Page 5 - Devendra Fadnavis

Maharashtra govt plans to bolster civil defence force amid staff shortage

With the spotlight on civil defence, a course will be introduced in the engineering college syllabus from the upcoming academic year, a senior Maharashtra government official said

All security precautions are in place in Maharashtra, says CM Fadnavis

The Maharashtra government has taken all security precautions, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Saturday, against the backdrop of the widening conflict between India and Pakistan. Fadnavis spoke to reporters in Alandi village after taking darshan of Sant Dnyaneshwar. "Pakistan is a terrorist state. They have been supporting terrorism, but India won't stop. Under the leadership of PM Modi, our armed forces are giving a befitting response to Pakistan," he said. When asked about the heightened security measures in Maharashtra, Fadnavis said a review meeting was held in Mumbai on Friday. "All security precautions have been taken in the state in the wake of the current situation. Security information is provided to the district units, and resources are being made available," he said. Fadnavis on Friday said the police, Coast Guard and Navy are on alert mode in the state, and all SoPs (Standard Operating Procedures) are being followed. "Police, Navy and Coast Guard are on alert

Police, Coast Guard and Navy on alert mode in Maharashtra: CM Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said the police, Coast Guard and Navy are on alert mode in the state, and all SoPs (Standard Operating Procedures) are being followed. Talking to reporters here, Fadnavis said a review meeting to take stock of the state's internal security will be held later in the day. He was responding to a query on the steps being taken to protect the state's coastline, a day after Pakistan's attempts to target Indian military installations were repelled. Police, Navy and Coast Guard are on alert mode. Regular exercises are being undertaken, and whatever steps are needed to be taken as per the war book' are being taken care of. A review meeting on internal security will be convened later in the day. We are on alert mode, he said. The Indian armed forces on early Wednesday carried out missile strikes on nine terror targets in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Pakistan under Operation Sindoor in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that ..

CM Fadnavis to chair high-level security review meeting in Mumbai

The meeting comes after Pakistani drones were intercepted by the Indian air defence in Jaisalmer

Ghatkopar hoarding collapse: Probe panel submits report to CM Fadnavis

A committee set up by the Maharashtra government to probe the hoarding collapse in Ghatkopar last year, in which 17 persons lost their lives, has submitted its report to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, an official said on Thursday. The report was submitted to Fadnavis in a sealed cover on Wednesday, and he forwarded it to the Home Department for further action, the official said. He said the six-member committee, headed by former Allahabad High Court chief justice Dilip Bhosle, has made suggestions about hoardings in the report. At least 17 people were killed and 74 injured after a huge iron hoarding collapsed on a petrol pump in Ghatkopar amid a dust storm on May 13, 2024. Following the incident, the state government set up a committee to investigate the roles of the entities responsible for the hoarding and the petrol pump. It was to examine previous records, financial transactions, and any potential collusion with officials from various agencies, and it was also tasked with .

12 of 48 departments score 100% in Maharashtra govt's 100-day report card

A dozen of the 48 Maharashtra Government departments have scored a perfect 100 in their 100-day report card, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced on Thursday. Fadnavis, after taking charge as chief minister in December last year, had set a 100-day programme for each department, setting ambitious targets. As many as 18 other departments have achieved more than 80 per cent of their targets in the 100-day period, Fadnavis said on X. Ten departments have achieved between 60 and 79 per cent of their targets, while eight departments have recorded below 60 per cent target achievement, he said. The departments with 100 per cent target completion include water resources, home, rural development, animal husbandry, ports, higher and technical education, labour, textiles, cultural affairs, mining, dairy development and employment guarantee scheme.

Bullet train to be operational by 2028: Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis

State plans new airports in Vadhvan, Pune, Shirdi, and Nagpur; $50 bn fresh investment expected in infra

Govt has taken note of hospitals seeking deposit before treatment: Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said the government has taken a serious note of the complaints that some hospitals do not treat patients without taking a deposit, and said instructions have been given to form a special inspection team to control charity hospitals. The special inspection team will be formed in coordination with the Charity Commissioner, Health Department and Chief Minister's Medical Assistance Cell, a statement from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said. Charity hospitals in the state should provide free treatment to patients from poor and vulnerable groups. Hospitals should register information about remaining beds and Indigent Patient Fund (IPF) in the online system, it said. Fadnavis was speaking at the review meeting of the Chief Minister's Relief Fund Cell and Charity Hospital Relief Cell . The meeting assumes significance in the backdrop of the death of a pregnant woman in Pune after she was alleged denied admission by Deenanath ...

