Mumbai: The state govt has told the Bombay High Court that immersion of Plaster of Paris (PoP) idols in natural water bodies, such as rivers, lakes and seas, should be allowed to be continued for all the ensuing festivals this year.Justices Ajey Gadkari and Kamal Khata were hearing a PIL filed by two activists and nine clay idol makers for implementation of Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) May 2020 revised guidelines banning manufacture, sale and immersion of PoP idols in natural water bodies.Taking into consideration the state’s Aug 1, 2025 guidelines on immersion, HC on July 24, 2025, had allowed idols above 6 feet to be immersed in natural water bodies. It directed idols below 6ft to be immersed in artificial water tanks. HC had made it clear that its interim directions and state’s guidelines shall apply to all festivals till March 2026.Asked for the state’s stand, advocate general Milind Sathe said the state intends to continue the Aug 2025 guidelines on allowing immersion of idols up to 6ft in artificial tanks this year.Intervention petitions were filed by PoP idol makers challenging the ban as it violates their right to carry on business. Advocate Uday Warunjikar, representing an association of idol makers, said there is no practical alternative for immersing idols above 6ft and sought one or two years more for a gradual transition to clay idols. He said across Maharashtra, there was a rise in immersion in artificial ponds.The judges said idol makers were already given a year’s notice. They said if more time is given, natural water bodies will suffer immense damage. Senior advocate Mihir Desai, for the petitioners, said despite judicial directions since 2013, implementation has been inadequate. He said clay idols were used for decades before PoP became popular because it was cheaper.The state’s affidavit said the number of idols taller than 6ft had reduced. It is conducting a pilot project to collect PoP after immersion, process it and recycle the material. It has also set up an expert committee on PoP recycling and launched pilot recycling projects at six locations. The hearing will continue on Friday.

The opposition parties in the BMC demanded that the proposal be sent back to the administration for reconsideration

Mumbai: The BMC body of corporators on Thursday approved, by a majority, the proposal to transfer the land of the BEST Dharavi bus depot for the Dharavi redevelopment project.However, opposition parties strongly opposed the move and demanded that the proposal be sent back to the administration for reconsideration. Their amendment was rejected, and the original proposal was passed.The Dharavi bus depot spans 11.58 acres, of which 2.35 acres belong to the BEST undertaking, while the remaining land falls under the jurisdiction of the District Collector. The land will be transferred for the Dharavi redevelopment project and handed over to Navbharat Megha Developers Pvt Ltd.During the discussion, Congress group leader Ashraf Azmi opposed the proposal and moved an amendment seeking its reconsideration by the administration. “The administration cannot bring such a proposal without considering all facts. This is public land and cannot be given for a project as such. Already the condition of BEST is on the decline and such moves further deteriorate the condition of BEST.”Congress corporator Asha Kale questioned where BEST would acquire land for a new depot if it required one in the future. She described the decision as a “raid on BEST’s valuable assets.” Shiv Sena (UBT) corporator Sachin Padwal also opposed the proposal.On the other hand, BJP corporators Siddharth Sharma and Pravin Chheda, Shiv Sena (Shinde) corporator Trishna Vishwasrao, and Leader of the House Ganesh Khankar supported the proposal.They pointed out that several BEST bus depots had already been redeveloped under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. They also stated that the developer would not only construct a new bus depot at Dharavi but would also be responsible for its operation and maintenance for the next 10 years.Following an extended debate, the General Body rejected the opposition’s amendment and approved the original proposal by a majority, clearing the way for the transfer of the BEST depot land for the Dharavi Redevelopment Project.BEST, on June 2 cleared a proposal to transfer bus depots at Dharavi and Kalakilla for the Dharavi Redevelopment Project. The Dharavi and Kalakilla bus depots are constructed on a plot of 11.58 acres. Sources said that in the last week of April, NMDPL submitted a draft proposal for temporary and permanent arrangement for bus depots

