Latest news with #Mahayuti
Indian Express
12 hours ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Behind Ajit Pawar's outburst: Pune IT Park's woes, and Mahayuti govt's scramble
A major money spinner for Pune and Maharashtra, the Information Technology hub of Hinjewadi has been grappling with numerous infrastructure problems of late. And, with several IT companies threatening to leave the area for Bengaluru and Hyderabad, the matter has become a pressing concern for the Mahayuti government, inviting criticism from the Opposition. That the government is not taking this matter lightly became apparent when Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar landed up in Hinjewadi early morning on July 26 to conduct an inspection. When a local sarpanch pleaded with him not to widen a road, saying several families would be affected, Pawar chided him. 'If things do not improve, Hinjewadi (IT Park) will move to Bengaluru and Hyderabad,' he said, directing officials to act against anyone attempting to obstruct infrastructure work in the IT hub. 'I will be visiting Hinjewadi to take stock of the progress made every 15 days. Officials should not allow any obstructions from anyone while improving the infrastructure in the IT hub,' said the Deputy CM. Between 5-7 lakh people employed at the IT Park, which was established in 2000, have been facing problems during their commute for the past 10 years, including long traffic snarls, waterlogging, and power outages. Last month, as rain pounded Pune district, key roads in the IT hub went underwater, leaving IT employees stranded for hours. This led Wakad-Pimpri-Chinchwad Residents Development Welfare Association head Sachin Londhe, who works in a company in the area, to petition the Bombay High Court and launch a social media campaign that gained traction. Worried about the poor optics and the prospect of companies fleeing to other states, the Devendra Fadnavis government held an urgent meeting with them on July 10 and announced that a Single Point Authority led by the Divisional Commissioner would be set up to coordinate the efforts of different agencies to address problems in the IT the government's directives, the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority, which is in charge of the road network in the IT Park along with the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation, has demolished around 200 commercial and residential structures in the last couple of weeks in a bid to widen roads. 'Currently, we are surveying the structures on nullahs and streams. After this, action will be initiated against them … The PMRDA is committed to ensuring good, wide roads and, at the same time, providing good infrastructure for IT and other companies in Hinjewadi,' said PMRDA commissioner Yogesh Mhase. The government's concerns come in the backdrop of the Opposition's pointed criticism in the past about Maharashtra losing industrial projects to neighbouring Gujarat during the Mahayuti government's tenure. In July 2022, after the Eknath Shinde government came to power, it was announced that Foxconn's semiconductor joint venture with Indian conglomerate Vedanta would come up in the state. However, two years later, Vedanta and Foxconn moved the semiconductor and display production plant to Gujarat, months before the elections in the state. This provided the Opposition a line of attack as it alleged that Maharashtra had been deprived of jobs to benefit Gujarat. Soon afterwards, Maharashtra also lost out on a Tata-Airbus and a bulk drugs manufacturing project. The Opposition was quick to target the government following Pawar's July 26 remarks. 'The BJP-led Mahayuti has nothing to do with development or addressing issues raised by IT employees. Hinjewadi has been craving for basic amenities. Ajit Pawar is the guardian minister of Pune district. What has he been doing all this time? What is the use of getting up at 6 am and making the media run after you? This is all a drama. Ajit Pawar speaks about development, but the anger of the IT employees in Hinjewadi has exposed his claim,' said Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut. Nationalist Congress Party (SP) leader and Baramati MP Supriya Sule, in whose constituency Hinjewadi is located, said she had been urging the state government to take steps to improve basic amenities in the area. 'I have written letters, I have appealed to the government several times, I have protested, but the government has done little for Hinjewadi … Now, they seem to be waking up. One hopes the government this time will seriously address the issue of the IT employees,' she said. Sule said she had urged the CM to encourage 'work from home' in Hinjewadi to reduce traffic snarls. 'Employees can come to work two days a week,' she said. Congress spokesperson Gopal Tiwari alleged the Mahayuti government had done 'hardly anything for the IT Park'. 'The government is busy playing politics. Imagine a world-famous IT park and the pride of Maharashtra languishing without proper infrastructure. The government's attitude forced some employees to move to other states. And it is this fear that seems to have finally rattled the government,' he added. One possible administrative change to resolve the problems, floated by BJP leaders, is bringing Hinjewadi under the jurisdiction of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC). BJP MLA Mahesh Landge said the proposal was sent seven years ago. 'Because of Covid, there was no movement on the proposal. We are now hopeful that the government will give a green signal,' he said. 'We have demanded the inclusion of Hinjewadi and other areas in the PCMC limits. If Hinjewadi's development issues are to be addressed, the PCMC is capable of handling them … The government has promised to look into our demands,' said BJP MLA Shankar Jagtap. Local stakeholders said things had started moving since the meeting with the government earlier this month. 'Things are finally happening in Hinjewadi. Unlike earlier, our issues are being addressed. Various government and civic departments now seem to be coordinating effectively,' Hinjewadi Industries Association official Shankar Salkar told The Indian Express.
