Articles by Saurabha Kulshreshtha
Maha Lokayukta to hear alleged ₹263-cr street furniture contract scam
The Maharashtra Lokayukta has scheduled a hearing in February 2024 on a complaint by Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray regarding an alleged street furniture contract scam in the BMC worth ₹263 crore. Thackeray has raised concerns about the misuse of funds and has demanded action from the authorities. He also plans to raise the issue of variation in road tender amounts before the Lokayukta. Thackeray has accused the chief minister of making false allegations against him to tarnish his image.
Updated on Dec 23, 2023 08:00 AM IST
Lokayukta to hear complaint on street furniture contract in Feb: Aaditya Thackeray
From March this year, Thackeray has repeatedly flagged the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) street furniture contract, expressing apprehension about irregularities in the way the contract was granted
Published on Dec 22, 2023 06:42 PM IST
MHADA seeks powers of planning authority to rehabilitate residents of SGNP
Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) has proposed to become the planning authority for the rehabilitation of over 15,000 residents living in the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) area in Mumbai. They have also requested permission to use a higher Floor Space Index (FSI) for the project.
Updated on Dec 22, 2023 07:04 AM IST
Relief to residents of Palava City: PWD to reconstruct 2 major roads at ₹18.50 crore
The state government has allocated ₹18
Updated on Dec 13, 2023 06:30 AM IST
Saurabha Kulshreshtha, Mumbai
Govt plans to start pink rickshaws driven by women
Titled ‘Pink Rickshaws’, the scheme will not only provide a means of livelihood to poor women in metro cities, but also fulfil the need for safe modes of transport for women, said women and child development minister Aditi Tatkare
Updated on Dec 12, 2023 07:42 AM IST
Pawar joins farmers’ protest against onion export ban
Leading a road blockade staged by farmers at the protest spot, he said, “We do not like to block the road, but we have been forced to do so by the union government”
Updated on Dec 12, 2023 07:24 AM IST
No eggs in school midday meal, BJP-Sena ‘spiritual cells’ warn CM
On November 7, the government issued an order directing all schools in Maharashtra to serve eggs to non-vegetarian students from Class 1 to Class 8 once a week in the mid-day meal scheme.
Updated on Dec 11, 2023 06:52 AM IST
SP MLA demands scrapping of govt’s ‘Love Jihad’ committee
The Interfaith Marriage Family Coordination Committee was set up on December 13, 2022, by the then WCD Minister and BJP leader Mangal Prabhat Lodha
Updated on Dec 11, 2023 06:48 AM IST
Hearing on split in NCP ends; poll panel reserves decision
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday reserved it decision after hearing arguments from both factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) over their claim to party name and symbol and asked them to file a written submission within a week, people aware of the development said
Updated on Dec 09, 2023 07:40 AM IST
Saurabha Kulshreshtha, Mumbai
Public hearing over Vadhvan Port postponed after Shinde steps in
Chief minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday night directed the state administration to postpone a public hearing over Vadhvan Port, scheduled to be held on December 22, by one month after local people wanted more time to study different survey reports related to the project, people familiar with the development said
Updated on Dec 07, 2023 09:08 AM IST
Saurabha Kulshreshtha, Mumbai
Teachers’ salaries to be now paid from coop bank headed by BJP MLC
MUMBAI: The state government on Tuesday directed government and government-aided schools in the city to open salary accounts for their teaching and non-teaching staff in the Mumbai District Cooperative Bank headed by BJP MLC Praveen Darekar
Updated on Dec 07, 2023 08:48 AM IST
Raut’s potshots at health minister
MUMBAI: The Shiv Sena (UBT) on Wednesday alleged a ‘cash for posting’ scam in the public health department led by Shiv Sena minister Tanaji Sawant
Updated on Dec 07, 2023 08:04 AM IST
Ball in Thackeray’s court: Ambedkar on seat sharing for Lok Sabha polls
Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) chief Prakash Ambedkar on Tuesday stepped up the pressure on the Shiv Sena (UBT) over a seat-sharing formula, threatening he would contest all 48 seats if Uddhav Thackeray did not decide on it soon
Updated on Dec 06, 2023 07:50 AM IST
Saurabha Kulshreshtha, Mumbai
Why concessions for Adani in Dharavi project, asks Uddhav
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday targeted the three-party government over doling out concessions to an Adani Group firm that is executing the Dharavi redevelopment project and alleged the state is planning to ‘gift’ a few more projects such as the redevelopment of the government colony in Bandra to it
Updated on Dec 06, 2023 07:44 AM IST
Saurabha Kulshreshtha, Mumbai
Athawale plans revival of Dalit Panthers as ‘pressure group’
Founded by litterateurs JV Pawar, Namdeo Dhasal and Raja Dhale in 1972, Dalit Panthers was modelled after the Black Panther movement in the United States
Updated on Dec 06, 2023 06:58 AM IST
Five points about Maharashtra’s recent unseasonal rains
From political impact to demands for loan waiver --- here's why the recent rains and hailstorm will be a talking point in the upcoming assembly session
Updated on Dec 04, 2023 05:03 PM IST
Poll results herald relief for Ajit faction, challenges for MVA
Prior to the declaration of election results, all three parties in the ruling alliance – BJP, Shiv Sena faction led by chief minister Eknath Shinde and NCP faction led by deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar – were cautious about their prospects
Updated on Dec 04, 2023 06:48 AM IST
Saurabha Kulshreshtha
‘Sharad Pawar asked me to join the govt’
Ajit Pawar, deputy chief minister of Maharashtra, claimed that his uncle, Sharad Pawar, initially supported his decision to join the state government but later had a change of heart. Ajit Pawar also announced that his faction would contest all four Lok Sabha seats in Baramati currently held by the NCP.
