Page 5 - Maharashtra

Maharashtra: Fire guts Dombivali godowns with perfumery items, clothes

A massive fire broke out in a godown storing perfumery materials in Dombivali MIDC in Maharashtra's Thane district in the early hours of Thursday, an official said. Regional Disaster Management Cell chief Avinash Sawant said the fire started at 2 am and was doused completely at 8:30am, though there was no report of injuries to anyone. "Incidentally, a CNG station is located close to this godown. Eight fire engines from Dombivili MIDC, Kalyan, TMC, Ulhasnagar, Ambernath, NMMC, Taloja andC were deployed," he said. The cause of the fire, which gutted two godowns, storing perfumery items and clothes, is being ascertained, he added.

Maharashtra economy to grow by 6.8% in 2022-2023: Economic Survey

The tax and non-tax revenues including central grants for 2022-2023 (BE) are RS 308,113 crore and Rs 95,314 crore respectively

Maharashtra's new women's policy to be rolled out during Budget session

Maharashtra's new women's policy would be introduced during the ongoing Budget session of the state legislature, the government said on Wednesday. Women and Child Development Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha made the announcement in the Legislative Assembly while replying to a debate on the issue. The debate on women's policy had been initiated in the House to mark International Women's Day. The state government will take note of all the suggestions put forth by the MLAs with regard to welfare, security and empowerment of women, Lodha said. The government will also table its performance report on decisions related to women empowerment regularly, he added. The new policy will be practical, he said, adding that a'tourist policy' for women will also be announced. A 'janata durbar' will be held for women at the district level every month where 50 complaints will be taken up, he said. A women's bazaar to promote products of Self-Help Groups has also been proposed every month in all ...

Pawar says when in govt he faced resistance to pro-women decisions

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president and former Union minister Sharad Pawar on Wednesday recalled resistance he faced from certain quarters while implementing decisions related to women empowerment, including inducting female officers into the armed forces, but said when an administrator is strong policies get eventually executed. The veteran parliamentarian held key portfolios of defence (1991-1993) and agriculture (2004-14) as a Union minister and also served as chief minister of Maharashtra four times during his decades-long political career. Pawar recalled that as defence minister when he visited the United States, he was given a guard of honour by an all-woman contingent of the American armed forces. When he returned home, Pawar discussed the idea of inducting women into the armed forces with all the three services chiefs, but faced opposition to his proposal. I again brought this (induction of women) issue (with them) for discussion one or two months later and received

Economic Survey: Maharashtra has over 25.6 mn ration-card holders

Of the total eligible 8.66 lakh ration cards under the Above Poverty Line farmers from the drought-prone 14 districts, the Aadhaar seeding of 99.9 per cent has been done

Maharashtra's economy expected to grow by 6.8% in 2022-23: Economic Survey

Maharashtra's economy is expected to grow by 6.8 per cent in FY 23 as against the projected growth of the Indian economy by 7 per cent, as per the Economic Survey 2022-23 tabled in the state Legislative Assembly on Wednesday. The agriculture and allied activities sector will grow by 10.2 per cent in the state, as per the survey tabled by state finance minister Devendra Fadnavis in the Assembly on the eve of the presentation of the Budget. The industry sector is expected to grow by 6.1 per cent and the services sector by 6.4 per cent, it said. As per the advance estimates, the nominal (at current prices) gross state domestic product (GSDP) for 2022-23 is expected to be Rs 35,27,084 crore and the real (at constant 2011-12 prices) GSDP is expected to be Rs 21,65,558 crore, it stated. The report stated the average share of Maharashtra in the national nominal GDP is highest at 14 per cent. As per the advanced estimates, the per capita state income for 2022-23 is expected at 2,42,247 as

BJP to launch 'Ashirwad yatra' in Mumbai Lok Sabha constituencies on Sunday

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will launch a Yatra to connect with people in all six Lok Sabha constituencies in Mumbai in phases beginning Sunday, the party's Mumbai unit chief Ashish Shelar said. Speaking to reporters here on Saturday, the BJP MLA said the 'Ashirwad Yatra' is aimed at reaching out to people. "We will cover two Lok Sabha seats on Sunday, two more on March 9 and the remaining two on March 11," the former Maharashtra minister said. He said BJP leaders will visit key temples in areas falling under the six Lok Sabha constituencies during the Yatra. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP and then ally, Shiv Sena (undivided), had won three constituencies each in Mumbai. The BJP won Mumbai North, Mumbai North East, and Mumbai North Central seats while the Shiv Sena emerged victorious in Mumbai South, Mumbai South Central, and Mumbai North West. Among the three MPs of Shiv Sena from Mumbai, MPs from Mumbai South Central, Rahul Shewale, and Mumbai North West, Gajana

CM Shinde visits hospital, asks officials to provide facilities to doctors

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday expressed displeasure about the conditions in which doctors at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Civic Hospital (CSMH) in Kalwa area here work. Speaking after a visit to the hospital, Shinde, who is an MLA from Thane, said the doctors must be provided better working conditions and facilities. He also directed Municipal Commissioner Abhijit Bangar to take strict action against erring officials. Doctors at the hospital were working hard but they were not getting good facilities, Shinde noted. His government had vowed to make Mumbai pothole-free within two years and Thane, its twin city, can not be left behind, the chief minister said. Shinde on this occasion launched road repair works worth Rs 391 crore in the city and inaugurated an underground parking facility at Gamdevi Maidan among other projects.

