Latest news with #Bangar
Indian Express
a day ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
‘Josh Inglis chipped away at Jasprit Bumrah's aura': Sanjay Bangar after PBKS crush MI in IPL 2025 Qualifier 2
Shreyas Iyer had gotten rave reviews for his match-winning knock that sent Punjab Kings into the IPL final. But JioHotstar expert and former India batter Sanjay Bangar said that Josh Inglis' aggressive attack was what unlocked the barrage and helped break the fear factor of Jasprit Bumrah and shifting belief in the PBKS camp. 'I think Inglis' fierce intent to take on the best bowler and make a statement to the dugout was absolutely crucial. In a shortened game — 16 or 17 overs — you usually assume Bumrah will go for under 30. But Inglis didn't play the reputation; he played the ball,' Bangar noted. Bumrah had come into the qualifier fresh from the 'delivery of the IPL' uprooting stumps of Washington Sundar. But Inglis punctured the fear bubble. 'He made sure the hype around Bumrah didn't weigh on the other batters. By attacking him early, he chipped away at Bumrah's aura — and that kind of bold approach lifts the confidence in the dugout. It was a huge mental boost for Punjab Kings,' Bangar told JioHotstar. Bangar also stressed that a dropped catch might have turned the match. Trent Boult dropped a catch of Nehal Wadhera, which Bangar said could have shifted momentum: 'I think it had a lot of flow-on effect. Yes, Boult dropped the catch — but what followed was key. At that time, Santner was bowling beautifully, and Wadhera was just getting started, playing cautiously. That drop meant 12 crucial deliveries from Santner, which could've gone to someone like Shashank Singh or Marcus Stoinis, were instead spent on a set Wadhera. That forced Hardik to turn to other bowling options like Reece Topley. So it wasn't just the drop — it altered the match dynamics significantly.' But Iyer remained the star of the show with Bangar saying he dismantled MI with precision. 'There's so much to appreciate about Shreyas Iyer's overall approach. The way he allows the batter at the other end to play their natural game is crucial — and that ability to build partnerships made the real difference. Some of the shots he played, especially against quality yorkers — guiding them past short third and point and even threading one through fine third man — were outstanding, especially with the game in the balance. It was a fabulous effort from Shreyas. His experience and temperament were key to navigating a strong Mumbai Indians attack, which he dismantled by picking his moments and targeting the right bowlers.' JioStar expert AB de Villiers, known for his outrageous brilliance, hailed Shreyas Iyer's knock as a masterclass under pressure: 'I'm obviously a huge fan. What happened in the game was out of this world, and Shreyas deserves full credit. Under extreme pressure, he delivered when it mattered. That four off Bumrah past the slip cordon — for me, that was the shot of the night. His sixes were clean, no mishits. He stays calm, doesn't get arrogant or overly emotional — just very level-headed. There are many more runs in him,' AB said. He reckoned MI had a par score with the bat and were simply outplayed while bowling. 'Of course, you want to bowl 120 perfect yorkers, but no team is perfect. Shreyas Iyer, and to some extent Josh Inglis, made the difference. They were outplayed by quality cricket — that's the beauty of the game,' AB said.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
New plant to cost over Rs 3,000 crore BMC floats fresh tender to construct desalination plant at Manori
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has once again floated a global tender for constructing a 200-million litres per day (MLD) desalination plant in Mumbai's Manori island. The comes eight months after the civic body scrapped the previous tender which was floated in December 2023. A desalination plant is a facility where the saline water from the sea is scientifically treated by removing the salt extracts and mineral from it to make them fit for potable usage. Globally, desalination plants are popular in countries like Israel which have minimum access to natural potable water like rivers and lakes but are close to the sea. Civic officials said the new tenders were floated following a project feasibility study that was carried out by the Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) identifying some of the key causes because of which the tender failed to attract a good number of bidders. Speaking to the Indian Express, Abhijit Bangar, additional municipal commissioner (projects), said the previous tender was floated by using the Swiss challenge method under which an initial proposal is published based on the bids submitted by a particular party following which other parties are invited to submit counter-proposals that either match or improve upon it. 