Latest news with #VarshaGaikwad
Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Dharavi Redevelopment Project: Dharavi MP Varsha Gaikwad, Opp leaders meet CM; seek masterplan rollback
A delegation led by senior Congress leader and Dharavi Lok Sabha MP Varsha Gaikwad on Monday met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and demanded withdrawal of the Dharavi Redevelopment Project's masterplan approved by the government last week, terming it 'undemocratic', 'opaque' and in violation of legal norms. The Opposition delegation met Fadnavis at Sahyadri Guest House and submitted a formal representation alleging that the Dharavi Redevelopment Project — referred to in the letter as the 'Dharavi Vinash Yojana' — was being pushed forward without the consent of Dharavi's residents and in violation of provisions of the MRTP Act. 'We sought the government's approval to the Dharavi plan to be rolled back immediately. The people of Dharavi have not been taken into confidence. They deserve to have a say in shaping their future,' Gaikwad said after the meeting, adding that the approval to the masterplan was done secretively and without disclosure, bypassing essential steps such as public hearings and environmental assessments. The MRTP Act mandates public consultations before preparing any development plan. However, residents were not informed or invited to submit suggestions or objections, the delegation said. The masterplan lacks statutory sanction and is, therefore, unconstitutional and illegal, it argued. The memorandum said that so far only 15,171 households have been surveyed and the surveys were allegedly conducted three years ago, many done by private contractors or institutes without a clear mechanism for public verification. The memorandum also alleged the masterplan lacks clarity on ownership and rights and hence is potentially exploitative. The delegation accused the government of prioritising profit over people. The delegation demanded that apart from withdrawing the masterplan, the government must restart the planning process under the MRTP Act with proper public notices, hearings and transparency, and demanded that a fresh, third-party survey and audit of the area be conducted. 'I am not opposing redevelopment,' Gaikwad clarified. 'But this is not how it should be done. No democratic process can allow such a large-scale transformation without public participation. Dharavi must not be seen as real estate but as a living community,' she said, adding that the government must ensure full legal rights and consent from residents before taking any further steps.
United News of India
3 days ago
- Health
- United News of India
Maha: Congress MP Gaikwad expresses shock over condition of health services in suburban Mumbai
Mumbai, May 31 (UNI) City Congress president and MP Varsha Gaikwad on Saturday expressed shock over the current condition of suburban health services in Mumbai and questioned where did the Health department's Rs 7K crore fund go. Responding to questions after visiting Bhabha Hospital in suburban Bandra and interacting with citizens there, she said, "The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation is one of the richest municipal corporations in the country. The Corporation presented a budget of Rs 74,000 crore this year, of which Rs 7,000 crore has been allocated for the Health department, but the condition of suburban health services in Mumbai is very bad. If even basic facilities cannot be provided to patients, then where exactly did the municipal corporation's money go." The BMC had assured that it would not inaugurate the hospital without providing facilities like cathlab, nephrology, neurology, cardiac and blood bank in this building, but till date these facilities have not been started. In 2024-25, a provision of Rs 12 crore was made for medicines, which has been reduced to Rs six crore this year. Tenders for medicines have not been floated for 14 months. There are ICU, trauma ICU, and pediatric ICU departments in the intensive care unit, but there are no doctors available. Also, the number of beds in the intensive care unit is very less compared to the hospital beds. Furthermore, 2D UCO machine is not available, pathology facility is also closed, she complained. There are no facilities available in these suburban hospitals for tests like CT scan, MRI, she alleged and said if such tests are required, patients have to go out at a huge expense. The state government-appointed administrator in BMC is playing with the health of Mumbaikars, Ms Gaikwad alleged and demanded that the state government and the BMC administrator should answer why Mumbaikars are not getting good health facilities despite the provision of Rs 7,000 crore. "This money is going into whose pockets," she asked. UNI VKB SS
India Today
6 days ago
- Business
- India Today
Congress says Mumbai property tax up by 20%, slams civic body
The Maharashtra Congress on Wednesday lashed out at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for an increase in the property tax rates in the city. The party said that tax rates were increased without revising the Capital Value System (CVS), terming the move 'a shameless loot'.Terming the tax hike as a loot and betrayal of the trust of residents, Mumbai Congress president and MP Varsha Gaikwad said that the BMC has clearly violated the Supreme Court directives with the new tax revising the Capital Value rules — as ordered by the Supreme Court, and without reassessing taxpayers, the BMC has started processing new property tax bills, with an unjust 13–20 per cent hike for 2025–26," she wrote in a post on X. Gaikwad said that the Supreme Court had struck down some rules of the capital value-based system and directed the BMC to revise them, reassess taxable values from 2010/15 onwards, and refund overcharged amounts to citizens."Without doing any of this, the BMC has begun processing fresh bills with the steep, arbitrary hike — over and above the already inflated values. This is contempt of court," Gaikwad tax is one of the highest sources of revenue for the Mumbai civic body. The last property