Veteran Bollywood actor Satish Kaushik has died at 67. While the cause of death is unknown, his friend Anupam Kher confirmed the news on Twitter.

He wrote, “I know “death is the ultimate truth of this world!” But I never thought in my dreams that I would write this thing about my best friend #SatishKaushik while alive. Such a sudden full stop on a friendship of 45 years!! Life will NEVER be the same without you SATISH! Om Shanti!”

Two days before his death, Satish celebrated Holi at Javed Akhtar’s home. He even shared photos from the same on Twitter. He was joined at the party by Richa Chadha, Mahima Chaudhary, Ali Fazal and others.

Satish Chandra Kaushik who was born on April 13, 1956, was an actor, director, producer, comedian and screenwriter. He graduated from Kirori Mal College and was an alumnus of National School of Drama and Film and Television Institute of India. He has acted in films like Ram Lakhan, Saajan Chale Sasural, Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro and became the household name for his portrayal of Calendar in Shekhar Kapur’s Mr India.

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Nagpur: A devastating fire broke out at a tyre processing plant in Umred Taluka of Nagpur district on Thursday morning. Thick smoke bellowing from the fire engulfed the surrounding areas. Team of Fire Brigade with fire tenders reached the spot. Efforts are on to douse the fire.

Loss of property in lakhs has been reported. However, there were no reports of any casualty so far. The exact cause of the fire is being investigated.

Details are awaited.

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Nagpur: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials on Wednesday recorded the statement of Rammu alias Ramdev Agrawal, owner of R Sandesh Group, regarding seizure of jewellery worth crores of rupees and bank transactions during recent raids.

Notably, the ED had conducted raids at the premises of Rammu Agrawal, Pankaj Mehadia, Lokesh Jain and Karthik Jain on March 3 and seized Rs 1.21 crore cash and gold and diamond jewellery worth more than Rs 5.51 crore. An ED official said that apart from jewellery many suspicious bank transactions were found in the bank account of Agrawal.

The ED officials recorded his statement and asked him to explain the amount transacted from his bank accounts. The raids were conducted following ED’s investigation under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) based on the FIR registered at Sitabuldi Police Station against Pankaj Nandlal Mehadia, Lokesh Santosh Jain, Kartik Santosh Jain, Balmukund Lalchand Keyal, Premlata Nandlal Mehadiya in a fraud causing loss to investors in crores of rupees.

The police FIR was based on the Rs 8.16 crore investment fraud where investors had invested the money in three companies owned by Mehadia and his accomplices in lieu of huge interests. Mehadia repaid the investors for two to three years, but since 2017, he stopped paying many investors and also declared that his company had gone bankrupt at the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT ), the ED officials said. The total amount of investments made in Mehadia’s companies, as per reports, is close to Rs 1,000 crores.

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Nagpur: The Special Court (Prevention of Corruption Act) Judge Deshpande acquitted Police Constable Dilip Gaidhane in a case filed under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The prosecution had contended that the accused had arrested four intern doctors since they were creating public nuisance under the influence of liquor and that the accused had demanded Rs.5,000 to release the said four intern doctors. The complainant claimed that they had assured the accused that the amount would be paid and since it was midnight, the accused released the intern doctors under the promise of receiving money the next day.

The prosecution filed chargesheet and in the course of trial the defence brought on record through cross examination that when the intern doctors were arrested along with the complainant, there was one other person by the name Chandrashekar and that the prosecution theory according to the chargesheet was that the alleged demand was made to the said Chandrashekar and not to the complainant. So also it was brought on record that as per the chargesheet the entire conversations as are alleged to have occurred telephonically and in person during the verification proceedings and post-trap proceedings were depicted to have occurred between the said Chandrashekar and the accused and not between the accused and the complainant.

So also there were allegations that the accused had demanded money from the complainant through his mobile, whereas perusal of the CDR reflected that the accused had never called from his mobile phone to the complainant. In the course of the argument Adv. Prakash Naidu pointed out that the star witness as per the chargesheet and with whom the alleged demand was purported to have been made i.e. Chandrashekar was not examined before the Court nor was his statement recorded in the chargesheet.

