QMumbai: CAG On MMRDA Favouring Reliance; Goregaon-CSTM Launches

Bombay high court rejects plea for medical termination of pregnancy by ‘rape victim’ and more stories.

1. CAG Raps MMRDA for Giving ‘Undue Favours’ to Reliance

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has rapped the Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) for allegedly giving undue favour to Reliance Industries Limited (RIL).

The CAG’s report for financial year 2016-17 was tabled in both Houses of the state legislature on the last day of the Budget session.

According to the report, the MMRDA leased out a plot in G block of the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) to RIL on 80 years’ lease in 2008, and RIL was supposed to complete the construction of building within four years from allotment. However, the scrutiny of the MMRDA’s records showed that work was not completed even by March 2017.

Source: Mumbai Mirror

2. Rly Min, CM to Flag off Goregaon to CSTM Local Train Today

The much-delayed CSMT-Goregaon Harbour line service will be inaugurated today in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and union railway minister Piyush Goyal at Goregaon. According to officials, only one service will run on Thursday and regular services will start only from Sunday.

“As many as 21 pairs (up and down) of CSMT-Andheri harbour line services, run by the Central Railway will be extended till Goregaon,” said V A Malegaonkar, ADRM (administration) of Central Railway’s Mumbai division. Western Railway will also run seven services along the stretch, taking the total number of scheduled services to 49.

Source: Mumbai Mirror

3. Bombay High Court Rejects Plea for Medical Termination of Pregnancy by ‘Rape Victim’

The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has rejected the plea for medical termination of pregnancy (MTP) of a 32-year-old woman from Buldana district, who had claimed she had conceived the baby after rape by her employer.

The HC bench comprising Justice Shantanu Kelkar and Justice Nitin Sambre rejected the plea following recommendation by a committee heeded by Indira Gandhi Medical College dean Anuradha Shrikhande that the MTP runs the risk of life as pregnancy is in an advanced stage of 30 weeks and the baby is in fine condition. The panel observed that she had two C-section operations earlier and a third operation would be risky for her life at this stage of pregnancy.

Source: The Indian Express

4. Sea Link Drive From Worli to Versova May Cost Rs 300

While travelling across the sea will be a delight in the city, it will also be heavy on Mumbaiite’s pockets. By the time the Versova-Bandra sea link (VBSL) project is ready, a drive across the Bandra-Worli sea link and VBSL will cost almost Rs 300.

The implementing agency of the project, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) is looking at one-way toll charges of Rs 210 for a car on the VBSL. If the 10 km sea link is ready by 2021, its deadline as of now, the charges on Bandra-Worli sea link would have also seen revision of upto Rs 80-Rs 90.

The rates will vary for tempos, trucks and buses.

Source: Hindustan Times

5. SRA Slammed Over Slum Rehab Near Refinery

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has slammed the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) for allowing slum rehabilitation buildings near the refinery area of Mahul.

The government wanted to have rehabilitation projects at Mahul and the tenements were supposed to be handed over to BMC. In lieu, the builder got transfer of development rights but permissions should have been obtained from defence and other authorities.

Source: Mumbai Mirror

6. Paver Blocks at Mahim Park Raise Eyebrows

At a time when environmentalists, citizens and activists have come together to steadfastly oppose a government proposal to include the Maharashtra Nature Park (MNP) in Dharavi Redevelopment Plan (DRP), “curious” happenings at the green lung raise more questions about the intention of its custodian.

After being alerted by some visitors, this correspondent and an environmentalist dropped in at the park, popularly known as Mahim Nature Park, on Wednesday to find that the original bricks pathways at the main entrance being replaced by cement paver blocks. A further tour of the 41-acre of the green lung revealed that trees had been axed and wood, grass and foliage set on fire at more than 20 spots. Also, empty liquor bottles were strewn at three-four locations.

Source: Mumbai Mirror

7. 40-Yr-Old Businessman Found Hanging at Chandivali Home

A 40-year-old businessman was found hanging at his residence in Chandivali on Tuesday afternoon. A suicide note recovered from the spot names three people, along with their mobile numbers, for allegedly driving him to commit suicide.

The deceased, identified as Datta Khandole, 40, is survived by his wife and two school-going children, aged 14 and 10 years. His wife, a 35-yearold homemaker, in her statement to the police, claimed that Khandole was under tremendous mental stress for over a month as he was being harassed by the trio for failing to repay Rs 18 lakh he had borrowed in 2013.

Source: Mumbai Mirror