Orange alert by IMD: Heavy rainfall likely over next five days in parts of Maharashtra and Gujarat
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has announced an orange alert (moderate to heavy rainfall) over the Konkan coast, parts of Maharashtra and Gujarat for the coming five days.
IMD officer KS Hosalikar said, “The depression over Odisha coast is in favourable condition for good rainfall, along with a monsoon trough which is running along the west coast.”
According to the IMD, the monsoon will be active in the state for the next five days. There are also chances of heavy to very heavy rain at isolated places. This monsoonal condition is resulting in a likely orange alert over the Konkan coast and other parts of the state including Raigad, Ratnagiri, Kolhapur, Pune and Satara.
Mumbai has been given a yellow alert (light to moderate rainfall) as of now but it will be updated according to the rainfall activity, added the department.
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BMC to get 65 new buildings for civic schools
A total of 65 buildings, constructed by the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) and Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA), will be handed over to the BMC as it needs space for civic schools. So far, eight buildings have already been handed over to the civic body.
This academic year around 1.25 lakh students took admission in the civic-run schools hence the BMC is falling short of classrooms. According to the city development plan, some lands are kept reserved for the BMC schools.
The MHADA and SRA build structures on reserved plots and subsequently hand them over to the BMC. But the civic body needs certain permissions from various state departments and fire brigades before taking possession of these buildings.
However, the process is moving at a snail’s pace as some structures are ready since 2013 but their possession is still pending. So far, the BMC has acquired permissions for eight buildings which are 3-7 storeys.
BEST’s Navratri gift for Mumbaikars: Premium bus service from BKC to Thane
Bus commuters, who travel between Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) and Thane, can now enjoy a luxury ride to their destination as the BEST is all set to start its premium services on September 26, which marks the beginning of Navratri.
The service will be of great respite as it will run in peak hours, with limited halts. The BEST has placed an order for procuring 200 buses. By the end of this year, premium buses will cover most of the city’s busiest routes.
The most striking feature of these buses will be the fares. However, the rates have not been finalised yet. But it has been assured that the fares will be cheaper than shared auto-rickshaws and taxis, with the facility of a monthly pass.
Passengers of premium bus service will be able to book seats in advance for particular time slots through the Chalo App. The service aims to cater to the demand of office-goers mainly. After rolling out the premium service between the BKC and Thane, the BEST has plans to expand to busy routes like Powai-south Mumbai and Navi Mumbai-south Mumbai.
Thane logs 103 new COVID-19 cases
Thane, Sep 12 (PTI) Maharashtra's Thane district has reported 103 new COVID-19 cases, raising its infection count to 7,43,838, a health official said on Monday.
The new cases were recorded on Sunday.
The district currently has 1,351 active COVID-19 cases, the official said.
No death was reported on Sunday and the fatality toll in Thane stood at 11,953, he said, adding that the recovery count has reached 7,31,184.
Mumbai water woes: BMC to carry out survey in hilly areas of Ghatkopar, Vikhroli to improve supply
The BMC has decided to conduct a total station survey in the hilly areas of Ghatkopar and Vikhroli to improve the water supply. The estimated cost of the project is around Rs 1.70 crore.
The BMC supplies 3,850 million litres of water daily to the city. But many times residents in hilly areas or at the end of the distribution system experience inadequate supply or low water pressure.
Now the civic body has invited tender for the survey in Ghatkopar and Vikhroli areas. The hilly areas have narrow ways with widths of less than two feet. The area has a network of pipelines but the population has increased in the last few years.
11 districts of Maharashtra have high COVID19 positivity rate against weekly average of 4.24%
Commuters, there's a traffic congestion at Eastern Express Highway/ JVLR junction near Kanjurmarg. Please find alternative route
Six minor girls escape from hostel by breaking window and toilet grill
Six girls escaped from the Government Girls Hostel located in the Govandi area of Mumbai by breaking the window and grill of the toilet.
Shockingly, before fleeing, these girls locked the gate of the constable's room from the outside so that the constable could not follow them.
All these six girls are minors. The police have been able to identify all the girls.
Mumbaikars, want to see Mount Mary fair? You watch it live here
BMC’s vigilance department finds substandard construction of Marine Lines foot-over bridge
The vigilance department of BMC in its inspection found sub-standard work has been done for the Marine Lines foot-over-bridge which was constructed by the bridges department a few months ago.