Kasba just a glimpse, united MVA can win over 200 assembly: Sanjay Raut

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday said the victory of the Maha Vikas Aghadi in the Kasba Peth bypoll was just a glimpse and claimed the MVA can win over 200 assembly and 40 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra next year if the allies fight unitedly. Raut's party apart, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Congress are partners in the MVA. Assembly polls in Maharashtra and general elections are due next year. The Rajya Sabha MP was speaking in Pune, where he met newly elected Congress MLA Ravindra Dhangekar who defeated the Bharatiya Janata Party's Hemant Rasane in Kasba Peth, a BJP stronghold for nearly three decades. The smart voters of Kasba Peth have dealt a blow to the ruling party. They tried to buy voters here but failed to do so. Kasba jhanki hai, Maharashtra baki hai' (Kasba is just a glimpse, Maharashtra is still left), Raut told reporters. MVA's victory an indicator of the state's political future, he said. Kasba Peth and Chinchwad in Pune district voted on ...

'World's first' bamboo crash barrier installed on Maha highway: Gadkari

Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Saturday said a 200-meter-long bamboo crash barrier has been installed on a highway connecting Chandrapur and Yavatmal districts in Maharashtra, which he termed as the "world's first" such exercise. Calling it a "remarkable achievement" for the country and its bamboo sector, he said this crash barrier offers a perfect alternative to steel and addresses environmental concerns. In a tweet, Gadkari said, "An extraordinary accomplishment towards achieving #AatmanirbharBharat has been made with the development of the world's first 200-meter-long Bamboo Crash Barrier, which has been installed on the Vani-Warora Highway." The Minister of Road Transport and Highways said this bamboo crash barrier has been christened as "Bahu Balli". "It underwent rigorous testing at various government-run institutions, such as the National Automotive Test Tracks (NATRAX) in Pithampur, Indore, and was rated as Class 1 during the Fire Rating Test conducted at the Central ...

Licenses of 6 cough syrup makers suspended for rule violations, Maha govt

The Maharashtra government told the state Legislative Assembly on Friday that the licenses of six manufacturers of cough syrups in the state have been suspended for not following the rules. Food and Drugs Administration Minister Sanjay Rathod made the statement while replying to a calling attention notice by Ashish Shelar (BJP) and others. Recently, a cough syrup made by a Noida-based firm was alleged to have caused the death of 18 children in Uzbekistan. Noida police on Friday said they had arrested three employees of the firm. Rathod said that the Maharashtra government had initiated inquiry against 84 out of 108 manufacturers of cough syrups in the state. Four of them were directed to stop production while the licences of six companies were suspended, he said. As many as 17 firms were served show-cause notices for violation of rules, the minister added. Shelar referred to the deaths of 66 children in Gambia allegedly because of cough syrups imported from India. But the ...

Maha govt to hike remuneration of Anganwadi workers by 10-20%: Minister

The Maharashtra government has decided to hike the remuneration of anganwadi workers, with 'sevikas' set to get 20 per cent more and helpers 10 per cent, state minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha said in the Assembly on Friday. The state women and child welfare minister also said vacant anganwadi posts would be filled soon, while new mobile phones have been bought by his department that will have the 'track app' to streamline operations. Health minister Tanaji Sawant told the House vacant posts in his department would be filled soon.

Mumbai saw 70% rise in cyber crime cases in 2022: Dy CM Fadnavis

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said Mumbai witnessed a 70 per cent rise in cyber crime cases in 2022 compared to the previous year. At least 4,286 cases of cyber fraud were registered in Mumbai over a period of one year till November 2022, Fadnavis said responding to a question by MLC Bhai Girkar in the state Legislative Council. Till November 2022, the Mumbai police commissionerate recorded a 70 per cent rise in cyber frauds compared to the cases recorded till November 2021, the deputy chief minister said. As many as 1,294 cases of credit card and online frauds were registered in the city till November 2022 and of these, 37 have been solved, he said. There were 2,216 of cases involving online shopping, crypto currency investment, admissions in educational institutions, insurance, investment and jobs frauds registered during this period and 132 have been detected, he said. Of 4,268 cyber fraud cases registered in a year till November 2022, only 279 h

More than two dozen sugar mills close early in Maharashtra: Govt official

Sugar mills in Maharashtra were operational until mid-June in 2021/22 as they harvested a record crop