tax revision was expected in 2020 but was Congress Counsellor Asif Zakaria said the property tax rates in the BMC area have increased across the city by 13 to 40 per cent with the last revision being made in 2015-16. He also announced that he would file a contempt petition against BMC for the property rate hike.'As per the High Court order, the BMC has to refund inflated property tax collected from 2010-14. This correction would lead to a 40 per cent reduction in property tax bills from 2010 to 2025. Without finalising rules and refunds, BMC has arbitrarily increased the 40 per cent tax on already inflated bills. BMC has shown no intent to follow judicial directives. Hence, we will move contempt,' he 2024, the civic body decided not to implement new rates based on ready reckoner values, saying the following year would mark the completion of a full five-year cycle, making it more appropriate to apply the revised rates at that the last financial year, a property tax collection of Rs 6,198.05 crore was logged, the highest ever, falling just short of its target of Rs 6,200 crore. Additionally, Rs 178.39 crore has been collected as penalty InMust Watch
The Wire
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The Wire
Mumbai Floods: Aaditya Thackeray, Varsha Gaikwad Slam BJP-BMC Over Civic Collapse
Menu हिंदी తెలుగు اردو Home Politics Economy World Security Law Science Society Culture Editor's Pick Opinion Support independent journalism. Donate Now Video Mumbai Floods: Aaditya Thackeray, Varsha Gaikwad Slam BJP-BMC Over Civic Collapse The Wire Staff 9 minutes ago Questions have also been raised about why there is no elected civic body in Mumbai and why local body polls have been delayed across Maharashtra. Real journalism holds power accountable Since 2015, The Wire has done just that. But we can continue only with your support. Contribute now Mumbai witnessed severe waterlogging across South, Central and suburban areas despite it being just May. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray and Congress MLA Varsha Gaikwad have slammed the BJP-run Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for complete failure in pre-monsoon preparedness. Questions have also been raised about why there is no elected civic body in Mumbai and why local body polls have been delayed across Maharashtra. Make a contribution to Independent Journalism Related News The Thousands of Wells of Mumbai Serve its People, Birds and Animals Heavy Rains Lash Mumbai, Administration Issues Red Alert, Urges Citizens to Stay Indoors Yellow, Black, Blue: How Residents of Mumbai's Govandi Struggle with Dirty Water and an Apathetic BMC The Redevelopment of Dharavi will Destroy the Livelihoods of Those Who Work in Small Businesses After Tahawwur Rana's Extradition, Govt Appoints Team of Prosecutors to Conduct 26/11 Trial Bengaluru Rains Have Returned the Garbage We Carelessly Dumped Bombay HC Slams State, College For Rustication, Arrest of Student Over Post on Operation Sindoor The Same Modi Who Chided the UPA For 26/11 is Cracking Down on Those Asking Questions Over Pahalgam For 10 Hours, Fire Rages in ED Mumbai Office Housing Investigation Documents of High-Profile Cases View in Desktop Mode About Us Contact Us Support Us © Copyright. All Rights Reserved.
The Hindu
02-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Opposition in Maharashtra demands to make film ‘Phule' tax-free and screen in schools
Opposition in Maharashtra has urged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to exempt the film Phulefrom tax and make it available in schools. They argued that making the film tax-free would allow more people to know the history of India's social reforms and movements. While NCP-SP leader Jayant Patil asked to make it tax-free, aiming to reach more people with the history of social reforms, Mumbai Congress president and MP Varsha Gaikwad wants school students to understand the struggle of such social reformers that enabled girls to pursue education in India. Actor and filmmaker Ananth Mahadevan directed the film Phule, a biopic on the lives of Jyotirao and Savitribai Phule, released on April 25. The film has already attracted criticism from the Brahmin community for allegedly showing the community in a bad light. The director has defended that the film is not against the Brahmins, and the controversy around it was 'unnecessary'. Mr. Patil on Friday asked Mr. Fadnavis to tax-free the film Phule that depicts the struggles of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule for equality and see the living history of the movement built for the upliftment of society. He shared the letter on X, mentioning, 'The work of Mahatma Phule and Savitrimai is beyond opening water tanks for Dalits and promoting women's education. The film has been opposed in the 21st century as much as the couple faced opposition for their work in the 19th century, resulting deletion of nearly 12 scenes from the film.' 'Everyone must watch the struggle of the couple fighting to give a man the right to live as a human being,' he wrote, adding that people's misconceptions will also be cleared. Mumbai Congress president and MP Varsha Gaikwad demanded that the film be made tax-free in Maharashtra and screened in schools, especially girls' schools across the State. Crediting the Phule couple for all her achievements, Ms. Gaikwad said, 'Many women like me can get themselves educated and work in the political field just because of Phule's initiatives to educate women and the underprivileged sections of society.' 'We have a social responsibility towards them; the current generation should understand their struggle. This is possible through this film,' she wrote in the letter to Mr. Fadnavis. Meanwhile, Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) Chief Prakash Ambedkar also raised his voice to make the film tax-free. 'I demand that the film be released without any cuts and be made tax-free in Maharashtra. VBA follows the Phule-Shahu-Ambedkarwadi ideology, and we will NOT tolerate and stay quiet to this insult of Mahatma Phule,' he posted on X, a few weeks ago.
