Nagpur Today : Nagpur News

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In the first incident Shri Gopal Rameshkumar Pvt Ltd of Gandhibag had been supplying cotton bales to Tirunalvalli’s Messrs Subburaj Spinning Mills Directors from last four years. The Mill directors had been giving thread and hard cash. The dealing between the two started in 25 July 2013 and till 2015 everything was going on well. After this amount was kept pending giving some or the other reason.

As per the complaint lodged in the Tehsil police station by Vice-President Pramod Shivbhagwan Sabu of Shri Gopal Rameshkumar Pvt Ltd of Gandhibag against Messrs Subburaj Spinning Mills Directors Venkatswami Subburaj, resident of Parachiyamma, Tamil Nadu, Ramswami Raghavan, resident of Ganapati Mess Colony Shankarnagar Narayanmalpuran, Guruswami Krishnakumar, resident of Maskekali, Huyypayam, Comibatore and Arun Subiya resident Triveni Mayani, Madurai Road Comibatore took cotton bales worth Rs 17.7444 crores from Sabu’s firm between 25 July 2017 to January 2018. Subburaj Spinning Mills has kept Rs 3.2156 crores pending. On asking the defaulters had been giving some or the other reasons. Sabu on sensing that the defaulters will not pay he lodged a complaint with Tehsil police on 15 February. After checking the documents thoroughly the police registered an offence against the accused persons. All the accused stay in Tamil Nadu and so a police team will be sent there, informed Police Station Officer Vaibhav Jadhav.

In the second case Retd Forest Officer Sudhir Jairam Gawande, 79 a resident of Bajajnagar received phone call twice from one Somya Sharma and Kamble saying that he would get Rs 25 lakh bonus under the insurance Lokpal Scheme. After winning the confidence of Gawande, Sharma and Kamble giving various beneficial reason asked him to deposit Rs 24.57 lakh in the bank account. Similarly another accomplice of the above mentioned accused asked Gawande to deposit Rs 14.47 lakh in bank stating that in a short period he would big amount. Every time they would lure him with big amount. But Gawande did not get any amount and so he started pestering them for money. The culprits stopped responding. Gawande came to know that he had been cheated he lodged a complaint in Bajajnagar police station. Bajajnagar’s PSO Dnyaneshwar Patil suspects that a gang from Delhi-Noida may be active. The search is on for these culprits.

One Shankar Sadashiv Mandke, 53 resident of Pandhrabodi received a phone calls asking him to invest in fixed deposit as the company would give double amount in a short period. Mandke believing the accused deposited Rs 4.2265 lakh for period from December 2016 to 3 November 2017 in HDFC Bank, Ferozpur branch. Soon after maturity date Mendke asked for his amount but the accused stopped responding. On coming to know that he was duped he lodged a complaint with Ambazari police. Police registered an offence.

Three simpletons swindled of lakhs of rupees in separate cases

Nagpur Today : Nagpur News

Nagpur: The term of the present Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s Standing Committee will end this month The new team was nominated for the next financial year 2018-19 and in this eight new members have been nominated. Among these eight members is BJP’s young Councillor Virendra aka Vicky Kukreja. After the announcement of Mayor there are speciulations that Vicky Kukreja might become the next Chairman of Sanding Committee and people have already started congratulating him.

After the ruling party leader’s post most of the big post have gone to West Nagpur and South -West Nagpur Councillors like the ruling party and Mayor’s posts have gone to South-west and Standing Committee’s Chairman’s post to west Nagpur. The BJP leaders had already nominated the Chairman of standing committee looking to forth coming Parliamentary elections. It was decided that Prabhag 1 Vicky Kukreja would be the Chairman of Standing Committee. The 8 new members selected are Vicky Kukreja, Sunil Hiranwar, Sanjay Mahajan, Sheshrao Gotmare, Sonali Kadu, Mangala Khekare, Manish Atkare and from Congress quota Harshal Sable.

