The sole hospital in Aarey Milk Colony—home to one lakh residents, including the inhabitants of tribal hamlets, slums and cattle farm units—is barely operational. While Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) staff drop by twice a week to administer vaccines, there is only one doctor on hand and residents report a dire shortage of essential medicines. Sadly, the present situation is no different from that of more than a decade ago. There are 27 tribal hamlets and approximately 32 slum areas in the area, along with various units where cattle farm owners and their families, as well as staff members, reside. While there are a few small private dispensaries within the colony, residents say a fully-equipped government hospital is sorely needed. Officials say the facility is not equipped to handle critical cases Aarey resident Sunil Kumre, the chairman of Navkshitij Charitable Trust, said, “I have lived in Aarey for decades, and the hospital was once the primary healthcare facility for locals. In 2013, I undertook a fast-unto-death to draw attention to the hospital’s deteriorating condition. After this, authorities assured us that the BMC would take over and improvements would be made. Unfortunately, nothing has changed. With over one lakh residents relying on this hospital, emergency situations—such as accidents or incidents of human-wildlife conflict, including snake bites—often require us to rush patients to the BMC-run Balasaheb Thackeray Trauma Centre in Jogeshwari or Cooper Hospital in Vile Parle. This delay can be life-threatening. It is crucial that the public health department takes charge of the hospital to fully operationalise it or at the very least convert it into a basic healthcare facility under the Aapla Dawakhana initiative.” The crumbling façade of the hospital. Pics/Nimesh Dave mid-day’s visit On Thursday afternoon, we visited Aarey Hospital and found only one doctor, a pharmacist, and a few other staff members on duty. Upon entering, we noticed that the hospital’s condition, including its structure, was quite dilapidated, with cracks evident in the entrance slab. When we spoke with the doctor on-site, he advised us to contact the Aarey CEO's office for further assistance. An official from the Aarey CEO's office, who requested not to be named, stated, “At the Aarey Hospital, a doctor is available in the OPD from 10 am to 4 pm to provide medication for fever, cough, cold and other minor ailments. For emergencies, patients are referred to BMC or government hospitals, as we are not equipped to handle critical cases.” Hanif Khorajiya who visited the hospital recently This newspaper has frequently reported on the challenges faced by patients in Aarey Milk Colony who fall ill, suffer injuries in accidents or have close encounters with wildlife. Such individuals often have to be rushed by their loved ones to the trauma centre. Resident Speak Hanif Khorajiya, a local, said, “I have lived in Aarey for over three decades, and there was a time when the hospital was fully operational, serving not only dairy staff but also the residents of tribal hamlets. Now, this once-vital hospital is in dire straits. On Wednesday, at 10 am, I brought one of my workers who was unwell to the facility, and we had to wait over an hour for the doctor to arrive because he was late. There have been cases of snake bites where patients died due to the delay in reaching the distant BMC hospital. The Maharashtra government should take over this hospital and ensure it is equipped with the necessary amenities so people don’t have to rush outside Aarey during emergencies.” Aarey residents speak on local hospital conditionsHanif Khorajiya, an Aarey resident, discussed issues concerning Aarey Hospital. Sunil Kumre, Chairman of Navkshitij Charitable Trust, also shared insights on healthcare challenges in the area Videos: @ranjeetnature… pic.twitter.com/UwweFmetBG — Mid Day (@mid_day) October 18, 2024 Tribal leader Sagar Kishor Mohankar emphasised the urgent need to revamp the hospital. “Thousands of people live in the tribal hamlets of Aarey Milk Colony, and we often lack the funds to shift patients to outside facilities, especially at night when transport options are limited. Establishing a fully equipped hospital that can handle emergencies would greatly benefit residents.” Aarey CEO Balasaheb Wakchaure was unavailable for comment before press time. Deadly encounters with snakes in Aarey colony October 2024: Gulab Vanjari, a resident of Bhurikhan Pada, had to be rushed to the Balasaheb Thackeray Trauma Centre in Jogeswari June 2024: Komal Gadekar Patekar died on her way to hospital after a snakebite September 2023: A 16-year-old boy had a close encounter with a snake July 2017: Yashodha Kadu, 20, died after she was bitten by a spectacled cobra while she was asleep in her Jivachapada home October 2017: A six-year-old boy, a Vanicha Pada resident, lost his life due to a snakebite
