I am a special correspondent with Hindustan Times and also the chief of bureau for Thane. I have worked in Thane for over a decade, covering social, civic, infrastructural, political and cultural issues.
Articles by Megha Pol
Air at 6 junctions in Thane city polluted with AQI 201-240
Air you breathe in at six of the major junctions in Thane city is polluted, reveals the annual pollution report for the year 2020-21 published by the Thane Municipal Corporation; the six are Teen Hath Naka, Shilphata, Retibunder, Castle Mill, Balkum and Mumbra Fire Centre with Air Quality Index ranging from 201 to 240
Kharegaon ROB in Kalwa inaugurated; motorists heave sigh of relief
Thousands of commuters and pedestrians who have been forced to cross the Kharegaon level-crossing can now heave a sigh of relief as the Kharegaon ROB in Kalwa was finally inaugurated on Saturday after missing several deadlines
Dog sterilisation programme in Thane at a standstill since Aug 2018
Dog sterilisation programme in Thane ended as TMC officials claimed the tenure of the NGO that did sterilisation till 2018 was not extended due to lack of funds and Covid; it will resume soon as work order to be issued and the tenders to be finalised in coming weeks
Bed occupancy rate rises in Thane by nearly 8% in one week as Covid cases increase
Bed occupancy rate in Thane city increases from 13.88% on January 6 to 21.47% on January 12 as Covid cases rise; out of the 20,703 active cases, only 968 are admitted while 19,735 people are in home isolation
In wake of increasing Omicron, Covid cases, Thane Municipal Corporation appeals to housing societies
Thane Municipal Corporation appeals to housing societies to inform about members with recent international travel history to curb the spread of Covid, Omicron, says no response to the helpline numbers and email address set up for the same
71% of current active Covid cases in Thane concentrated in 3 wards alone
The Thane Municipal Corporation has reported 2,442 new cases on Friday, a 12% increase from Thursday; as per the data submitted by the civic body, around 71% of the total active Covid cases are concentrated in three wards – Majiwada-Manpada, Vartak Nagar and Uthalsar
Thane sees highest single day spike of 2,180 Covid cases; TMC to seal buildings
The earlier one day spike was 2100 in mid-April 2021, the Thane Municipal Corporation has given directives to seal any building that has more than 10 Covid positive cases; these buildings will also be declared as containment zones
Dumping of garbage in Diva will stop by Jan 2022, claims Thane Municipal Corporation
In a major relief to the Thane residents, the Thane Municipal Corporation has now claimed that the dumping of garbage in Diva will stop by January 2022; Civic commissioner, Vipin Sharma, signed an agreement for the land in Bhandarli on Thursday in the presence of Thane Mayor, Naresh Mhaske, and the plot will be used for scientific treatment of waste
Amendment clauses of Unified DCPR to allow for high-rises, redevelopment of buildings in old Thane
Amendment in some of the clauses of the Unified Development Control and Promotion Regulations will now pave the way for high-rises and redevelopment of buildings in congested areas of Naupada and Uthalsar in old Thane
Maharashtra govt is only worried about Aryan Khan: BJP MLA Nitesh Rane
He also alleged that the government hasn’t done anything in the last two years when it came to taking the case of Maratha reservation forward, with no commission formed and no survey conducted yet
Thane Municipal Corporation general body promises to waive property tax for Thane flats with area up to 500sqft
The Thane Municipal Corporation general body, on Thursday, passed a resolution to waive off property tax for flats with an area up to 500 square feet; the resolution will now be sent to the state government for approval; the opposition has, however, raised doubts saying that this might merely be a poll gimmick by Shiv Sena
Thane civic body proposes to shut 2 Covid facilities for paucity of patients
While the state government is preparing for an active Covid-19 caseload of 1.2 million cases in the third wave, Thane Municipal Corporation has proposed to shut its Thane Global Covid Hospital and the Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad Stadium due to scarcity of patients at present
30K jabbed in 2 days as vaccination drive against Covid resumes in Thane post Diwali
The vaccination drive against Covid, which was stalled in Diwali owing to the festive season, has resumed with more than 30,000 people covered in the last two days in the door-to-door campaign undertaken by the Thane Municipal Corporation