It may be mentioned that in the Standing Committee there are total 16 members main eight members will be immediately nominated. Presently there are 13 members of BJP and 3 members of Congress in Standing Committee.

Out of these eight new members have been nominated for the next financial year. In the main eight members 6 will be of BJP and two of Congress who will be nominated soon. BJP has already taken the resignations of the six members but it is going to be difficult to take the resignations of the Congress members. Out of the two Manoj Sangole has already made up his mind not give his resignation. If he does not give the resignation once again he will be the standing committee member from Congress quota. As per the rule if he is completes the second year in standing committee than automatically his term will end.

Kukreja is said to be close to Chief Minister. He is the Director of Banking, building construction and Education Society. For the first time when he became the Councillor, on the instructions of BJP leader and Chief Minister he was made the Deputy leader of BJP in NMC and Deputy Chief of Fire Committee. Being in the Deputy Chief of Fire Committee he easily gave No Objection Certificate to many builders and had become a topic of discussion.

There is possibility that a particular group’s contractor will get help.

Members of other committees nominated

Architecture, Electricity and Project Committtee- Sanjay Bangale, Bhagwan Mendhe, Kishore Wankhede, Sarita Kavre, Rajkunmar Shahu, Pallavi Shyamkule, Kamlesh Choudhary, Purshottam Hazare, Jeetendra Ghodeswar. Among these Bangale will once again be made the Chairman.

Medical Services and Heath Committee- Manoj Chafle, Vijay Chutele, Pramod Korti, Vishakha Bante, Erwar, Jyoti Bhishikar, Gargiu Chopda, Dinesh Yadav, Vandana Chandekar.Manoj Chafle will once again become the Chairman.

Legal Committee- Adv Dharmapal Meshram, Sangeeta Gire, Jayshree Wadibhasme, Harish Bagade, Gopichand Kumre, Sangeeta Chakole, Sandeep Sahare, Zulfikar Bhutta, Mohommad Jamal. From this Dharmapal Meshram will be made Chairman.

Education Committee- Dilip Dive, Bharati Bunde, Rita Mukley, Swati Aakhatkar, Rajendra Sonkusare, Pramila Nathrani, Manoj Gawande, Nitin Sathone, Mohommad Ibrahim. Dilip will be the Chairman for thebsecond term to

Housing construction Committee- Abhay Gotekar, Usha Pailete, Niranjana Patil, Lata Katgaye, Rutika Masram. Durga Hattithele, Neha Nikose, Parasram Manwatkar, Manwatkar Narendra Walde. Abhay Gotekar will be the next Chairman.

Sports Committee – Nagesh Sahare, Pramod Tabhane, Sarla Nayak, Kanta Rarokar, Sanjay Chavre, Neha Waghmare, DarshaniDhawad, Sakshi Raut, Veranka Bhivgade. Nagesh will once again be the Chairman.

Women, Child Welfare Committee- Pragati Patil, Vishakha Mohod, DIvya Dhurde, Sangeeta Kavre, Manish Atkare , Naseem Bano, Jeeshan Irfan, Rashim Dhurve, Vaishali Narnavare, Pragiti Patil will be the Chairperson.

Water Supply Committee- Vijay Zalke, Pradip Phane, Deepak Choudhary, Gopichand Kumre, Shraddha Pathak, Jayshree Rarokar, Harish Gwalwanshi, Pranita Sahare, Sanjay Burrewar. From these Zalke or Pohane might become Chairman and Deputy Chairman.

Tax Valuation and Tax Collection Committee– Sandip Jadhav , Sunil Agrawal, Yashree Nandanwar, Meenakshi Telgote, Madhuri Thakare, Sanjay Balpande, Nitesh Gwalwanshi, Bhavana Lonare, Mangala Lanjewar. Sandip Jadhav will be the chairman.

Fire Committee- Lahukumar Behete, Varsha Thakre, Nishant Gandhi, Vandana Bhure, Vanita Dandekar, Anil Gendre, Bunty Shelke, Asha Uike, Mamata Sahare. LahuKUmar will be the chairman.