18 October,2024 09:37 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet JadhavWith the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) announced by the Election Commission of India on Tuesday, the BMC has started taking action against illegal political hoardings and banners installed across the city. Citizens can complain regarding unauthorised political hoardings on the Cvigil App and voter helpline number ‘1950’. Complaints made on the app are resolved within 100 minutes. The BMC’s Licensing Department removed a total of 7,389 posters, hoardings, banners, flags etc. within 48 hours till Thursday evening. These include 3,703 banners, 1,331 flags 942 posters, 817 panels and 596 cut-out hoardings. The MCC is being enforced to conduct the Assembly elections in a transparent and fearless environment. Unauthorised banners should not be put up anywhere while the MCC is in force. The administration said that advertisement boards, posters and banners can be displayed only after obtaining the prescribed permission, where it is permissible. BMC officials also said that if a political hoarding is put up without permission, an FIR will be registered directly against the person concerned, for defacement of public property. An FIR will also be registered for violations of the MCC.
18 October,2024 08:54 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentA sessions court in Maharashtra’s Thane district has acquitted a 34-year-old man facing charges for the kidnap and murder of his eight-year-old daughter nearly three years ago, citing lack of evidence. In his order dated October 10, a copy of which was made available on Thursday, Principal District and Sessions Judge S B Agrawal held that the prosecution had failed to back its claims against Anis Mohammad Khan Maldar. As per the prosecution, Maldar was addicted to gambling and would often have minor disagreements with his wife. When his wife was at a hospital on December 3, 2021, she received a call from her husband shortly after midnight saying he had killed their daughter Mahira. Advocate Sagar R Kolhe, who represented Maldar, successfully argued that there were inconsistencies in the prosecution’s claims. “There is no motive attributed to the accused for killing his daughter...the informant (wife) admitted that she used to have minor quarrels with the accused and that the accused loved Mahira,” observed the judge. The court also pointed to discrepancies in the accounts of the policemen who responded to the scene. “As far as kidnapping is concerned, admittedly the accused was the father of the victim, and I fail to understand how an offence of kidnapping would be made out against the accused,” the judge noted. Acquitting Maldar, the court held that the prosecution had failed to establish the charges against him beyond reasonable doubt. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
18 October,2024 08:49 AM IST | Mumbai | Agencies
The Maha Vikas Aghadi’s seat-sharing for Mumbai’s 36 seats is almost final, with Shiv Sena (UBT) getting more than the Congress share. There are a couple of seats yet to be decided, but the leaders in the know said that it would be sorted out in a couple of days. According to a senior Congress leader and former minister, the Sena was certain to get about 20 seats, and the Congress 12. The Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) will get two and the Samajwadi Party one. The tussle continued for the Byculla and Versova constituencies. Both Congress and Sena want them. On Thursday, the Sena also announced its candidate for Bandra East, who managed to vacate the seat from Congress, which it had won in 2019 but relinquished due to the Sena’s insistence on fielding its youth leader and party chief’s close relative, Varun Sardesai. Sitting MLA Zeeshan Siddique, who shifted sides recently, will lock horns with Sardesai. MVA leaders during the press conference in Mumbai last week. Pic/Satej Shinde Even as they discussed sharing, the Sena and Congress were yet to reach an agreement over Byculla and Versova, said the leader. The two major parties will be fighting it out against the BJP and Shiv Sena (Shinde), who will be sharing the Mumbai seats in Mahayuti, with a minor share for NCP (Ajit Pawar). Both alliances are in the final stages of seat-sharing talks as the filing of nominations will begin on October 22 for the polling scheduled on November 20. Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray met his MLAs on Thursday. It was his first engagement after he was discharged from the hospital. It was reliably learnt that the Sena (UBT) will get Worli, Shivdi, Magathane, Dindoshi, Jogeshwari East, Andheri East, Bandra East, Ghatkopar West, Kalina, Vile Parle, Mahim, Borivli, Dahisar, Goregaon, Malabar Hill, Bhandup, Vikroli, Kurla and Chembur. If Congress agrees, the Sena will end up getting Byculla, which it wants anyhow considering the traction the segment gave it in the Lok Sabha elections. The Congress is understood to have in its kitty the constituencies such as Dharavi (SC), Mumbaidevi, Malad, Colaba, Bandra West, Sion-Koliwada, Chandivli, Charkop, Wadala, Mulund, Andheri West and Kandivli East. One of the senior Congress MLAs is lobbying hard for Versoa, where he plans to field his son-in-law as a party candidate. Former IPS officer Sanjay Pandey is also one of the contenders from the Congress camp. Sharad Pawar’s NCP is expected to get Ghatkopar East and Anushakti Nagar. Samajwadi Party will retain Mankhurd-Shivaji Nagar where it has an MLA.