6 tourists from Maharashtra killed in Pahalgam attack: CM Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has spoken to the families of people from the state who were targeted by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam and assured all help to them. Also, the Maharashtra government has requested the Civil Aviation Ministry to arrange a special flight to bring back the bodies of five persons from the state killed in the terror attack, a release from Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's office said on Wednesday. Terrorists struck a prime tourist location at Pahalgam in south Kashmir on Tuesday, killing at least 26 persons and injuring several others, according to officials. The deceased included two foreigners -- from the UAE and Nepal -- and two locals, officials said. Fadnavis in a post on X on Tuesday night said he had spoken to the families of some tourists from Nagpur and Pune who were injured in the terror attack and assured them of all help. Deputy CM Shinde had a telephonic conversation with Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu

Cong accuses Mahayuti of spending ₹150 cr on cabinet meet; govt cites error

Maharashtra Congress president Harshvardhan Sapkal on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on the ruling Mahayuti coalition, accusing it of spending a whopping Rs 150 crore on preparations for a cabinet meeting in Ahilyanagar district. The BJP-led government, however, clarified it had given an advertisement for a tender of works worth Rs 1.5 crore for the proposed cabinet meeting, but the amount was published "incorrectly" as Rs 150 crore. In a post on X, Sapkal attached a tender notice published in newspapers stating that Rs 150 crore will be spent on mandaps (a temporary platform), staging, green rooms, toilets, barricading, sound, air conditioners, electricity, fire brigade and CCTV set up for the meeting. The notice states an e-tender will be floated on April 24. A cabinet meeting is scheduled on April 29 in Chondi, the birthplace of the legendary 18th century Malwa queen Ahilyabai Holkar, whose 300th birth anniversary year is being observed. Last year, the western Maharashtra .

Panel urges CM to revoke Hindi move, Fadnavis says primacy to Marathi

The Maharashtra government's language consultation committee has urged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to revoke the decision of making Hindi a mandatory third language for students of classes 1 to 5. Fadnavis on Sunday dismissed concerns over the "imposition" of the Hindi language in the state, asserting Marathi will continue to be compulsory. The state government has given its nod to implement the three-language formula under the National Education Policy. Accordingly, it has made Hindi a must for students of classes 1 to 5 in English and Marathi-medium schools. In a letter to the CM on Sunday, the language consultation committee's chief Laxmikant Deshmukh claimed the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) did not consider their thoughts and suggestions before making the Hindi push. While the government has appointed a language consultation committee to advise it on language matters, the SCERT has not taken the panel into consideration, the letter said. No .

Primacy to Marathi, no imposition of Hindi in Maharashtra: Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis dismissed concerns over the "imposition" of the Hindi language in the state on Sunday, asserting that Marathi will continue to be compulsory. The opposition parties, particularly Shiv Sena (UBT) and the MNS, have alleged that Hindi is being imposed in Maharashtra after the state government gave its nod to implement the three-language formula under the NEP. "It is wrong to say that attempts are being made to impose Hindi. Marathi will be compulsory in Maharashtra. There will be no other compulsion," Fadnavis told reporters after attending a programme organised at the Bhandarkar Research Institute in Pune. Responding to the row over the government's approval to make Hindi a compulsory third language in schools, Fadnavis said, "We need to understand that Hindi has not been made mandatory instead of Marathi. The Marathi language is a must". He said the New Education Policy states that two of the three languages to be taught to students must

Raj, Uddhav Thackeray hint at reunion, make common cause in language row

Raj Thackeray hinted at a possible reconciliation with cousin Uddhav amid growing concerns over Marathi identity and opposition to the state's Hindi language policy, setting the stage for major shift

Govt committed to making Marathwada drought-free, says CM Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said that the state government was committed to making Marathwada drought-free and was making efforts in that direction. Talking about the measures the government plans to take to alleviate water scarcity in the region, Fadnavis said at least 53 TMC water flowing into the sea will be brought to the Godavari River Basin, and excess water from the Krishna and Koyna rivers will be diverted. The government will issue tenders for these works, he said while speaking at an event in Beed district. The Marathwada region comprises Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Jalna, Beed, Parbhani, Hingoli, Dharashiv, Latur and Nanded districts. He said Marathwada's share from the Krishna River has been brought to Ashti city. Alluding to the murder of Massajog sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh, the chief minister said while Beed has been in the news for the wrong reasons, the district has a long history of Warkari ideology and saints. He said despite facing ..

