QMumbai: No Expert in Tree Authority; Tubelight Distributors Upset

All your news from the city of Mumbai.

1. No Experts In Tree Authority

It has been over three months since the new Tree Authority was formed but the committee, which issues permits and regulates hacking of trees in the city, does not have a single tree expert. The autonomous body, headed by the municipal commissioner, currently has 14 other members, all corporators, and has not nominated anyone to the 10 positions reserved for experts.

According to provisions of the Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Preservation of Trees Act of 1975, the Tree Authority has to nominate non-councillor members who are experts in botany, horticulture or agriculture.

“With no tree expert on board, there is no scrutiny from a technical or botanical angle," said Niranjan Shetty, former tree authority member.

Source: Mumbai Mirror

2. Give Our Money Back, 'Tubelight' Distributors Tell Salman Khan

While promoting his recently released Indian war drama, 'Tubelight', Salman Khan found himself addressing questions on the likelihood of the film outshining SS Rajamouli's critically-acclaimed 'Baahubali: The Conclusion'. Little did he know that far from competing with the box-office favourite, 'Tubelight' would even fail to appeal to Bhai's fans.

mid-day has learnt that select Indian distributors of the Kabir Khan-directed film are set to meet the actor in a bid to recover their losses. A distributor, on the condition of anonymity, told mid-day, "Salman's films can collect Rs 100 crore in three days, but this time, 'Tubelight' reached the three-figure mark after a week. Single screen owners in small cities have suffered the most, with many incurring losses of over Rs 1 crore. The total loss amounts to Rs 40-50 crore. This is the first time we have faced such a situation. The distributors are hopeful that Salman will pay off their damages."

Source: Mid-day

3. Timing’s Not Right With CR Escalators

Commuters on the central line, where escalators are switched off and shuttered after 10 in the night and before 6 in the morning, think it unfair that they should have to take the stairs late at night or early in the day, especially since their counterparts on the western line western line get the facility for as long as the trains run.

Senior citizens and the differently-abled are especially troubled by the Central Railway rule laying down the escalator timing, which fails to account for those who finish work late or start the workday early.

Source: Mumbai Mirror

4. Mumbai: Police Protection Will Now Attract GST

The next time you reach out to the police for security cover, be prepared to dig deeper into your pocket. The service will now attract a levy of 18 per cent under the GST regime, which is to be paid on a reverse charge basis.

Senior officials from GST Bhavan said this charge would have to be borne by individuals/organisers seeking police protection or bandobast.

Source: Mid-day

5. Felling Of 586 Trees: HC Lets Off Raymond Group Chief

The Bombay High Court has let off Raymond group CMD Gautam Singhania in a case of felling of over 500 trees in his firm’s premises at Thane, but has allowed prosecution of his several other officials for it. A bench of Justice A K Menon quashed a Thane magisterial court’s notice seeking Singhania’s explanation as to why he should not be prosecuted for felling the trees.

The bench observed that the magisterial court’s order had been issued without proper application of mind. The bench, however, upheld the magisterial court’s notice to other officials of the group's firm saying, “The felling of trees cannot be ignored or trivialised. If, in fact, so many trees have been cut, it is indeed a serious matter that should be taken to its logical conclusion in accordance with law.”

Source: Mumbai Mirror

6. Mumbai: Who Killed Kritika Chaudhary? Cops Widen Probe Net

After over 20 days of investigation with still no concrete lead in the murder case of actress Kritika Chaudhary, who was found at her Andheri home three days after her death, the police has now zeroed in on about six suspicious numbers that she was frequently in touch with.

Sources said, "The numbers were found while scanning the data of Kritika’s call records. It has been learned that the numbers belong to Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Delhi residents. It is of interest because she had been living in Mumbai for almost five years and did not frequently travel out of the city. We are verifying the reasons she was in contact with the owners of these numbers."

Source: Mid-day

7. Rule Change To Ease MHADA Redevelopments

Builders now have to pay a premium linked to ready reckoner rate in return for extra FSI.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has cleared the way for the redevelopment of 56 MHADA colonies in the city by dropping the condition that builders who undertake such redevelopment projects would have to give MHADA housing stock.

Instead, builders will now have to pay a premium which will be linked to the ready reckoner rate in return for extra floor space index (FSI), a senior official in the CM’s office told Mirror.

Source: Mumbai Mirror

8. Two Fishermen Feared Drowned Off Chowpatty

Two fishermen are feared to have drowned off the Girgaum Chowpatty as their boat capsized and broke, on their way back to shore from the morning catch.

“They were spotted swimming back to the land when suddenly, they vanished from sight, possibly having gone under a wave,” said an official from the Police Control Room. The incident happened between 8 and 9 am on Monday.

Source: Mid-day

9. IIT-B Students Start Relay Hunger Strike To Protest Fee Hike

Students of IIT-Bombay went on an indefinite relay hunger strike from Monday afternoon in protest against the authorities’ failure to pay heed to their demands related to the fee hike for the upcoming academic year.

The hike — ranging between 167 and 300 per cent — was announced in May.

“We have been protesting against the staggering fee hike for more than a month and a half. But the attitude of the authorities has been apathetic. All our demands have fallen on deaf ears,” said a spokesperson for Students Against Fee Hike, IIT-B, the forum that is spearheading the protest.

Source: Mumbai Mirror

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