18 October,2024 08:43 AM IST | Mumbai | Dharmendra JoreIn a decision applauded by animal lovers, BMC has instructed NESCO to establish mandatory feeding zones for stray dogs, following reports of 26 stray dogs allegedly dying of starvation in Goregaon a few months ago. Dr K L Pathan, chief of the BMC’s Animal Husbandry Department, said, “We did not issue any notice. We simply provided guidelines for identifying feeding spots for stray dogs. These guidelines, set by the Animal Welfare Board of India, prioritise locations that are free from activities, particularly those involving children, and ensure that traffic is not disrupted. If the two parties cannot agree on feeding spots, a committee can assist them. This committee includes members from both the BMC and police.” In July, mid-day carried a report ‘Security guard, NESCO employee booked for deaths of 26 stray dogs’ which highlighted how the Vanrai police had booked a security guard and a management employee of NESCO grounds for allegedly causing the deaths of 26 stray dogs by preventing feeders from entering the premises. According to police sources, members of the NGO Pure Animal Lover (PAL) and animal lovers claimed in their complaint that they had been regularly feeding and taking stray dogs to vets around the NESCO premises but were prevented from doing so.
18 October,2024 08:26 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentThe BMC is in financial crisis and that's why the civic body is giving many land parcels at prominent places on lease, Aaditya Thackeray, leader of Shiv Sena UBT has alleged. Thackeray in a press conference on Thursday said the corporation has now decided to auction Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Mandai (Market), BEST Electric Receiving Station at Malabar Hill, and Worli Asphalt Plant to raise funds and make up for the loot of the Eknath Shinde regime. He also said that the Shinde regime had started the sale of Mumbai to his favourite builders and contractors. It’s also possible that eventually Shinde and BJP will also auction the Hutatma Smarak, and earn ‘khokes’ (money) out of that too! In a post on ‘X’ Thackeray said, “So on one end, they looted the BMC and Mumbai, gave the money to their favourite contractors, and now by auctioning these iconic and important land parcels, the BMC will be left without funds and plots.” Aaditya stated, “For Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Mandai, it is the Eknath Shinde and BJP regime that wants to drive Kolis and fisherfolk out of Mumbai. We will oppose this. For the other two land parcels, instead of giving it to a favourite builder, our government will consider it for police housing, and government quarters. He appealed to Mumbaikars to unite and defeat this regime that wanted to drive out Mumbaikars from Mumbai.” BMC says A BMC official said, “The BMC has been struggling for income sources for quite some time. Its fixed deposits dwindled from Rs 92,000 crore to Rs 82,000 crore in just two years. Therefore, the BMC has now decided to raise revenue by auctioning its own lands. The municipal administration had made provision for this in the current budget. Accordingly, advertisements were released recently. Earlier it was decided to resettle fisherfolks in the mandai after recontruction. But after giving this place on lease agreement, the existing reservation of market and municipal office will be removed. Therefore, the company or contractor who gets the land will be allowed to construct it for residential or commercial use.” The official added, “Similarly, the BEST power substation at Malabar Hill will be reduced and the remaining space will be given on lease. The third place is the asphalt plant in Worli. Some of the place of this plant will be given on lease. As all these three places are lying unused, the civic body is trying to get revenue by giving these plots on lease.” The official said the municipality is yet to disclose the lease amounts.
