1. Congress, NCP Call Governor ‘Pro-RSS’, Boycott Address
The Budget session of the state legislature began on a stormy note on Monday, with the Congress and NCP-led opposition parties boycotting Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao’s address to the joint sitting of both Houses to voice their protest against his recent remarks on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
Earlier this month, at an event at Ramtek in Vidarbha, Rao had described the RSS as one of the “most secular” and “inclusive” organisations.
Source: The Indian Express
2. Loan Waiver Helps Cooperative Banks More Than Nationalised Ones
Almost two years after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced Rs 34,000-crore farm loan waiver, District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs) seem to have benefited more than the nationalised banks under the scheme.
The DCCBs have reported lower outstanding farm credit, even as nationalised banks have shown an increase in the amount
Under the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Shetkari Sanman Yojna, announced in June 2017, pending crop loans up to Rs 1.50 lakh were to be waived for individual farmers, while an incentive of Rs 25,000 was announced for those who repay their loans regularly. Initially, the scheme was to be implemented for loans pending from 2009 onwards, but later the time period was extended to include loans pending since 2001.
Source: The Indian Express
3. Mumbai Civic Body To Begin Work On 8 Bridges In Need Of Major Repairs
Of the 61 bridges in the city, which require major repairs, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) plans to undertake work on eight. However, the bridge repairs, which will cost ₹16.91 crore, are not likely to start anytime soon.
A recent report by the bridges department found these structures in a dilapidated state. The report said 18 bridges across the city have to be reconstructed as they are beyond repair, while 61 need major repairs.
Source: Hindustan Times
4. Don’t Fool Us With Drama: Sanitation Staff
A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi washed the feet of sanitation workers in Prayagraj as a mark of respect for their work, their counterparts from Maharashtra gathered at Azad Maidan on Monday to protest the delay in increasing their minimum wages, asking the government to stop its “theatrics” ahead of the general election.
According to the protesters, a Government Resolution (GR) issued in 2015 said the minimum wages of sanitation workers in municipal corporations and councils, other than gram panchayats, shall be increased to ₹15,800. However, the resolution has still not been implemented, despite the sanitation workers meeting the Governor and the State Labour Minister twice in the last four years, they said.
Source: The Hindu
5. Cash Crunch Puts BEST Museum Plan On Hold
The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking’s poor financial health has put its proposal to set up a transport museum inside Byculla zoo on the back burner.
The BEST authorities had declared their intention of creating a museum inside the zoo two years ago to showcase the city’s transport heritage. However, there has been no progress since the announcement.
Source: The Hindu
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