Page 104 - Maharashtra

17 dead as crane falls on bridge at Samruddhi Expressway construction site

Seventeen workers were killed and three injured as a crane fell on a bridge slab during construction of the third phase of Samruddhi Expressway in Maharashtra's Thane district on Tuesday, an official said. A few persons are still feared trapped and efforts are on to rescue them, an NDRF official said. Three persons were injured in the incident and they were being treated at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital at Kalva in Thane, he said. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in a tweet said he has ordered a probe into the incident by experts. He expressed grief over the death of workers in the accident. It was a special-purpose mobile gantry crane used in bridge construction and to install precast box girders in highway construction projects. The accident took place shortly after midnight on Tuesday near Sarlambe village in Shahapur tehsil, around 80 km from Mumbai, the official said. The Samruddhi Mahamarg, named Hindu Hrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra

ATS recovers bomb material hidden by an accused in terror module case

The agency on Wednesday arrested a man named Abdul Qadir Dastgir Pathan in Pune for providing shelter to the terror suspects - Mohammad Imran Mohammad Yunus Khan and Mohammad Yunus Mohammad Yakub Saki

PM Modi to launch development projects during Pune visit on August 1

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Tuesday visit Maharashtra's Pune city where he will lay the foundation stone of various development projects and also receive the Lokmanya Tilak National Award. After his arrival, Modi will perform 'darshan and pooja' at Dagdusheth Mandir. At 11.45 am, he will be conferred the Lokmanya Tilak National Award, constituted by Tilak Smarak Mandir Trust in 1983, to honour the legacy of Lokmanya Tilak, as per a statement issued by the Press Information Bureau (PIB). NCP chief Sharad Pawar has been invited as chief guest for the event, organisers earlier said. The award is given to people who have worked for the progress and development of the nation and whose contribution can only be looked upon as remarkable and extraordinary, the PIB statement said. It is presented every year on August 1, the death anniversary of Lokmanya Tilak, the statement said. Prime Minister Modi will become the 41st recipient of the award. It has previously been presented to

If all 3 MVA partners decide, there can be change in state: Sharad Pawar

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar has said if his party, the Congress and the Shiv Sena (UBT) decide, they can usher in a change in Maharashtra. The NCP, Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) are constituents of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in the state. Pawar also claimed it was difficult to engage with the present state government. He was speaking on Sunday at a book launch function where he shared the stage with Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and senior Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat. Pawar recalled how previous governments helped in the preservation of ancient art and culture, literature and history. "But it is difficult for us to engage with the present state government. But some solution will come out. If we three (MVA constituents) decide, there can be a change," he asserted. It was for the first time since July 2, when the NCP split due to the revolt by Ajit Pawar, that leaders of all the three MVA allies shared the stage. On July 2, Ajit Pawar and

Maha govt seeks World Bank aid for upgrading infra, capacity building

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday sought the assistance of the World Bank for upgrading infrastructure and capacity building. Speaking at a meeting with WB's executive directors here, Shinde said the World Bank was not just a fund-giving body but is a source of knowledge for developing countries. Partnership with WB will help improve the standard of living of people in Maharashtra which has the best skilled workforce and modern infrastructure facilities, the chief minister said. "We are working on improving green technology, disaster management, health services and port infrastructure facilities," he said. Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also attended the meeting, said the government is planning to make Maharashtra drought-free by linking rivers. "The government is planning to divert water from rivers flowing Westward to Godavari Valley and linking rivers in Vidarbha will help in removing drought," he said. The state government also sought assistance

PM Modi to visit Pune on Aug 1, to be conferred with Lokmanya Tilak award

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Maharashtra's Pune in August 1 during which he will lay the foundation stone of various development projects

Protest against Manipur incident turns violent in Maharashtra's Nashik

At least 10 police personnel received injuries in stone-pelting after a protest march against the sexual assault on two women in Manipur turned violent at Satana town in Maharashtra's Nashik district, officials said. Several persons have been detained in connection with the incident which took place on Saturday evening and the situation has been brought under control, Superintendent of Police (SP) Shahaji Umap said. The march was organised by the Eklavya Adivasi Sanghatana, a few other tribal organisations and the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi to condemn the incident in Manipur where two women were paraded naked and sexually assaulted by a mob on May 3. Thousands of young men, some of them with their torsos bare as a mark of protest, took part in the march, a local police official said. When the march, which started from the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar statue, reached near the tehsil office, some participants started a sit-in agitation in front of the Satana police station, demanding that local

5 killed, 20 injured as 2 buses collide in Maharashtra's Buldhana district

Five persons, including two women, were killed and 20 others injured after two private buses collided in the early hours of Saturday in Maharashtra's Buldhana district, a police official said. The accident occurred around 2.30 am on a flyover in Malkapur town in the district, he said. According to the official, one of the buses involved in the accident was on its way to Hingoli after Amarnath Yatra, while the other private bus was going towards Nashik. The bus going towards Nashik tried to overtake a truck and ended up coming in front of the second bus, resulting in a collision, he said. Five persons, including two women, were killed and 20 were injured, the official said. Senior district police officials reached the spot and rushed the injured to a nearby hospital. The accident disrupted traffic on the road for some time, he added.

Gangster Chhota Shakeel's shooter arrested after 25 years: Mumbai Police

The official said that since 1998, the accused Sheikh went underground and did not appear in any court hearing, after which he was declared an absconder

SC grants bail to Gonsalves, Ferreira in Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case

The Supreme Court on Friday granted bail to activists Vernon Gonsalves and Arun Ferreira in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case, noting that they have been in custody for five years. A bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Sudhanshu Dhulia said Gonsalves and Ferreira shall not leave Maharashtra and surrender their passports to the police. It also directed the two activists to use one mobile each and let the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is probing the case, know their addresses. The activists had moved the top court against a Bombay High Court order rejecting their bail pleas. The case pertains to the Elgar Parishad conclave held in Pune on December 31, 2017, which according to the Pune police was funded by Maoists. The inflammatory speeches made there led to violence at the Koregaon-Bhima war memorial in Pune the next day, police had alleged.

Ratan Tata to get Maharashtra govt's first 'Udyog Ratna' award: Minister

The Maharashtra government has decided to confer the first 'Udyog Ratna' award on veteran industrialist and chairman emeritus of Tata Sons, Ratan Tata

Yellow alert for next 4 days in several districts in Maharashtra's Vidarbha

Thunderstorms with lightning and heavy rainfall are likely to occur in districts of Maharashtra's Vidarbha region over the next four days, while residents of several villages have been warned of possibility of flooding due to water discharge from dams in the vicinity, officials said on Friday. The Regional Meteorological Centre, Nagpur has issued 'yellow' alert for the next four days for Nagpur, Wardha, Buldhana, Gondia, for three days for Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Amravati and for two days for Yavatmal, Buldhana, Akola and Washim. It has also issued 'orange' alert for Chandrapur, Gadchiolri and Yavatmal for Friday, officials added. The Regional Meteorological Centre Nagpur has forecast thunderstorm with lightning and heavy rainfall in various districts of Vidarbha, an official said. Incessant rain in Chandrapur district has forced the administration to open three gates of Irai Dam during the day, he said. Arwat village and some areas near Wardha river were flooded due to this water

Maharashtra CM Shinde announces permanent homes for Irshalwadi survivors

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said on Friday that a plot has been identified for the rehabilitation of the survivors of the Irshalwadi landslide and state planning agency CIDCO will construct permanent homes for them. He also announced higher financial aid for people affected by heavy rains and floods. At least 27 people have died and 57 are missing in the landslide that struck the hilly hamlet of Irshalwadi in Raigad district on July 19. Speaking in the assembly, Shinde said the survivors of the tragedy have been put up in containers and the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) will build homes for them. In a veiled dig at his former party chief and Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray, the CM said, Some people went to meet the (Irshalwadi) survivors in a vanity van and some like me walked in the mud. We are the people who work in the field and not work from home. Shinde said his government works for people's welfare and does not harbour ego while

Maha to bring law to curb sale of bogus seeds, fertilisers: State minister

The Maharashtra government will bring a law to curb the sale of bogus seeds, fertilisers and pesticides, state agriculture minister Dhananjay Munde said in the legislative council on Friday. Explaining the need for such a law, he said farmers across the state are being frequently cheated. We are bringing a law. It will be brought in the current Monsoon session to curb the sale of bogus seeds, fertilisers and pesticides in Maharashtra, Munde said in the council. Munde, who recently took charge of the agriculture ministry, said companies selling genuine seeds and other agriculture-related products won't be bothered by officials.

Modak Sagar lake overflows, water stock of city's 7 reservoirs reaches 68%

Modak Sagar lake, one of the seven reservoirs that supply potable water to Mumbai and its suburbs, has started overflowing following incessant rains in the catchment area, an official said on Friday. The Modak Sagar lake built on the Vaitarna river in neighbouring Thane district started overflowing at 10.52 pm on Thursday night, he said. This is the fourth lake, after Vihar, Tansa and Tulsi, to overflow this monsoon season. Thane District Information Officer Manoj Sanap said that after it started overflowing, two gates of the dam were opened to release 6,000 cusecs of water. Tulsi lake located in the Sanjay Gandhi National Park was the first to overflow this year. It started overflowing on July 20. Mumbai receives 3,800 MLD (millions of litres per day) water from the seven reservoirs - Bhatsa, Upper Vaitarna, Middle Vaitarna, Tansa, Modak Sagar, Vihar and Tulsi - located in Mumbai, Thane and Nashik districts. According to the civic administration, the aggregate water stock of the

BJP MLC claims Nirav Modi bought land in Karjat; minister says will probe

Maharashtra BJP MLC Ram Shinde on Thursday claimed that investors were buying land at throwaway prices from farmers in Karjat taluka of Ahmednagar district, where an MIDC is proposed to be set up, and named one "Nirav Deepak Modi" as one of the buyers. Raising the issue in the state legislative council during the ongoing Monsoon session, Shinde said that despite the demand no MIDC has come up in Karjat so far. Nirav Modi, a key accused in the Rs 13,000-crore scam at state-run Punjab National Bank (PNB), was declared a fugitive economic offender in December 2019. MIDCs are industrial hubs under the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation. Replying to the matter, state Industries Minister Uday Samant said it will be probed whether the "Karjat taluka has poor farmers and investors have bought land at a throwaway price". "Industrial area Khandala and Pategoan, where the proposed MIDC is to come up...Nirav Deepak Modi batch no 35Nirav Modi batch nos 39A-1 39-2, 58 and ...

No contractual hiring of police staff in Maha; Mumbai short of 10,000 cops

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday asserted in the state legislature that police personnel will not be appointed on a contractual basis and said Mumbai faces a shortage of around 10,000 cops. In a statement made in the legislative council, Fadnavis, who is also the home minister, said the Mumbai police have sought 3,000 personnel from the Maharashtra State Security Corporation (MSSC), an undertaking of the state police, to tide over paucity of manpower. He said there is a shortage of around 10,000 personnel in the Mumbai police force and the country's financial capital cannot be safeguarded adequately with this shortfall. Nowhere are police personnel taken on contract and it will not be done (in Maharashtra), the deputy CM said in assembly earlier in the day. While making the statement in the council, Fadnavis said the 3,000 personnel sought from MSSC will be used for providing security, guard-related duties and other static tasks. They (MSSC ...

Police personnel won't be taken on contract, says Maha Dy CM Fadnavis

Maharashtra Deputy Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said in the state assembly that police personnel will not be taken on contract. Fadnavis, who is also the state home minister, said he will give a detailed statement on the matter. Raising the issue in the House, state Congress chief Nana Patole said, You (the government) are recruiting police personnel on a contract basis. Your ministers are also on contract. When they take a briefing (from officials), they twist answers which is why questions take time to be answered. Give pointed replies. Responding to this, Fadnavis said no ministers are on contract. If you want to come on contract then we will think about it. Nowhere are police personnel taken on contract and it will not be done. I will give a detailed statement on it, the deputy CM said. In a bid to overcome the shortage of constables in the Mumbai Police force, the state government has given the nod to outsource 3,000 personnel from the Maharashtra State Secu

Maha speaker has to disqualify 16 MLAs including CM Shinde: Shiv Sena (UBT)

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anil Parab on Tuesday said Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar will have to disqualify 16 MLAs including Chief Minister Eknath Shinde who rebelled against the party leadership last June. The Supreme Court has given guidelines on what is legal and what is illegal, who is qualified and who is disqualified. Speaker has to disqualify the 16 MLAs and he is also well aware of it, Parab said. This (disqualification process) won't take much time and the SC will take appropriate decision, he told reporters here. Narwekar has already initiated the process of hearing on disqualification petitions which came to be filed after the Shiv Sena split last year.

Central Railways' send 6 wagons carrying onions to Manipur from Maharashtra

The Central Railway has sent six wagons loaded with onions to Manipur from Manmad in Maharashtra's Nashik district, a CR official said on Tuesday. In the wake of the prevailing law and order situation in Manipur leading to scarcity of essential items, the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) in co-operation with the state's transport department on Sunday sent the first goods trains carrying essential commodities to the violence-hit north-eastern state, officials said on Monday. The inaugural goods train reached Khongsang railway station in Manipur's Tamenglong district from Guwahati on Monday. Talking to PTI, Central Railway's chief public relations officer Dr Shivraj Manaspure said onions were loaded in 22 wagons at Ankai goods shed near Manmad station in Nashik for Changsari station near Guwahati in Assam, from where six wagons were sent to Khongsang station in Manipur. "A total of six wagons reached Khongsang station on Monday," he said. A local trader had booked the wagons from A