'The first tender was live for nearly a year and we had called for bids three times out of which we received response only once and that one bidder later got disqualified. Following this, we carried out a survey and the new tenders are being floated by using the conventional engineering-procurement and consultancy (EPC) method which is the usual way through which all interested bidders can submit their bids at the same time which is followed by the evaluation process,' Bangar told Express. According to the previous tender, the estimated cost of constructing the plant was pegged at Rs 2,000 crore while Bangar said the base price of constructing the plant as part of the new tender is being pegged at Rs 3,000-Rs 3,200 crore. He also said the capacity and most of the technical specifications of the plant remains the same in the new tender. 'The reason for cost escalation is that the new plan will include three underground tunnels–two of which will bring in sea water to the plant for treatment and one tunnel will serve as an outfall for the treated inert materials that will be left following the treatment. This process will involve electrical and mechanical interventions due to which there has been a cost escalation. The final cost estimates were prepared and calculated by the consultant only after checking quotations from prospective agencies that have expertise in the field,' Bangar said. He also added that the water into the plant will be drawn 2.5 km from the shoreline where the sea is deep. The plant will come up in a 12-hectare plant at Manori village which is a fishing hamlet in northern fag end of Mumbai. The plot where the plant will come up is owned by the state government and civic officials said the process of transferring the land to the BMC is in the final stage. The proposal of constructing a desalination plant was first mooted in 2019 as a solution to counter the issue of growing water demand in Mumbai which requires 4,250 MLD of water daily while the civic body is able to serve only 3,900 MLD, making a deficit of 300 MLD. This will be the first desalination plant in Maharashtra. At present, Mumbai is dependent on seven lakes–Tulsi, Vihar, Tansa, Bhatsa, Modak Sagar, Upper Vaitarna, Middle Vaitarna which are located in suburban Mumbai, Thane, Palghar and Nashik. The catchment area of these lakes gets filled during the monsoon following which water is transferred to Mumbai's pockets through pipelines and tunnels.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Emraan Hashmi tests positive for dengue during 'OG' shoot; experts list symptoms amid early monsoon surge
With the onset of early monsoon showers in Mumbai, there has been a spike in waterborne diseases in the city. Amid the surge, Bollywood actor Emraan Hashmi tested positive for dengue on Wednesday. The actor who was last seen in the film 'Ground Zero' is currently shooting for his next movie with Pawan Kalyan and his Telugu debut 'OG'. This is when the shooting came to a halt after the actor started feeling unwell on the set and was diagnosed with dengue, as per the ToI report. According to Gulte, the actor was shooting in Aarey Colony, Goregaon, when he started experiencing dengue-like symptoms. Following this, on the recommendation of doctors, he got his tests done and discovered that he is suffering from dengue. Maharashtra sees a spike in dengue and malaria cases According to the National Centre for Vector Borne Disease Control (NCVBDC), Maharashtra recorded 2,726 malaria cases up to April 21 in 2025, which is marginally lower than the 2,867 cases reported back in the corresponding year of 2024. While Mumbai experiences dengue outbreaks every year, however, the intensity varies. But can the early monsoon in the city lead to the spread of dengue cases? Let's find out. Why are June and July the peak months for the rise in dengue cases? Dengue cases are rising during the monsoon and post-monsoon season as stagnant water becomes a breeding ground for Aedes mosquitoes. 