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.

Mumbai: Nearly a year after residents of Tardeo’s Willingdon View Co-operative Housing Society Ltd were ordered by the Bombay high court to vacate the top 18 floors of their 34-storey building for lacking an Occupation Certificate (OC), many have expressed relief after the BMC Standing Committee approved a proposal on July 8 that could pave the way for regularising such buildings. Residents have now urged the proposal be cleared by the BMC’s General Body at the earliest, and the standard operating procedure (SOP) be made public so they can pay the prescribed charges, obtain an OC and again move into their homes. Officials said that the proposal will come before the general body meeting next week on July 13.Under the proposed guidelines, only buildings that have approved plans, valid Intimation of Disapproval (IOD) and Commencement Certificates (CC) will qualify. Residential buildings, hospitals and schools occupied before Nov 17, 2016, will be eligible. For residential properties, the benefit will be restricted to flats measuring up to 80 square metres (around 860 square feet) carpet area.The proposal also allows co-operative housing societies, developers and, in certain cases, individual flat owners to apply for occupancy certificates through registered architects or licensed surveyors. Applicants will have to furnish proof of occupancy before the cut-off date through property tax records, electricity bills or other official documents. “We met Standing Committee Chairman Prabhakar Shinde and local MLA Mangal Prabhat Lodha on Friday and requested them to ensure the proposal is approved without delay so that the application process can begin,” said Narendra Bhandari, a resident of the society. The controversy began after a resident of the building filed a petition alleging irregularities in the building’s construction. While the building had only a partial Occupation Certificate for floors 1 to 16 and no fire No Objection Certificate (NOC), the BMC also pointed to unauthorised construction on floors 17 to 34.On July 15 last year, the Bombay high court directed occupants of floors 17 to 34 to vacate their flats within two weeks. The Supreme Court upheld the order on Aug 1. Subsequently, on Aug 6, the High Court granted residents an additional three weeks, until Aug 27, to vacate the premises after obtaining undertakings from them.

A Mumbai BEST bus driver stops his bus in traffic to buy sev puri from a roadside chaat stall, highlighting everyday street food culture and urban commuting in India.

Mumbai: A complaint was lodged against a BEST bus driver for allegedly bringing traffic to a standstill near Mulund West railway station on Wednesday after halting his bus for nearly 20 minutes to buy a parcel of sev puri.The incident reportedly occurred on the heavily congested MG Road, one of Mulund’s busiest stretches connecting commuters to the railway station and nearby commercial areas. The bus was empty and had no passengers at the time.According to residents and motorists, the driver stopped the bus in the middle of the road and refused to move until he received his snack parcel, resulting in a traffic jam during peak hours. Eyewitnesses claimed that a long queue of vehicles built up behind the bus, leaving motorists stranded and inconveniencing hundreds of commuters.When members of the public questioned the driver over his conduct and the disruption caused to traffic, he allegedly reacted aggressively and used abusive language. “People were shocked that public transport could be halted for something as trivial as buying sev puri. The bus remained stationary for nearly 20 minutes, creating unnecessary congestion on an already crowded road,” a resident said.The incident triggered outrage among citizens, who demanded strict action against the driver for negligence, indiscipline and misbehaviour with the public. Many questioned whether public service vehicles can be used in a manner that causes inconvenience to commuters and road users.The matter was taken up by BJP functionary and BEST committee member Ajay Singh, who forwarded the complaint to a senior BEST traffic officer. “I am informed that the complaint has been noted and action will be taken,” Singh said.The alert citizen, who took up the issue on social media, said he was returning home from work when he spotted the bus standing on one side of the road for a long time and this had impacted the traffic behind. “The conductor was waiting for the snacks to be collected and he boarded the bus thereafter. When I questioned the driver, he hurled expletives at me and this was unwarranted,” the citizen said.Citizens are awaiting a response from the BEST administration and want to know what disciplinary action will be initiated against the driver. The episode also sparked criticism on social media, with residents dubbing it a case of “Traffic Jam for Sev Puri” and insisting that accountability must follow. “Action must be taken”, residents said, demanding strict punishment to deter such incidents in the future.