Vicky Kukreja to be Chairman of Standing Committee

Nagpur Today : Nagpur News

Nagpur: The Anti-Corruption Bureau struck again and lodged FIRs against several officers and contractors for irregularities in tender processing and favouring a particular contractor in the Ghoshikhurd national irrigation project of Vidarbha region.

According to available information, the ACB had registered six new offences involving 10 persons including top officials and engineers of the Gosikhurd Irrigation project for alleged fraud and following corrupt practices while executing the Ghodajhari canal work, Ambhora lift-irrigation scheme, Goshikhurd right canal, Mokhaburdi lift-irrigation scheme and two other schemes of Gosikhurd irrigation, thereby causing huge losses to the state exchequer.

In December, the ACB had lodged four FIRs in connection with Gosikhurd project in Vidarbha region in 2012. It registered FIRs over irregularities in execution of works and tender process in the Gosikhurd project.
Earlier, the Nagpur bench of Bombay high court had pulled up the state government for protecting the former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar and refused to exclude his name from the list of respondents in the multi-crore irrigation scam.

The court asked the government to come clear on Pawar’s role in the multi-crore scam. Most of the corruptions in Goshikhurd irrigation project were detected when Pawar was holding the irrigation portfolio.

The high court also sought to know why the ACB hasn’t yet questioned Pawar despite several allegations against him. The high court bench, comprising Justice Bhushan Dharmadikari and Justice Swapna Joshi, directed the state to file a comprehensive affidavit on the status of inquiry against Pawar.

It also asked the government to place on record the status of inquiry against former NCP MLC from Yavatmal Sandeep Bajoriya, who had allegedly got contracts for four irrigation projects despite not having the requisite experience to carry out the work.

The latest action by the ACB was the part of multi-crore irrigation scam. Those booked by the ACB include: former executive director of Gosikhurd irrigation project Devendra Shirke, ex-chief engineer Sopan Suryawanshi, former superintendent engineer Sanjay Kholapurkar, divisional accounts officer Guridas Mandavkar, former executive engineer Mukesh Rane, M/s Khalatkar Construction and M/s Srinivas Construction. The ACB registered formal complaints against them at the Sadar police station here on Tuesday afternoon.

The ACB has filed FIRs against these officers and contractors for preparing fake documents, fudging the tender process, hiking the cost of projects and entering into a criminal conspiracy to cheat the government.

More heads roll in irrigation scam

Nagpur Today : Nagpur News

Nagpur: Once again the duo father-son will be in hot water for non re-payment of loan amounting to Rs 73.50 crores taken for the Ramesh Ganesh Gadkari Sugar factory in Hetisurla in Saoner taluka. State Sugar Commissioner sent letters to Divisional Sugar Directors reagrding the pending loans. On this basis 19 directors along with the former minister Ranjeet Deshmukh and MLA Ashish Desmukh will receive notices.

Ranjeet Deshmukh is the Chairman of the sugar factory at Hetisurla. While among the Board of Directors are his wife Roopatai Deshmukh and son Ashish Deshmukh and 19 other directors. In 2003-2004 the sugar factory closed down. On 4 May 2007 Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank, Mumbai in order to get back their loan sold of the of the factory for Rs 12.95 crore. Present day the state is that the sugar factory has no property left. The factory had taken a loan of Rs 21.72 crores and over this it had to pay an interest of Rs 51.78 crores. So the total amount of loan reached to Rs 73.50 crores.

The sugar commissioner has come forward to recover the amount forcefully. The Commissioner has sent letter to Divisional Sugar Director that amount should be collected from Deshmukh and the other Board of Directors. According to the sources, the notices will be served within two days to Deshmukh and 19 directors. There is every possibility that if the loan is not repaid the properties of the directors will be seized.

