Results for: Maharashtra

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a heatwave alert for Thane, Raigad districts of Maharashtra and parts of Mumbai from April 27 to 29. The IMD also warned of severe heat wave conditions in parts of West Bengal, Karnataka, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand for the next five days. The ongoing heat wave spell, the second this month, is scorching parts of East India and is expected to continue for another five days. The IMD has advised people to take precautions to avoid exposure to extreme heat, including staying hydrated, wearing loose-fitting clothing, and seeking shelter during the hottest hours of the day.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a heatwave alert for Maharashtra’s Thane, Raigad districts, and parts of Mumbai from April 27 to 29. This is the second heatwave alert issued for the region this month, with the first one being issued on April 15 and 16. Temperatures are expected to peak on April 27 and 28 due to an anti-cyclonic circulation over the affected areas. The IMD advises people to take precautions such as avoiding prolonged heat exposure, drinking plenty of water, staying hydrated, wearing light-colored, loose clothing, covering their heads or using wet cloths or hats when going out, and scheduling strenuous activities during cooler times of the day.

The Maharashtra government has ordered a new survey of tidal plants along its coastal region due to growing concerns about threats to mangroves from various sources, including delayed transfer to the forest department for conservation. The Maharashtra Remote Sensing Application Centre is currently studying coasts across seven districts, and the study will help understand mangrove growth and assess destruction. Despite a Bombay High Court order, over 2,000 hectares of mangrove land have yet to be handed over to the forest department, with the largest pending transfer from CIDCO.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in Maharashtra has arrested the depot manager of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) in Latur for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 2,000 from a driver to process his leave encashment application. The arrest was made after the ACB laid a trap and caught the suspect identified as Balaji Adsule in the act. A case has been registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act and an investigation has been initiated.

Candidates aspiring for admission to UG professional courses like BBA, BMS, BCA, and BBM in Maharashtra now have until April 30 to register for the mandatory Common Entrance Test (CET). The extension was announced by the Maharashtra CET Cell, and it also applies to integrated MBA and MCA courses. The CET Cell has also clarified that the same CET will be used for admission to integrated MBA and MCA courses, where candidates can complete both UG and PG levels in the same institute without going through a separate admission process. This is the first-ever CET for admission to these undergraduate courses, which were previously based on Class XII marks. The CET will be computer-based, and the date of the exam is yet to be announced. The CET Cell has extended the registration period twice to allow more aspirants to apply. Close to 50,000 candidates have registered so far, and the Commissioner of the CET Cell, Mahendra Warbhuvan, expressed optimism that the number will continue to increase. He also highlighted the benefits of AICTE recognition for the degree, including statutory benefits like reservation and scholarships.

The Maharashtra government has informed the Bombay High Court that FIRs have been registered against two MLAs, Nitesh Rane and Geeta Jain, for allegedly making hate speeches during and after communal clashes in January. The court had directed police commissioners to investigate potential hate speech offenses, which resulted in four FIRs being filed. The petitioners had sought action under various Indian Penal Code provisions, including those related to provocation, promoting enmity, and defiling places of worship.

Karnataka and Gujarat have outpaced Maharashtra in effectively integrating renewable energy sources into their power sectors, demonstrating significant progress toward decarbonization. Maharashtra’s performance was held back by its “low share in renewable energy consumption,” among other factors, according to a report released by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) and Ember. The report highlighted Maharashtra’s low score in the rating of the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL), which was responsible for approximately 90% of the total power purchased by discoms in the state. Additionally, the state was found to have only 12% of its renewable energy installed capacity in the distributed solar energy category.

However, Maharashtra performed well in the ‘Market Enablers’ dimension, indicating that it is laying the groundwork for an accelerated transition toward electricity. It also has a green tariff rate of 66 paise per unit for electricity consumers. The state has a pumped hydro storage capacity of 440MW and a pipeline of other storage tenders that are expected to be commissioned in the coming years.

A 40-year-old Thane man has been detained for allegedly practicing black magic and claiming to have the ability to fight off “evil spirits.” The man was hired by a woman in Kisan Nagar to help her daughter, who had been experiencing ailments since her separation from her husband. Despite several visits to the accused for treatment, the daughter’s condition remained unchanged. The accused then advised the woman to bring her daughter and other family members to a crematorium for a ritual to rid them of “evil spirits.” Upon arriving at the spot, the woman discovered several other people had also been summoned by the man. The villagers grew suspicious, apprehended the accused, and handed him over to the police. He has been charged under the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and Other Inhuman, Evil, and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act 2013.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has urged voters to ‘burn the Lanka’ of their opponents in the remaining phases of the state’s Lok Sabha elections 2024, which coincide with Hanuman Jayanti on April 23. Speaking at a campaign rally for BJP nominee Sujay Vikhe-Patil from Ahmednagar, CM Shinde said, ‘Shri Ram devotee Hanuman burnt Lanka. Tomorrow (April 23) is Hanuman Jayanti. I appeal to the voters to burn the Lanka of the opponents.’ Shinde expressed confidence in Vikhe-Patil’s triumph in the upcoming elections and took a swipe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is poised to win a third term due to his unwavering commitment to the country.

Speculations are rife about SP MLA Abu Azmi joining the NCP after a meeting with Praful Patel. The move is expected to benefit the ruling alliance in gaining minority votes in Mumbai, as mediated by a senior BJP leader.