Page 4 - Maharashtra Government

CM, Cabinet to come under Lokayukta law: Maharashtra Deputy CM Fadnavis

Maharashtra will have a Lokayukta law on the lines of the Centre's Lokpal law which will also bring chief minister and ministers under its ambit, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Sunday. Addressing a press conference on the eve of the winter session of the state legislature, he said a bill in this regard will be introduced. The recommendations of a panel led by social activist Anna Hazare have been accepted completely. He said the Lokayukta will be a retired chief justice of the High Court or a Supreme Court (judge). "The chief minister will be brought under the ambit of Lokayukta and so will the ministers (of the state Cabinet)," Fadnavis added.

Redevelopment of dangerous buildings in Ulhasnagar approved: Maha CM Shinde

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday said the cabinet has approved redevelopment of dangerous buildings in Ulhasnagar, a satellite town of Mumbai. Ulhasnagar is a municipal corporation in Thane district and is home to several lakh people, many of who came there post Partition from Sindh. The township has also been in the news over the years for rampant illegal construction. "The cabinet has today taken a decision about Ulhasnagar where lakhs of people were living in dangerous conditions. The cabinet has decided for redevelopment of Ulhasnagar, Shinde added. The move has paved the way for redevelopment of thousands of dangerous illegal buildings. Shinde was also the guardian minister of Thane in the Devendra Fadnavis and Uddhav Thackeray governments between 2014 and 2022. His son Shrikant Shinde is Lok Sabha MP from Kalyan, which includes Ulhasnagar.

Maharashtra govt directs formation of district-level CM Secretariat Cells

The Maharashtra government has directed the collectors of all districts in the state to set up Chief Minister's Secretariat Cells in their respective districts for early redressal of people's grievances. A Government Resolution (GR) to this effect was issued on Friday. It said the Chief Minister's Secretariat Cells were earlier set up at the divisional level. But the facility is being further extended to the district level so that the issues faced by villagers can be addressed immediately. The government order also said that earlier, citizens had to go all the way to the state secretariat in Mumbai to submit their applications and get their issues resolved. But their time and efforts were saved with the setting up of the divisional CM Secretariat offices. "Now to make the task easier further and make it more transparent as well as speedy, the decision to set up the district level cells has been taken," it said. Resident Deputy Collectors of the district will head the cell and a ..

Oppn to target Maha govt over investment loss in winter session: Ajit Pawar

The Opposition will corner the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government over agrarian distress and the state losing investment projects in the winter session of the legislature beginning here on Monday, opposition leader Ajit Pawar said on Sunday. Pawar also said the Opposition has unanimously decided to boycott the customary tea party to be hosted by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde later in the day. Other issues like remarks by state Governor B S Koshyari on Shivaji Maharaj and the simmering border row with Karnataka are also likely to dominate the winter session. "The Opposition will target the government over big-ticket investment projects preferring other states over Maharashtra and the agrarian distress," Pawar, the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, told a press conference here. Pawar's counterpart in the Legislative Council, Ambadas Danve (Shiv Sena UBT), senior leaders of the Nationalist Congress Party and state Congress president Nana Patole were also present. Pawar said

Organisers say 50 parties, groups will join mega protest against Maha govt

The mega procession is being organised by Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) on Saturday to protest against various issues

Maharashtra govt asks large infra firms to bid for Mumbai road projects

A company won project to build elevated road near Mumbai but municipal corporation cancelled the tender without explaining a reason

Transgenders can apply for constable posts, will frame rules: Maha to HC

The Maharashtra government on Friday told the Bombay High Court transgenders can apply for police constable posts and that it would frame rules setting standards for their physical tests by February 2023. This comes a day after a division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Abhay Ahuja rapped the state government for being in deep slumber and lagging behind in framing rules to allow transgenders to participate in the recruitment process. Advocate General Ashutosh Kumbhakoni on Friday told the bench the government would modify its online website to include a third drop down for transgenders in the category of 'sex' in the online application form. Two posts for police constable would be kept vacant for transgenders, he told court. "The last date to submit the forms for everyone is extended till December 15. By December 13, the third drop down would be added," Kumbhakoni said. As per procedure, physical tests would be conducted once rules are framed, after which a writt

