The bill removed the six months’ imprisonment provision for individuals found guilty of violating the law by selling saplings that are fake, or of poor quality

Mumbai: Despite objections from BJP MLAs, including Sudhir Mungatiwar and Ashish Deshmukh and opposition MLAs, the Legislative Assembly on Friday passed the Maharashtra Fruit Nurseries and Sale of Fruit Plants (Regulation) Amendment Bill 2026. The bill removed the six months’ imprisonment provision for individuals found guilty of violating the law by selling saplings that are fake, or of poor quality or don’t bear fruits in the first instance. In the original Act, there was a provision for maximum penalty of imprisonment for up to 6 months, a fine of up to Rs 5,000, or both.In the amendment, the imprisonment provision has been removed for the first violation and the fine has been increased to Rs 25,000. Those found guilty of the same offence for the second time will face imprisonment for 6 months. The bill was introduced by horticulture minister Bharat Gogawale. The govt said the amendment was part of the aim to decriminalise minor contraventions of the provisions of the Acts to promote ease of doing business.“The Maharashtra Fruit Nurseries and Sale of Fruit Plants (Regulation) Act, 1969 was enacted to provide for the licensing and regulation of fruit nurseries and the sale of fruit plants, with a view to ensuring the supply of genuine pedigree fruit plants to growers and safeguarding agricultural productivity…The govt seeks to reduce the punishment for minor and technical regulatory violations to promote ease of doing business. The govt, considers it expedient to remove the punishment of imprisonment in respect of a first contravention and to substitute the same with an enhanced fine and to prescribe more stringent punishment with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine, which may extend to Rs 25,000, or with both for second and subsequent contraventions,” the bill’s statement of objects and reasons stated.Deshmukh said that the bill was brought for nursery owners and was anti-farmer. Deshmukh demanded that the bill be referred to a joint select committee of legislators and be withdrawn for now. Deshmukh said fruit trees fructify after 5-6 years and by then, farmers already make heavy investment in growing those trees. Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Kailash Patil said that the bill must have provisions to make the nursery owners pay the entire compensation of the losses suffered by farmers in case the trees don’t fructify.Congress MLA Nana Patole said the bill was against farmers and was only going to benefit corporate nurseries and companies.

Between June 16 and July 6, the civic body had razed 30 out of 4,946 unauthorised structures

Navi Mumbai: The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has issued show-cause notices to 295 responsible persons and officers under whose tenure massive illegal constructions flourished. They include incumbent, transferred and retired 10 deputy municipal commissioners (DMC), 91 assistant municipal commissioners (AMC), 75 junior engineers and 119 other clerical staffers of the encroachment section in terms of their tenure, reports Umesh K Parida. Meanwhile, Cidco has been made a party for proper adjudication of the matter, but not as a contemnor. This was learnt from the affidavit filed by the NMMC before the Bombay High Court. The HC bench comprising two judges is hearing a contempt petition filed by advocate Kishor Shetty. Explanations were sought within 8 days from these staffers, including those posted across the 8 ward offices. The 661-page affidavit twice names the anti-corruption bureau trapped doctor turned DMC, a doctor deputed as DMC and currently serving as an additional municipal commissioner in charge, and another doctor earlier posted as AMC but now a DMC. The notices were served to 17 AMCs under Nerul ward, Ghansoli-14, Airoli-13, Vashi-12, Belapur-10, Turbhe-9, Digha -9, and Koparkhairane-7. Among the junior engineers, Belapur ward has 18, Airoli-12, Turbhe-9, Koparkhairane-8, Nerul-8, Vashi-7, Ghansoli-7 and Digha-6. The commissioner has assured the HC bench, mentioning, “… I say that upon receipt of their explanations, further necessary disciplinary actions will be initiated against the concerned individuals in accordance with the law.” Between June 16 and July 6, the civic body had razed 30 out of 4,946 unauthorised structures. The affidavit specifically mentions that the eight wards include 29 gaonthans (villages). These villages have 3,342 unauthorised structures. Also, there are 1,604 structures within the low-income group colonies and societies. However, Belapur MLA Manda Mhatre has raised the issue of these structures in the state assembly, echoing growing concern among the native villagers. These houses have been there for the last 50-60 years. Such a large number of unauthorised persons would not have come up had the Cidco provided 12.5% benefits to the project affected persons in time.

