QMumbai: Marathwada Water Scarcity; Beer, Breezers Will Be Cheaper

All your news from the city of Mumbai.

Representational image of the severe drought conditions in Vidarbha and Marathwada in Maharashtra. 

(Photo: iStockPhoto)

1. Marathwada May Have to Brace for Another Year of Water Scarcity

For most parts of Maharashtra, the monsoon season has so far been good news, with the average water stock in reservoirs crossing 50% of the total capacity. But, in the drought-prone Marathwada region in Central Maharashtra, the water stock currently stands at just 20%, and, if the rains do not pick up over the next two months, the region may be staring at another year of scarcity in 2019, officials said.

Mid-monsoon, villages across Marathwada are still relying on 339 tankers of a total of 500 deployed in the state, to get drinking water. The frequent droughts have also made the region a centre for farmer suicides and agrarian crisis due to falling prices of produce. Last year, the region’s water stock was 25.16%. The Jayakwadi dam, the lifeline of Marathwada, has just 32% stock, data from the water resources department shows.

Source: Hindustan Times

2. Here's Why Beer and Breezers Will Be Cheaper Now in Maharashtra

Worried about a drop of almost 27 per cent in sales of beer and mild liquors such as breezes/breezers, the state government has decided to reduce excise duty on strong beer and mild drinks. As per a notification issued by the state, from August 1, the excise duty on strong beer has been reduced from 235 per cent of manufacturing cost to 175 per cent of manufacturing cost; for breezes it has been reduced from 300 per cent to 200 per cent. Incidentally, nearly 30 per cent of the excise duty comes from the sale of beer.

Source: Mumbai Mirror

3. Spending Money on Garbage

Several stretches of the Mithi river have no water and are strewn with garbage. (Photo: The Quint/Liju Joseph)

The title of this article is not original; it has been borrowed from an article on the expense of garbage management in urban centres in rich countries, but the phrase sums up Mumbai’s struggle to deal with its garbage.

On Sunday, this newspaper, using data released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), reported that Mumbai’s daily output of trash has grown 105% in 17 years. The city produced around 11,000 tonnes of garbage on an average day in 2016, compared to 5,355 tonnes daily in 1999. According to the 2001 census, Mumbai had a population of about 12 million; the number grew to 12.4 million in 2011, and if we assume that the trend of low population growth continues, the population must be under 13 million at this point. These are figures for the area administered by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

Source: Hindustan Times

4. PNB Scam: Antigua and Barbuda Government Promises to Help India Extradite Mehul Choksi

The Caribbean islandgovernment confirmed the continued presence of Mehul Choksi on their soil and promised India all possible help in his extradition.

This could be the beginning of the end of fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi’s run from the law.

The Indian government late on Friday night delivered an extradition request to the Antigua and Barbuda government for him, beginning the process of getting him back.

Source: Mumbai Mirror

5. 60-Yr-Old Kills Self Hours After 'Molesting' Neighbour

An anti-rape protest. Photo used for representational purposes. (Photo: The Quint)

Hours after allegedly molesting and assaulting a 35-year-old neighbour, a 60-year-old man allegedly committed suicide after jumping from the second floor of a mall in Goregaon West.

The deceased, who had retired around seven years ago, lived in the same building as the woman's.

According to police, the woman, who had gone out for some work on Sunday morning, returned to find Cyril hovering near the entrance. He followed her to the lift and started a conversation with her.

Source: Mumbai Mirror

6. Pieces From Crumbling Thane Arch Fall on Pedestrians, Cars

An arch constructed by the Thane Municipal Corporationon Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg is in a state of dangerous disrepair. Pieces of plaster have been coming loose from the structure and falling on vehicles below.

Last week, former MP from Mumbai North East, Sanjay Dina Patil, wrote to the Thane civic corporation to tackle the issue, and requested Mayor Meenakshi Shinde to initiate repairs to the arch on a priority basis.

Source: Mumbai Mirror

7. Photographer Arrested for Duping Model of Rs 1.11 Lakh

The Cuff Parade police have arrested a professional fashion photographer for allegedly duping an aspiring model on the pretext of sending her to Canada for a modelling assignment. The police have learned that the complainant was invited by the accused, Rahul Singh, 26, to Delhi for a meeting last year after which he told her that if she paid him Rs 1.11 lakh, he would talk to his counterparts in Canada for getting her an assignment.

The 25-year-old model, a resident of Vashi, told the police in her complaint that she came across Singh on Facebook in February last year. He introduced himself as a professional fashion photographer, and invited her to Delhi for a photoshoot, the model said.

Source: Mumbai Mirror