As such in the absence of the material witness, who was deliberately suppressed by the prosecution, no adverse presumption could have been drawn against the accused. It was also pointed out that the prosecution had deleted one of the recordings on its own which was alleged to have been recorded during the verification proceedings, thereby compelling for an adverse inference to be drawn against the prosecution.

The Special Court after hearing the prosecution and the accused proceeded to acquit the accused.

Advocate Prakash Naidu, Homesh Chauhan, Mitesh Singh Bais, Surabhi Naidu (Godbole) appeared for the accused. The APP held the brief for the State.

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Nagpur: The Income Tax Department, Nagpur, celebrated the International Women’s Day 2023 by observing the “Nari Shakti” week from March, 1 to March, 8.

A Rangoli event on the themes of “Nari Shakti” and “Prakriti” was organized on March 1, 2023 with full fervour in all office buildings and Residential Colony at Seminary Hills, Nagpur.

On the second day of the “Nari Shakti” week i.e. March 2, a Blood Donation Camp was organised at Aayakar Bhawan, Civil Lines, Nagpur where officers and officials of the Income Tax Department, Nagpur donated blood.

A Walkathon was organized on March 3 wherein all the officers, officials and their family members participated with enthusiasm.

On the March 8, the proceedings of the day started with address by Principal Chief Commissioner of Income Tax, Nagpur Vasundhara Sinha on the topic “Gender Sensitization”.

Subsequently, Sandeep Kumar Salunke, Director of Income Tax (I&CI) and Dr. Sanjay Tambe, M.D. delivered lectures on the topics “Breaking Stereotypes” and “Holistic Well-Being” respectively.

The afternoon session was exclusively for women and addressed by noted Gynaecologist, Dr. Anita Singh. A Self Care Workshop was organised for the Women officers and officials by P. Devrukhkar, in the end.

The entire week long events were organised under the guidance of Mahua Sarkar, Commissioner of Income Tax(TDS).

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Nagpur: “If a woman is healthy, the health of the whole house is healthy. Take care not to neglect your own health while taking care of everyone in the household. Take time for your own health. Today’s age is digital technology. Be technologically advanced to make your mark in this era. A woman has the power to change the world. But for that, she herself needs to be mentally and physically strong while facing many stresses,”said the dignitaries present during the celebration of International Women’s Day organised by Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) on Wednesday, March 8.

The programme was held at Municipal Headquarters. Swati Ajay Gulhane, Ranjana Ram Joshi, Farhat Quraishi, Social Development Officer Dr. Ranjana Lade, Chairperson of Women’s Grievance Redressal Committee. Bhavna Sonkusale, Member Dr. Smita Singalkar and others were present. At the outset, Chief Executive Officer of Nagpur Smart and Sustainable City Development Corporation Limited and Additional Commissioner of Municipal Corporation Ajay Gulhane inaugurated the program by lighting the traditional lamp.

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the Municipal Corporation felicitated women who have achieved remarkable achievements in various fields. Surekha Nilesh Mhaiskar, Pratibha Navale, Vidarbha’s first lady ‘Vidarbha Kesari’ Akanksha Chaudhary, wrestler Anshita Manohare, Dr. Bhavna Sonkusale, Deepti Bist, science teacher of municipal school and Atmanirbhar Mahila Bachat Group were honoured. On this occasion, women were informed about the C-20 meeting of G-20 countries in Nagpur.

The keynote speaker of the event, Farhat Qureshi, opined that this year’s theme of International Women’s Day was ‘DigitalAll’. She noted that women are still lagging behind in adopting new technologies. Women are born with many traits. Innovative concepts are a permanent feature of women. Their logic and intelligence are also sharp. Women have the ability to incorporate many new concepts once they learn one thing. Farhat Quraishi appealed to women to advance with digital technology and use it for the betterment of the society by implementing innovations. It is easy to become a bystander or walk in the crowd. However, she also gave a mantra to the women present that stand out from the crowd and make your identity and work that the world will be proud of.

Ranjana Joshi praised the work of women. Women’s Day is not a single day for women. They face new struggles, new difficulties, challenges every day. Saying that every day is women’s day for every woman who faces all these difficulties and challenges. A woman is pride and joy in every house.