SC to hear Maha govt's plea against acquittal of Saibaba, others on Jan 17

On October 15, the top court in a special hearing on Saturday suspended the October 14 order of the High Court which discharged Saibaba and others

Border dispute: Congress demands Maharashtra CM convene all-party meet

The Congress on Wednesday demanded Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde immediately convene an all-party meeting on the border dispute with Karnataka and spell out the state government's stand on the issue. Senior Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat also said the recent attacks on Marathi-speaking people living around the border areas in Karnataka are very serious and asked, "if the Centre is instructing Karnataka on this issue". "The border issue has taken a different turn. Trucks, buses and vehicles are being vandalized in Karnataka. Maharashtra will not tolerate these kinds of attacks from Karnataka," he told a press conference. While the Opposition parties in Maharashtra have expressed concerns over the border issue and are standing firmly behind the Marathi people, the Chief Minister (Eknath Shinde) continues to remain silent, he said. "What is Maharashtra's position on the border issue? What will be their next course of action? Since there is a BJP government in Karnataka an

Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi announces massive protest march on December 17

The opposition Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) announced a massive protest march in Mumbai on December 17 against the Eknath Shinde government for insulting Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj

Maharashtra ahead of other states in ease of doing business, says official

Maharashtra has emerged as the leader in ease of doing business evaluation across all states in India, a top bureaucrat in the state government said on Thursday. Dr Harshadeep Kamble, Principal Secretary, Industries, said a report published by UK India Business Council makes it clear that Maharashtra is number one compared to other states and Union Territories in India in terms of doing business. The report, Doing Business in India: The UK Perspective (2022 Edition)' is the UK India Business Council's eighth annual report in which views and experiences of UK businesses and higher education institutions on India's business environment are showcased, Kamble told PTI. The report states that Maharashtra was the highest rated state in terms of the operating environment, followed by Gujarat, Chandigarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh, he said. It ranks Maharashtra at number one amongst the states and UTs in India, with a score of 3.33 out of 5, followed by .

On Shraddha Walkar's 2020 complaint against partner, Fadnavis orders probe

In her written complaint to the police, Shraddha Walkar had said her partner Aaftab Poonawala had beaten her and threatened to kill her

SC to hear Mumbai's Aarey colony tree felling matter on Thursday

The Supreme Court said that it will hear on Thursday the matter pertaining to the felling of trees at Mumbai's Aarey Colony, the site for a metro car shed project. A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices Hima Kohli and J B Pardiwala took note of the submissions of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL) that there was a need to fell 84 trees. The law officer said let the tree felling committee decide on the request of MMRCL on cutting of the tree and the decision would be dependent on the order of this court. A senior advocate appearing for those opposed to felling of trees said they have also filed an interim plea. We will deal with these two IAs (interim applications) tomorrow, the bench said. The MMRCL had on August 5 this year told the apex court that no trees have been cut in Aarey colony since October 2019. On August 24, the top court had directed the MMRCL to strictly abide by its undertaking that no

Maharashtra govt approves 6% dearness allowance hike for MSRTC employees

The Maharashtra government has approved a six per cent hike in dearness allowance for the employees of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), a top official said on Wednesday. Shekhar Channe, vice chairman and managing director of MSRTC, told PTI that the government has given the nod for increasing DA to 34 per cent from the existing 28 per cent. The hike will put a financial burden of Rs 15 crore per month on the state-owned public transport body. Shrirang Barge, a union leader, said they were happy with the decision though it was pending for four months. "MSRTC employees should also get dearness allowance arrears as in the past the state government has not paid it," Barge said. The corporation has a workforce of more than 80,000 employees. Last year, MSRTC employees had gone on a strike for more than five months for various demands including merger of the corporation with the state government. MSRTC is one of the biggest state-owned public transport ...

