Budget 2018-19

  A total of 66,299 idols, including 5,953 of Goddess Gauri, were immersed in the sea, rivers, lakes and other water bodies across Mumbai on the fifth day of the Ganpati festival, civic officials said A total of 66,299 idols, including 5,953 of Goddess Gauri, were immersed in the sea, rivers, lakes and other water bodies across Mumbai on the fifth day of the  Ganpati festival , civic officials said on Wednesday.There was no report of any untoward incident during the fifth day immersions on Tuesday, they said.The 10-day festival, which in normal times used to witness large gatherings and long queues outside public mandals which host the celebrations, is being held in a subdued manner for the second year in a row due to restrictions imposed in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. On the fifth day of the celebrations on Tuesday, 66,299 idols were immersed, including 34,299 in artificial ponds set up in various parts of the city to avoid crowding at natural water bodies, a Brihanmum...

  The daily coronavirus case count in Maharashtra is on the decline, but these numbers are close to last year’s peak levels, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said on Sunday. The daily coronavirus case count in Maharashtra is on the decline, but these numbers are close to last year’s peak levels, Chief Minister  Uddhav Thackeray  said on Sunday. Addressing people of the state through social media, he announced that the lockdown-like restrictions currently in force in the state since mid-April, have been extended by a fortnight till June 15. He said he was taking a district-wise review of the coronavirus situation and curbs will be made stricter where the numbers are on the rise, while some relaxation will be given where the case count is on the decline. Expressing concern over the steep spike in infection count in rural parts of the state, the chief minister announced “My village-Corona free” initiative, and asked the people of the state not to let their guard down while br...

  Shiv Sena on Thursday slammed the Central government over the ‘Covid-crisis’ across the country. It has also hit out at the Supreme Court for being a ‘spectator’ till now In an editorial in its mouthpiece “Saamana”, the Shiv Sena on Thursday slammed the Central government over the ‘COVID-crisis’ across the country. It has also hit out at the Supreme Court for being a ‘spectator’ till now.The Supreme Court, itself ‘confirmed’ that the Narendra Modi-led Central government has failed in handling the COVID-19 situation across the country, Shiv Sena said. It said that the health infrastructure in the country has collapsed and the shortage of medical oxygen, beds, and vaccine is a matter of concern. Taking a jibe at Bharatiya Janata Party, the publication said, “From whom the BJP leaders will seek resignation over the remarks made by the apex court? The BJP asked for resignation from the state government over the fire incidents in COVID hospitals in Maharashtra. The cremation grounds a...

  Thirteen coronavirus patients died after the blaze in the intensive care unit (ICU) of Vijay Vallabh Hospital. Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Friday announced a financial assistance of Rs five lakh each to the families of 13 COVID-19 patients, who died in a fire at a hospital in Virar of Palghar district. A statement from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said those who suffered serious injuries in the incident will be given Rs one lakh compensation each. Thirteen coronavirus patients died after the blaze in the intensive care unit (ICU) located on the second floor of the four-storeyed  Vijay Vallabh Hospital  at Virar in the early hours of Friday. Five women and eight men died in the incident. There were 90 patients in the hospital, 18 of them in the ICU, when the fire broke out after a blast in the AC unit, an official has said…

  All businesses, except essential services, to remain shut; Rs 5,400 cr package announced Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday announced 15-day curfew in the state and sought central help in airlifting medical oxygen as Covid-19 cases continue to spike in the state, putting a burden on its health infrastructure. Public transport will continue but travel in suburban trains and buses will be only for people giving essential services. The tightening of curbs comes into effect on Wednesday night. On Tuesday a record 60,212 cases were reported in the state and the number of active cases has increased to over 500,000. While the state is getting oxygen by road,  Uddhav Thackeray  has requested the Indian Air Force help to airlift supplies. “If we do not break the chain now we will get strangled by the chain,” he said while announcing the new measures. Last week the state government had closed cinema halls, malls, multiplexes, and places of religious worship. T...

