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4 days ago
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Ajit Pawar criticises Maharashtra municipal bodies banning meat sale on Independence Day
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Tuesday criticised the decision by at least three municipal corporations in the state to close slaughterhouses and meat shops on Independence Day, NDTV reported. 'It is wrong to impose such a ban,' Ajit Pawar said. 'In major cities, people of different castes and religions reside. If it is an emotional issue, then people accept it [ban] for a day. But if you clamp such orders on Maharashtra Day, Independence Day and Republic Day, then it is difficult.' The deputy chief minister's comment came hours after the civic bodies in Nagpur and Malegaon ordered meat shops and slaughterhouses to remain closed on Friday. A day earlier, similar directives were issued by the Kalyan-Dombivali Municipal Corporation. The municipal corporations are under administrative rule, with the municipal commissioner acting as the administrator on behalf of the state government. The authorities in Kalyan-Dombivli warned of action under the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act if the order is violated. Rajesh Bhagat, the deputy commissioner of Nagpur's department of solid waste management, said in his order that action will be taken against violators by the civic flying squad, The Indian Express reported. Ajit Pawar said on Tuesday that 'what one should eat or not eat' was an individual's choice. 'Nobody has the right to impose the decision,' he said. 'There are some people who are vegetarians and others who are non-vegetarians. It is part of an individual's habit, culture and inheritance and geographical conditions.' Noting that food habits need to be respected, Pawar said that he would discuss the matter within the government. The Opposition parties have described the civic corporations' actions as 'food policing'. Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) MLA Jitendra Awhad claimed on Monday that the ruling Mahayuti alliance was 'fuelling a vegetarian-non-vegetarian divide ' after having 'exhausted other social controversies'. The Mahayuti alliance comprises the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Nationalist Congress Party faction led by Ajit Pawar and the Shiv Sena group led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Awhad also questioned whether the state government would now decide on when to eat non-vegetarian food. On Monday, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Aaditya Thackeray demanded the suspension of the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation commissioner. 'Bridges are collapsing, roads are in terrible shape, and instead of fixing them, the administration is busy banning food,' Thackeray said. The BJP stated that the decision by the municipal corporations was in line with a directive from 1988. 'It has been in practice since then,' The Indian Express quoted the Hindutva party as saying. 'Every year an individual civic body takes a call.' Hyderabad A petition has also been filed in the Telangana High Court against a recent order by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation directing the closure of beef shops and slaughterhouses on Independence Day and Janmashtami. Janmashtami is an annual Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of the deity Krishna and will be observed on August 16. Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi on Wednesday described the decision as 'callous and unconstitutional'. ' What's the connection between eating meat and celebrating independence day?' Owaisi asked on social media. '99% of Telangana's people eat meat. These meat bans violate people's right to liberty, privacy, livelihood, culture, nutrition and religion.'
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Nagpur slaughterhouses and meat shops to remain shut on August 15
The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) on Tuesday announced that all slaughterhouses and meat shops within city limits would remain closed on August 15 on the occasion of Independence Day and Janmashtami, which falls on the same day as per Marathi calendar. According to a notice issued by Rajesh Bhagat, deputy commissioner, Department of Solid Waste Management, 'All slaughterhouses and meat shops within NMC limits shall remain shut, and action will be taken by the civic flying squad against violators.' The notice was issued in accordance with a Maharashtra Government directive, officials said, adding that the decision for the Janmashtami closure of meat shops was approved by the municipal commissioner. On Monday, the Kalyan Dombivali Municipal Corporation (KDMC) ordered the closure of all slaughterhouses and meat shops on August 15. The restriction will apply to all licensed butchers dealing in goats, sheep, chicken, and large animals and remain in force from midnight on August 14. The Opposition has criticised the move, with NCP (SP)'s Jitendra Awhad asking if residents are being told what to eat on Independence Day and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray calling for the KDMC commissioner's suspension. 'Who is the commissioner to tell us what to eat and what not to? Bridges are collapsing, roads are in terrible shape, and instead of fixing them, the administration is busy banning food,' Thackeray said. Awhad also said he planned to hold a mutton party on Friday to protest the restrictions. Vishwanath Bhoir, Kalyan MLA from the ruling Shiv Sena, sought to defend the decision, arguing that being vegetarian for one day should not be an issue.
