1. Lok Sabha Elections 2019: BJP Toes Shiv Sena Line, Drops Kirit Somaiya
The Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP) on Wednesday said Kirit Somaiya, its two-term MP from Mumbai’s North East constituency, will not contest the Lok Sabha elections, a move in line with its ally Shiv Sena’s opposition to his renomination.
The BJP named Manoj Kotak, a municipal corporator from Mulund and an aide of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, as its candidate for the constituency — the only one of the state’s 48 seats where the party had not yet announced its candidate.
Source: Hindustan Times
2. Mumbai Could lose 2,370 Trees To Infrastructure Projects
The city may lose 2,370 trees for various development projects, as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) starts the process to clear 14 pending proposals
These proposals were pending as the Bombay high court (HC), in October 2018, asked the BMC’s tree authority committee to stop working until it appoints independent expert members.
The BMC submitted a list of these experts to the court on Monday. While the high court is yet to approve the experts’ appointment to the panel,the civic body put these proposals in the public domain.
Source: Hindustan Times
3. Letter From Fisheries Department Suggests Rethink On NOC For Coastal Road Project
The fishing community from Worli Koliwada, which has long opposed the coastal road project, are now counting on a letter sent by the regional office of Mumbai division of the fisheries department to the fisheries commissioner, suggesting a reconsideration of the no-objection certificate (NOC) granted to the Rs 12,000-crore project.
The letter, which was sent from the Regional Deputy Commissioner of Fisheries, Mumbai Division, to Fisheries Commissioner of Maharashtra on January 4, states that the regional office had acknowledged the concerns expressed by the fisherfolk and had recommended that due to the project, fishing activities in the construction area were under threat and the NOC granted from the department should be reconsidered.
Source: The Indian Express
4. Ravi Pujari Aide Deported From US Brought To City
Obed Radiowala, an alleged aide of gangster Ravi Pujari, was produced before a Mumbai court on Wednesday evening after he was deported from the US Tuesday night, police said.
Radiowala, who is a wanted accused in the 2014 firing on filmmaker Karim Morani and for the conspiracy to kill filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, was apprehended in the US and had been in the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) since September 2017 for illegally staying in the country. The Mumbai Police had issued a Red Corner Notice against Radiowala, seeking his extradition to face the law in the two cases registered against him in Mumbai
Source: The Indian Express
5. Septic Tank Caves In As Truck Topples; Two Land In Hospital
Two Chembur residents were injured on Wednesday after a truck filled with sand toppled into an underground septic tank while reversing and causing the victims to get stuck inside. While locals have blamed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for not repairing the tank, local Shiv Sena corporator Anjali Naik has faulted the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA).
According to BMC officials, the incident was reported to the disaster management control room around 10.08 a.m.. The septic tank is located in an open space opposite Om Shanti building in Chembur, where the truck was taking a reverse. While the vehicle was passing over the surface of the tank, the slab gave way, causing the truck to get stuck. Three passers-by fell into the pit caused by the tank slab collapse.
Source: The Hindu
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