NMC Grievance Redressal Committee Chairperson and Zonal Medical Health Officer Dr. Bhavana Sonkusale advised women to take care of their health. From waking up in the morning, every woman in the house is doing chores for every person in the house. Working women come to the office after doing everything at home. Many people face stress due to both home and office work. Its consequences are later seen seriously. The more you take care of your body, the more your body takes care of you, she stressed.

Social Development Officer Dr. Ranjana Lade while presenting her opinion on the occasion said that woman and power are not two separate things but woman is one power. It is a matter of happiness that women today are incorporating new approaches in every field. She said that the Women’s Day program is being organized every year by the Municipal Corporation to recognize the work of women in various fields. The theme of International Women’s Day this year is ‘DigitalAll’. Now is the right time to verify whether technology embraces women. She appealed to women to deepen the imprint of our activities in the new era by adopting technology, giving importance to sympathy and not aggression. Dr Lade gave the mantra that those who stand the test of time will set a different example in the future.

Nutan More, Sharda Bhusari, Chitra Lokhande, Sangeeta Motghare, Sushma Bhowate, Kalyani Bargat and Mayuri Nanwatkar of the Social Development Department glorified the power of women through dance drama in the program.

Introductory remarks were made by Kavita Khobragade. The programme was conducted by Jyotsana Deshmukh while vote of thanks was proposed by Nutan More.

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Nagpur: The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) has sought a huge electricity tariff hike from the Maharashtra State Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) for 2023-24. For that, while presenting the industrial electricity rates of some neighbouring states in the hearing held in Nagpur, MSEDCL tried to pretend that the power tariff rates are lower in Maharashtra as compared to other states.

In the name of filling up the revenue deficit, MSEDCL has demanded a hike in electricity tariff of 14 percent and 11 percent in the two financial years 2023-24 and 2024-25 respectively. However, various organizations have alleged that this rate hike is up to 37 percent. MERC held a hearing on the proposal of power tariff hike in six cities namely Nagpur, Navi Mumbai, Pune, Aurangabad, Nashik, and Amravati to listen to the objections of various organizations and citizens. The last hearing was held on March 3 in Nagpur.

At this time, Yogesh Gadkari, Commercial Director of MSEDCL, first presented MSEDCL’s side on the power tariff hike to the Commission. He compared the industrial electricity rates in Maharashtra with the rates in Rajasthan, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat. On this occasion, it was said that the average cost of electricity supply in Maharashtra is Rs 7.35 per unit, Rajasthan Rs 6.66, Karnataka Rs 8.70, Madhya Pradesh Rs 6.68, Andhra Pradesh Rs 6.68, Chhattisgarh Rs 6.22, and Gujarat Rs 6.16 per unit. From this presentation it was shown that the industrial electricity tariff in Maharashtra is low.

However, Shashikant Kotharkar, Secretary of Butibori Manufacturing Association (BMA), raised questions on the rates of other states, saying that the MSEDCL distribution rates are the highest. He said that we are talking about the rate information taken from various industries. He demanded the Commission to investigate the industrial electricity tariff in other states through an ‘Agency’. Electricity sector expert Mahendra Jichkar also claimed that the electricity rates in all the neighbouring states are low.

MSEDCL has presented brief information on electricity tariff in other states. But Yogesh Gadkari, Commercial Director of MSEDCL said in this hearing that he assured the Commission to make it available to all after taking detailed information.

In the public hearing on Mid-Year Tariff petition of MSEDCL conducted by Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) held on March 3 for Nagpur Division, the officials of MSEDCL outlined their viewpoint as to Mid-Term review tariff petition for truing up of accounts for FY 2019-20, FY 2020-21, & FY 2021-22. Provisional true up for FY 2022- 23 and Revised Projections and Tariff For FY 2023-24 to FY 2024- 25. MERC had listed it as Case No. 226 of 2022.

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Nagpur: The investigation into the cyber attack on Nagpur’s Solar Industries Limited (SIL) has been transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The State Government has issued a notification in this regard on the request of Nagpur police, a media report said.

A hackers’ group named BlackCat or ALPHV had launched the ransomware attack on the industrial and defence explosives manufacturer last month. The hackers had claimed to have stolen 2TB data from the company’s server at Nagpur. Four threat emails were sent to the company after intruding into the servers on January 21. The e-mails were having links for negotiation with a time of 24 hours.