Centre approved Rs 2 trn for development projects in Maharashtra: CM

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday said the Centre has approved Rs 2 lakh crore for 225 development projects in the state. He dismissed allegations that the state lost out the race to bag another project. Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Aaditya Thackeray alleged that Maharashtra lost five projects due to the incompetence of the state government in the last three months. "No project comes and leaves a state in just three months. It does not happen like that. These are just allegations. Our government welcomes and strengthens industries. In the coming days, Maharashtra will get big projects. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also assured the Maharashtra government that big projects will come to the state and a large number of jobs will be generated. "The Central government has approved Rs 2 lakh crore for 225 development projects in the state," the chief minister said. He denied any political hand in the arrest of senior NCP leader Jitendra Awhad in Th

Gautam Adani meets Eknath Shinde at Maharashtra CM's official residence

Adani Group chairperson Gautam Adani visited Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde at his official residence in Mumbai, an official said on Wednesday. The Tuesday night meeting between Adani and Shinde lasted for nearly 45 minutes, the official said. Adani Group has interests in ports, airports, power generation and transmission, and real estate. The group supplies electricity to the Mumbai suburban district.

Bharat Jodo Yatra enters 63rd day, Rahul interacts with locals in Maha

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi resumed the Bharat Jodo Yatra from Biloli in Nanded district of Maharashtra on Wednesday morning as the foot march entered its 63rd day. Gandhi halted briefly at some places to interact with locals who had gathered to greet him. All India Congress Committee general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal, Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole, Mumbai party chief Bhai Jagtap, Naseem Khan, Vishwajit Kadam and other party leaders walked with Gandhi. AICC general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh, Congress veteran Digvijaya Singh and party leader Kanhaiya Kumar walked with the Seva Dal workers. Gandhi had on Tuesday visited a gurdwara in Nanded and targeted the Narendra Modi-led Union government over demonetisation, unemployment and the politics of hatred. The foot march was on Tuesday marred by the death of a senior functionary of the Congress Seva Dal. This is the third day of the yatra in Maharashtra. The participants led by Gandhi had enter

Maharashtra govt will plan film city between Mumbai and Thane: CM Shinde

The Maharashtra government will work on planning a film city between Mumbai and Thane cities to provide a wider platform to artists, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has said. Speaking at an event on Sunday where noted Marathi theatre actor Prashant Damle was felicitated for the 12,500th show of his play 'Eka Lagnachi Gosht', Shinde said the state government will support Marathi theatre and cinema. "There is a lot of shooting happening in Thane too," he said, adding that a film city will be planned between Mumbai and Thane. Thane is located 23 km from the state capital. Shinde also also said a nodal officer would be appointed to review and inspect the condition of drama auditoriums and take necessary steps to improve them. A recommendation has been forwarded to the Centre to confer the Padma award on Damle, the CM added.

Of pride, prejudice, 'lost' projects: Maharashtra politics take a new turn

Politics in Maharashtra could be taking a new turn with the division in Shiv Sena that gives BJP unparalleled leverage, but also rekindles the idea of Marathi manoos

Mumbai riots: SC forms panel to look into records of 108 missing people

The Supreme Court on Friday constituted a committee to look into records relating to 108 people, who went missing during the 1992-93 riots in Mumbai, and said the Maharashtra government shall make all possible efforts to trace their family members or legal heirs. The apex court observed that violence witnessed by Mumbai in December 1992 and January 1993 adversely affected the right of the residents of the affected areas to lead a "dignified and meaningful life" and if citizens are forced to live in an atmosphere of communal tension, it affects their right to life guaranteed by Article 21 of the Constitution. A bench headed by Justice S K Kaul said the state shall pay compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the legal heirs of the missing persons, traced out hereafter, with interest at the rate of 9 per cent per annum from January 22, 1999 till actual payment. "The committee consisting of the Secretary of MSLSA (Maharashtra State Legal Services Authority) and the other two government officers ..