Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation announced that Mumbai has 38 days of water reserves remaining in the lakes supplying the city. June indicates the end of a sultry and hot summer and the beginning of the monsoon season in Mumbai, however this year’s rains have gotten off to a rough start, with Mumbai receiving only 177 millimeters of rain so far, which is meager compared to the 570 millimeters the city should have received.Also Read - Ranji Trophy Final: Yash Dubey, Shubham Sharma Power MP On Verge of First-innings LeadHowever, the implications of a patchy monsoon system is that Mumbai’s catchment areas, which consist of seven lakes which supply the city with water throughout the year, have also not received ample rains for this time of the year. The BMC stated that the city has just 38 days of water reserves remaining, and now all eyes are on an Upper Air Cyclonic Circulation forming in the Arabian sea, which is forecasted to give extremely heavy rains along the Maharashtra coast over the next few days. Also Read - Spine-Chilling Video: Teenager Falls Off Local Train, Escapes Death by Inches | WATCHA good monsoon system will deposit 2422 millimeters of rain between the months of June and September. This amount of rain is enough to satisfy the 15 lakh million liters of water that Mumbai requires yearly to avoid water cuts. However, the problem in recent years has not been a lack of rains in Mumbai, but rather in the catchment areas. Also Read - Rebel Shiv Sena Leader Eknath Shinde Likely To Return To Mumbai From Guwahati, To Meet Deputy SpeakerDue to climate change, the rains during the monsoon have deposited large amounts of water in very short amounts of time, and the storms that impact Mumbai are often slow moving and fizzle out before they reach key catchment areas in places like Bhatsa. Despite the fact that a normal monsoon season is predicted for Mumbai, it doesn’t translate into a good haul of rainfall for the catchment areas, leaving Mumbai and its surrounding suburbs at risk of running dry during the summer months.Since the Monsoon onset was declared on June 11th, Mumbai has been receiving patchy rain with cloudy skies, keeping the humidity uncomfortably high with relatively dry days.Written By: Shaurya Sharma
Maharashtra COVID-19: On Friday, the state recorded 4,205 new COVID-19 cases.Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Friday discussed the COVID-19 situation with senior government officials and explored the possibility of making face masks mandatory again in Mumbai suburban trains in view of the rising cases.An official statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said Mr Thackeray reviewed the prevailing COVID-19 situation in the state, which has been recording a steady rise in new infections, especially in Mumbai and some other big cities.The chief minister, at a virtual meeting with senior bureaucrats, also discussed the possibility of making face masks mandatory for suburban train commuters, the statement said.The mask mandate option was discussed as a measure to curb growing cases of the novel coronavirus infection in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), it said.Maharashtra withdrew its mandatory mask rule in early April and made it optional in view of a sharp drop in daily cases."Coronavirus cases are on the rise in the state, chiefly in Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Raigad and Palghar districts. People should follow COVID-19-appropriate behaviour on their own," the CM was quoted as saying in the statement.Maharashtra recorded 4,205 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, a day after breaching the 5,000-mark. Of the new cases, Mumbai alone reported 1,898 infections.PromotedListen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.comThe number of active cases has gone past 25,000, indicating a widening gap between new patients and those recovering from the infection.(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Nagpur: Nagpur witnessed demonstrations staged by Workers of the Maharashtra Pradesh Youth Congress (MPYC) agianst the central government’s newly formed Agnipath scheme for the short term recruitment of people into armed forces.Also Read - Agnipath Protests: No Police Clearance For Those Involved In Stir, Says Air Chief MarshalClaiming that the scheme would destroy the future of youth, Youth Congress workers led by their president Kunal Raut protested at Zero Mile in Nagpur. Also Read - Agnipath Protests: KCR Announces Rs 25 Ex-Gratia For Kin Of Youth Killed In Secunderabad Railway StationProtestors raised slogans against the Modi government and blocked traffic at RBI square, following which they were detained by the police and taken way. Also Read - Agnipath Protests LIVE: Bihar Stops Train Services, Railway Station Vandalised In Ludhiana As Stir EscalatesUnveiling the Agnipath scheme, the government had said youths between the ages of 17-and-a-half and 21 years would be inducted for a four-year tenure and 25 per cent of the recruits will be retained for regular service. The upper age limit was raised to 23 years after violent protests against the new model for enrolment of soldiers into the Army, Navy and Air Force erupted in parts of the country.
