1. BMC Seeks White Paper On Fire Department’s Functioning
Taking note of rising incidents of fire in the city, BMC corporators on Wednesday sought a white paper on the Mumbai Fire Brigade’s functioning and the recent fires.
During a standing committee meeting on Wednesday, corporators from various parties alleged that as the fire brigade department is not doing its duty efficiently, the city is becoming a fire trap with frequent incidents being reported in residential and commercial establishments.
Source: The Indian Express
2. Pawar Asks Fadnavis To Withdraw Charges Against Marathas
Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar has written a letter to Chief Minister (CM) Devendra Fadnavis seeking withdrawal of serious charges slapped on protesters during a Maratha quota agitation in 2018 at Kalamboli-Kamothe area of Navi Mumbai after conducting a proper enquiry.
The police had fired in the air after protesters indulged in arson and pelted stones during the stir last July along the Sion-Panvel Highway in Raigad.
Source: The Hindu
3. MHADA Will Now Give NOC For Redevelopment In 90 Days
To speed up the revamp of Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (Mhada) colonies, the housing body has now made it mandatory for its officials to issue its no objection certificates (NOCs) or offer letters within 90 days or face action.
According to the chairman of Mhada’s Mumbai board, Madhu Chavan, this move will increase efficiency and reduce corruption in the housing body.
“Currently many officers are sitting on these files for days and there was no accountability. Many officials used to send files back on frivolous grounds due to vested interests,” said Chavan.
Source: Hindustan Times
4. 2006 Mumbai Serial Train Blasts: Another Convict Appeals Against Trial Court’s Order
Another convict in the 2006 Mumbai serial train blasts case has filed an appeal against the life sentence given to him by the trial court in 2015.
Mohamed Majid Mohamed Shafi, a 40-year old Kolkata resident, filed the appeal through advocate I A Khan, stating that he was falsely implicated in the case by the Anti-Terrorism Squad and was convicted on the basis of fabricated evidences.
Last month, Sajid Ansari, another convict sentenced to life imprisonment, was the first one to appeal before the HC against the trial court’s sentence.
Source: The Indian Express
5. Mumbai Mayor's Move To Temporary Home In Byculla Zoo Delayed Due To Bungalow Size
Size is slowly becoming a matter with the mayor's temporary bungalow in the Byculla zoo. BMC is racing against time to make the property, which is 1,000 sq ft smaller than the mayor's current Shivaji Park residence, look good and be able to accommodate all of the existing furniture in his home.
Mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar's move to the zoo bungalow has been delayed further as the furniture and other essentials have not been moved from his current residence yet. In the middle of all that, the civic body is also trying to find ways in which it can make the comparatively smaller house look good enough.
Source: Midday
6. Govt. Agrees To Increase Stipend Of Resident Docs
The new year brought relief to the resident doctors in the State after the government assured a ₹5,000 hike in their stipend. A government resolution (GR) mandating leave for maternity and tuberculosis is also under way.
“The stipend hike was accepted long ago but we had nothing on paper. The circular is finally coming this week. The stipend will be paid from the back date of August 2018,” Dr. Lokeshkumar Chirwatkar, president, Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors, said.
Source: The Hindu
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