Mumbai: The Fee Regulatory Authority (FRA) has slashed the fees for undergraduate professional courses such as BBA (Bachelor of Business Administration), BCA (Bachelor of Computer Applications) and BMS (Bachelor of Management Studies), cutting them in many cases to one-third of the amounts proposed by colleges. Some colleges claimed they had sought annual fees of Rs 70,000-80,000 or more for a programme like BMS but have been permitted to charge only around Rs 25,000. The authority has so far fixed fees for 100-125 of the nearly 550 colleges offering these courses across Maharashtra.This is the first time the FRA is regulating the fees for these programmes. While sources from the FRA said that fees for the programmes have been rationalised for the first time using a cost-based methodology, the decision has not gone down well with colleges, some of which claimed that the approved fee structures are not financially sustainable. Earlier, there was no scientific or uniform basis for determining fees for these courses — some colleges followed the university’s fee structure, and some fixed their own fees, FRA sources claimed. The FRA assesses the actual expenditure incurred by institutions for fixing fees.A principal said the college would seek a review of the FRA’s decision, adding that it would not be financially viable to run the programme with an annual fee of Rs 25,000. “It is not possible to get good teachers and provide good infrastructure in the fee fixed by the FRA. Also, the authority has divided our expenses with the fees of students enrolled in all three years’ batches, when we gave it only for a year,” said the principal.An FRA member, however, said, “Many institutions had calculated expenditure only for first-year students, whereas fee proposals must account for costs incurred across all three years of the programme. Since these courses were brought under the FRA for the first time, many colleges have made mistakes in submitting the proposals and providing detailed expenditure. We took six training sessions with these colleges, despite which there have been mistakes. In many cases, we even added expenditure that colleges have not accounted for.” The member added that the future rate of inflation has also been taken into account while deciding the fees.Courses such as BMS, BBA and BCA were brought under the regulation of All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and classified as professional programmes three years ago. As there were delays in bringing them within the fee regulatory framework, colleges were allowed to continue charging their existing fees over the last two years.After completing two ‘delayed’ admission cycles under the AICTE norms, several city colleges either opted for changing the nomenclature to BCom (Management Studies), effectively moving away from Central regulation, or they split their divisions into two. “We split the batch of 120 into one division under AICTE and we kept one under the university. With such slashing in fees, it will become difficult for us to run the AICTE-regulated division,” a principal said.

Around 2,500 students who are preparing for over SSC, HSC, and CBSE exams are left in a lurch, alleged a charitable organisation in a letter to school education minister Dada Bhuse

Mumbai: MT Educare Pvt Ltd (Mahesh Tutorials), which operates 33 coaching centres and integrated coaching programmes across Maharashtra, has allegedly shut its operations abruptly last week.The company allegedly took the decision without any prior notice to students, parents, or teachers. Public records indicate that insolvency proceedings against the company have been pending before the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) since December 2022.Around 2,500 students who are preparing for over SSC, HSC, and CBSE exams are left in a lurch, alleged a charitable organisation in a letter to the school education minister, Dada Bhuse.While the institute was known for coaching school and junior college students, parents claimed that the integrated coaching batches, under the title Lakshya, are also shut down.Officials from the company could not be reached at the time of going to the press. Mahesh Tutorials has been running classes for over 38 years. About 7-8 years ago, the organisation was acquired by Zee Learn.Highlighting the need for the state govt to bring in rules to regulate the coaching industry, Sanskriti Jeevan Adhar Foundation, a public charitable trust working for education, social justice, women empowerment and public welfare, has written to Bhuse.“The govt should order a comprehensive financial audit of the fees collected from parents for the academic year 2026-27, examine the utilisation of these funds and related financial transactions, and initiate a detailed inquiry into the matter. The coaching classes were still taking EMIs from the parents, even when the insolvency proceedings were on,” said Pradeep Magare, from the foundation, who is also an affected parent. He claimed that another coaching class has offered to help students out.Hundreds of students enrolled for the academic year 2026-27 are at risk, claimed the foundation in the letter to the department, asking them to protect their educational interests, provide alternative academic arrangements, ensure refunds of fees to parents, clear pending salaries of teachers, and also to conduct a high-level inquiry into the institution’s financial transactions.“If the preliminary investigation reveals fraud, financial mismanagement, breach of trust, misleading of consumers, or violation of any other law, appropriate criminal and civil action should be taken against the responsible management of M T Educare (Mahesh Tutorials) under the prevailing laws,” said Magare.A senior school education department official said that they will look into the matter. “There is no legal framework to act against coaching classes, but since students and parents are affected, the department will look into it. If they are running junior colleges and they have abruptly shut those centres too, it will come under the department’s legal framework, and action will be taken,” said the official.Meanwhile, Arihant Academy has denied rumours of it acquiring MT Educare. In the statement, Arihant Academy mentioned that they were approached by senior representatives of MT Educare last month regarding certain operation challenges affecting their ability to fulfil commitments to a large number of students in Mumbai. “Keeping the interests and academic continuity of these students, we agree to extend reasonable coaching support by accommodating eligible students at our select branches,” added the letter.

