1. After Uber-Ola, Kali Peeli to Strike Over Fitness Certificate Row
As the 12-day cab aggregators' strike ended on Friday, the city's biggest taxi union of black and yellow cabs threatened to go on protest from November 15. They have said they will park all the kaali-peeli cabs outside chief minister Devendra Fadnavis' bungalow in south Mumbai if their vehicles' fitness certificates are not renewed or extended. The fitness certificates of about 5,000 cabs have expired in Mumbai.
Anthony Quadros, the union leader of Mumbai Taximen's Union, told mid-day that senior officials at the transport department are "busy playing games" and the taxi drivers were suffering because of that.
(Source: Mid-day)
2. Brace for Three Bank Holidays This Week
Brace for three bank holidays this Diwali week. The banks will be closed on Wednesday and Thursday (November 7 and 8) on account of Laxmi Pujan and Balipratipada, respectively.
The banks will be working on Friday (November 9), but remain closed on November 10, the second Saturday of the month.
(Source: Mumbai Mirror)
3. Bursting Firecrackers? Cops Are Watching You
Following the Supreme Court order restricting the sale of firecrackers in residential areas during Diwali, the state government has issued a circular with guidelines for both, selling and bursting crackers in the city and state. As per the directive, police have been instructed to take immediate action against those found violating the regulations.
“The state government issues circulars before every major festival, listing the guidelines that are to be implemented,” said a senior police officer. “In 2016, the time frame for bursting firecrackers was from 6pm to 10pm.” This year, it is from 8pm to 10pm.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
4. Bombay High Court Refuses to Stay Reclamation for Mid-Sea Shivaji Memorial in Mumbai
The Bombay high court (HC) on Friday refused to stay reclamation at the site of the proposed 212m-high Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Memorial in the Arabian Sea, off the Mumbai coast, sought on the grounds that the “environment clearance granted to the project was invalid”.
City based non-government organisation Conservation Action Trust (CAT) claimed the ministry of environment and forest (MoEF), in 2015, changed the coastal regulatory zone rules to allow construction of monuments and memorials in CRZ-IV areas. The petition claimed the final notification on the change had a clause that empowered the Centre to exempt states from holding public hearings before grant of environmental clearance.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
5. 22 Witnesses, No Proof: Peter Mukerjea Says No Role in Sheena Bora Murder
Former media baron and fourth accused in the Sheena Bora murder case, Peter Mukerjea, has moved the special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court challenging charges against him. He contended that even after examination of 22 witnesses, there has been no evidence that he conspired with his wife Indrani Mukerjea and her former husband Sanjeev Khanna to kill Sheena Bora. Peter’s lawyer Amit Ghag on Saturday moved third bail plea before the special CBI court. In the plea, Peter insisted the conspiracy was hatched by the co-accused and he had no role.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
6. MHADA to Sell Cumbala Hill Home for Rs 5.80 Crore
The Maharashtra Housing Area and Development Authority (MHADA) will sell a house in the plush Cumbala Hill area at a breathtaking price of Rs 5.8 crore - the costliest house to be put out in lottery by the authority. The remaining two houses in the area have been priced at Rs 5.14 crore and Rs 4.99 respectively. This comes at a time when citizens are returning overpriced houses, prompting the agency reducing its cost price.
MHADA on Saturday announced that the annual lottery's advertisement will be out on November 5 and the application process will go live for 1,384 houses on the same day. The lottery will take place on December 16.
(Source: Mid-day)
7. Fan Slits Throat After Failing to Meet Shah Rukh Khan
A fan of Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan allegedly slit his throat on Bandra Reclamation after waiting to catch a glimpse of the star on Friday.
According to the police, Mohammed Saleem had been waiting on the reclamation, metres away from the actor’s house ‘Mannat’, early morning on Friday. The promenade at the time was packed with several thousand others who were hoping to spot Khan, who celebrated his birthday on Friday. The police had also cordoned off the lane and did not allow fans to approach the actor’s house.
(Source: Indian Express)
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