The company had immediately alerted the Computer Emergency Response Team-India (CERT-In) and Nagpur police. An offence was registered by Cyber Police Station of Nagpur after receiving the complaint. More than 14 government agencies had camped in Nagpur for assessment of data stolen by the hackers. On the instructions of senior officers, the Nagpur police transferred the investigation to the CBI.

According to reports, a hackers group, BlackCat or ALPHV, had launched a ransomware attack on Solar Industries Limited. Classified information like drawings, engineering specifications and audits of Pinaka rockets, Brahmos, Akash, several warheads, mines, bombs and other sensitive defence products have ended up on the darknet for the highest bidders to buy. The hackers claim to have stolen 2TB data from the company’s server at Nagpur.

SIL started as a manufacturer of explosives for the mining industry. Over the last 10 years, it has diversified into making defence explosives also and emerged as the leading private player in making ammunition. The defence business is undertaken through its fully owned subsidiary.

Lately, Solar supplied boosters for Brahmos missiles and also the PSLV, and has also developed a satellite, Vikram I, in association with Hyderabad’s Skyroot Aerospace, in which the group has a stake. This is said to be the biggest ever project outside ISRO.

Solar is the first private company to get an order to make hand grenades for the Indian Army, and the first batch was flagged off by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Solar is also developing the advanced versions of Pinaka rockets, which are among the latest artillery weapon systems of the army. The company has also indigenized the 30mm ammunition for naval guns recently.

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Nagpur/Wardha: In a shocking incident that sent ripples through police circles in Maharashtra, a 24-year-old woman has accused Senior Police Inspector Sampat Chavan of Hinganghat Police Station of rape. An FIR has been lodged against the accused PI.

According to the victim, she met PI Chavan, who had also served in Nagpur Police in the past, when he approached Hinganghat Police Station with a complaint back in August 2021. However, PI Chavan allegedly only offered her help in exchange for her friendship.

During this time, the accused PI reportedly raped her and filmed the entire episode on his mobile phone. He later used these clips to blackmail her for sexual favours, the victim told the police.

Notably, the victim had also levelled similar allegations of rape against her own father and brother. The case was later quashed by the High Court.

Nagpur Today tried to contact PI Chavan for his version, but the calls went unanswered. In the meantime, Hinganghat Police, under the supervision of Wardha Superintendent of Police (SP) Noorul Hasan, has launched a thorough probe in this connection.

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Nagpur: It is a fact that he who lives for others has truly lived. Even after death, many people are still alive in the form of organ donation. Organ donation transplants started in the Second Capital of Maharashtra a decade ago. The movement of cadaveric organ donation in Nagpur began on April 4, 2013, when a young man, Amit Singh, passed away on the day of Holi.

Sans adequate facilities then, his kidneys were donated, and he provided a lease of life to two persons. On March 9, 2023, the city completed 100 organ donations when the organs of Subhash Lute, a 61-year old businessman, who too left for heavenly abode, were donated. Coincidentally, both the first and the 100th donors died on Holi. Both donated their kidneys.

In 2013, Nagpur did not have adequate facilities for performing transplantation of organs other than kidney. Now, Lute, the 100th donor, could donate his liver along with kidneys, but his liver was found unfit for transplantation. A businessman, Lute complained of vertigo with nausea. He was admitted to Seven Star Hospital after he fell unconscious. His MRI brain test showed brain haemorrhage. A team of doctors treated him for three days, but his condition deteriorated. He was declared brain dead on March 7, 2023, on Holi day.

Both his sons Shubham and Rohan work as Operation Theatre (OT) technicians at Seven Star Hospital, and were counselled by Dr Sandeep Nagmote and Dr Shafi Khan for organ donation. The family agreed, saying his father had once pledged to donate organs. A Brain Dead Committee at the Hospital declared him brain dead. The committee has the Hospital Director Dr Prashant Rahate, Neurosurgeon Dr Utkasha Ghavghave, Critical Care Specialist Dr Ramesh Hasani, and Physician Dr Mohan Nerkar on it.

Donor maintenance was done by the technical team and nursing staff which included Vidya Hadke, Reshma Walia, Surekha Pathose, Durga, Roshni and Bhavna. Liver: Retrieval and Transplant teams of Seven Star Hospital have Dr Rajnikant Patcha and Dr Mettu Shrinivas Reddy, Dr Selvakumar, along with Dr Neeraj Sawalakhe, and Dr Ramesh Hasani.