'Currently, not only malaria but even dengue cases are surging in people of all age groups. These mosquitoes bite during early morning and late afternoon hours, making daily protection essential. Hence, people should be extra cautious,' warns Dr. Kushal Bangar, Consultant Physician and Intensivist, AIMS Hospital, Dombivli, Maharashtra. According to the Mayo Clinic, dengue fever is a mosquito-borne illness that occurs in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. Mild dengue fever causes a high fever and flu-like symptoms. Symptoms of dengue you should watch out for: According to Dr. Bangar, 'Adequate hydration and supportive care can reduce the risk of severe outcomes. In severe cases, hospitalisation and close monitoring may be necessary for the patient.' The symptoms of dengue include: High fever Severe headache Pain behind the eyes Joint and muscle pain Fatigue, skin rashes, and nausea. 'In some cases, it can progress to life-threatening complications like dengue hemorrhagic fever or shock syndrome, leading to bleeding, low platelet count, and organ damage,' adds Dr. Bangar. Low immunity and genetic conditions: Who is at risk of dengue? Early diagnosis of dengue is extremely crucial. 'Children and the elderly are more vulnerable to dengue infection. Additional risk factors are staying in highly concentrated mosquito areas, unsanitary conditions, and ineffective mosquito control,' cautions Dr. Anantha Padmanabha, Senior Consultant, Internal Medicine, Fortis Hospital, Nagarbhavi, Bengaluru. According to Dr. Padmanabha, 'Previous dengue patients are also prone to developing severe dengue in case of infection with another serotype. Moreover, some genetic conditions, malnutrition, and pre-existing illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, and pulmonary diseases may enhance the risk of developing severe dengue.' Such individuals must be cautious and prevent mosquito bites and immediately seek medical help in case of symptoms. Preventive measures to follow amid a rise in dengue cases In view of rising dengue cases during monsoon, it is imperative to take charge of health. Dr. Padmanabha suggests staying vigilant and following these crucial measures. Remember, prevention is better than a cure. Use mosquito repellents: To prevent dengue, it is necessary to use mosquito repellents. Wear full-sleeved clothes: Make sure you wear full-sleeved clothes whenever stepping outside. Use sleep under nets: Sleeping under nets is crucial to prevent waterborne diseases, especially if you are prone to dengue or malaria. Eliminate stagnation: Remove stagnant water in and around your home. So, remember to take these precautions to prevent dengue and improve the quality of life. Seek immediate medical attention: Timely management of dengue can help the patient bounce back and resume the daily routine without any difficulty. To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending.
The Print
6 days ago
- General
- The Print
Big win for citizens' campaign as BMC set to finally clean up Powai lake after years of govt inaction
Despite being an artificial lake, the Powai wetlands also play a crucial role in mitigating floods by serving as an ecological buffer. The lake, an urban ecosystem in the densely populated residential area, protects a rich biodiversity, including migratory birds, fish and crocodiles. It also offers an area for recreational activities to residents and is visited by tourists. Mumbai: After a long battle, residents of Mumbai's Powai have registered a win and propelled the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to finally clean up the 6.6-kilometre Powai Lake, which runs from Sanjay Gandhi National Park in the north to IIT-Bombay in the south. However, since 2021, the lake has been covered by weeds such as hyacinth, blocking sunlight to aquatic life, and has seen the steady flow of untreated sewage into its waters. According to Bangar, at least 18 Megaliters per Day (MLD) of sewage enters the water as a result of drainage. There have been several previous attempts to clean the lake, with the government failing to act on a directive from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) three years ago. On 21 May, in a victory for the residents, the BMC floated two tenders to clean up the waters—one to divert the sewage line and the other to install eight MLD sewage treatment plants (STP)—before monsoon begins in the first week of June. This was after Powai's Advanced Locality Management (ALM) members, with the help of the environmental non-profit NatConnect Foundation, launched an online petition on 17 May titled '#SavePowaiLake,' which received close to 3,000 signatures, urging the BMC to remove hyacinth from the lake's waters. As part of their efforts, Powai residents mailed Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and BMC chief Bhushan Gagrani to look into the issue. In response, the BMC held a stakeholder meeting on 19 May to address the