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Nagpur slaughterhouses and meat shops to remain shut on Independence Day and Janmashtami
The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) on Tuesday announced that all slaughterhouses and meat shops within city limits would remain closed on Independence Day (Friday) and Janmashtami (Saturday). 'All slaughterhouses and meat shops within NMC limits shall remain shut on these days, and action will be taken by the civic flying squad against violators,' stated a notice issued by Rajesh Bhagat, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Solid Waste Management. The notice was issued in accordance with a Maharashtra Government directive, officials said, adding that the decision for the Janmashtami closure of meat shops was approved by the municipal commissioner. On Monday, the Kalyan Dombivali Municipal Corporation (KDMC) ordered the closure of all slaughterhouses and meat shops on August 15. The restriction will apply to all licensed butchers dealing in goats, sheep, chicken, and large animals and remain in force from midnight on August 14. The Opposition has criticised the move, with the NCP (SP)'s Jitendra Awhad asking if residents are being told what to eat on Independence Day and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray calling for the KDMC commissioner's suspension. 'Who is the commissioner to tell us what to eat and what not to? Bridges are collapsing, roads are in terrible shape, and instead of fixing them, the administration is busy banning food,' Thackeray said. Awhad also said he planned to hold a mutton party on Friday in protest against the restrictions. Meanwhile, Vishwanath Bhoir, the Kalyan MLA from the ruling Shiv Sena, sought to defend the decision, arguing that being vegetarian for one day should not be an issue.
Time of India
06-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
NMC & Green Vigil conduct awareness campaigns at Sitabuldi
1 2 Nagpur: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) and Green Vigil Foundation celebrated World Environment Day by conducting public awareness campaigns at World Trade Centre, Sitabuldi and Sitabuldi Market on this year's theme – 'Beat Plastic Pollution'. During the campaign, members of Green Vigil Foundation and NMC team interacted with citizens, shopkeepers, street vendors on ill effects of usage of single use plastic (SUP), eradication of SUP, adopting circular economy, urgency of adopting green living practices and environment friendly lifestyles. The message was also conveyed through various posters and placards focusing on phasing out of SUP and adopting sustainable options with change in lifestyles and habits. Surbhi Jaiswal, team lead, Green Vigil explained, plastic is non bio-degradable, hence , remains in nature for years, plastic carry bags are choking our sewerage system, rivers and oceans are polluted with huge deposition of microplastic, leaving waste food in plastic carry bags are causing death to cattle. Prominently present during the campaign were Rajesh Bhagat, deputy commissioner, NMC, Dr Ganjendra Mahalle, chief sanitary officer, NMC, Manish Soni, PRO NMC, Dhananjay Jadhav, assistant commissioner, NMC, Anup Khandelwal, Vilas Uttarwar , Kisan Agarwal and others. Kaustav Chatterjee, Surbhi Jaiswal, Mehul Kosurkar, Sheetal Choudhary, Bishnudeo Yadav, Shriya Jogey, Priya Yadav, Parth Jumde, Tushar Deshmukh, Pinaki Banik along with NMC & NDS team worked hard for the success of the campaign. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Eid wishes , messages , and quotes !
Time of India
14-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
NMC seeks proposals for disposal of seized PoP idols
Nagpur: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) is still grappling with the problem if disposing of 1,375 Plaster of Paris (PoP) idols seized during last year's Ganeshotsav. In an attempt to find a sustainable and scientific solution, a recent meeting was chaired by additional municipal commissioner Vasumana Pant with representatives from multiple the meeting, the Institute of Science expressed interest in managing the disposal process through chemical treatment. The institute proposed converting the PoP from the idols into powder and then using that to manufacture chalks and slates. The civic body asked the institute to submit a detailed project proposal outlining the year, before Ganeshotsav, NMC's nuisance detection squad confiscated 1,375 PoP idols from sculptors across all 10 zones of the city. Though the civic body approached the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) for guidance on proper disposal, no concrete action plan was provided, leaving the matter light of the impasse, NMC has now begun consulting environmental and scientific organisations. The meeting saw participation from deputy municipal commissioner Rajesh Bhagat, chief sanitation officer Dr Gajendra Mahalle, director of Govt Institute of Science Dr Anjali Rahatgaonkar, Dr Anagha Patil, Neeri senior scientist Krishna Khairnar, MPCB sub-regional officer Dhanashree Patil, Green Vigil Foundation's Surabhi Jaiswal, Mehul Kosurkar, and Rahatgaonkar and Dr Patil expressed willingness to use Neeri's technology to help manage the idol waste. They proposed a dual-purpose initiative — first converting the PoP into reusable powder using chemical processes, and then repurposing the material into educational tools like chalk and slates. While Neeri has not permitted use of the technology on a large scale yet, it has agreed to support the institute with technical method is seen as a meaningful approach — ensuring environmentally responsible idol disposal while providing students with hands-on learning opportunities. NMC, however, clarified that no final decision has been taken. Deputy commissioner Rajesh Bhagat said that proposals are being sought from Neeri and other institutions, and the final course of action will be decided once detailed plans are submitted and reviewed.