Mumbai: The late-night meeting that senior NCP politicians Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare had with chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday continues to reveal faultlines within the party as it has now emerged that NCP chief and deputy chief minister Sunetra Pawar was unaware about the meeting. NCP (SP) politician Jayant Patil was also present at Fadnavis’ official residenceVarsha at the time.Amid reports that Sunetra Pawar had asked Tatkare for an explanation on why she had not been informed, Tatkare said he had not felt the need to inform her since the meeting was regarding issues related to his Lok Sabha constituency.“I have good tuning and communication with Sunetra ‘vahini.’ This was not a political meeting, or we would have discussed it in advance. I had asked the chief minister for time to discuss matters in my constituency,” Tatkare told the media on Thursday. “I have been in politics for decades, and I understand protocol,” he added.Tatkare said that Patel’s presence was a coincidence as he had also sought time with Fadnavis. He also said that they did not meet with Jayant Patil. The presence of the three politicians at Fadnavis’ official residence led to speculation about whether a mergerbetween the NCP and NCP (SP) was being discussed. However, Patil had clarified that he had gone to meet Fadnavis regarding the disqualification of the mayor of a municipal council in his constituency.Tatkare emphasized that there was no proposal regarding a merger at this stage. “Talks were at their final stages when Ajitdada was alive. After his death, NCP (SP) leaders themselves said that the talks had come to a full stop. After that, there has been no new proposal from them,” he said.On the NCP (SP)’s stand that it may support the NDA’s delimitation bill if it met its conditions, Tatkare said, “Supporting a bill does not mean joining the NDA. On so many matters of national importance, the opposition has supported bills and they have been passed unanimously.”The rift in the leadership of the NCP has become public this week, with Patel speaking of the need for “corrective measures.” After Ajit Pawar’s death, Sunetra Pawar and her son, party MP Parth Pawar, have been on one side with the latter playing a larger role in managing party affairs. Patel and Tatkare, who are seen as challengers to her leadership, have been finding themselves increasinglysidelined.Regarding the finance portfolio which had been taken over by CM Fadnavis after Ajit Pawar’s death, Tatkare said, “We will be meeting Fadnavis with Sunetra ‘vahini’ to discuss this.”He also said that the issue of the notice sent by the NCP’s national secretary Sachchidanand Singh, which posed a challenge to Sunetra Pawar’s leadership of the party, would be discussed in Delhi where Parth Pawar, Patel and Tatkare would be meeting forthe Parliament session. “This has already been discussed at the party’s core committee meeting,” he said.