No anti-Covid jab, no salaries, declares Thane Municipal Corporation
The civic body also announced that those who aren’t fully vaccinated against Covid-19 will no longer be allowed to accompany or admit patients at Chatrapati Shivaji Hospital in Thane’s Kalwa
5.35L still to take first vaccination dose against Covid in Thane: TMC
More than 5.35 lakh people have still not taken even a single dose of the vaccination against Covid till date, says the health department of Thane Municipal Corporation; the corporation has chalked out different initiatives to ensure that the entire population is vaccinated with at least the first dose by November 30
In a big blow to BJP (Ulhasnagar) in Thane district, 21 corporators quit party to join NCP
In a huge blow to BJP in Ulhasnagar of Thane district, 21 corporators who had joined the party in the previous elections have returned to NCP; along with these 21 corporators, 19 former corporators and the entire Team Omi Kalani, too, have joined NCP
Lottery for 8,984 houses drawn: Every village to soon have Mhada housing projects, says min
The Mhada lottery was drawn for 8,984 houses in Kalyan, Mira Road, Thane, Virar, Navi Mumbai and Sindhudurg
Maharashtra bandh: Thane commuters have hard time reaching office
Barring a few small traders who didn’t participate in the shutdown citing loss of business suffered due to coronavirus induced lockdown, others stayed close in Thane city
Thane man mistakenly jabbed for rabies instead of Covid-19; doctor, nurse suspended
A resident of Kalwa in Maharashtra’s Thane city was mistakenly administered an anti-rabies vaccine (ARV) instead of a Covid-19 jab, officials said
Thane resident mistakenly given anti-rabies vaccine
In yet another bizarre incident related to Covid-19 vaccination in Thane city, a Kalwa resident, who went to get the vaccine at a healthcare centre, was mistakenly administered an anti-rabies vaccine (ARV) instead
4 Thane civic engineers suspended for potholed roads
The decision was taken following a survey of city roads by guardian minister Eknath Shinde on Friday.
TMC chief suspends 4 civic engineers for bad roads, potholes in Thane
Four civic engineers with the Thane Municipal Corporation have been held responsible for bad roads and potholes in the city and suspended by the civic commissioner, Dr. Vipin Sharma
Thane: Probe ordered into additional road widening without approval
The town planning department of Thane Municipal Corporation agreed that the width of the road in question exceeded the approved width as per the development plan
Forced to work after completion of tenure, claim resident doctors pursuing PG courses at Kalwa Hospital
Twenty five resident doctors pursuing PG courses at Rajiv Gandhi Medical College and Chhatrapati Shivaji Hospital, known as Kalwa Hospital, and who have completed their tenure between July and September claimed that they were forced to work even after the completion of tenure
Central minister called to give protection to certain illegal constructions, claims Thane mayor Naresh Mhaske
In a startling revelation, Thane mayor, Naresh Mhaske, claimed that he received a call from a minister at the centre to stop action against some illegal constructions in the city.
Sena lawmaker facing ED probe says he has been made a scapegoat
Pratap Sarnaik was in the news in June when he wrote to Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray and requested him to patch up with the Bharatiya Janata Party to save ruling Sena leaders from being harassed by central agencies
Missing vials in Kausa: Doctor suspended; TMC files complaint
The civic body has also given a written complaint to the Mumbra Police Station to investigate the hair transplant clinic, where the vaccine vials were found
Thane forest dept issues notice to 1,299 houses in landslide prone areas
The department has claimed that these structures are illegal and on steep slopes, thus dangerous. It has asked the residents to submit their property documents, or these structures will be razed
Went to ask about vax, got cert sans jab, alleges Thane man
A 64-year-old Thane resident has alleged that after he merely went to inquire about vaccination slots at Wadia Hospital Vaccination Centre, of Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC), he got a certificate of receiving his first dose from the Co-WIN app, even without being administered the jab
Maharashtra government will complete full term: Minister
The Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government will complete its full term, state cabinet minister Yashomati Thakur has claimed