Latest news with #ChaitanyaMarpakwar
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
SRA law tweak: Assets to be seized if bldr defaults on rent
Mumbai: State govt is putting the screws on builders as well as slum dwellers to speed up SRA projects, reports Chaitanya Marpakwar. To recover pending rent from builders who don't pay slum dwellers after demolishing their homes, govt has introduced an amendment to The Maharashtra Slum Areas (Improvement, Clearance and Redevelopment) Act, 1971 which allows rent money to be recovered from a company's property or the personal property of its directors/partners. Since outstanding rent will be considered arrears of land revenue, SRA will be able to attach and sell a builder's property to extract rent money. Govt has also reduced the time given to slum dwellers who don't agree to join a rehab scheme from 120 days to 60 days after more than 50% of slum dwellers have given consent. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai Such dwellers can lose their rehab units to others and will only be eligible for a pitch at other locations if and when they are available. The amendment bill was introduced in the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday and will be discussed later this week. SRA CEO M Kalyankar said that the amendments would help fast-track SRA schemes and make sure that slum dwellers get rent on time. SRA officials said around Rs 620 crore in rent is still due from builders. Officials said to recover arrears of land revenue, govt has various legal processes at its disposal including serving notices, attaching property, and even imprisoning the defaulter. "Under the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code (MLRC), govt can attach and sell the defaulter's movable and immovable property to recover the dues. In some cases, bank accounts or lockers may be attached. Right now the SRA can only issue stop work notices to the builder for not paying rent or stop giving new permissions but beyond that there is no deterrent," an official said. Some other amendments in the bill include those related to handing over land to govt agencies like MMRDA, MHADA, MSRDC and CIDCO to redevelop slums on lease within 30 days of issuance of the letter of intent.
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Govt to amend MCOCA, bring drug peddlers under its ambit
Mumbai: The state govt has introduced an amendment to the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) to book drug peddlers under the stringent Act, reports Chaitanya Marpakwar. The amendment bill will be discussed this week in the Legislative Assembly, where the definition of organised crime is proposed to be amended to include narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances. Last week in the Legislative Council, CM Devendra Fadnavis had said that action is currently being taken against drug peddling under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. However, the arrested get bail and resume their activities. "The govt is amending laws so that these people can be arrested under the MCOCA. The amendment will be done in the ongoing monsoon session of the state legislature," said Fadnavis. Mumbai: The state govt has introduced an amendment to the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) to book drug peddlers under the stringent Act, reports Chaitanya Marpakwar. The amendment bill will be discussed this week in the Legislative Assembly, where the definition of organised crime is proposed to be amended to include narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like One plan. Total peace of mind. ICICI Pru Life Insurance Plan Get Quote Undo You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai Last week in the Legislative Council, CM Devendra Fadnavis had said that action is currently being taken against drug peddling under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. However, the arrested get bail and resume their activities. "The govt is amending laws so that these people can be arrested under the MCOCA. The amendment will be done in the ongoing monsoon session of the state legislature," said Fadnavis.
Time of India
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Cash-strapped Maharashtra under fire for 'splurging' on lawmakers
MUMBAI: Opposition and activists on Wednesday alleged the cash-strapped state govt "splurged" on a two-day conference of 600 delegates of estimates committees of Parliament and state/UT legislatures whose key role is to monitor whether public funds are being spent effectively as per budgetary provisions. They claimed the meals for the event were privately catered on rented silver platters and that the delegates were put up at luxury hotels in south Mumbai, reports Chaitanya Marpakwar. RTI activist Vijay Kumbhar alleged that Rs 27 lakh was spent on the meals at the event, each costing Rs 4,500, and silver platters were rented for Rs 550 each. Jitendra Bhule, principal secretary of the state legislature, did not respond to calls and messages from TOI. A senior legislature official said, "The rates per plate was around Rs 2,500 and not Rs 4,500 as claimed. These are the standard rates for such events. Since it was the monsoon, we had to construct tents for serving meals." Other legislature officials said the plates were not made of silver but were white metal- or silver-coated ones. Shiv Sena (UBT) MLC Ambadas Danve claimed Speaker and legislative council chairperson hosted multiple meals.
Time of India
17-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Phase 1 of 37k cr Virar-Alibaug multimodal corridor approved
Mumbai: The cabinet on Tuesday approved the construction of the first phase of the 126.1km Virar-Alibaug multipurpose transport corridor on a build, operate and transfer (BOT) basis. Phase 1, comprising 96.4km, stretches from Navghar in Palghar district to Balavali in Pen taluka. Land acquisition for it can begin immediately. The project, which aims to halve the travel time between Virar and Alibaug, will be executed by MSRDC at a cost of Rs 37,013 crore. "The corridor will connect JNPT to the proposed Navi Mumbai international airport and MTHL," said an official, adding that it will be a key connector for multiple highways and will act as a shortcut between various areas of MMR and Goa. Sources said the project was to be built on a hybrid annuity model but owing to financial constraints, govt decided to build it on BOT basis to attract private investors. Officials said the plan for the corridor has been in the pipeline since 2011. MSRDC had awarded contracts for phase 1 to seven firms during the tenure of Eknath Shinde-led govt, but the tenders were later scrapped when the investment model changed. —Chaitanya Marpakwar
Time of India
17-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Cabinet nod for agri AI policy, to allot 500cr for first 3 years
Mumbai: The cabinet on Tuesday approved MahaAgri-AI Policy 2025-29, under which innovation and incubation centres will be set up in the state and artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, drones and predictive analytics used to transform the agriculture sector. A fund of Rs 500 crore will be made available for the first three years for implementation of the policy, officials said. "Sustainable and scalable solutions will be implemented. There will be a three-tier administrative structure for implementation. Necessary changes will be made to this policy in the next five years since the AI sector is changing rapidly," said an official. The farmer-centred policy entails establishment of a leading independent centre that will also work on partnership with national and international organisations, said the official. Innovation and incubation centres will be set up in four agricultural universities under the guidance of institutions like IITs/IISc. A global summit will be organised every year under the policy, which will involve direct interactions with investors. "This conference will be held in various parts of the state on a cyclical basis," said the official. —Chaitanya Marpakwar