CHANDRAPUR: Congress leaders MP Balu Dhanorkar and former MP Naresh Puglia staged separate agitations to flay the alleged harassment of Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her son MP Rahul Gandhi by the enforcement directorate (ED) on Friday. Puglia staged a day-long sit-in at the statue of late PM Indira Gandhi under the banner of Vidarbha Kisan Majdoor Congress. He said the central government is intentionally harassing members of the Gandhi family due to political rivalry. He alleged that the attack on Congress leaders and party workers at the Congress headquarters in Delhi too is part of the same conspiracy. He added that such oppressive action against the top political leaders of the party will have strong consequences across the country. Meanwhile, Dhanorkar staged a sit-in agitation at Girnar Square with Congress leaders and party workers. Dhanorkar flayed the central government for its oppressive action. He claimed that strong protests are under way across the country and demanded the immediate withdrawal of such baseless investigations against Sonia and Rahul.
Mumbai/New Delhi: A Mumbai police team has been on the lookout for suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma in Delhi, however, she is said to be untraceable, reports NDTV quoting sources on Friday. A Mumbai Police team that is in Delhi to question Sharma couldn’t find her, she has become untraceable, they said.Also Read - Agnipath Protests: Bihar Suspends Internet, Mobile Services In 12 Districts Including Samastipur, Begusarai Till June 19The team, from Pydhonie police station here, is in the national capital for the past five days as it needs to physically hand over summons to Sharma to appear before police and to look into other aspects of the probe, an official said. The Mumbai Police have enough evidence to arrest the former BJP spokesperson, Maharashtra Home Ministry sources have said, according to the NDTV report. Also Read - Rajinder Nagar Bypoll: BJP All Set For Tough Fight With AAP to Win MLA SeatAn FIR was registered against Sharma at Pydhonie police station on May 28 in connection with the objectionable comments against Prophet Mohammad she made during a television news channel debate. She has been summoned to appear before Pydhonie police on June 25 at 11am for recording of statement, the official added. Also Read - 'Agnipath' Scheme: List of Several Trains Cancelled, Diverted Due to Students' Agitation On Patna-Kolkata Route(With PTI inputs)
Congress leaders, including senior ministers of the Maharashtra government, were detained on Thursday as they demonstrated at Raj Bhavan against the Enforcement Directorate’s questioning of party MP Rahul Gandhi.Police took action after the Congress leaders tried to remove barricades outside the Raj Bhavan gate during a protest march which started near the Hanging Garden in south Mumbai.Congress state president Nana Patole, PWD minister Ashok Chavan, Revenue Minister Balasaheb Thorat, Energy Minister Nitin Raut, Fisheries Minister Aslam Sheikh, Women and Child Welfare Minister Yashomati Thakur, School Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad, Medical Educati-on Minister Amit Deshmukh, Minister of State for Agriculture Vishwajit Kadam and Mumbai Congress chief Bhai Jagtap were among those detained. They were taken to Azad Maidan police station and released after some time, a police officer said.Speaking to reporters earlier in the day, Patole said the party was protesting against the “dictatorial attitude of the Narendra Modi government” and attempts to “suppress the Opposition’s voice” will not succeed.“Rahul Gandhi has become the voice of the country as he has been taking up people’s issues and questioning the Modi government. Congress workers are taking an aggressive stand following this vindictive action against our leader,” Patole added.Thorat said Congress workers have stood up against the central government’s “repression.” “Through this protest march, we are trying to convey our dissatisfaction to the Modi government. It is reprehensible to harass a family which sacrificed everything for the country,” he said.“We expect that the Governor will convey our sentiments to the Union government,” he added.With PTI inputs
Maharashtra's Beed police have registered a case against suspended BJP functionary Nupur Sharma in connection with her alleged derogatory remarks against Prophet Mohammad, an official said on Thursday. Sharma is already facing similar cases in Mumbai, Thane and some other places in Maharashtra. An advocate, Sayyed Azim, had complained to the Beed police, alleging that Sharma's remarks made during a TV debate hurt the religious sentiments of Muslims, the official said.Nupur Sharma's remark on Prophet: Is there a fine line between FoE and hate speech?BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma crossed a line in a televised debate causing much embarrassment for the Indian govt worldwide. What things should you keep in mind when speaking about such sensitive issues? What does our law say about this? Watch this video to avoid being on the law's wrong side while expressing your opinion.Based on the complaint, the Beed city police on Wednesday registered a case against Sharma under Indian Penal Code Sections 295-A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) and 505(2) (statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes), the official said. The BJP had on June 5 suspended its national spokesperson Nupur Sharma and expelled Delhi BJP media head Naveen Kumar Jindal after their alleged derogatory remarks against the Prophet led to an outrage.