Data is part of RTI response by BMC health department

Mumbai: A ‘tale of two mortality trends’ is unfolding in the city. The latest RTI data from the health department shows that while annual deaths among neonates and infants are on the decline (1,846 in 2022 to 1,687 in 2024), maternal mortality numbers continue to fluctuate. Over the last four years, the city has recorded 325 maternal deaths, with the annual numbers ranging between 70 and 93 since 2022.Health officials said that half of these deaths involve patients referred from neighbouring districts, such as Thane and Palghar, or other parts of Maharashtra. “When looking strictly at Mumbai residents, our maternal mortality ratio (MMR) stands below 70 per 1,00,000 live births, meeting Sustainable Development Goals,” said a senior doctor from the BMC health department.However, when including patients arriving from peripheral areas, the city’s maternal mortality ratio remains over 80. Dr Rahul Mayekar, a gynaecologist at Sion Hospital, which manages one of the highest volumes of referral cases in the city, said hospitals in the periphery often send patients in severely critical condition. He said these are often high-risk patients, many with pre-existing heart disease or placenta-related complications that result in hypovolemic shock (severe loss of blood) and death.On top of that, the city’s monsoon-related illnesses, such as leptospirosis, malaria, dengue, and even hepatitis, add to the burden of maternal mortality. Dr Mayekar noted that every monsoon, patients contract these illnesses, leading to severe complications.Dr Nikhil Datar, a city-based gynaecologist, said the city faces a heavy burden of non-communicable diseases like diabetes and hypertension, which increase pregnancy risks. Even smoking is now a factor making pregnancies high-risk unlike some years back as incidence of smoking among women has been increasing, he said.However, he added that even with comorbidities, maternal mortality could be controlled far more effectively if a proper triaging system were in place.“Low-risk pregnancies are often managed by tertiary hospitals, both public and private, while high-risk pregnancies are sometimes handled by smaller maternity or nursing homes. Referrals to tertiary care centres, where there are enough resources to manage complications, often do not happen early enough because of various reasons. By the time the referral is made, it is frequently too late,” said Dr Datar.

Mumbai: In a major embarrassment for the state govt, a reversed mirror image of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and his Bharat Ratna memento, which is shaped like a peepal leaf, have been used in the state published Lok Rajya magazine. The issue was raised by Congress MLA Nitin Raut in the Legislative Assembly following which CM Devendra Fadnavis ordered a probe saying that action will be taken in 24 hours. Raut pointed out that in the mirror image, Dr Ambedkar was portrayed as writing with his left hand and the Bharat Ratna memento was also upside down. This, he said, was an insult to the entire country and the Constitution.The state’s Directorate General of Information and Public Relations (DGIPR) publishes the monthly magazine. The DGIPR is headed by CM Fadnavis. The Lokrajya magazine, first published in Marathi in 1947, was later released in English, Hindi, Gujarati, and Urdu. According to Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC) data, Lokrajya has been one of the most widely read govt magazines in the country.“Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar doesn’t belong to just one community or one state. He is a jewel of the world. His image is installed with great respect and pride in the world’s renowned universities. There can be no such unfortunate and shameful thing… a photograph of him that has been reversed by this govt. They have used a mirror image… what incompetence. By printing the photograph in reverse, the historically incorrect and malicious message that the great man Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar is a left-handed writer… is being conveyed to the public,” Raut said in the Legislative Assembly.“The matter that has been brought to our notice that the photo of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar has been printed in reverse in Lokrajya… is definitely a serious matter. We have given instructions. Action will be taken in this regard within 24 hours,” said CM Fadnavis.Published since March 1947, this magazine has been a vocal witness to the formation of the state. Lokrajya is a treasure trove of important events, cabinet decisions, and information from various fields. Due to its reliable and useful information, this magazine has become a talisman for general readers as well as candidates preparing for competitive exams, said officials.

The 11.4km east-west Metro 1 corridor, operational since 2014, carries more than 5 lakh commuters every day

Mumbai: Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd (MMOPL), the operator of Mumbai’s Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar Metro 1, has secured a major debt restructuring agreement that will reduce its debt burden by more than Rs 1,100 crore, with the insolvency proceedings against the company set to be withdrawn after National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) took up the matter on Thursday, said sources.The restructuring agreement is valued at Rs 2,771.32 crore.The Mumbai bench of NCLT permitted the withdrawal of the insolvency proceedings following the settlement between MMOPL and govt-owned National Asset Reconstruction Company Ltd (NARCL), according to sources. The formal order is expected to bring to a close insolvency proceedings that had cast uncertainty over the financial future of the operator of one of India’s busiest Metro corridors.As per the terms of the restructuring agreement, NARCL will have the right to nominate a director to MMOPL’s board, while a monitoring committee comprising representatives of the lender and the Metro operator will oversee implementation of the restructuring plan. The agreement also contains covenants requiring MMOPL to obtain the lender’s approval before undertaking certain corporate actions.Reliance Infrastructure, which owns a 74% stake in MMOPL, informed the stock exchanges on Friday that the company had entered into a master restructuring agreement with NARCL on July 9. The agreement restructures MMOPL’s entire financial obligations towards NARCL and significantly improves the company’s financial position.According to the stock exchange filing, the restructuring will reduce MMOPL’s debt payable to NARCL by over Rs 1,100 crore, based on outstanding dues as of March 31 this year. The agreement also provides for withdrawal of insolvency proceedings.Reliance Infrastructure described the restructuring as “a significant milestone” in resolving MMOPL’s debt and strengthening its long-term financial sustainability. It said the agreement would enable the Metro operator to continue focusing on the efficient and uninterrupted operation and maintenance of Metro line 1, while placing its finances on a stronger footing.The 11.4km east-west Metro 1 corridor, operational since 2014, carries more than 5 lakh commuters every day and serves as a critical link between the western and the central suburbs. MMOPL is a joint venture between Reliance Infrastructure and MMRDA, which owns a 26% stake in it.