Page 34 - Maharashtra Government

Extortion calls made investor drop Rs 6,000 cr Maha plan last yr: Fadnavis

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has said a businessman who wanted to invest Rs 6,000 crore in the state shifted his project to Karnataka after receiving threats and extortion calls last year. Fadnavis, who heads the Home Ministry in the Eknath Shinde government which came to power last June, also directed the police to take strict action against those harassing industries. Speaking at an event in Pune on Saturday, the deputy CM appealed to leaders not to bring politics into the industrial sector and warned of strict action against those minting money in the garb of backing labour issues. "I feel bad to say that an investor met me in the afternoon and said he wanted to invest Rs 6,000 crore here (Maharashtra) a year ago, but shifted it to Karnataka after receiving threat and extortion calls," he said. "If this situation prevails, the state's youth will not get jobs. This is why such tendencies (harassment of industries, and business persons) should be crushed. I

Maharashtra: 1,023 farmers ended lives in Marathwada in 2022; 887 in 2021

The Marathwada region of Maharashtra reported 1,023 farmer suicides in 2022, up from 887 in the previous year, an official from the divisional commissioner's office said. The region comprising Jalna, Aurangabad, Parbhani, Hingoli, Nanded, Latur, Osmanabad and Beed districts had recorded one farmer suicide in 2001. So far, 10,431 growers have ended their lives in the region's eight districts since 2001, show figures from the divisional commissionerate. Between 2001 and 2010, the maximum 379 farmer suicides were reported in 2006. In the 2011-2020 decade, the highest number of farmer suicides at 1,133 was reported in 2015, the data showed. Out of the 10,431 farmers who ended their lives since 2001, 7,605 had received aid as per the government norms, an official said. Over the past few years, the region has seen drought-like conditions in some years and excess rain in others, which has compounded the difficulties of crop growers, according to activists and officials. The irrigation .

Maha: Rebellion, a common thread running through Cong's Thorats, Tambes

The surprise move of Congress MLC Sudhir Tambe, a close relative of staunch Congressman and former Maharashtra minister Balasaheb Thorat, to drop out of the upcoming Legislative Council polls in the state and field his son instead may have surprised some people, but political rebellion is quite common in the families of both the leaders. Earlier on Thursday, Sudhir Tambe, official Congress candidate for the biennial elections to the Upper House, announced withdrawal from the race and said his son Satyajit will be in the fray from the constituency currently represented by him. Satyajit Tambe, the state Youth Congress president, subsequently filed his nomination as an independent. Elections to graduates' and teachers' constituencies of the Council will be held on January 30 and Thursday was the last day for filing nominations. Sudhir Tambe, brother-in-law of former state Congress president Thorat, has been representing the Nashik Division Graduates' constituency in the Upper House of

HC pulls up Maha govt for uncertainty over policy for permitting bike taxis

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday rapped the Maharashtra government for its uncertainty on framing a policy permitting bike taxis in the state, and said it has to clarify its stand one way or the other. A division bench of Justices Gautam Patel and S G Dige said the state government cannot keep the issue hanging over the fire and has to take a decision immediately. The bench was hearing a petition filed by Roppen Transportation Services Private Limited, operator of Rapido bike taxi services in Pune and Mumbai, against a communication issued to it by the state government on December 29, 2022, refusing to allow them a bike taxi aggregator licence. Appearing for the government, Advocate General Birendra Saraf on Tuesday told the court that as on date, bike taxis are not allowed to ply, as the government has not issued any no policy or guidelines for the same. The government has in fact issued a show cause notice to one such aggregator company for plying bike taxis without licence. A ..

Maharashtra political crisis: SC to commence hearing pleas on Feb 14

The Supreme Court on Tuesday said that it will commence hearing on February 14 on pleas related to the Maharashtra political crisis triggered by the Shiv Sena's division. A five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud was told by senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the Uddhav Thackeray Shiv Sena, that he will will seek reference of the cases to a seven-judge bench to have a re-look of a 2016 judgment on powers of assembly speakers to deal with disqualification pleas. We have filed the submissions on reference of matters to a seven-judge bench constitution bench. They (Chief Minister Eknath Shinde faction of Shiv Sena) have filed the response, Sibal told the bench which also comprised justices M R Shah, Krishna Murari, Hima Kohli and P S Narasimha. We will keep it for hearing on February 14, the CJI said. Sibal, while seeking reference of matters to a seven-judge bench, had sought re-look at an earlier apex court judgement. In 2016, a five-judge ...