The team inspected the liver, but found medically unfit to transplant. Transplant Coordinators were Dr Shafi Khan and Dr Sandeep Nagmote. The first kidney was donated to a 38- year old woman at the same Hospital in which Dr Dhananjay Bokare, Dr Rahul Saboo, Dr Indrajeet Agrawal, Dr Jitesh Jeswani performed the procedure.

Second kidney was donated to a 52-year old man waiting for his turn at Acharya Vinoba Bhave Rural Hospital, Sawangi (Meghe), Wardha under the guidance of Kidney Transplant Surgeon Dr Sanjay Kolte, Dr Shivcharan Balge, Dr Manish Balwani, and Dr Aamit Pasari, and Dr Vivek Chakole. Transplant Coordinators were Dr Rupali Naik and Vitthal Shinde. Donor and recipients’ organs cross match was done by Dr Shailendra Mundhada, Dhruv Pathology laboratory.

In a short period of time, organ donation became a movement. In 10 years, organs of 100 brain dead people were donated. A revolution took place in Nagpur that 246 people got life from this organ donation. So, 54 people’s eyes gave vision to 108. Nagpur is moving towards becoming a hub for organ donation through liver, kidney and heart transplants.

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Nagpur: In a major breakthrough, the Lakadganj police busted a 4-member Bihar gang involved in looting an accountant of railway contractor of Rs 9 lakh last month. The arrests were made in Pune.

The accused have been identified as Rinku Kumar Yadav (24), Vishal Kumar Yadav (24), Makhan KumarYadav (40) and Amar Gawala (42), are residents of Katihar district of Bihar.

According to police, the notorious gang members are accused in a series of criminal cases registered in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh. The gang members came to Nagpur last month. They saw Amol, the accountant of the railway contractor, withdrawing cash from Axis Bank near Telephone Exchange Chowk. The accused chased him and fled after snatching his bag.

Police checked CCTV footage and after identifying the criminals, the Unit No. 3 of Crime Branch went to Pune and arrested the accused persons. Rs 1.27 lakh cash, seven mobile phones, bogus Aadhar cards, have been seized by the police.

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Nagpur: Torana Inc. invited Dr. Shabina Hussain, a renowned psychotherapist & counsellor of Nagpur for ‘Manobal – a session on Emotional Empowerment’. The session was held at The East India Company Restro Lounge. Shubhada Jambhekar, Manager (HR Operations) conducted the session introduced Dr. Hussain to the attendees. Smita Gawande, CEO of Torana Inc. welcomed Dr. Hussain.

Dr. Shabina Hussain first spoke about managing emotions. She gave a script for negative emotions like anger, hurt, anxiety, jealousy, envy shared the importance of being aware of these emotions to manage them better. She said that emotions cannot be stopped but they can be regulated. She then spoke about self-talk. She advised the attendees to analyze their self-talk and recognize whether it is criticizing or acknowledging or appreciating. She spoke about importance of financial freedom by the means of proper financial planning. She then spoke about parenting & gave some tips on how to communicate with children.

Finally, she took a demonstration on Meditation which was highly appreciated. The attendees asked a lot of questions got many of their doubts cleared with Dr. Hussain.

At the end, Smita Gawande felicitated thanked Dr. Hussain for her valuable time. Torana Inc. is a software development company with headquarters in Stamford, USA R& D centre in Nagpur.

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Nagpur/Mumbai: The last phase of Nagpur-Mumbai Samruddhi Mahamarg from Ghoti to Bhiwandi is going to start in December. Such instructions have been given to MSRDC by the State Government. A senior official of MSRDC said thatLok Sabha elections are in April 2024 and Assembly elections will be held in October 2024. Before that, the government intends to open this entire highway for the public.

Currently Nagpur to Shirdi 501 km stage is open. Construction from Shirdi to Bhiwandi stretch is still going on. The most important reason for this is that 12 tunnels and 16 small bridges have to be constructed in the Sinnar to Kasara phase. The last phase from Igatpuri to Amne village near Bhiwandi will be completed by the end of December.

