Mumbai: CM Shinde announces 15 per cent increase in Diwali bonus for BMC employees

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Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has announced a substantial Diwali bonus increase for employees of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). This year, BMC employees will receive a significant bonus of Rs 26,000, marking a 15 per cent increase from last year's bonus.

A meeting was convened at the Varsha residence, the official residence of the Chief Minister, to discuss the issue. The bonus boost will not only benefit approximately 93,000 BMC employees but also extend to nearly 29,000 employees of BEST, in addition to teachers and healthcare workers.

Also read: Mumbai: CM Shinde calls for united efforts to curb pollution in Maharashtra

Last year, employees of BMC, BEST, and teachers received a Diwali bonus of Rs 22,500, while health workers were rewarded with a bonus equivalent to one month's salary.

Earlier, CM Shinde said his government is making all efforts to curb rising pollution in Maharashtra and appealed for united efforts to make it happen.

Speaking at a function after administering the pledge of 'pollution-free Diwali' to schoolchildren at Mantralaya, the state secretariat in Mumbai, Shinde said rising pollution levels have become a cause for global concern. "The state government has focused on planting trees. Environment awareness campaigns are being conducted through Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and subsidies are being given for bamboo plantation," he said.

Shinde said if children can make up their minds to celebrate a pollution-free Diwali, their parents will follow the same path. The CM's appeal comes at a time when Mumbai is witnessing rising air pollution levels.

To control air pollution in Mumbai, the civic body has served notices to more than 100 contractors and real estate firms engaged in executing private and government projects, asking them to adhere to dust mitigation norms or face action.

The Bombay High Court has also limited fireworks between 7 pm and 10 pm for Mumbai residents during the festival of lights.

BMC takes action against gold and silver smelting units to tackle air pollution in Mumbai

Meanwhile, the Mumbai's civic body, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has demolished four chimneys of gold and silver smelting units in Kalbadevi and Zaveri Bazar area in South Mumbai amid worsening air pollution in the city, officials said on Wednesday.

According to BMC officials, their C-ward took action against the units as they were compounding the air pollution in the metropolis.

Mumbai's average air quality index (AQI) stood at around 150, or "moderate", on Wednesday, according to official data. (With additional reporting from PTI)