1. Auto Rickshaw Unions Call off Strike
After Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ intervention, the strike called by autorickshaw unions from Tuesday was called off late Monday evening. The unions have raised a host of demands that, they claim, have been pending since 2017.
“We have full faith in Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who is personally meeting union representatives in the presence of Transport Minister Diwakar Raote to solve the issues. Taking commuters’ problems into account, our union has decided not to go on strike,” said Mumbai Autorickshaw Taximen’s Union president Shashank Rao. The drivers are demanding a Rs 4 hike in base fare from the current Rs 18-22. “The drivers want a fare hike according to Hakim Committee formula,” Rao said.
(Source: The Indian Express)
2. Police, Railway Stations Flood in Mumbai Metropolitan Region
The downpour on Monday led to waterlogged streets, police stations and railway stations, and multiple tree-fall incidents in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
Between 8.30am and 6.30pm, Navi Mumbai received 95.70mm heavy rainfall on an average. With 103.8mm, Airoli received the highest rainfall among the areas under the Navi Mumbai civic body, followed by Vashi (101.3mm), Nerul (88.90mm) and Belapur (85.30mm).
The catchment area of Morbe dam received 24.20mm rainfall, increasing the water level to 76.20m. The dam overflows at 88m. Turbhe police station was flooded in the early hours of Monday.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
3. Civic Body Receives 82,000 Complaints Against Tree-Cutting at Aarey
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) received 82,000 objections against cutting trees for the Metro 3 car shed in Aarey Colony, which is double the number of suggestions and objections the same proposal received when it was put forth in 2018. Close to 500 Mumbaikars, including tribal women from Aarey Colony, attended a public hearing conducted by the BMC in Bandra Kurla Complex on Monday, and strongly objected to the cutting of 2,702 trees to make way for the car shed.
BMC’s superintendent of gardens, Jitendra Pardeshi said, “In October 2018, we got 40,000 objections. This time, we have got 82,000 objections. Most of the citizens have demanded that the car shed should not be built in Aarey.”
(Source: Hindustan Times)
4. Four held in child selling racket, cops say accused part of interstate gang
A week after six persons were arrested in connection with a child selling racket, Mumbai Police crime branch said Monday the accused were a part of an interstate gang. Police have also arrested four persons, including three from Delhi, and rescued two children who were reportedly sold to two men in Delhi.
While three persons arrested from Delhi are relatives, the crime branch officers obtained the custody of a fourth person, Julehuma Dalvi (32), from Byculla women’s jail. So far, 10 arrests have been made in the case and four children rescued. On July 1, the crime branch had arrested six persons in the case.
(Source: Indian Express)
5. BMC Collects Rs 3.5 lakh in Fines Over Two Days in New Parking Rules
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has collected Rs 3.50 lakh in fines from motorists who parked their vehicles in no parking zones over the last two days. At least 136 vehicles violated the new rules in two days, the BMC said.
On Monday, the civic body penalised 80 vehicles (35 four-wheelers, 42 two-wheelers and three three-wheelers) for parking in no parking zones and collected a fine of Rs 1.70 lakh.
(Source: Indian Express)