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Mumbai: Deputy Chief Minister and State Finance Minister Devendra Fadnavis has started presenting Maharashtra’s Budget for 2023-24 on Thursday. This marks the first Budget of the Eknath Shinde-Government ever since it came to power, toppling the Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA Government.

Highlights:

• Rs 36,000 crore allocation for various mega infra projects.

• Based on Niti Aayog, Maharashtra to set up MITRA Sansthan.

• State government to provide premium for farmers under PM Krishi Bima Yojna. Apart from Rs 6,000 to individual farmers from the central scheme, the state promises additional Rs 6,000. It means every eligible farmer will be entitled for Rs 12,000.

• Paddy growing farmers will get Rs 15,000 incentive per hectare.

• To promote organic farming, 25 lakh hectares will be brought under organic farming.

• At Buldhana, advanced organge processing centre will be set up.

• Provision of Rs 1,234 cr for cashew processing units.

• Rs 350 crore set aside for forts conservation in Maharashtra

On Wednesday, Fadnavis tabled the Economic Survey of Maharashtra 2022-23 in the state Legislative Assembly. According to the survey, the State’s economy in 2022-23 is expected to grow at 6.8 percent as against 7 percent of the Indian economy. By comparison, the state economy expanded by 9.1 per cent in 2021-22.

According to the survey, the agriculture and allied sector will be the prime driver of the growth in the state economy in 2022-23, with an estimated increase of 10.2 per cent.

Subsidies provided by the Maharashtra government are shrinking whereas revenue expenditure on salaries, pensions and interest for servicing debt are rising.Around 30. 9% of revenue expenditure in the current fiscal (2022-23) has gone for salaries and wages alone followed by another 13. 2% on pensions. Out of the total Rs 4,27,780 crore revenue expenditure this fiscal, Rs 1,31,986 crore was spent on salaries and wages followed by Rs 56,300 crore on pension and Rs 46,763 crore (10. 9%) on interest. Expenditure on subsidies was Rs 28,111 crore (6. 6%), much lower than in the previous fiscal.

Industry in Maharashtra set to expand by 6.9%, services to decline
The manufacturing sector in Maharashtra is set to grow at 6. 9% for 2022-23 against 4. 2% in 2021-22, according to the state’s economic survey for 2022-23. Construction and mining/quarrying, which along with manufacturing form some of the broad categories in the industrial sector, are expected to grow by 4. 4% against 0. 9-1. 3% in the previous year. Overall, Maharashtra’s industrial sector is expected to grow by 6. 1% from 3. 8% in 2021-22.Up to November 2022, the number of industrial projects approved were 211 with an overall investment of Rs 35,870 crore. In sharp contrast, Gujarat with 168 projects has attracted investments worth Rs 98,159 crore. Up to September 2022, the state saw an inflow of Rs 62,425 crore in foreign direct investments (FDI) remaining in the forefront while Gujarat received FDI of Rs 26,866 crore. In 2021-22 the state received Rs 1. 15 lakh crore in FDI while Gujarat received only Rs 20,169 crore.

‘State’s debt burden stood at Rs 6. 8 lakh crore’
As per the latest RBI report on composition of outstanding liabilities as on March 31, 2023, the state’s debt burden stood at Rs 6. 8 lakh cr ore, while the economic survey said the burden stood at 6. 49 lakh crore. Maharashtra is at No. 3; Tamil Nadu with Rs 7. 53 lakh crore leads the list, followed by UP with debt burden of Rs 7. 1 lakh crore.

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Nagpur: A hot discussion is taking place in RTO circles in Nagpur. A retired Mumbai officer was staying on the third floor of a hotel in Ramdaspeth in Nagpur. As RTO officials from various districts of East Vidarbha flocked to meet this officer, various discussions broke out. There were also talks about this game being played for transfers at a favourite place, a media report said.

According to the report, lists of names of some officials in East Vidarbha suddenly started circulating on various WhatsApp groups of the Transport Department in the Second Capital of Maharashtra on Wednesday. These officers were called to a hotel in Ramdaspeth and their claims were made regarding transfers to preferred places after the discussion with the retired officer was over.

Along with this retired officer, a man from Kalyan and a woman officer from Nagpur were also said to be getting a pass to meet the concerned retired officer. The person from Mumbai retired from a senior post in the Transport Department eight years ago. This person was in the news even then due to increasing meetings with the then Transport Minister.

