulatory uncertainties, rising fuel constraints and deteriorating health of distribution companies have raised questions over the health of a sector that saw huge investment even during the 2008 downturn.

Power may trip on fuel constraints

The Maharashtra government has ordered an inquiry by the state police&rsquo;s Criminal Investigation Department into the major fire in Mantralaya, the state secretariat building in south Mumbai.

Maha govt orders CID probe 

The otherwise busy and buzzing south Mumbai on Thursday turned into a prohibited area, immediately after a major fire broke out at the white-coloured seven-storey Mantralaya, the state secretariate building.

Mumbaikars shocked, but stand united to tackle the crisis

The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) is making moves to amend its rate regulations in a bid to promote hydro power projects to meet peak-hour demand. In a draft regulation to amend its terms and conditions of rate regulations, 2009, the central power regulator has proposed 16.5 per cent for reservoir-based hydro electricity generating stations, including pumped storage schemes.

CERC moots tariff change to boost hydro power plants

Vexation at the lack of unanimity within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on whom to support for President, followed by a persuasive telephone call from Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar, led to Shiva Sena supremo Bal Thackeray announcing his party&rsquo;s support for Pranab Mukherjee, nominee of the United Progressive Alliance.

NDA dithering Pawar's call gets Sena vote for Pranab

Union agriculture minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief, Sharad Pawar, on Sunday said the ruling UPA-II coalition in Delhi must revive &ldquo;aggressive&rdquo; economic decisions to boost growth and attract investments. And, the Manmohan Singh government &ldquo;must rigorously pursue&rdquo; continuous dialogue with the ruling-front allies for the passage of the much-delayed reforms and related bills. Consultations with the Opposition, too, was crucial, given the present numbers of the Congress allies in Parliament, he added.

'Revive 'aggressive' economic decisions' 

There is good news for farmers in Maharashtra. Those who are yet to receive funds from cooperative banks can now expect them from commercial banks. Soon, there will be a move to help regional rural banks (RRBs) use the infrastructure of primary agriculture cooperative societies, which would disburse crop loans from commercial banks.

Farmers to get loans from commercial banks directly

Maharashtra&rsquo;s Rs 26,000-crore sugar industry, which contributes nearly 30 per cent to India&rsquo;s total sugar output, would formally make a case for decontrolling the sector.

Maharashtra sugar industry bats for decontrol

Cost escalation and delays in the expansion of Mumbai international airport have attracted the attention of civil aviation minister Ajit Singh.

Ajit Singh to review status of Mumbai airport expansion

After a delay of two years, Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) plans to go for securitisation of the existing Bandra-Worli sea link and the proposed Rs 5,100 crore Worli-Haji Ali sea link project.

R-Infra's sea-link contract likely to get cancelled

The power ministry is set to refer the issue of cost escalations and price pass-throughs to the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC).

Ray of hope for power firms on rate raise issue

The Maharashtra government and state-run City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco) on Monday sought the intervention of Ajit Singh, the Union civil aviation minister, for early transfer of responsibility for the Navi Mumbai International Airport project from the Airports Authority of India to the state.

Cidco asks Centre for early RFQ nod on Navi Mumbai airport

Two days after Coal India Ltd (CIL), the world&rsquo;s largest coal producer, entered into fuel supply agreements (FSAs) with 27 power companies, some power producers, including Maharashtra State Power Generation Co Ltd (Mahagenco), on Wednesday raised objections against some terms of the pacts.

Power producers oppose terms of fuel supply agreements with CIL  

The realty sector is down, but certainly not out in the present slow down. Maharashtra government asks the realty players not to be impatient and assures them all the necessary help. In an interview with Sanjay Jog, the minister of state for housing Sachin Ahir explains government's views while underlining the importance of transparency.

Sanjay Jog

Sanjay Jog

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