Besides Roopa Deshmukh, wife of Ranjeet Deshmukh and son Ashish Deshmukh the other directors are Komalchand Raut, Dharmendra Paliwal, Amol Shashikant Deshmukh , Arunrao Ghonge, Suresh Kuhite, Ashok Dhote, Bhaurao Bhoyar, Shishupal Yadav, Suryakant Kumbhare, Prabhudayalsingh Raghuvanshi, Rajendra Deshmukh, Adv Lakhanpal Soni, Pramilatai Mahajan, Vivek Mowade, Vijay Bhajan, T P Nikam. All will be served notices.

Ranjeet Deshmukh head over heels in debt
The IDBI banks loan amount is pending and so Ranjeet Deshmukh’s property may be seized. Already district collector has served notice to Ranjeet Desmukh regarding the use of Lata Mangeshkar Hospital land for commercial purpose and so to revert the land to govt which was given on lease. Now it is the pending loan amount of sugar factory at Hetisurla.

The Sugar Factory Loan
Reason Loan Interest Total
Govt capital – 12.00 00 12.00
Govt gaurantees on loan – 8.61 49.82 58.43
Govt gaurantee duty – 0.36 0.11 0.47
Staff Loan – 0.75 1.75 2.60
————————————————————————
Total – 21,72 51.78 73.50

————————————————————————

Sugar turns bitter for father and Son

Nagpur Today : Nagpur News

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Nagpur/Mumbai: A bad news is in store for farmers of Maharashtra as India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued hailstorm warning for five districts of north Maharashtra region from February 23 for the next 48 hours. It has also predicted similar warning for Aurangabad district of Marathwada on 24Feb.

Due to the bad weather the destruction of cultivated land in the state will rise significantly. The State exchequer which is already facing paucity of funds will have more stree due to this.

Thunderstorm accompanied with hailstorm is likely to occur at isolated areas over five districts of north Maharashtra — Nashik, Ahmednagar, Jalgaon, Dhule and Nandurbar from February 23 for the next 48 hours, says the fresh IMD forecast. It added that the thunderstorm along with hailstorm is likely to hit Aurangabad district of Marathwada on February 24 for the next 24 hours.

Agriculture minister Pandurang Fundkar said that the agriculture department has now asked the farmers to take all possible precautions to minimise damages. This includes storing crops at secure places, to take shelter in case of hailstorm and thunderstorm, cover cultivated crops if possible and so on.

Marathwada and Vidarbha, the two regions in the state were worst hit by the adverse weather conditions, which began on February 11 and continued till February 13. Farmers in Marathwada and Vidarbha are among the most vulnerable in the state because these regions are prone to droughts.

So far, more than 3,724 villages across 19 districts have been affected. As per the preliminary estimate of the State Agriculture Department, damage to the crops by hailstorm and unseasonal rains has reached around 3 lakh hectares.

The most affected districts are Amravati (45,868 hectares), Buldana (40,385 hectares), Osmanabad (30,112 hectares), Jalna (30,000) and Nanded (29,535).

The affected farmers will get compensation as per the norms laid down under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF). To compensate farmers for the losses, Maharashtra government has already sought financial assistance of Rs 200 crore from the Centre .

As per the NDRF norms, farmers who cultivate crops on non-irrigated land will get compensation of Rs 6,800 per hectare for damage caused by natural calamities. The agriculture minister said that for irrigated land, farmers are entitled to get compensation of Rs13,500 per hectare, while for horticulture or perennial crops, they get Rs18,000 per hectare. However, in all cases, compensation will be limited to two hectares only.

Warning bells for Maha farmers, hailstorm may hit 5 distts from 23 Feb

Nagpur Today : Nagpur News

Nagpur: Yesterday we saw the valedictory function of ‘Magnetic Maharashtra’ which had unfolded on Sunday with much fanfare with the august presence of the PM himself.

Maharashtra signed 4,106 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) involving an investment of more than Rs12.10 trillion during the three-day Magnetic Maharashtra global investors summit, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis announced at the valedictory press conference of the business conclave on Tuesday at BKC ( Bandra Kurla Complex) in Mumbai.