Mumbai: BJP MLA and the party’s Mumbai chief Ameet Satam, along with local residents, has opposed BMC’s plan to lease a 12-acre open space housing the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Sports Complex on Veera Desai Road in Andheri (W) for 10 years under the public-private-partnership (PPP) model to the Shri Vile Parle Kelavani Mandal.According to BMC’s tender conditions, Kelavani Mandal will pay the BMC annual rent of around Rs 21 lakh, which will increase by 6% every year and share 50% of its revenue too. This is the first time BMC has leased an open space plot under a PPP model. Tenders were floated last year, and Kelavani Mandal was finalised in Feb 2026 under then municipal commissioner Bhushan Gagrani.Satam said the initiation of such a tender to “auction” and allot a reserved open space of BMC under the PPP model when the open spaces policy for the city has not been finalized yet is illegal, and any reserved open space cannot be allotted in this manner. He has demanded in his letter to BMC additional commissioner Avinash Dhakne that the tender be cancelled immediately. Dhakne did not respond to queries from TOI.BJP MLC Amrish Patel, president and trustee of Shri Vile Parle Kelavani Mandal, said there are no irregularities in the lease of the plot and they participated in BMC’s tender in a transparent manner and all due process was followed. “We participated in BMC’s Request For Proposal (RFP) and are going to pay BMC the lease rent and share revenue. The plot will only be utilised for sports purposes and will be accessible for all residents and students at affordable rates fixed by BMC. We have 52,000 students in our schools and colleges. This sports facility will be used by students and there will be no construction. There is no irregularity. We have taken the plot on merit and by following the tender process. We have taken possession of the plot and only registration formalities are pending after approval of the standing committee,” Patel said.Officials said there was no auction but only a lease and the proposal will be sent to the civic improvements and standing committee for approval.Satam said in his letter, “There are many such private organizations, trusts existing in the city and such reserved open spaces can’t be allowed to be handed over or usurped by any in this manner. It is and should be our stand that all reserved open spaces should be maintained and taken care of by only BMC and not anyone else. Secondly, all reserved open spaces in the city are for utilization of one and all and under no circumstances should their use be restricted to any particular person, organization, or trust. Kindly act immediately and ensure it’s not allowed or handed over to anyone and kept in safe possession of the city for use by all.”He added, “The trust is not doing charity by giving education to poor children but is in the business of education charging hefty fees. There is no reason why public plots should be given away like this to such trusts.”

Mumbai: The Maharashtra government on Thursday implemented a comprehensive aggregator policy aimed at regulating app-based taxi such as Ola, Uber and Rapido. One of the key provisions makes it compulsory for any aggregator cab driver to obtain a badge by proving Maharashtra residency and demonstrating practical knowledge of Marathi.This could possibly lead to a section of cab drivers going off roads as they do not possess the state domicile certificate mandatory for a badge.“The rule is now stringent — unless you have a domicile certificate and have obtained a Public Service Vehicle Authorisation (PSVA) badge, you cannot legally drive an app-based cab in Mumbai or anywhere in state,” said transport minister Pratap Sarnaik, adding that those with domicile are drivers who already have basic knowledge of Marathi.The move has raised concerns among drivers’ groups, particularly migrant drivers who form a significant share of the app-based taxi workforce in Mumbai, Pune and other urban centres. Industry stakeholders fear that many existing drivers may struggle to obtain domicile certificates, potentially leading to a temporary reduction in the number of cabs on the road. This, in turn, could result in longer waiting times for commuters and increased fares due to a shortage of available vehicles. How the state plans to enforce the requirement and whether existing drivers will be given a transition period remains to be seen.Aggregator cab drivers’ union leader Keshav Kshirsagar said drivers should be given sufficient time to obtain badges through a simple, transparent and hassle-free process, instead of facing immediate enforcement.As per new policy, aggregators must ensure drivers receive at least 80% of the total fare, limiting excessive commission deductions by platforms. Drivers cannot be on duty for more than 12 consecutive hours, possess valid licences, undergo training.To address long-standing complaints over fare volatility, the policy has prescribed a structured pricing framework. The base fare will be applicable for a minimum distance of three kilometres to compensate drivers for dead mileage and fuel costs incurred while reaching passengers. Surge pricing has been capped at 1.5 times the normal fare, while discounts cannot exceed 25% below the base fare.Women’s safety features include an option for female passengers using ride-pooling services to choose women drivers or co-passengers.The policy brings app-based mobility services under a formal regulatory framework, requiring every aggregator operating in the state to obtain a licence from the State Transport Authority. Operators will be assigned unique licence identification numbers and will be required to comply with state-prescribed norms.The policy places significant emphasis on passenger safety. Aggregators will have to maintain 24×7 call centres, appoint grievance redressal officers and ensure complaints are resolved within stipulated timelines. Insurance coverage for drivers and passengers has also been mandated.Apps and websites will also be required to operate in Marathi, Hindi and English.The policy additionally encourages electric and alternative-fuel vehicles, grants legal recognition to non-profit carpooling, and introduces a real-time government monitoring portal for GPS tracking, driver verification and enforcement.Calling it a balanced framework, Sarnaik said the policy seeks to protect passengers, improve driver earnings and create a safer, more accountable transport ecosystem in Maharashtra.Service charges will also be regulated to ensure fair pricing.