Hindustan Times
13 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Wait for verified Ladki Bahin figures, says Tatkare
MUMBAI: State women and child development minister Aditi Tatkare is scrambling to contain the damage caused by a government report, which revealed that 26.34 lakh individuals enrolled under the flagship Ladki Bahin Yojana were ineligible for the scheme's monthly payout. Wait for verified Ladki Bahin figures, says Tatkare Tatkare told the media after the cabinet meeting on Tuesday that her department, which implements the scheme, would get details of these beneficiaries cross-verified before confirming exactly how many were ineligible. 'After verification from the district collectors' office, some of these 26.34 lakh beneficiaries may turn eligible,' the minister said. She went on to say, 'We have started scrutiny to ensure the Ladki Bahin scheme is not misused. The women and child development department has also sought reports from the income tax department, transport department and food and civil supplies department on the 26.34 lakh beneficiaries in question. Only after we receive these reports will we be able to assess the actual number of ineligible beneficiaries.' Tatkare added that payments to these 26.34 lakh individuals had been stopped, and about 2.25 crore beneficiaries were eligible as of now. Controversy broke out last week, when a report from the state information and technology department revealed that 26.34 lakh individuals who had been receiving the ₹1,500 monthly payout were not eligible for the direct cash benefit. The report also revealed that 14,298 men had enrolled under the scheme, meant exclusively for women from lower socio-economic groups. They had been receiving the direct cash benefit for ten months. Tatkare, in damage-control mode said on Tuesday, 'During the verification process, administrative officials will check the 14,298 male beneficiaries. Some of these men probably enrolled under the scheme and uploaded their own identity documents as their wives did not have bank accounts. We are cross-checking, which is a very important step,' the minister said. Last week's report on ineligible beneficiaries revealed another damaging detail – that women class three and four government employees too had been receiving the monthly payout. State chief secretary Rajesh Kumar has since directed all government departments to recover the money from these employees and also take disciplinary action against them. Meanwhile, NCP (SP) MP Supritya Sule slammed the Mahayuti government, saying that the 26.34 lakh ineligible beneficiaries under the Ladki Bahin Yojana, which earned the Mahayuti alliance critical electoral gains last year, entailed a 'fraud' of ₹4,800 crore. She also demanded an investigation, saying it was a colossal waste of taxpayers' money. Responding to Sule, Tatkare said the opposition's allegation is based on media reports. Details of the ineligible beneficiaries are being verified, said Tatkare.