Maha govt on ventilator support, won't last till February: Sanjay Raut

The Eknath Shinde government in Maharashtra is on ventilator support and will fall by February, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said here on Saturday. He said if the "judiciary is not pressured, then 16 MLAs (of the Shinde faction, which is also called Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena) will be disqualified". The case pertaining to the split in the Sena into the Uddhav Thackeray and Shinde factions in June last year and demands for disqualification under anti-defection laws is currently underway in the Supreme Court. On January 10, the apex court will hear a batch of petitions, including one seeking the disqualification of 16 MLAs from the Shinde camp. "This illegal government is on ventilator support and it will not see February. If the judiciary is not pressured, then 16 MLAs (of the Shinde faction) will be disqualified soon, said Raut. Accusing the state government, which also includes the Bharatiya Janata Party, of corruption, Raut said the Opposition had sought the resignation of .

Maha's health scheme to include more ailments for needy patients: CM Shinde

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday said the state government will revisit its health scheme to cover additional ailments under it for the benefit of maximum number of the needy people. He was speaking at a midnight blood donation camp organised by the Thane unit of the Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena here. The CM also donated blood at the camp. Shinde said the government will include additional ailments for patients under the Mahatma Jyotirao Phule scheme, while some other illnesses which are not relevant will be removed from the scheme, he said. "We want to see that this scheme benefits maximum number of needy persons and those who cannot afford costly treatments," he said. Shinde also said the chief minister's relief fund "which was closed for two-and-a-half years", has been started and a sum of Rs 11 crore disbursed to more than 1,000 people in the last five months. The CM said the state government and his party, because of their work, have become popular among people

CM avoided replying to main issues raised during winter session: Ajit Pawar

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde did not even touch upon the important issues raised in the legislature, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Ajit Pawar said on Friday on the last day of the winter session here. The session of the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council, which had started on December 19, came to an end on Friday. Pawar said at a press conference that opposition had demanded the resignation of four 'tainted' ministers. The government shielded ministers Abdul Sattar and Sanjay Rathod who have faced strictures from the High Court in separate cases, he said. "The government did not take action or provide satisfactory reply on the issue," the Nationalist Congress Party leader said. "Similarly, we had demanded the removal of Maharashtra Governor (Bhagat Singh Koshyari) over his comments insulting the icons of Maharashtra," he said, claiming that the government did not give a proper reply. Chief minister Shinde's reply on the 'last week's resolution' on ...

Maha govt to set up corporation to procure medicines for govt hospitals

As the delay in procurement of medicines and medical equipment by the state-owned Haffkine Biopharmaceutical Corporation is creating shortages at government hospitals, the state government is planning to set up a new corporation for procurement, it told the Legislative Council here on Tuesday. Medical Education Minister Girish Mahajan gave the information while replying to a calling attention motion by the BJP's Pravin Datke. The Haffkine Corporation did not utilise Rs 650 crore out of the budgetary allocation Rs 1,500 crore this year. As a result, many government hospitals are running out of medicines and equipment, the minister said. To tide over the situation, the government has authorised hospitals to spend 30 per cent of their budget on the purchase of medicines and equipment against the usual 10 per cent allocation, Mahajan added. He also underlined the problems of human resource crunch at Haffkine and said its chairman was transferred 11 times in the past three years. A tot

Old pension scheme will put burden of Rs 1.10 trn on exchequer: Fadnavis

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said the government will not revert to the old pension scheme as it would put a burden of Rs 1.10 lakh crore on the exchequer and lead to bankruptcy of the state. Replying to a question in the state Assembly, Fadnavis said the old pension scheme was stopped in 2005. He also lauded the then Congress-Nationalist Congress Party government for taking the decision of stopping the old pension scheme in the interest of the state. Under the old pension scheme, employees get a defined pension. Under this, an employee is entitled for a 50 per cent amount of the last salary drawn as pension. However, the pension amount is contributory under the National Pension System, which is in effect from 2004. The government will not give pensions as per the old scheme. If the old pension scheme is to be implemented, then it will add a burden of Rs 1,10,000 crore and this will lead to bankruptcy of the state. The old pension scheme will no

CM, Cabinet to come under Lokayukta law: Maharashtra Deputy CM Fadnavis

Maharashtra will have a Lokayukta law on the lines of the Centre's Lokpal law which will also bring chief minister and ministers under its ambit, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Sunday. Addressing a press conference on the eve of the winter session of the state legislature, he said a bill in this regard will be introduced. The recommendations of a panel led by social activist Anna Hazare have been accepted completely. He said the Lokayukta will be a retired chief justice of the High Court or a Supreme Court (judge). "The chief minister will be brought under the ambit of Lokayukta and so will the ministers (of the state Cabinet)," Fadnavis added.