18 October,2024 08:25 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentA day after Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray took swipes at the Mahayuti government for allotting land to the Adani Group for people affected by the Dharavi redevelopment project, Mumbai BJP president Ashish Shelar said the Opposition leader was deliberately trying to spread fake narrative and misleading Dharavi residents. Even as Shelar countered Thackeray on the Dharavi project, the youth leader spoke about the BMC’s move to auction the city's more land parcels, including some iconic places, to raise funds. He said the BMC would lose both land and funds. BJP Mumbai President Ashish Shelar. Pic/Ashish Raje “This seems to be an international conspiracy and Aaditya Thackeray seems to have become the spokesperson of urban Naxals,” Shelar said, questioning Thackeray’s claim that the Adani Group was given 1,080 acres of land. “He should show a government paper or cabinet decision that proves that 1,080 acres have been transferred to Adani. I will quit politics if he does so, or else he should retire from politics,” stated Shelar. Thackeray had said that the land of Dharavi that will undergo redevelopment and the pieces of land elsewhere in the city together measured 1,080 acres. “Neither the BMC land nor toll naka land has been given. But the salt pan lands of Kanjurmarg and Mulund, and plots in Kurla and Madh, totalling 540 acres, have been given not to Adani but to the Dharavi Development Project headed by a bureaucrat. Aaditya Thackeray must ask his father as to why he had agreed in writing to give this space,” said Shelar. He said the Adani Group-led entity which was given a contract would pay for the land at the rate equivalent to 25 per cent of the ready reckoner price to the owners of the plot, which is estimated to be Rs 3,000 crore. “If 25 per cent of the ready reckoner price is received by the BMC and the government, as per the SRA rules, why are they spreading lies,” he asked. According to Shelar, who represents the ruling alliance, nearly 430 acres of Dharavi land was available for redevelopment which will open spaces, playgrounds and gardens and roads.
18 October,2024 08:09 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentPune’s Abhay Chaugule is using a powerful mix of sarcasm and sentiment to appeal to a thief. This Visual Arts schoolteacher's bike was stolen on Dussehra day on October 12 from near his friend's home. Since then, Chaugule has been standing at different spots in Pune holding a banner aloft. The banner reads in Marathi: “This is a humble appeal to whoever has stolen my bike. My mother had worked very hard for it and bought it when I was in the Std. XII. This is her last memory. Please return it.” The banner has the bike number and Chaugule's mobile number too. Chaugule, 31, said, “I lost my mom three months ago to breast cancer. She used to do tailoring work. She used to store the money she collected in a ‘dabba’. She bought this bike 14 years ago for approximately Rs 45,000. This was the first bike for the family. There is so much sentiment attached to it.” Bike gone Explaining about the theft, Chaugule said, “I was going to a friend's house to celebrate Dussehra on October 12 evening. His house is near Karve Putala (Kothrud). I set off from my home in Sinhgad Road, Anand Nagar Santosh Hall, and near his house, my bike suddenly stopped working. I pushed it along towards my friend's house, eventually parking it where a lot of other bikes were parked. At night, I took a rickshaw home.” He added, “I thought I would take my bike to the garage the next day. I asked my friend the next day in the evening to check on my bike; it should still be there below his house. He informed me that he could not locate it. I went over, we looked everywhere in vain, and finally filed a complaint at the Kothrud police station.” Abhay Chaugule on his black Activa that was allegedly stolen Write way Chaugule said, “The police are on the job investigating the bike theft. I thought I needed to do something too instead of simply waiting.” Chaugule said that he is a writer, and his oeuvre is the Puneri Pati. The Puneri Pati is a traditional way of writing messages/life lessons/instructions using sarcasm as a medium. He added, “I started writing regularly after my father's death during COVID time; he did not die of COVID though. It helped me deal with the grief.” Chaugule has been holding these banners at different places in Pune, like Fergusson College Road, Junglee Maharaj Road, Apte Road, and Prabhat Road, appealing to get his bike back. The humanity Chaugule said, “So many people, seeing me standing with my banner on social media, have asked whether I seriously believe the thief will 'return' my bike. I have had to deal with scamsters too who have called my number demanding Rs 5,000 or more, stating that they have spotted my bike. While these are cons, there are genuine people who are moved and are eager to help.” He added, “To people who ask me why I am doing this, whether it will be effective, I say I am not made in the 'angry young man mould'. My style is more in the writer Pu La Deshpande tradition with its trademark humour, which may be dark too at times.” “When we think about the internet, we talk about trolls and cyber harassment and bullying. Yet, with the support I have received, I have found humanity on the Internet,” he further said.