Marathi compulsory in Maha, learning other languages a choice: CM Fadnavis

Fadnavis, expressing surprise at the opposition to Hindi and the growing preference for English, warned that any challenge to Marathi will not be tolerated

PM Modi to inaugurate India Steel 2025 event in Mumbai on April 24

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate India Steel 2025 event which starts April 24 in Mumbai, an official statement said on Thursday. As per the Ministry of Steel, the three-day event will see a participation of more than 12,000 business visitors, 250 exhibitors, and 1,200 conference delegates representing various sectors, government departments, state governments, country delegations, and domestic and international buyers from India and abroad. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the flagship event of steel industry on April 24, the ministry said. He will address the gathering through video conferencing in the presence of Minister of Steel and Heavy Industries H D Kumaraswamy, and Minister of State for Steel and Heavy Industries Shri Bhupathi Raju Srinivasa Varma. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh Vishnu Deo Sai will also attend the event. This 6th edition of the biennial international exhibition and conference will br

Maha, Russian firm sign MoU to build thorium-based small modular reactor

Maharashtra on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Russia's state-owned company ROSATOM for development of a Small Modular Reactor based on thorium fuel. The MoU was signed in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis between Mahagenco and ROSATOM's 'Small Modular Reactor with Thorium Fuel' initiative. The main objective of this MoU is to jointly develop a thorium reactor in Maharashtra, commercialise thorium reactors as per safety standards of Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), and establish an assembly line for thorium reactors under the 'Make in Maharashtra' initiative. "CM Devendra Fadnavis presided over the MoU signing between Maharashtra State Power Generation Co. Ltd (MAHAGENCO) and Russia's State Atomic Energy Corporation ROSATOM for the development of a Small Modular Reactor based on Thorium Fuel," the CMO said in a post on X. The Maharashtra Institution for Transformation (MITRA) will provide strategic support for the joint development

Mumbai to host WAVES from May 1 to 4, to become permanent venue: Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said that the first World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) will take place in Mumbai from May 1 to 4. The chief minister said Mumbai will be the permanent venue for the yearly summit, which will boost the "creative economy", the fastest-growing in terms of wealth and job creation. He said 5,000 delegates from 100 countries are expected to attend the summit. Fadnavis said the Indian Institute of Creative Technology (IICT) will come up on land in Film City, and the Centre and state government have inked a memorandum of understanding for this project. He said that a 240-acre plot belonging to the Information and Broadcasting Ministry in Malad can be used for film production and post-production activities, he said. Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had earlier said WAVES will focus on nurturing creative talent through 31 Create in India challenges, which have already shortlisted over 400 creators

NIA will decide where Rana will be taken for probe, says CM Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said the National Investigation Agency and the Union Home Ministry will decide where 26/11 terror attack conspirator Tahawwur Rana will be taken for probe. He was responding to the question whether Rana, extradited from the US, will be brought to Mumbai. "Mumbai police will extend all cooperation to the NIA, and if we need any update on the probe, we will seek it from NIA. The NIA will decide where to take him,' Fadnavis said at a press conference here. He wanted to thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi on behalf of the Mumbai citizens who lost their kin in the November 2008 attack for bringing Rana to India to face the country's justice system, he added.

Special law needed as Maoist groups active in urban areas, says Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has said bringing the Special Public Safety Act is necessary as many banned Maoist organisations have shifted their bases to the state, with their affiliated groups now operating in urban areas. The proposed law does not interfere with the personal freedom of citizens but is directed solely at organisations engaged in anti-national activities, Fadnavis said on Wednesday while interacting with various journalist groups. He addressed concerns raised over the draft bill, which is set to be introduced in the monsoon session of the state legislature starting June 30. The law proposed by the Maharashtra government is crucial for ensuring internal security, the CM said, and assured the law will not pose any difficulties for journalists or the general public, nor will it curtail their freedom of expression. "The proposed Special Public Safety Act does not interfere with the personal freedom of citizens but is directed at organisations engaged in