The Bhiwandi police in Maharashtra have summoned suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma to record a statement on Monday in connection with her alleged objectionable remarks against Prophet Mohammad, an official said on Sunday.Besides, expelled BJP functionary Naveen Kumar Jindal has also been asked by the Bhiwandi police in Thane district to record his statement on June 15 over his alleged controversial tweets against Prophet Mohammad, senior police inspector Chetan Kakade told reporters.The Bhiwandi police had registered a case against Sharma following a complaint lodged by a representative of the Raza Academy on May 30, he said.They had also registered a case against Jindal, the official said.Earlier, the Mumbra police in Thane asked Sharma to appear before them on June 22 to record her statement over her remarks.The Mumbai Police have also summoned her to record a statement on June 25 in connection with her remarks about the Prophet during a TV debate triggered a huge controversy.The police had asked for a video of the debate from the news channel concerned.The BJP had on June 5 suspended its national spokesperson Nupur Sharma and expelled Delhi BJP media head Jindal after their alleged derogatory remarks against the Prophet led to an outrage in India and Gulf countries.
The Indian Railways’ Southern Railway zone began the maiden service of privately-run ‘Bharat Gaurav Trains’ from Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu to Shirdi in Maharashtra.“The Bharat Gaurav Train from Coimbatore North to Sainagar Shirdi will commence at 18:00 hours on 14th June 2022 (Tuesday) and reach Sainagar Shirdi at 07:25 hours on 16th June 2022 (Thursday) with stoppages at Tiruppur, Erode, Salem, Yelahanka, Dharmavaram, Mantralayam Road and Wadi,” ministry of railways said in a statement on Tuesday.Around 1100 passengers boarded the maiden round trip service from Coimbatore to Shirdi on Tuesday, the ministry said.The private service is offered by the Registered Service provider for an itinerary consisting of five days and it involves a full round trip from Coimbatore to Shirdi and back.🚨 Limited Time Offer | Express Premium with ad-lite for just Rs 2/ day 👉🏽 Click here to subscribe 🚨South Star Rail is the registered service provider that operates the train and the Coimbatore-based company is registered company and it is part of the conglomerate group, Future Gaming & Hotel Services Pvt. Limited.The service provider has paid Rs 1 crore as security deposit to Southern Railway for the rake with a composition of 20 coaches.“Besides, the company has paid Rs.27.79 lakh for annual right to Use charges and Quarterly fixed haulage charges of Rs.76.77 lakh. In addition, Variable haulage charges of Rs. 38.22 lakhs also has been collected towards the current round trip. All these charges are excluding GST,” the ministry said.Additionally, Southern Railways would earn a total fixed revenue of Rs. 3.34 crore per annum, i.e., an annual Right to use charges of Rs. 27.79 lakhs (exl GST) and Rs. 3.07 crore towards Fixed haulage charges p.a. In addition variable haulage charge of Rs. 38.22 lakhs (excl GST) for the give day trip from Coimbatore to Sainagar, Shirdi and back. Similar variable charges will be collected for every trip depending upon the itinerary, it added.The trains under the scheme have one first AC coach, three 2 Tier AC coaches and eight 3-tier coaches along with five sleeper class coaches.“The registered service provider has refurbished the interiors of the coaches and all the coaches will be manned with round the clock cleaning staff and whole team of service professionals to offer passengers a wholesome experience. Public address system has been provided in all coaches for regular communication, playing of devotional songs and mantras. In addition to option of offering the option of exclusive transportation services, the registered service provider also offers a package fare which includes transportation from Coimbatore to Shirdi and back, VIP darshan, bus arrangement, air-conditioned accommodation, facilitation by tour guide, etc,” the ministry added.There will also be a doctor on board to attend any emergency along with rrivate securities engaged along with the Railway Police Force.Indian Railways had launched the operation of theme-based Bharat Gaurav train in the month of November 2021 in a bid to connect historical places.