That is a mind boggling figure; most readers will not even know how many zeroes are in a trillion ( just like me!) So I googled it and came up with this fact:

1 Trillion = 1 lakh crore INR = 1,000,000,000,000

So our state is slated to get investments of over Rs. 12 lakh crores?? How heartening! ( Investments in the state made two years ago at the Make In India meet was a meagre Rs 8 lakh crore.

But what is going to be the share of Vidarbha?
Fadnavis also said employment generation would be 36.77 lakhs. The Government of India and the Maharashtra government signed 104 proposals that would bring an investment of Rs 3.9 lakh crore to the state, he said.

Vidarbha occupies 31.6% of the total area of Maharashtra and holds 21.3% of the total population of the state. Vidarbha is easily the larger part of the state having two administrative divisions of Nagpur and Amravati which have eleven districts between them. So, if not a lion’s share, Vidarbha and Nagpur as its ‘capital’ should have received at least 30% of the investments, that is 3 lakh crores or 3 Trillion,right??

Very disappointing, even heart breaking to say – Wrong!
Precisely two MOUs have been specifically signed for the state that will – hopefully – bring investments of less than Rs. 2000/ crores and employment to a few thousand people! So while whole of Maharashtra is slated to get almost 37 lakh jobs, Nagpur has to be satisfied with 2 to 3 thousand only??

As per the various media report of 21st February
‘Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister, told mediapersons that the investors signed several MoUs for investment in industrially backward Marathwada, Vidarbha, and North Maharashtra.

Anand Mahindra, Chairman of Mahindra Group, also announced during the summit that Tech Mahindra will invest Rs 125 crore to create an all-green Tech Hub in Nagpur. The hub is expected to create at least 2,500 jobs.
An important MoU was signed by Dr Harshdeep Kamble, Development Commissioner (Industries); Lt Gen (retd) Ravindra Thodge of Vidarbha Defence Industrial Hub Private Limited; and Sushil Kumar of Tata Technologies Limited. Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister, also was present on the occasion. The MoU was signed to promote Maharashtra as aerospace and defence manufacturing and export hub by setting up ‘Nirman’ common facilitation centre for aerospace and defence.

As per the press release issued by the office of Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Energy Minister and Guardian Minister of Nagpur district, Energy Department and Giriraj Renewables Private Limited signed an MoU regarding floating solar panel project worth Rs 2,100 crore in Nagpur. Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Limited (Mahagenco) also signed an MoU for an investment of Rs 5,200 crore in 800 MW thermal power project in Umred tehsil of Nagpur district.’

If one reads between the lines the only big ticket investment that is guaranteed to come to Vidarbha is the Rs. 5200 crores earmarked for the 800 MW thermal power station in Umred taluka of Nagpur district.

Imagine the coal that will need to be mined for this – also in Vidarbha! Environmentalists are already concerned about the fast pace at which we are losing our forest cover to new mines and the heavy air pollution we have in ‘Thermal power station’ towns like Chandrapur and Nagpur. Such mega projects will definitely make matters worse. And for what?

Power that will mostly be transported to the over industrialized areas of Mumbai, Pune, Nasik etc.???

We in Vidarbha will only have the ‘privilege’ of sharing in the transmission costs and losses and thus pay more for our own power for which we already pay a heavy cost by way of damages!

UDAAN – the only silver lining
In this over all gloomy scenario of Vidarbha the only promise right now seems to be the UDAAN project envisaged to create technical man power for the Aerospace and Defense hub ancillary units that have the potential to come up once the Nagpur MRO gets an expansion and more Defense industries come up in the area.

UDAAN specifically plans on training 50,000 youth – from 8th standard drop outs to polytechnic students – for jobs in these industries.

Credit for putting in their heart and soul into getting the Defense enclave to Nagpur goes to Gen (retd) Ravindra Thodge, and Dushyant Deshpande who have been pursuing the development of this important sector since some time now.

In a seminar they held in Nagpur last year where they brought giants from the Aviation and Defense to meet Nagpur industrialists and Engineering College professors, it was clearly underlined that Nagpur had a huge potential for these sectors but for two impediments:

Lack of trained and experienced personnel to operate the high precision and sophisticated machinery that is used in these industries; and:

The high 18% slab of GST that will be charged in the state.