Interestingly, the bridges department has refuted the allegations and claimed that boys who pass over the foot-over-bridge might have broken the tiles of bridge with the cricket bat.
A team of engineers of vigilance department recently visited the bridge and found that tiles were broken, some tiles were popped up and some tiles were missing on the bridge and staircase.
District Disaster Management Auhorities have been given powers to make gradation of disaster prone areas and take necessary measures said Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis.
Due to BMC road repair work, south bound traffic is slow at Oberoi Mall Vitthbathi.
Chief Minister Shinde instructs to speed up the campaign to give booster doses of the COVID vaccine.
Maharashtra Advocate General Ashutosh Kumbhkone gets six months extension. Cabinet chaired by CM Shinde on Monday gave its approval
Don’t permit closure, write Prince Aly Khan Hospital staff
In fear of losing their jobs, the 950-member staff of Prince Aly Khan Hospital (PAKH), Mazgaon, have now approached the charity commissioner, requesting not to grant permission for shutting down the hospital.
Recently, the hospital’s management closed its in-patient service after a structural audit found that the building was unsafe.
Although there are no patients admitted at the hospital, the staff continues to report on work. The hospital administration has blamed staff for delaying the second audit report.
PAKH Kamgar Sanghatna president Mangesh Talekar said the decision taken by the hospital administration is not acceptable to the staffers working as the hospital has not given any clarity on why they want to demolish the main building.
Also, the structural audit has been done by the hospital administration which did not include any Sanghatana members, he pointed out.
School bus catches fire in Navi Mumbai; no casualty reported
A school bus carrying students caught fire in Kharghar area of neighbouring Navi Mumbai township on Monday, officials said.
There was no report of any injury, they said.
The incident took place around 11.30 am in Sector No. 15 of Kharghar, a fire official said.
Four students of a school, a staffer and driver were present in the vehicle when it caught fire, he said.
Bombay HC asks Centre to act on film producer Mushtaq Nadiadwala's children, allegedly taken to Pakistan
The Bombay High Court on Monday asked the Centre to take steps to find out where were the children of film producer Mushtaq Nadiadwala and not to make him run from pillar to post in the matter.
Nadiadwala has claimed his two children -- a nine-year-old son and a daughter aged six -- have been illegally detained by his Pakistani wife and her family in Pakistan since 2020.
A division bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and P K Chavan was hearing a plea filed by Nadiadwala, seeking a direction to the government to facilitate the safe return of his two minor children.
Maha CM Shinde asks officials to be alert & to prevent spread of lumpy skin disease
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday asked state Animal Husbandry department officials to be alert and take steps to curb the spread of lumpy skin disease among cattle.
The disease has been reported in several districts of the state and the issue was discussed in the cabinet meeting during the day, a statement from the chief minister's office (CMO) said.
He asked officials to run an awareness campaign on the disease and also remain present in their areas of duty to provide immediate assistance to people.
Aaditya Thackeray's name appears in MCA-Kandivli club's defaulters list, management asks CEO to cancel membership
Former Maharashtra minister and Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray and his cousin (Yuva Sena office-bearer) Varun Sardesai have defaulted on their annual membership fees of Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA, Kandivli).
The MCA has written a letter to the CEO, Mumbai Cricket Association (Wankhede Stadium), asking for permission to cancel their memberships.
Gradation process of contractual workers who offered services during pandemic
The Maharashtra government will undertake gradation of contractual paramedics, Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) and other allied workers who rendered services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This will help them during the recruitment process, a statement from the Chief Minister's Office said.
The decision was taken on Monday in a meeting of the state cabinet headed by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
MVA slams Maha govt for delays in naming district Guardian Ministers
Amid reports of widespread havoc in farmlands and the delays in District Planning & Development Council meetings, Maharashtra's opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) on Monday attacked the state government, demanding the appointment of Guardian Ministers for various districts.
"Many regions of Maharashtra have received heavy rainfall during the monsoon causing widespread losses to agriculture. The dams and water reservoirs are also overflowing and water is being discharged, causing further damage to crops," Leader of Opposition Ajit Pawar said.