  Modi announces vaccination festival between April 11 and 14 Conceding that India was in the grip of a serious public health crisis that had surpassed the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday urged state governments to test more even if that meant higher reporting of the infection. Armed with experience of managing the first wave, better health infrastructure and a locally manufactured vaccine, lockdowns should be avoided altogether, the PM told chief ministers at the virtual meet on Covid. “In the last phase of the infection, we had to impose lockdowns because at that time, we did not have the infrastructure to control the infection: no PPE suits, not enough sanitisers, masks… we are no longer facing those shortages. So micro-containment zones should be the strategy,” he said. Sounding a note of caution, the PM asked states to check the rise in cases on a war footing, while stressing that efforts must be strengthened in the next three to f...

  Maharashtra Minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik has said that the state cannot afford a lockdown and he has asked Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to consider other options Maharashtra Minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik has said that the state cannot afford a lockdown and he has asked Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to consider other options. “We can’t afford a lockdown. We’ve asked the CM to consider other options. Due to rising cases, he has directed the administration to prepare for a lockdown but that doesn’t mean that a lockdown is inevitable. If people follow rules, it can be avoided,” Nawab Malik told ANI. At a meeting with senior health officials and COVID task force, CM Uddhav Thackeray instructed them to prepare for restrictions similar to lockdown if people continue to violate COVID-related rules. Maharashtra Chief Minister said that the COVID cases are rising because people are not following guidelines seriously and that is why strict ste...

  Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday announced that in view of the rising COVID-19 cases, all political, religious and social gatherings will be prohibited in the state from Monday. Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday announced that in view of the rising Covid-19 cases, all political, religious and social gatherings will be prohibited in the state from Monday. In his televised address, he also said that political agitations will not be allowed for the next few days as they attract crowd “The pandemic is raising its head in the state, but whether it is another wave will be known in eight to 15 days,” he said. “Lockdown may not be the solution to  Covid-19 , but it is the only option to break the cycle of the virus,” he addedThe chief minister said that Covid-appropriate behaviour is a must and those violating the rules will be punishedAccording to him, fask mask is the only “shield” in the war against coronavirus.”Wear mask, maintain discipl...

  Republic TV’s Arnab Goswami, who walked out of jail after being granted interim bail by the Supreme Court, lashed out at CM Thackeray government stating that its autocratic behaviour has been defeated Republic TV’s editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami, who walked out of jail on Wednesday after being granted interim bail by the Supreme Court, lashed out at Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray government stating that its autocratic behaviour has been defeated. The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted him and two other co-accused bail in the 2018 suicide case of interior designer Anvay Naik. Goswami has termed his arrest by Mumbai Police on November 4 in connection with the case as illegal. “The autocratic behaviour of Uddhav government has been defeated. He did everything to stop me… It was illegal arrest done by a government that doesn’t understand that it can’t push back independent media. If  Uddhav Thackeray  has a problem with my journalism, he should give me an interview. I chall...

  Goswami also singled out Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh for his ‘illegal’ arrest on November 4 in a 2018 suicide abetment case Back in the familiar environs of the TV newsroom after a week in judicial custody, journalist Arnab Goswami on Wednesday hit out at Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray for arresting him in a ‘fake’ case. “Uddhav Thackeray, listen to me. You lost. You have been defeated,” said Goswami (47), while being surrounded by visibly relieved colleagues from his Republic TV channel. Soon after his release from Taloja jail near Mumbai around 8.30 pm, Goswami drove to the Lower Parel studio of the channel, of which he is the Editor-in-Chief.  Arnab Goswami  also singled out Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh for his ‘illegal’ arrest on November 4 in a 2018 suicide abetment case. Goswami said that while in Taloja jail since November 8, he was subjected to three rounds of police interrogation. “Uddhav Thackeray, you arrested me in a...