Hindustan Times
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Uttan-Virar sea link gets green nod
MUMBAI: The Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) has given its approval to the Uttan-Virar sea link project, to be built by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA). Aerial pic of Uttan, pic by Yogesh Naik The BJP-led Mahayuti government is fast-tracking the project to enhance connectivity to the Vadhavan port mega-project in Palghar. The proposed sea link, which will feature three connectors, at Uttan in Thane district, and Vasai and Virar in Palghar district, was submitted to the MCZMA on April 9 and was cleared on July 11. State environment secretary Jayashree Bhoj said the proposal would now be placed before the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change for approval. The Uttan-Virar sea link's connectors will claim 15.39 hectares of forest land covered in mangroves, in addition to 2.5 hectares of reserved forest land, in the eco-sensitive zone of the Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary. MMRDA will also acquire 208.6 hectares of private land for the project. Documents with MMRDA reveal that 9,075 trees will be impacted by sea link's connectors. Of these, 1,868 trees will be axed, 1,612 will be transplanted and 5,595 will be retained. They also show that 8.71 hectares of mangroves will be impacted by the Uttan connector and 6.68 hectares by the Virar connector. Transmission lines and a water pipeline will also have to be diverted. The Versova-Virar sea link project was originally planned from Versova to Virar. However, since the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is implementing the North Coastal Road and Dahisar-Bhayandar Link Road (DBLR), which connects Versova to Bhayandar along the coast via an alternative route, the proposed sea link will connect Uttan to Virar. The project includes a 24.25-km-long sea bridge from Uttan to Virar. It will run parallel to the coast, at a distance of 1 km. It includes three connectors to improve regional access – the 9.32-km long Uttan (Mira-Bhayandar) connector, starting at an interchange near Uttan beach and connecting to Mira-Bhayandar via the main road near Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose ground. The Vasai connector will be 2.5 km long, connecting the sea link to an interchange at Way Side Amenities. The Virar connector is an 18.95-km extension to Virar, starting near Arnala beach. An interchange will connect to the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway.
Time of India
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Poll promise on Nagpanchami celebrations at Battis Shirala fulfilled, says BJP MLA Deshmukh
Kolhapur: "The traditional worship of live cobras has been restored to educate people in Battis Shirala," said Satyajeet Deshmukh, the BJP MLA from Shirala. In Nov 2024, while campaigning for Deshmukh in the assembly election, senior BJP politicians and Union home minister assured that Mahayuti govt would ensure the resumption of the traditional worship of live cobras during the festival in Battis Shirala town of Sangli district. The Supreme Court had banned the worship of the snakes following complaints of harm to the reptiles during handling. Shah had then blamed vote-bank politics as the reason behind stopping Nagpanchami celebrations. "Once our govt is formed, the worship of 'nagas' with all rituals will restart in such a way that the respect of law is maintained and the celebrations take place in the traditional form," Shah had said. The promise was one of the reasons for Deshmukh's win, and now the Mahayuti politicians are boasting about fulfilling that promise. "The word given has been kept. It was a complex issue. However, tradition has been restored with education as the aspect. I think it is the first step towards the full restoration of the traditional worship of nagas in the town during Nagpanchami. Permits have been granted by imposing some terms and conditions. I raised the issue in the assembly, and our MP, Dhairyasheel Mane, raised the issue in Parliament," said Deshmukh. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The lanes of the town were dotted with posters of Mahayuti politicians, thanking them for allowing the restoration of snake worship. MLA Deshmukh presided over the palkhi pujan ceremony, after which the celebrations started. He visited every mandal in the town. Mahayuti is likely to encash the partial restoration of the traditional Nagpanchami celebrations in the upcoming local body elections, especially the election for Shirala Nagar Panchayat.
New Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
BJP may contest alone in Maharashtra local body polls, avoid attacks on allies: CM Devendra Fadnavis
MUMBAI: The BJP in c has decided to go solo in the state's local body elections, although some contests will be held as friendly contests with Mahayuti alliance partners. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, addressing party workers, stated that while the BJP would contest most local body elections independently, in certain areas, it would cooperate with alliance partners in a non-confrontational manner. 'We are sharing power with our allies, so even if we contest separately, we won't attack them — unlike what the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena did between 2014 and 2019,' he said. 'There is a strong wave of support for the BJP, and we can emerge as the dominant political force in the upcoming local body polls,' Fadnavis added. He cautioned party leaders and workers against working against party interests or supporting rebel candidates, stating that such actions would harm the party's prospects. 'Local-level disputes must be resolved amicably. Earlier, other parties indulged in such damaging exercises, and today, we see their decline. We must avoid repeating those mistakes. If anyone acts against the party, the party will act against them,' he warned.