18 October,2024 08:03 AM IST | Mumbai | Hemal AsharA wider double staircase, an additional platform, a change of halt patterns to avoid decongestion and more bridge landings along with an elevated deck will be introduced at Malad station to disperse crowds. “The biggest addition will be a home platform on the Malad West side, planned for immediate dispersal of the crowd during peak hours,” a Western Railway (WR) spokesperson said. “We have taken note of the problem of congestion on the north-end foot over bridge (FoB) and to counter that, we are building a double discharge staircase and escalator on the same bridge so that the crowd will be dispersed,” he said. “In addition to this, the width of the north side staircase landing of the middle FoB will also be increased from 1.65 m to 3.15 m. Work is also under progress to provide additional staircase landings at the south side (Churchgate-end) of the middle FOB connecting with the elevated deck being built here. Separate stop boards have also been provided for 12 coach and 15 coach suburban trains to disperse the crowd on the platform,” he added. According to the spokesperson, rail authorities have also deployed RPF personnel to properly manage the crowd and provided temporary queue separation barricades. In a first-of-its-kind mega rail surgery at Malad, all five Western Railway lines shifted westwards after the insertion of a new sixth line. The platform changes happened as a part of the ongoing 6th line project. A brand new 4.5 km stretch of rail line has been laid between Goregaon and Kandivali in a month’s time. 22-hour Kasara pause Eight suburban trains will be cancelled and 22 short-terminated as the Central Railway (Mumbai Division) will operate special traffic and power blocks for non-interlocking works at Kasara station for extension and widening of platform no. 1 and the extension of three reception and dispatch lines in the down yard. The works have been planned for 22 hours, from 3.20 am on October 20 (Sunday) to 1.20 am on October 21 (Monday).
18 October,2024 07:57 AM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarA city court has granted anticipatory bail to a Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) official who has been booked for allegedly demanding sexual favours from a woman in lieu of promotion. Additional Sessions Judge Shayana Patil allowed the pre-arrest bail plea of MSRTC Deputy General Manager Virendra Kadam on Wednesday. The detailed order is not available as yet. A 28-year-old woman working as an associate consultant for MSRTC has alleged the incident occurred on May 29, 2014 after a meeting at Kadam’s cabin. After the main discussion concluded, Kadam allegedly asked everyone present in the meeting except her to leave, the woman claimed. Kadam then asked the office aide to serve tea and biscuits, and the conversation about the project resumed, she claimed. ‘Suggestive remarks’ The applicant then made sexually suggestive remarks “insinuating that her professional advancement within the organisation was contingent upon her willingness to comply with his inappropriate advances”, she alleged. As per the woman, Kadam allegedly implied he could fast-track her promotion if she was “accommodating”. Based on her complaint, Nagpada police registered a case against Kadam, after which he moved court for anticipatory bail. In his plea, Kadam claimed he was falsely implicated in the case and that at no point of time was he alone with the complainant. The complaint lodged against him is based on fabricated and baseless claims, Kadam claimed in the plea. The court, while granting pre-arrest bail to Kadam, asked him to cooperate in the investigation. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