Mumbai jumps to 37th place globally in price growth in luxury housing

Mumbai's rank has improved to 37th from 92nd in a global list of movement in prices of luxury homes as the city saw an appreciation of 6.4 per cent during 2022 calendar year, according to Knight Frank India. In a virtual conference, property consultant Knight Frank on Wednesday released its 'The Wealth Report 2023'. "The value of Prime International Residential Index (PIRI 100) that tracks the movement in luxury house prices across the world increased by 5.2 per cent YoY (year-on-year) in 2022," Knight Frank said. In the report, the consultant has analysed prime property price performances in 100 cities, and sun and ski locations globally. Out of 100, 85 locations recorded positive or flat price growth in 2022. "Globally, Mumbai's prime property market has witnessed a price appreciation of 6.4 per cent which moves up the city to 37th position on the PIRI 100 in 2022 as opposed 92nd in 2021," the consultant said. Prime properties in Mumbai are expected to witness an appreciation of

We're with onion farmers, says Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde in Assembly

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday told the legislative assembly that his government is with onion farmers amid reports of falling prices of the key kitchen staple in the wholesale market, and talked of financial help for the growers if required. Speaking on the floor of the lower house, Shinde said, We are firmly standing by the onion growers in the state. NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Limited) has started onion procurement and that would push the prices up. NAFED, an apex organisation under the Union Ministry of Agriculture, deals with marketing cooperatives for agricultural produce in India. On our request, NAFED has increased its onion procurement and 2.38 lakh tonnes have already been purchased from farmers. If a particular area does not have a procurement centre, then it will be opened for farmers, Shinde said on the second day of the budget session of the state legislature. The price per kilogram of onion came down to

Farmers stop onion auction at Lasalgaon APMC over drop in prices

In the wake of a consistent drop in the onion prices, angry farmers stopped the auction of the key kitchen staple on Monday at Maharashtra's Lasalgaon Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC), Asia's biggest onion market. The price per kilogram of onion came down to Rs 2 to Rs 4, which angered the growers. A representative of the onion growers said the government should immediately declare a grant of Rs 1,500 per quintal of onions and purchase their produce at Rs 15 to Rs 20 per kg, or else they will not let the auction resume at the Lasalgaon APMC, located in Nashik district. As soon as the auction process began as the market opened for the week on Monday, onions fetched a minimum price of Rs 200 per quintal, the maximum rate of Rs 800 per quintal and an average price of Rs 400-450 per quintal. As a result, the angry farmers led by the Maharashtra Rajya Kanda Utpadak Sanghatana stopped the auction of onions and started an agitation. On Saturday 2,404 quintal onions arrived at

BJP launches 'selfie with beneficiary' campaign from Aurangabad: Irani

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday launched its 'selfie with beneficiary' campaign in Aurangabad in Maharashtra in the presence of Union Minister Smriti Irani. It will see party activists reaching one crore beneficiaries of schemes of the BJP-led Union government and clicking selfies with them and uploading them on the NAMO app, the campaign's national coordinator Medha Kulkarni said. "This is not merely about selfies. It is a chance for the beneficiary to send their blessings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi," said Irani. Union Minister Bhagwat Karad, state minister Atul Save and BJP leader Chitra Wagh were present on the occasion.

Supplementary demands of Rs 6,383 cr presented in Maharashtra Assembly

The Maharashtra government presented supplementary demands of Rs 6,383.97 crore on Monday on the first day of the state Assembly's Budget session, with the thrust being on rural areas as funds have been marked for village lighting bill payment and farm loan waiver. Supplementary demands are presented in the House to cover additional expenses over and above sums allotted in the annual budget. Of Rs 6,383.97 crore, a sum of 2,224.72 crore is for payment of pending bills to Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited for street lights in villages, while an additional provision of Rs 1,014 crore has been made for incentive benefit scheme under Mahatma Jyotirao Phule farmer loan waiver scheme. A sum of Rs 267.73 crore is for financial assistance to loss-making Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation, whose employees had gone on strike between November 2021 and April 2022 seeking regular salaries and hikes. Supplementary demand of Rs 763.77 crore has been made for ...

Maharashtra by-election: Case against BJP's Rasane for violating poll code

Police have registered a case against Hemant Rasane, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate for Kasba Assembly seat bypoll in Maharashtra's Pune district, for allegedly violating the model code of conduct, an official said on Monday. Bypolls to Kasba and Chinchwad Assembly seats, necessitated due to the death of their respective BJP MLAs Mukta Tilak and Laxman Jagtap, were held on Sunday. Rasane, who cast his vote at Nutan Marathi Vidyalaya in Kasba area of Pune city, was seen sporting a neckwear bearing his party symbol at the polling station. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Rupali Thombare filed a police complaint against Rasane for alleged breach of the model code of conduct and demanded action against him. An official from Vishrambaug police station said the assistant returning officer for the bypoll also filed a complaint against Rasane, based on which a case was registered against him. A probe is on into the case, the official said. In the Kasba seat, Rasane ...