Redevelopment of dangerous buildings in Ulhasnagar approved: Maha CM Shinde

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday said the cabinet has approved redevelopment of dangerous buildings in Ulhasnagar, a satellite town of Mumbai. Ulhasnagar is a municipal corporation in Thane district and is home to several lakh people, many of who came there post Partition from Sindh. The township has also been in the news over the years for rampant illegal construction. "The cabinet has today taken a decision about Ulhasnagar where lakhs of people were living in dangerous conditions. The cabinet has decided for redevelopment of Ulhasnagar, Shinde added. The move has paved the way for redevelopment of thousands of dangerous illegal buildings. Shinde was also the guardian minister of Thane in the Devendra Fadnavis and Uddhav Thackeray governments between 2014 and 2022. His son Shrikant Shinde is Lok Sabha MP from Kalyan, which includes Ulhasnagar.

Maharashtra govt directs formation of district-level CM Secretariat Cells

The Maharashtra government has directed the collectors of all districts in the state to set up Chief Minister's Secretariat Cells in their respective districts for early redressal of people's grievances. A Government Resolution (GR) to this effect was issued on Friday. It said the Chief Minister's Secretariat Cells were earlier set up at the divisional level. But the facility is being further extended to the district level so that the issues faced by villagers can be addressed immediately. The government order also said that earlier, citizens had to go all the way to the state secretariat in Mumbai to submit their applications and get their issues resolved. But their time and efforts were saved with the setting up of the divisional CM Secretariat offices. "Now to make the task easier further and make it more transparent as well as speedy, the decision to set up the district level cells has been taken," it said. Resident Deputy Collectors of the district will head the cell and a ..

Oppn to target Maha govt over investment loss in winter session: Ajit Pawar

The Opposition will corner the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government over agrarian distress and the state losing investment projects in the winter session of the legislature beginning here on Monday, opposition leader Ajit Pawar said on Sunday. Pawar also said the Opposition has unanimously decided to boycott the customary tea party to be hosted by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde later in the day. Other issues like remarks by state Governor B S Koshyari on Shivaji Maharaj and the simmering border row with Karnataka are also likely to dominate the winter session. "The Opposition will target the government over big-ticket investment projects preferring other states over Maharashtra and the agrarian distress," Pawar, the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, told a press conference here. Pawar's counterpart in the Legislative Council, Ambadas Danve (Shiv Sena UBT), senior leaders of the Nationalist Congress Party and state Congress president Nana Patole were also present. Pawar said

Organisers say 50 parties, groups will join mega protest against Maha govt

The mega procession is being organised by Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) on Saturday to protest against various issues

Maharashtra govt asks large infra firms to bid for Mumbai road projects

A company won project to build elevated road near Mumbai but municipal corporation cancelled the tender without explaining a reason

Transgenders can apply for constable posts, will frame rules: Maha to HC

The Maharashtra government on Friday told the Bombay High Court transgenders can apply for police constable posts and that it would frame rules setting standards for their physical tests by February 2023. This comes a day after a division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Abhay Ahuja rapped the state government for being in deep slumber and lagging behind in framing rules to allow transgenders to participate in the recruitment process. Advocate General Ashutosh Kumbhakoni on Friday told the bench the government would modify its online website to include a third drop down for transgenders in the category of 'sex' in the online application form. Two posts for police constable would be kept vacant for transgenders, he told court. "The last date to submit the forms for everyone is extended till December 15. By December 13, the third drop down would be added," Kumbhakoni said. As per procedure, physical tests would be conducted once rules are framed, after which a writt

SC to hear Maha govt's plea against acquittal of Saibaba, others on Jan 17

On October 15, the top court in a special hearing on Saturday suspended the October 14 order of the High Court which discharged Saibaba and others

Border dispute: Congress demands Maharashtra CM convene all-party meet

The Congress on Wednesday demanded Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde immediately convene an all-party meeting on the border dispute with Karnataka and spell out the state government's stand on the issue. Senior Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat also said the recent attacks on Marathi-speaking people living around the border areas in Karnataka are very serious and asked, "if the Centre is instructing Karnataka on this issue". "The border issue has taken a different turn. Trucks, buses and vehicles are being vandalized in Karnataka. Maharashtra will not tolerate these kinds of attacks from Karnataka," he told a press conference. While the Opposition parties in Maharashtra have expressed concerns over the border issue and are standing firmly behind the Marathi people, the Chief Minister (Eknath Shinde) continues to remain silent, he said. "What is Maharashtra's position on the border issue? What will be their next course of action? Since there is a BJP government in Karnataka an

Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi announces massive protest march on December 17

The opposition Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) announced a massive protest march in Mumbai on December 17 against the Eknath Shinde government for insulting Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj