Page 16 - Maharashtra

Language row a distraction from core issues, says Prithviraj Chavan

Senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan has alleged that a controversy over the 'imposition' of Hindi language in Maharashtra was being created to divert people's attention from core issues and underlined the need to improve the quality of education. Claiming a drastic cut in the budgetary allocation for education, the former Maharashtra chief minister said the focus should be on providing quality education to students and strengthening infrastructure in the educational sector. "The budgetary allocation on education should be increased. The controversies over English and the imposition of Hindi are irrelevant and being created to divert focus from the core issues," Chavan told reporters in Kolhapur on Friday. The former Union minister claimed 41 per cent of posts of teachers in IITs are lying vacant in Maharashtra. "Similarly, 70 per cent of vacancies in agriculture universities are not filled," he said. The language row erupted after the state government last week issued an amend

Maharashtra logs 13 new Covid-19 cases, one fatality; tally hits 2,462

Maharashtra on Friday recorded 13 new cases of COVID-19, which took the tally of infections to 2,462, and one death, the health department said. A 65-year-old woman suffering from comorbidities, including rheumatoid arthritis, died in Kolhapur, an official said. Since January 1, the state has recorded 2,462 COVID-19 cases and 37 deaths, the department said. Of the fresh cases, five were reported from Pimpri Chinchwad, three from Nagpur, two from Pune and one each from Thane, Navi Mumbai, and Satara, an official statement said. The health department has conducted 28,486 COVID-19 tests across the state since January 1, and 2,277 patients have recovered from the infection till date, it said. Mumbai has reported 980 cases, including 539 in June alone, so far this year. At least 37 patients have succumbed to the virus in the state since January 1, of whom 36 had comorbidities (pre-existing health conditions that can increase the risk of severe illness), the statement said.

Raj, Uddhav Thackeray join forces to protest Hindi imposition in schools

A large-scale protest call was made by Raj Thackeray to oppose the state government's three-language formula, which mandates Hindi as the third language in Maharashtra schools

Maharashtra transporters to go on strike from Jul 1 to protest e-challans

Maharashtra Minister Pratap Sarnaik has said the government is committed to addressing the grievances of transport operators, who have threatened to go on strike from July 1 to protest against the e-challan system for traffic violations. The minister on Thursday directed officials to form a committee and submit a report within one month concerning the transporters' strike threat. Transporters in Maharashtra, including private bus and truck operators, have called for an indefinite strike from July 1 to protest against the unjust collection of fines through e-challans and to press for their other demands. A release issued from the office of Sarnaik, who heads the transport ministry, said the government is determined to resolve the grievances of transport operators. Vahatukdar Bachao Kruti Samiti, an action committee of transporters, is not satisfied with the move, its leader Uday Barge told PTI. Transporters are firm on launching the strike on July 1 for demands like stopping the ..

Raj Thackeray calls for July 5 Marathi unity march against Hindi imposition

The announcement was made through a statement on the social media platform X, where Thackeray asserted that the event will be a display of Marathi unity and cultural pride

New India Assurance gets ₹2,298 cr GST demand notice for 5 financial years

The company has received a show cause notice dated June 26, 2025, from the office of Additional Commissioner

Tata Power applies to expand electricity distribution in Maharashtra

Tata Power has applied to distribute electricity to various pockets of Maharashtra as part of its efforts to expand beyond the financial capital, officials said on Thursday. The company has filed for a license across key growth regions, including parts of Mumbai, Pune, Sambhaji Nagar and Nashik, they added. It can be noted that through amendments made to the Electricity Act, private distribution companies are allowed to apply to serve various parts. However, they were hesitant to apply due to the high investments required for setting up such infrastructure. In 2022, Tata Power's rival Adani Group, with which it competes in Mumbai suburban areas, applied for select areas and expressed intent to invest up to Rs 5,700 crore towards the initiative. In the application submitted before the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC), seeking the grant of a distribution license to serve key regions across the state, the Tata Group company has evinced interest in serving areas li

Maha transporters threaten strike from Jul 1 against traffic e-challans

Maharashtra Minister Pratap Sarnaik on Thursday directed officials to form a committee and submit a report within one month in connection with the threat by transporters to go on strike from July 1 to protest against the e-challan system for traffic violations. A release issued from the state transport minister's office said the government is committed to addressing the grievances of transport operators. Transporters in Maharashtra, including private bus and truck operators, have called for an indefinite strike from July 1 to protest against the "unjust" collection of fines through e-challans as well as for other demands. Vahatukdar Bachao Kruti Samiti, an action committee of transporters, is not satisfied with the move, said its leader Uday Barge to PTI. Transporters are firm on launching the strike on July 1 for demands like stopping the forceful collection of e-challan fines, waiving existing penalties, cancelling the mandatory cleaner rule for heavy vehicles, and reconsidering

Cabinet approves ₹3,626 cr Phase-2 expansion of Pune Metro Rail Project

The new Pune Metro corridors will cover 12.75 km, connecting suburbs like Wagholi and Chandani Chowk, with a projected ridership of 3.49 lakh by 2057

ED raids in Gujarat, Maharashtra in cyber fraud probe over ₹100 cr scam

The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday conducted searches in Gujarat and Maharashtra as part of a money laundering investigation linked to fraudsters who allegedly committed cyber crimes like digital arrests and transferred funds of more than Rs 100 crore abroad, official sources said. The raids were conducted in Surat and Ahmedabad in Gujarat and in Mumbai by the Surat sub-zonal office of the federal probe agency under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The money laundering case stems from a Gujarat Police FIR against Makbul Doctor, Kaashif Doctor, Bassam Doctor, Mahesh Mafatlal Desai, Maaz Abdul Raheem Nada and some others, the sources said. The accused are alleged to have been involved in cheating general public through various cyber frauds such as fake USDT trading (crypto currency), digital arrests, threatening innocent individuals by sending fake notices of law enforcement agencies etc., they said. The money obtained from gullible persons through this cyber frau

MSRTC's accumulated losses rise to ₹10,324 cr in FY24, reveals white paper

The state-owned transport corporation's accumulated losses surged to Rs 10,324 crore in FY 2023-24 from Rs 4,603 crore in 2018-19, as per the MSRTC's white paper

UP, Gujarat, Maharashtra to lead ₹10.2 trn state capex push in FY26: Report

A Bank of Baroda study finds over five states will account for nearly 50% of ₹10.2 trillion in state capital outlay for FY26, with GST remaining the largest tax revenue contributor

Roads connecting Nashik to be upgraded ahead of Simhastha Kumbh: Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has said all roads leading to Nashik will be upgraded ahead of the Simhastha Kumbh Mela, which will begin on October 31 next year. A high-level meeting concerning the highways connecting Nashik was held in the presence of Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, a release from the Chief Minister's Office said on Sunday. Considering the large number of devotees and the need for traffic management during the mega congregation in Nashik, Gadkari has given in-principle approval for the development and construction of necessary road infrastructure through his ministry, it said. The Simhastha Kumbh Mela will begin on October 31, 2026, with Dhwajarohan' (flag hoisting) at Trimbakeshwar and Ramkund in Nashik. The flag will be taken down on July 24, 2028, marking the conclusion of the event, which is held once every 12 years. Citing the growing faith of devotees and expected rise in footfall during the Kumbh Mela, Fadnavis ha

US urges citizens to exercise 'increased caution' while travelling to India

The US has issued an advisory for its citizens travelling to India, urging increased caution due to crime and rape, and advising them not to travel to certain parts of central and eastern parts of the country due to terrorism. The travel advisory issued last week states that rape is one of the fastest growing crimes in India and violent crimes, including sexual assault, happen at tourist sites and other locations. It added that terrorists, who target tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls and government facilities, may attack with little or no warning. The advisory issued on June 16 further adds that the US government has limited ability to provide emergency services to its citizens in rural areas, which stretch from eastern Maharashtra and northern Telangana through western West Bengal. The advisory also tells US citizens not to travel to parts of Central and East India due to terrorism. Maoist extremist groups, or Naxalites, are active in a large area of

Shinde has shown 'real Shiv Sena', says Amit Shah; Raut rubbishes claim

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has shown the "real Shiv Sena" to everybody, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said, drawing a sharp reaction from the Shiv Sena (UBT). Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday claimed Shah's remark had rubbed salt into the wounds of Marathi people. Shah made the remark on Friday while acknowledging the presence of Shinde at an event organised by the lobby grouping Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Industries & Agriculture (MACCIA) here. The Bal Thackeray-founded party split in June 2022 after Shinde rebelled and brought down the Maha Vikas Aghadi government under Uddhav Thackeray. Since then, the two factions have been engaged in an acrimonious battle to lay claim to the founder's legacy and be called the "real Shiv Sena". "Shinde has shown which is the real Shiv Sena to everybody," Shah said. The remarks come a day after both the Eknath Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray factions, now called Shiv Sena and Shiv Sena (UBT), ...

Sule demands independent body to deal with infra issues at Pune's IT park

NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule has urged Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to establish an independent authority to address infrastructure-related issues in and around an IT park in Pune's Hinjawadi area. Known as the biggest IT hub in Pune's western part, Rajiv Gandhi IT Park houses big and small IT/ITES companies and other establishments, employing hundreds. In a letter to the chief minister on Friday, Sule said while the IT park is home to several leading global information technology companies and holds a prominent place on the global business map, it lacks a dedicated agency to oversee its infrastructure needs. "There is a significant delay in resolving infrastructure-related issues in the areas of Rajiv Gandhi IT Park, Hinjawadi, Maan, and Marunji. Citizens are compelled to follow up with multiple agencies such as the MIDC, Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, PMRDA, Mahavitaran, Metro, and Police. Since many of the issues are interlinked, resolving them becomes ..

Veteran actor Vivek Lagoo passes away, Maha minister Shelar pays tribute

Vivek Lagoo was married to the famous actress, Reema Lagoo, who is known for her role in TV shows such as 'Shriman Shrimati'

Pandharpur Wari Palki Yatra 2025: Check dates, day-wise schedule and more

Pandharpur Wari is one of Maharashtra's most revered pilgrimages in honour of Lord Vishnu. This spiritual journey will culminate in the holy city of Pandharpur on Ashadhi Ekadashi on July 6, 2025

Juniper Energy commissions 59 MWp solar project in Maharashtra's Wardha

Juniper Green Energy on Wednesday announced the commissioning of the 59 MWp solar component of its 75 MW hybrid power project in Wardha, Maharashtra. The plant, commissioned on June 6, 2025, was completed 17 months ahead of schedule, a company statement said. The Juniper Green Power Five Project has a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) capacity of 75 MW, comprising a contracted 75 MW of solar and an additional 26.4 MW of installed wind capacity, according to the statement. The PPA was signed on November 18, 2024, with Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL), and the Scheduled Commercial Operation Date (SCOD) is set for November 17, 2026, it added. The commissioning of this solar component marks a step towards the full operationalisation of the hybrid project. "The early commissioning of our Karanja Hybrid Project, following the successful delivery of the Chapalgaon plant, highlights our strong execution capabilities and commitment to timely project delivery

New rule makes Hindi a must in primary classes across Maharashtra

Under a new order, Hindi will be taught as a third language in Classes 1 to 5 across Marathi and English medium schools in Maharashtra