Updated on Dec 02, 2023 07:58 AM IST
Ajit Pawar invokes Phule, backs Kunbi cert for Marathas
Pawar’s comments sought to assuage anger among Marathas over recent statements by his fellow party leader and minister Chhagan Bhujbal opposing the issuance of Kunbi certificates
Updated on Dec 02, 2023 06:31 PM IST
Bhujbal faces ‘go back’ slogans in his constituency
NCP minister Chhagan Bhujbal faced protests from Marathas during his visit to hailstorm affected areas in Nashik district. Farmers demand compensation.
Updated on Dec 01, 2023 08:06 AM IST
Six more districts in Maha hit by rain; affected land increases to 4L ha
Unseasonal rain and hailstorms have damaged crops in 22 districts of Maharashtra, increasing the area under damage by three times and leading to a rise in vegetable prices. The state cabinet has decided to increase compensation for crop loss and is awaiting reports from additional districts. The Yawatmal district in Vidarbha region is most affected, with 126,438 hectares of crops damaged. The rise in affected areas is expected to result in a higher financial burden for compensation and a shortage of onions and vegetables in the market. The leader of the opposition has demanded a loan and electricity bill waiver for affected farmers.
Updated on Dec 01, 2023 07:20 AM IST
Govt hikes acreage for compensation due to hailstorm, orders survey
Farmers in Maharashtra affected by a recent hailstorm will be compensated for crop loss on up to 3 hectares of land instead of the current 2 hectares. The agriculture and revenue departments will also conduct a joint survey to assess the damage caused by the storm. The hailstorm damaged 1,30,272 hectares of crops in 18 districts, with crops like grapes, vegetables, and onions suffering considerable damage. The government is facing criticism for not doing enough to address the ongoing farm crisis.
Updated on Nov 30, 2023 06:46 AM IST
NITI Aayog CEO stresses on a long-term economic plan for Mumbai, MMR
NITI Aayog CEO BVR Subrahmanyam has said that the state government needs to create an economic master plan and focus on urban planning in order for Mumbai and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) to sustain India's goal of becoming a $30 trillion economy by 2047. Subrahmanyam emphasized the importance of public housing, land management, and transport infrastructure in achieving this goal. NITI Aayog will prepare a draft master plan to raise the region's GDP from $140 billion to $300 billion. Other participants in the discussion also stressed the need for job creation and economic growth through urban planning.
Updated on Nov 29, 2023 07:32 AM IST
Saurabha Kulshreshtha, Mumbai
Tatkare backs Bhujbal on OBC quota
NCP state president Sunil Tatkare supports Chagan Bhujbal's stand on Maratha reservation, says it shouldn't affect OBC quota. Slams Prithviraj Chavan for damaging NCP.
Updated on Nov 29, 2023 06:58 AM IST
A RAY of Hope: India’s largest township for workers being readied at Solapur
The infrastructural logistics of this massive proletariat settlement posed a problem or two to the Ray Nagar Federation. A year ago, the body realised that the Solapur municipal corporation would be unable to supply water to the township for at least two years, struggling as it was to provide daily water to Solapur city its
Updated on Nov 21, 2023 07:40 AM IST
CM, Uddhav pick different locations to pay respects to Shiv Sena founder
Speaking to reporters after paying his respects at the statue of Balasaheb near Regal Cinema in south Mumbai, the CM said if the party founder was alive, he would have appreciated Prime Minister Narendra Modi for building a Ram temple in Ayodhya
Updated on Nov 18, 2023 08:16 AM IST
Saurabha Kulshreshtha, Mumbai
Navi Mumbai Metro starts operations, other infra projects await inauguration
Services of the Navi Mumbai metro commenced in the presence of Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation Municipal Commissioner Rajesh Narvekar
Updated on Nov 18, 2023 07:16 AM IST
Adani Group can now earn more from TDR in Dharavi Redevelopment Project
Maharashtra has issued a notification allowing the use of TDR without indexation, which will benefit the Adani group in the Dharavi Redevelopment Project.
Updated on Nov 16, 2023 11:20 AM IST
Saurabha Kulshreshtha, Mumbai
Two Senas argue after Uddhav denied entry at Mumbra shakha
Addressing party workers in Mumbra, Thackeray said, “Those who are high on power bulldozed the shakha. I have come here to show you the bulldozer. Our posters were torn. We’ll tear your arrogance into pieces in the polls.” Alleging that the administration had become helpless, the former CM said
Updated on Nov 12, 2023 06:56 AM IST
MHADA gets back ₹500 crore given for railway land to develop Dharavi Project
The Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) received ₹500 crore for the acquisition of railway land, providing relief to the organization facing a cash crunch due to unsold housing stock. The funds will help speed up the BDD chawl redevelopment project.
Updated on Nov 11, 2023 07:42 AM IST