(There was already word that the Telengana state was trying to entice these sectors to their state promising little or nil tax.)

Finally, the CM has promised a total waiver of the Maharashtra state component of the GST, which is a huge benefit says Dushyant while talking to NT.

This project, when it materializes will definitely boost employment and bring some much needed investment to MIHAN and Vidarbha.

But, the matter of the fact is this has been in the pipeline and being planned by the endeavour of these two men mentioned above; it would have come irrespective of whether the Meet of Magnetic Maharashtra was held or not!

So what did M.M. bring really to our beleaguered districts of Vidarbha where farmers are in a hopeless situation and youth are frustrated due to heavy unemployment?

As a young industrialist who was in Mumbai for Magnetic Maharashtra opined on the sidelines of the enclave to NT

“it was a good enclave, but it was all about Mumbai mostly!”

Compare this with mega projects going to Mumbai – Pune region
The really big and key investments are that of Reliance Industries Limited for Rs 60,000 crore and the Virgin Hyperloop One for Rs 40,000 crore for high-speed train network between Mumbai and Pune. Thrust Aircraft Cluster will invest Rs 35,000 crore in Palghar, JWS Electrical Vehicle Ltd will invest Rs 6000 crore, Hyosung (Spandex Unit) (AURIC) Rs 1,250 crore in Aurangabad and Mahindra Electrical Vehicles and EV Component Rs 500 crore.

With such mega projects running into 40,000 crores and 60,000 crores have gone to Western Maharashtra, ‘backward regions’ have been given sops like projects of a few hundred to 20 – 25 crores.

As the CM said himself – “While Marath-wada stands to gain the most, investments will give a major facelift to the backward regions of Vidarbha, parts of north and western Maharashtra and Konkan,” he added. Lloyd Metal and Energy Pvt Ltd agreed to invest Rs 700 crore in the Maoist violence-affected district of Gadchiroli, while the tribal district of Nandurbar attracted investments worth Rs 700 crore from Genus Paper and Boards Limited, Fadnavis said. In Nanded, among the emerging growth centres, India Agro Anaj Ltd has invested Rs 200 crore. In Hingoli, Rs 125 crore would be invested by Shiur Agro Limited. Fadnavis said: “Hingoli had been dismissed as the non-industrial district in the Economic Survey. Through Magnetic Maharashtra, a new beginning has been made which we pledge to consolidate in the successive years through bigger investments and development.”

But how many MOUs are actually realized?
The strike rate for the state in the past has been 60% opined the CM while replying to a query on the success rate of MOUs translating to action.

With the amount of MOUs signed going up so radically, we would be lucky if the strike rate is even 50% this time around.

Often, the main beneficiaries of the proposed industries fall through the cracks in ‘translation’ between promise and action.

Remember Amravati and Akola were promised a revival of Textile mills to boost Cotton farmers?

Well, some mills did come up – “but they were dealing with polyester yarn” as per the finding of Ashish Deshmukh, MLA, who has been in the forefront of Vidarbha movement.

—Sunita Mudaliar (Executive Editor)

Vidarbha not magnetic enough to attract investments??

Nagpur Today : Nagpur News

Nagpur: Action has been taken against 17 bus employees under the ESMA (Essential Services Maintenance Act) on Wednesday to normalise the paralysed bus service due to strike. The bus drivers and conductors called for the strike on the eve of the 12th Board exam. Action under ESMA was taken not only against the bus employees but also against Bharatiya Kamagar Sena’s Secretary Ambadas Shende. Shende is also among the striking employees who have been demanding hike in wages along with other facilities.

NMC administration keeping in mind the Tuesday’s experience had taken the help of police administration to take action. Under the police security the buses were being taken out from the Yeshwant Stadium depot. Bharatiya Kamagar Sena without bowing down before administration went to the court against ESMA.

