Maharashtra govt employees can't criticise policies of govt, as per new state social media norms
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Time of India
7 hours ago
- Time of India
Bombay high court stays 2023 govt resolution on telecom room requirement in buildings
Mumbai: Bombay high court has stayed an Aug 25, 2023, government resolution (GR) which requires providing telecom room space in buildings before granting development permissions. The Maharashtra Chamber of Housing Industry, Raigad, and others filed the petition against the GR, issued under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, claiming it was unlawful to introduce such a requirement via a GR. The designated space is meant to have telecom infrastructure within prescribed standards similar to other building services such as water, electricity or fire safety systems. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai In an interim order on July 29, the high court division bench of Justices Girish Kulkarni and Arif Doctor, though, clarified that such insistence can be enforced once the Development Plan (DP) or Development Control Regulation (DCR) is amended legally. The process involves calling for public objections and suggestions as mandated by law. The MCHI, Raigad, argued that the state lacked the authority to impose such a condition in a GR merely because a recommendation in 2022 was made to all states by the Union ministry of telecommunication that in the "building bylaws" of the states and Union territories, a provision for a telecom room be made. The MCHI stated that the MRTP Act provides for the 'Contents of Development Plan (DP)' and empowers the state to modify the DP in the public interest. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like It's Genius for Learning Languages [See Why] Talkpal AI Undo by Taboola by Taboola The state informed the high court that it initiated the process to modify the DP and Unified Development Control and Promotion Regulations (UDCPR) to provide for a telecom room and will follow the legal process of inviting objections before any proposed amendment is made. The high court prima facie agreed with MCHI's contention that the requirement sought in the GR would amount to a modification of the development plan, which "could not be enforced by issuing a directive" via a GR on a letter from the Centre, especially when the state is empowered to modify the statute, which it is now in the process of doing. The high court clarified that it had not examined the legality of the process the state adopted for its proposed DP modification or other consequences brought about by any other provisions of the MRTP on applications pending for development permissions. The high court posted the matter on Sept 26 for final hearing.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
Animal husbandry gets agriculture-equivalent status in Maharashtra
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: In a significant policy shift aimed at boosting rural income and employment, the Maharashtra govt has accorded agriculture-equivalent status to the animal husbandry sector. The decision, issued via a government resolution (GR) on Thursday, will entitle eligible livestock-based businesses to power tariff concessions, subsidies on solar equipment, uniform gram panchayat taxes, and loan interest rebates akin to those given to crop farmers. As per the GR, eligible animal husbandry units will now be billed at agricultural rates instead of the higher "agri-other" commercial category. Solar pumps and equipment for livestock farms will receive subsidies on par with those offered to crop cultivators. Panchayat tax will now be levied at the same rate as for agricultural operations across the state, and loan borrowers will be eligible for up to 4% interest subvention on working capital and other loans, similar to the Punjabrao Deshmukh interest subsidy scheme. The move aligns with recommendations by the Maharashtra Economic Advisory Council, which identified agriculture and allied sectors as key growth drivers in its roadmap to achieve a Rs 8.3 lakh crore state economy by 2028. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo According to govt data, agriculture accounts for 12% of Maharashtra's gross income, with animal-based produce contributing 24% of the agri-sector's revenue, the GR states. Currently, over 60 lakh families are engaged in animal husbandry across the state. As per the 20th livestock census, Maharashtra houses around 1.9 crore cattle, including over 1.4 crore bovines and 56 lakh buffaloes. Officials said the sector has long suffered due to disparities in electricity rates, lack of solar subsidies, and higher gram panchayat taxes compared to agriculture. "By equating animal husbandry with farming, we expect increased participation, local job creation, and investment in modern practices like group-based livestock farming and value-added processing," said a senior official from the state secretariat. According to the GR, eligible units for agri-equivalent benefits include small and medium-scale animal husbandry units with operational capacities up to 25,000 broiler chickens or 50,000 layer birds, hatchery units with a capacity of up to 45,000 birds, cattle sheds with up to 100 milch animals, goat/sheep sheds housing up to 500 animals, and pig farming units with up to 200 pigs. However, breeder poultry units and animal-product processing industries will not qualify for these benefits, clarified the GR, which also states that key benefits under the new status include power tariff, solar subsidies, tax uniformity, and loan subsidies, at par with the agricultural sector. The GR also mentions that detailed guidelines and implementation procedures will be issued separately. The resolution follows informal approvals by the state's Planning and Finance Departments earlier this year. This policy alignment comes in the wake of NITI Aayog's 2021 report, which recommended integrating livestock farming into broader agriculture policy frameworks to enhance its contribution to national and state GDP.
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Indian Express
Maharashtra launches ‘Manhole to Machinehole' scheme to end manual scavenging, Rs 504 crore sanctioned
Days after Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister and Finance minister Ajit Pawar announced in the state legislative assembly that the government will implement time bound program to completely stop manual scavenging, the 'Manhole to Machinehole' scheme was announced on Wednesday. Under the scheme, drains, sewer lines, and septic tanks shall be cleaned using mechanised equipment. The scheme includes procurement of cleaning machinery, modern vehicles, and emergency response sanitation units. It is being implemented by the Urban Development Department (UDD) with an approved funding of Rs 504 crore and an additional RS 100 crore was sanctioned in the Monsoon Session of 2024–25 and disbursed to the department by March 31, 2025. Procurement of robotic units, cleaning equipment, and emergency vehicles has also begun. Pawar directed that maintenance of these vehicles for three years and training of sanitation workers for operating them must be ensured by the respective agency. He also directed the UDD to prepare a special proposal for the housing of sanitation workers. Under the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Shram Safalya Awas Yojana, dwelling units are provided free of cost and on ownership basis to the eligible heirs of conservancy workers post their retirement or in the event of death while in service. At present, the benefit is extended only to sanitation workers who have completed 25 years or more of service. Pawar has directed the UDD to prepare a proposal to reduce this service requirement from 25 years to 20 years and present it before the Cabinet. Pawar has also directed all municipal corporations and councils to strictly implement the government resolution (GR) based on the Lad-Page Committee's recommendations. He said that non-compliance will attract action. The committee established in 1972 to address issues related to the employment of sanitation workers. Pawar stated that civic bodies should submit detailed reports on the number of sanitation workers working in their respective jurisdictions to the UDD.