Indian Railways has launched the first train under its ‘Bharat Gaurav’ scheme. The maiden journey started Tuesday when it was flagged off from Coimbatore North railway station in Tamil Nadu for a journey to Sainagar Shirdi in Maharashtra.Buy Now | Our best subscription plan now has a special priceMinister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw shared a video of the train departing from Coimbatore, bedecked with flowers, writing: Opportunities for entrepreneurs to explore theme-based tourism: First ‘Bharat Gaurav’ departs from Coimbatore to Shirdi.”Opportunities for entrepreneurs to explore theme-based tourism:First ‘Bharat Gaurav’ departs from Coimbatore to Shirdi. pic.twitter.com/YeRwRoPV8T— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) June 14, 2022What is the Bharat Gaurav scheme?According to bharatgauravtrains.indianrailways.gov.in, the Bharat Gaurav trains are service provider-managed, theme-based tourist circuit trains that will “showcase India’s rich cultural heritage and magnificent historical, natural scenic places to the people of India and the world”.There will be a comprehensive package with facilities of rail transportation, accommodation, meals, local sightseeing, etc. In addition to that, these trains originate from a particular station and run in a route having multiple tourist destinations and terminate at the same originating station. It is up to the service provider to ensure tourists cover all the destinations of the particular circuit during their tour and board/deboard only at their designated boarding/deboarding stations.The Ministry of Railways also tweeted, stating that these trains promote India’s rich cultural heritage, and that the Southern Railway becomes the “first zone to get its first registered service provider under the ‘Bharat Gaurav’ Scheme”, and “commence operations of the maiden service from Coimbatore North to Sainagar Shirdi”.Promoting India’s rich cultural heritage!Southern Railway becomes the first zone to get its first Registered service provider under the ‘Bharat Gaurav’ Scheme & commence operations of the maiden service from Coimbatore North to Sainagar Shirdi, today. pic.twitter.com/7cPSj9iP8i— Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) June 14, 2022According to a press release by the Indian Railways, this particular train — which will be operated by private operator South Star Rail — will depart from Coimbatore North every Tuesday at 6 pm and reach Shirdi at 7.25 am on Thursdays. For its return journey, it will leave Shirdi at 7.25 am every Friday and reach Coimbatore North at 12 pm on Saturdays.On its onward journey, the train will stop at Tiruppur, Erode, Salem, Yelahanka, Dharmavaram, Mantralayam Road and Wadi. Interestingly, since the stoppage at Mantralayam Road is five-hour long, tourists will be able to visit the Mantralayam Temple, which is located in the Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh.For its return journey, the train will stop only at Wadi, Wadi, Dharmavaram, Yelahanka, Salem, Erode and Tiruppur.Another tourist circuit train under the Bharat Gaurav scheme will take passengers across pilgrimage sites dedicated to Lord Ram across the country in a Ramayana circuit identified under the Swadesh Darshan scheme. The train will stop at the Ram Janaki temple in Janakpur, Nepal as well.📣 For more lifestyle news, follow us on Instagram | Twitter | Facebook and don’t miss out on the latest updates!