Meanwhile, since the coming of the new government in the State, this retired officer has become active again and now he is directly calling the RTO officials for a discussion saying that he is close to the Transport Minister. How many officers in the list of those who meet this officer to get their posting. Now the attention of the senior officers of the RTO has come to this.

When contacted, the retired officer said he had come to Nagpur for my personal work. Having retired from the Transport Department, some of my friends are in Nagpur or nearby RTO. He met three of them. But, it has nothing to do with the Transport Department.

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Mumbai: Deputy Chief Minister and State Finance Minister Devendra Fadnavis has started presenting Maharashtra’s Budget for 2023-24 on Thursday.

Nagpur’s Laxminarayan Institute of technology (LIT) to be granted autonomous status: Deputy CM

Airports in the state will be developed

Govt allocates Rs 527 crore for new passenger terminal at Shirdi Airport. Rs 734 crore allocated for Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Airport land acquisition. Government announces expansion of Nagpur International Airport. A new international airport to be developed at Purandar.

Rs 12,000 honorarium to Maharashtra farmers per year

Contribution of the state government to Pradhan Mantri Krishi Samman Nidhi Yojana will be Rs 6,000 per farmer per annum. The Center will give the remaining Rs 6,000.

Maharashtra State Unorganized Workers Welfare Board will be set up to provide social security and welfare schemes to more than three crore unorganized sector workers. Maharashtra State Auto Rickshaw Taxi Driver-Owner Welfare Corporation will be established: Devendra Fadnavis

Allocations for waterways, farming announced

• Rs 162 crore investments in waterways.

• Rs 29,163 crore proposed for farming.

• Jems and Jewellery Centre at Navi Mumbai.

• Rs 43,000 crore for women and child development proposed.

• Scholarship for students of Classes 5th to 8th raised to Rs 5,000. For students of Classes 8th to 10th will be Rs 7,500.

• Rs 39,000 crore proposed for Metro projects in Thane, Nashik, Pimpri-Chinchwad.

• Rs 1,729 crore proposed for beautification of Mumbai.

• Rs 351 crore for Late Bal Thackeray memorial at Shivaji Park, Dadar proposed.

• Water transport from Mumbai to Navi Mumbai, Thane, Vasai-Virar proposed.

• Rs 741 crore proposed for Dr B R Ambedkar memorial at Indu Mills, Dadar.

Remaining 2% work of Nagpur-Mumbai Samruddhi Yojna to be completed this year

Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the finance portfolio, said that 98 percent of the Nagpur-Mumbai Samruddhi Yojna work has been completed and opened for the public. The remaining two percent connectivity from Sindhkhedraja to Shegaon in Buldhana will be completed this year.

• Scholarships for minorities students will be raised by Rs 25,000

• Recruitment of 20,000 anganwadi sevikas.

• Under PM Awas Yojna, ten lakh houses will be built in the next three years.

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Nagpur: Maharashtra deputy chief minister and finance minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday presented the state budget in the Assembly. The one-and-a-half-hour-long speech included various schemes and budgets for the state.

However, Fadnavis himself being from Vidarbha, could not get much for the decades-old disputed land. Here is what Nagpur will be getting from Maharashtra budget 2023-24:

– Fadnavis announced an audio-video park would come up in the city based on the life story of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj

– Dr Punjabrao Deshmukh agricultural research will be set up in Nagpur

– Orange processing unit to be set up in Vidarbha worth Rs 228 crore

– Nagpur to Goa (Shaktipeeth highway) to be completed this year

– Nagpur Metro and airport expansion soon (Nagpur metro phase 2)

– African safari to start in Gorewada zoo this year. Around Rs 100 crore will be spent on this project.

– Rs 250 crore for redevelopment and new gardens in Nagpur and Nashik

– Logistics hub spread in 1000 acres to come up in MIHAN

– Economy parks to be developed in six districts—including Nagpur

– Rs 100 crore allocated for Nagpur Divisional sports complex

– Funds to be granted for building Maharashtra National Law university

– De-addiction centres to come up at Jalna, Bhiwandi, Pune and Nagpur in a bid to reduce to addiction and mental health problems

– Financial assistance to orange card ration holders in 14 disaster affected districts of Marathwada and Vidarbha

– Districts like Nagpur, Wardha, Amravati, Washim, Yavatmal, Akola, Buldhana to benefit through the Wainganga-Nalganga-Painganga interlinking project

What remains to be seen is that the announcements made by the finance minister would actually benefit Nagpur or would just remain a political gimmick.

