File pic of a concrete road. Shiv Sena MLC Manisha Kayande noted that Maharashtra has examples of asphalt roads that have remained durable for years with proper maintenance

Mumbai: Shiv Sena MLC Manisha Kayande on Wednesday urged the state government to constitute an expert committee to study whether asphalt roads can be built and maintained effectively, even in regions that receive heavy rainfall.Speaking during a discussion in the legislative council, Kayande said several cities abroad witness intense rainfall yet continue to maintain asphalt roads in good condition. She noted that Maharashtra too has examples of asphalt roads that have remained durable for years with proper maintenance.While acknowledging that cement concrete roads generally have a longer lifespan and require less frequent upkeep, Kayande highlighted emerging concerns linked to rising temperatures. With parts of Mumbai and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region recently recording high maximum temperatures, she said concrete roads tend to absorb and radiate more heat, contributing to the urban heat effect.Kayande also pointed to complaints about the impact of high road-surface temperatures on vehicles, including instances of tyre damage and bursting. Referring to neighbouring states where asphalt roads remain largely free of potholes despite similar weather conditions, she questioned why such standards cannot be achieved in Maharashtra.She also raised concerns over rapid urbanisation and shrinking green cover. “While builders advertise ‘forest views’ from residential towers, trees are being cut and environmental safeguards are not keeping pace,” she said. Kayande noted that many housing societies have still not implemented rainwater harvesting systems.Highlighting pedestrian issues, the MLC said Mumbai lacks uniform standards for footpaths, many of which are encroached upon by hawkers and temporary stalls. As a result, walking remains difficult and unsafe, particularly for senior citizens.“Ease of walking is still not a reality in Mumbai. Many elderly residents are unable to comfortably step out and walk on city roads,” she said, calling for urgent improvements in pedestrian infrastructure.

Under the Viksit Bharat-G RAM G (Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission) Act, 2025, every eligible rural household will be entitled to a statutory guarantee of 125 days of unskilled wage employment annually

Mumbai: The state legislative council on Wednesday passed a bill to implement the Viksit Bharat-G RAM G (Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission) Act, 2025, a rural employment and development programme aimed at strengthening livelihoods in the rural parts across Maharashtra. Under the Act, every eligible rural household will be entitled to a statutory guarantee of 125 days of unskilled wage employment annually.The legislation is modelled on the Centre’s nationwide initiative and seeks to align rural development efforts with the Viksit Bharat @2047 vision.Besides generating employment, the scheme focuses on the creation of productive community assets and infrastructure that can support sustainable rural growth. The government said the initiative would help increase income opportunities in villages while reducing distress migration and improving local development outcomes.According to the provisions of the legislation, the Viksit Bharat-G RAM G Act will come into force across the country from July 1, as notified by the central govt. The measure is expected to play a key role in strengthening rural livelihoods and boosting grassroots economic development.

Mumbai: The Bhoiwada Police arrested three men for allegedly stealing donation boxes from a temple in Dadar East and recovered the entire stolen property worth Rs 9,000.According to police, the theft took place between 9 pm on June 28 and 6 am on June 29 at the Vyagheshwar Mahadev Mandir on Sadanand Jadhav Marg, Naigaon.Following a complaint lodged by the temple priest, Bhoiwada Police registered a case under Sections 332B, 331(4) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita against the accused persons.A special investigation team using technical analysis and local intelligence arrested the three accused identified as Rohit Mallesh Khandagale (21), a car wash worker from Sewri, Aditya Ramesh Prasad (22), a catering worker from Antop Hill, and Sahil Shaikh alias Mandwa, a resident of Bengalipura, Antop Hill.During interrogation, the accused allegedly confessed to the crime, following which police recovered both the stolen donation boxes along with the cash kept inside them.

Mumbai: The legislative assembly on Wednesday proposed the Maharashtra Women Farmers Empowerment Bill, 2026, seeking to formally recognise women engaged in agriculture as farmers and provide them with official ‘woman farmer certificates,’ a move expected to improve their access to govt welfare schemes, institutional credit and other agriculture-related benefits.The bill acknowledges the growing role of women in agriculture and aims to address the longstanding issue of their lack of formal recognition despite substantial participation in farming activities. It also proposes creation of a women farmers’ database, a Maharashtra State Fund for Women Farmers, a women farmers empowerment cell, a women farmers empowerment council, and a state monitoring committee to support implementation.The bill adopts a broad definition of agriculture, covering crop cultivation, animal husbandry, dairy farming, fisheries, horticulture, floriculture, beekeeping, sericulture, agro-forestry and collection of minor forest produce. It recognises women farmers irrespective of land ownership and includes landless cultivators, lessee cultivators, farm labourers, livestock rearers, plantation workers, pastoralists and women engaged in seasonal agricultural work.Under the bill, any woman aged 18 years or above who is a resident of Maharashtra and engaged in agricultural activities will be eligible for recognition as a woman farmer. In rural areas, applications will be scrutinised by the gram sabha, while nagar oanchayats will perform the same role in urban local bodies. The designated officer will issue the certificate within 15 days of approval.The bill also provides for an appeal mechanism.