issue. Residents also continued to email, message, and call officials of the area. Finally, Assistant Municipal Commissioner for Projects Abhijit Bangar intervened to get the hyacinth cleared from the lake, deploying harvest cutting machines at the site. According to Bangar, speaking to ThePrint, of 18 MLD of infested water, eight MLD will be treated at the lake site with the new STP, and the remaining ten MLD will be diverted to the larger STPs in Mumbai, such as the ones in Bhandup and Mithi river. Also Read: How Mumbai civic body is using AI to hold contractors accountable during pre-monsoon desilting Citizen movement stands strong According to B.N. Kumar, director of NatConnect Foundation, a non-profit that works on environmental and conservation projects, the NGT had directed the government to clean the lake in 2022. The directive was passed after a year-long legal battle between the environmental non-profit Vanshakti and the BMC over environmental degradation and unauthorised construction in Mumbai. Ruling in favour of the Vanshakti, the NGT directive said that all the wetlands in Mumbai should be cleaned, and the sewer water entering the Powai Lake must be stopped. However, the government did not take any action in that regard. 'The action was only on paper. All the VIPs, ministers, MLAs, MPs, and officers saw the condition of the Lake, yet there was no action. Had the order been implemented, things would not have gone to such a level,' Kumar told ThePrint. Then this year, members of Powai's ALM decided to take matters into their own hands. ALMs are citizen-led platforms that allow residents to pool resources and help service providers maintain a locality's services transparently. Milan Bhat, who lives in Hiranandani Gardens, said, 'After witnessing the excessive growth of hyacinth in the water, the ALM devised a campaign strategy, as the cleanup kept getting delayed. This lake is the pride of Powai. Earlier, I used to see the moon's reflection on the lake for a peaceful night. It was that clear. But today, it stands covered, and I can't see anything. This is very painful.' Residents from societies such as JalVayu Vihar and Hiranandani Gardens formed a core part of the committee that met the BMC. The ALM also brought NatConnect Foundation on board as the non-profit, along with Navi Mumbai Environment Protection Society and Save Flamingos and Mangroves forum, was instrumental in saving the DPS Flamingo Lake in Navi Mumbai, which has now been declared a conservation site. Speaking to ThePrint, Pamela Cheema from Powai's JalVayu Vihar Society and secretary of the ALM said, 'I have lived in Powai for 24 years, but no campaign to save Powai Lake has worked out. This lake, a favourite tourist hotspot in Mumbai, is our pride. The situation's urgency was that we could see it was like a green carpet and was getting worse. We were determined to do something about it and got Mr Kumar onboard.' Youth from the area also joined the initiative, taking up the job of spreading awareness about the issue on their online networks through Facebook, X and WhatsApp and the media. BMC's challenges In the BMC's defence, Bangar told ThePrint that the civic body has said it periodically keeps removing hyacinth from Mumbai's water bodies, but it keeps spreading as sewage water finds its way into the water bodies. Speaking to ThePrint, Bangar said the civic body has removed nearly 25,000 MT of hyacinth from the lake in the past six months. He attributed the leading cause of the rapid hyacinth growth to the sewage water increasingly flowing into the lake. 'We have two ways of getting rid of the hyacinth—one is physical, the other is through sewage water treatment. However, physical removal is easier said than done.' Nearly four harvest-cutting machines have been installed in the past week at the lake, with the fifth one to be added this week. 'We will add the sixth machine to expedite the process within two to three months, and have also sought help from the BNHS. One work order has been issued for next week, and the next one will be issued in the first week of June,' Bangar told ThePrint. The residents of Powai are happy about their win, but their battle is far from over. They claim that the steps taken by the BMC are too little, too late. They want the BMC to find a permanent solution to the hyacinth problem by figuring out how to treat the sewage water seeping into the lake. 'The challenges we encountered were many. Be it bureaucratic lethargy or local apathy, people are not just bothered. Unless every person in the seat stands up and shouts, the authorities will not listen. We have to keep demanding accountability from the officials,' Kumar said. With the upcoming BMC corporator elections, he said people should make the environment an essential election issue. 