18 October,2024 07:56 AM IST | Mumbai | AgenciesIn response to a series of bomb threats over the past four days, Mumbai Airport conducted extensive bomb drills early Thursday at Terminal 1 (T1) and later at Terminal 2 (T2) around 11 am. The drills involved all key stakeholders and security agencies. The decision to conduct the drills comes after an alarming rise in bomb threats to airlines. Reports indicate that the threats have escalated significantly, with three incidents reported on October 14, seven on October 15, ten on October 16, and tweleve on October 17, totaling 28 threats to aircraft operated by Indian airlines in just four days. Coinciding with the drills, the airport was scheduled for its annual post-monsoon runway maintenance from 11 am to 5 pm on Thursday. As a result, no runways were operational during this time. DGCA officials confirmed that all operations proceeded smoothly, and no delays or cancellations were reported. A passenger who had disembarked from a flight before the drill started, told mid-day, “Till the end of the drill, no one was aware that it was a drill. We all thought this was a genuine bomb threat. All security personnel were seen working just like it was a real threat. There were no disruptions though due to the runway maintenance.” “I can’t lie—I was pretty anxious reading about all the threats leading up to my flight. It felt surreal to see security teams conducting drills right in front of me. At first, I was worried it would cause delays, but I’m grateful they’re being proactive. I just want to get to my meeting without a hitch. It’s comforting to know they’re on top of things,” a passenger who arrived from Newark told mid-day on condition of anonymity. “Seeing the airport in such a heightened state of alert was definitely unsettling. I’ve travelled through here countless times, and it’s usually so calm. The security drills were well-organised, but the anxiety in the air was palpable. I appreciate that they’re being vigilant, but I can’t shake this feeling of unease as I wait for my flight,” said Fatima Khan, a Mumbai resident, who had just flown in from Abu Dhabi. “Looking at the news over the past few days, I was a bit terrified that I had to fly on Thursday. Terrified because what if my flight receives a bomb threat? After landing here and clearing customs, we were informed that the bomb threat had dissipated and all of us were escorted outside the terminal. Those passengers who were yet to clear Customs and other formalities were asked to stay at the airside itself. After enquiring with security personnel at the site, I came to know that this was a drill and not an actual threat. I was so relieved to hear that. After the scare, I was also happy to understand that the agencies were taking necessary means to keep themselves prepared for an actual threat,” said another passenger who arrived from New York. No. of bomb threats reported in the past 4 days October 14: 3 threatsl Air India AI119Mumbai to New Yorkl IndiGo 6E57 Mumbai to Jeddahl IndiGo 6E1275Mumbai to Muscat October 15: 7 threatsl Air India AI172Delhi to Chicagol SpiceJet SG116Darbhanga to Mumbail Air India Express IX684 Madurai to Singaporel Akasa QP1373Bagdogra to Bangalorel Air India Express IX765 Jaipur to Ayodhyal IndiGo 6E98Dammam to Lucknowl Vistara UK 161 Delhi to Hong Kong October 16: 10 threatsl Air India Express IX437 Kochi to Dubail Alliance Air 9I770 Kolkata to Guwahatil IndiGo 6E651Mumbai to Delhil Air India AI302Delhi to San Franciscol IndiGo 6E74Riyadh to Mumbail IndiGo 6E1011Mumbai to Singaporel IndiGo 6E515Chennai to Lucknowl SpiceJet SG116 Darbhanga to Mumbai (second threat in three days).l SpiceJet SG124Leh to Delhil Vistara UK28Frankfurt to Mumbai October 17: 12 threats l Air India AI129 Mum-Lonl Air India AI119 Mum-NYl Vistara UK22 Paris -Delhil Air India 101 Delhi-NYl AI 186 Vancouver-Delhil Air India 126 Chicago-Delhil Indigo 6E 118 Lucknow-Punel Indigo 6E 18Istanbul to Mumbail IX 419 Kochi-Abu Dhabil IX 412 Sharjah-Kochil IX 475 Kochi-Dohal IX 345 Kozhikode-Doha
18 October,2024 07:52 AM IST | Mumbai | Prasun ChoudhariADVERTISEMENT