Mumbai: Heavy rain threw vehicular traffic out of gear in many parts of the city. Traffic police said broken-down vehicles resulted in slowing down traffic movement in some places.Waterlogging impacted traffic movement at Khar subway and Andheri subway. Twice, Andheri subway had to be kept shut till the water could be drained out and the subway was reopened for traffic movement.Bus breakdowns slowed down traffic at Mahim 60 Feet Road ( southbound), Chembur naka southbound arm and Makawadi junction at Antop Hill. Car breakdowns impacted traffic movement near Shantaram Talao at Malad East, flyover near domestic airport terminal at Santacruz on WEH, flyover near Oberoi mall at Goregaon on WEH, Lotus Junction at the beginning of the Coastal Road, and JVLR flyover at Jogeshwari. Police said a tempo broke down between Sope gate and Ghoda gate at Vikhroli, impacting southboundvehicular movement.Motorists also reported congestion on WEH at Kherwadi and near Hub mall at Goregaon.

Currently, there is sufficient stock of anti-snake venom in the state, the public health minister said

Mumbai: Public health minister Prakash Abitkar told the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday that public awareness, timely treatment, availability of anti-snake venom and coordination between various departments will be made more effective to prevent deaths due to snakebite in the state. Abitkar also informed the House that the state govt had decided to send a proposal to the law and justice department to include snakebite in the list of notified diseases.Abitkar was speaking while responding to a calling attention motion by MLA Vikram Pachpute. MLAs Shweta Mahale, Babasaheb Deshmukh, Arjun Khotkar and Jayant Patil participated in the discussion.Abitkar said that as per the guidelines given by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), availability of anti-snake venom has been ensured in district hospitals, rural hospitals and primary health centres. “Necessary training has been given to medical staff and awareness campaigns are being carried out up to the gram panchayat level. Fear often leads to serious consequences after a snakebite. Therefore, patients need to reach the hospital during the ‘golden hours’ and widespread awareness will be created in this regard,” Abitkar said.“Currently, there is sufficient stock of anti-snake venom in the state. Funds have been provided for training, and the training process has been completed. If any errors are found, they will be rectified immediately. It has been decided to make ‘anti-snake venom kits’ available to identify whether a snakebite is poisonous or not in a short time and these kits are being distributed in primary health centers. This will help in determining the direction of treatment immediately and help patients get timely treatment,” Abitkar said.Abitkar said that it is mandatory to display public awareness information in all primary health centers and gram panchayats and action will be taken if any errors are found in it. “Since the number of snakebite cases increases during the monsoon, alert notices will be issued to the health systems and coordination will be done with the Medical Education Department to provide intensive care treatment facilities where necessary. The govt will take necessary measures in coordination with all the concerned departments to further strengthen the snakebite prevention, treatment and research system in the state,” Abitkar said.

The incident killed the life of an 11-year-old student Class 6 student Vihan Shrivastav. (Photo: IANS/Video Grab)

Mumbai: Of the four other survivors of the tree fall on a school bus in Chembur that killed 11-year-old Class 6 student Vihan Shrivastav, two are still admitted to the hospital and two have been discharged.While Vihan sustained fatal head and abdominal injuries alongside multiple fractures, none of the surviving children suffered life-threatening conditions.A 10-year-old girl was discharged on Wednesday itself, and a 4-year-old girl was discharged on Thursday following a surgical procedure on her hand. Meanwhile, two boys, one 12-year-old and another 10-year-old are under treatment for painful back injuries.Doctors said they have been shifted to the general ward. “We are just doing a few routine checkups, but they should be out of the hospital within a week,” said Dr Ajit Mishra, consultant neurosurgeon at Zen Hospital.

Vihaan Srivastava (11) died after a tree fell on a school bus in Chembur on Tuesday

Mumbai: Alleging negligence on the part of BMC officials, some MLAs on Wednesday demanded in the assembly that action be initiated against them for the death of an 11-year-old boy after a tree fell on a school bus in Chembur the day before.Shiv Sena MLA from Chembur Tukaram Kathe said this was not the first such tree fall in his constituency and BMC officials had failed to take any action on dangerous trees despite repeated complaints.“One child has died. He used to live in the building I reside in and he played with my grandchildren. This is the state of affairs. We have repeatedly taken up the issue of falling trees and branches, but BMC has not taken any action. Such dangerous trees must be cut. If builders submit an application to cut trees, BMC immediately gives them permission for it, but it doesn’t cut trees that are dangerous and on the road. Action must be taken against BMC officials who were negligent and did not do their duties,” Kathe said.MLA Murji Patel, also from Shiv Sena, attacked BMC too and demanded that the state govt take steps to help the boy’s family and those injured in the tree fall. He said deputy CM Eknath Shinde is extending financial assistance of Rs 2.5 lakh to the child’s family.Referring to a tree fall in Andheri’s Marol, he demanded that a tree survey be conducted immediately to find a solution to such problems.Congress’s Nana Patole also raised the issue and sought a statement from govt on it. (With agency inputs)