'There are officials who are in charge of these things. So why can't the officials, who get paid from the taxpayers' salaries, be made accountable for it?' Kumar added. When Bhat, who has a young son, looks at the lake, she can only think of two things—its peaceful aura and safeguarding the future interests of the next generation. 'I don't want our children and the next generation to face this because of our neglect. They don't deserve this. We need to be very responsible about preserving our biodiversity. The youth should also come forward because they are the next torchbearers and must understand the importance of preservation,' Bhat added. Pooja Bhatia is an intern with ThePrint. (Edited by Sanya Mathur) Also Read: Only 1 of Mumbai's 24 wards gets round-the-clock water supply—Praja Foundation report
Time of India
7 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
BMC fines 4 contractors 40L for pumps that failed to stop flooding
Mumbai: A day after parts of the island city went under in the face of an early monsoon downpour, BMC cracked down on four contractors tasked with operating mini pumping stations at key locations to avert flooding. Each operator has been fined Rs10 lakh for malfunctioning pumping stations at Dadar Hindmata, Sion Gandhi Market, Yellow Gate at Masjid, and Chunabhatti. Admitting to disruptions caused by waterlogging on arterial roads, a BMC statement said the pumps "were either not functioning on time or not operating at full capacity. This led to traffic and civic life being disrupted in…Hindmata and Gandhi Market. At Masjid…station, waterlogging for a few minutes affected train operations. Although Chunabhatti did not receive much rain, the pumps there were not running at full capacity." The corporation said "no negligence or lapse" would be "tolerated". Critics questioned the action against the contractors saying the penalty was negligible and civic officials responsible for overseeing the work were getting away without even a rap on the knuckles. In BMC's defence, additional municipal commissioner Abhijit Bangar said the corporation was caught off-guard by the intensity and speed with which the monsoon swept into Mumbai. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Luxury Meets Legacy at Signature Global SPR, Gurgaon Signature Global Book Now Undo "The monsoon hit Kerala on May 24. As in previous years, we expected it to take 7-10 days to reach Mumbai. Our plan was to finish all pre-monsoon work by May 31 — we would've been prepared had the rain followed the usual pattern," he said. BMC's top brass are planning to hold a debriefing session on Wednesday with ward level officers and storm water department staff to discuss Monday's fiasco. Officials fear that debris from ongoing road works may have entered and blocked drains during the rains. Works were taken up on a war footing on Tuesday to tackle this problem. This year, the corporation had reduced the number of pumps deployed to push water into stormwater drains in low lying areas to 417 from 482 last year. However, Monday's fiasco may prompt the BMC to heed demands from ward level staff and up the number. Even as chronic flood-prone areas like King Circle and Hindmata remain a challenge, new trouble spots have emerged at such places as Flora Fountain and Mantralaya in Nariman Point. Bangar said, "We didn't see the point of keeping pumps deployed for 120 days across the monsoon, only for them to be unused or run for just an hour. The idea behind scaling back from last year was to deploy them where actually needed, not just for the sake of it." Deputy municipal commissioners across the seven zones in the metropolis have now been asked to inspect their areas for gaps and report necessary fixes. "Based on their findings, a meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday to decide the way forward for similar intense rain events," Bangar added. Along with other monsoon works, BMC this year plans to spend close to Rs 150 crore for filling potholes. The amount allocated is less in comparison to the Rs 205 crore spent last year. Incidentally, the corporation spends Rs 150 crore every year for taking dewatering pumps on rent for the four monsoon months. However, former corporator and Samajwadi party MLA Rais Shaikh questioned the overall approach saying BMC was neither making contractors more accountable by putting hefty penalties nor did it have systems in place to discipline its own staff.