The post Maharashtra budget: Did Fadnavis give enough attention to Nagpur? appeared first on Nagpur Today : Nagpur News.

Nagpur: Tushar Kant Pandey has taken over as the Divisional Railway Manager, Nagpur Division of Central Railway. Prior to this, he was Executive Director, Railway Board.

An officer from Indian Railway Service of Engineers 1992 Batch, he did his B. Tech (Civil Engg.) from IIT Roorkee, M.Tech. from IIT Delhi and MBA and FMS from University of Delhi.

Tushar Kant Pandey has vast and rich experience of railway working in various Zonal Railways and Railway Board in various capacities.

Started his career in Railways as Assistant Divisional Engineer at Fatehpur, Northern Railway. He worked in various posts such as Senior Divisional Engineer/Co Lucknow and Chief Engineer, Northern Railway. He has worked in various posts in Railway Board such as Director, Track Machine, Executive Director, Transformation cell.

The post Tushar Kant Pandey is New DRM Central Railway, Nagpur Division appeared first on Nagpur Today : Nagpur News.

Nagpur: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis presented the state budget for 2023 on Thursday. The budget was based on the principle of ‘Panchamrut’ and dedicated to farmers, women, youth, employment, and the environment. Nagpur Today analysed the budget with the Green Vigil Foundation to explore what the budget has in store for the environment sector.

According to Kaustav Chatterjee, Founder of the Green Vigil Foundation, the state budget 2023 has given due importance to the environment sector. The budget has allotted 2294 crore to the Forest Department, 224 crore to the Environment & Climate Change Department, and 10919 crore for renewable energy. Furthermore, the state government is expected to invest 75000 crore in green hydrogen, green ammonia, solar, and wind energy sectors. Most importantly, the State government has revived and relaunched the Jal Yukt Shivar Scheme-II for helping farmers and raising the groundwater table.

Surbhi Jaiswal, Team Lead of the Green Vigil Foundation, stated that the State Government has committed to plan strategies to achieve Net Zero status. The budget also includes solar installations in 20000 villages and a 500 KW green hydrogen plant in Bhusawal utilizing solar energy. Under the old vehicle scrapping strategy, 15-year-old government vehicles will be scrapped, and special subsidies will be provided for scrapping private vehicles between 8 to 15 years of age. The State Transport will procure 5150 electrical buses.

Mehul Kosurkar, Deputy Team Lead of the Green Vigil Foundation, said that the state budget proposes the protection of lakes and the creation of an Amrut Van with medicinal plants. The budget also proposes the establishment of an African Safari & Bird Park at Gorewada in Nagpur, which will boost eco-tourism.

The state budget 2023 appears to have a strong focus on the environment sector and sustainability. The allocation of funds towards renewable energy and the revival of the Jal Yukt Shivar Scheme-II for groundwater conservation are particularly noteworthy initiatives. The plans for solar installations, green hydrogen, and the scrapping of old vehicles indicate the state government’s commitment to reduce pollution and promote a cleaner environment.

The post Maharashtra State Budget 2023 looks promising for Renewable Energy, Environment Sectors: Greens appeared first on Nagpur Today : Nagpur News.

Nagpur: Some unidentified miscreants reportedly sneaked into a locked house under the Pratap Nagar Police Station and decamped with booty worth Rs 8.12 lakh when the owner was out of town between March 8 and 9, the police said.

Based on the complaint lodged by Suresh Balaji Tidke (71), a resident of Flat No. 139 Bhausaheb Surve, the Pratap Nagar Police have registered an offence under Sections 454, 457, and 380 of the IPC.

According to police sources, Tidke had gone to his daughter’s place in Gadchiroli between March 8 and 9. Taking advantage of the situation, some burglars gained entry to his house and swept away cash, gold, and other valuables collectively worth Rs 8.12 lakh.

The post Housebreaking in Pratap Nagar, booty worth Rs 8.12 lakh stolen appeared first on Nagpur Today : Nagpur News.