The bus service is being run by four operator in city under Aapli Bus. Nearly a month before the NMC administration was warned that on not getting hike in wages, medical, Provident Fund benefits and joining letter the employees would go on strike. NMC administration had been dilly dallying in giving the minimum wages. Sensing that the demand would not be fulfilled the bus employees took a decision to go on strike.

The bus employees under the banner of Bharatiya Kamagar Sena went on strike on Tuesday and Wednesday. Looking to the Board exams the administration appealed to bus employees to run the bus service. Since the bus service was not started and pointing it to be the essential service action was taken under ESMA Act.

Action taken against striking bus employees under ESMA

Nagpur Today : Nagpur News

Nagpur: The 12th Board exam started on 21 Feb and students had to bear with the traffic jam due to on going metro work. The metro work is going on in front of many schools and colleges. Even the vehicles faced problem of the traffic jam. Knowing very well that the traffic jam situation would arise the students made it a point to reach their centres an hour earlier. This year the Board has made the rules strict. The traffic jam was witnessed before the Hadas High School, R S Mundle and Dharampeth College, Ambazari. The students have been facing traffic jam problem daily because of metro work. Due to this the students have been reached the centre an hour before.

In this Board examination total 1,72,411 students have been appearing. From Nagpur city 40,171 students are appearing. The exam is being held at 452 examination centre from 11 am to 2 pm. To stop unfair means 47 flying squad have been formed. Board has kept 7 squad in every district. Similarly 5 special squads and 1 extra special squad has been kept to keep watch on exam centres. Strict checking is being done of the students entering the exam centres. On talking to the students coming out of the exam centres they said that the first paper of English was easy but the grammar was hard. Overall the paper was good, they said.

Despite traffic jam due metro work student reach before time for Board exam

Nagpur Today : Nagpur News

Nagpur: A large plane circling in the skies of Nagpur on Wednesday evening generated much curiosity among the citizens as the plane, which appeared like an international flight did many rounds, hovering over Nagpur. While the phones of various media houses kept ringing the social media too was abuzz about this plane, later it turned out be an Air India aircraft deployed to train pilots for landing and take offs.

The plane was seen circling over various localities since noon. Nagpur was chosen for the exercise because of the less air traffic at the airport here.

However, since Nagpur airport is not that busy, rarely do planes hover around before landing. So, a plane circling over the city was a new sight for most people living near the airport. Soon messages and pictures of the aircraft were spreading across social media.

Airport sources confirmed that it was a training session, and another such session was also held over a week ago. This is a regular affair and centres are chosen on the basis of availability of air space, said a source.

The plane was flown at a height of 3,000 feet during training. Normally, an aircraft can go up to more than 30,000 feet. Though much higher than buildings or other objects, at 3,000 feet the plane appears to be rather low, said an airport official.

‘Mystery plane’ in Nagpur skies turns out to be Air India training aircraft

Nagpur Today : Nagpur News

Nagpur: The phase II rehabilitation work of the 37-year old, Seminary Hills Master Balancing Reservoir (MBR) Part –II which is known as ‘Heart’ of the city’s water supply system is going on in full swing by Orange City Water (OCW). Like our “Heart’ which distributes blood in human system, Seminary Hills MBR distributes water in city’s water supply system, especially to ESR’s of West , South West and Central parts of Nagpur.

It may be mentioned here the Seminary Hills MBR was constructed in 1981 and was not been repaired since then. Precious potable Water was going waste due to leakage from these MBR. Thus the rehabilitation of MBR was a must.

The Orange City Water (OCW) which has been operating and maintaining water supply system of city, took initiative and on priority basis successfully not only plugged leakages of 11.27 ML capacity Seminary Hills MBR Part –I by using ‘Pressure Grouting’ technique, but also saved thousands of litres of water going waste, through its rehabilitation process. OCW had successfully completed Part – I of Seminary Hills MBR and started distribution of water into supply system and now started work of rehabilitation of its Part- II part.

There are two MBR’s each of 11.27 ML capacity located at Seminary Hills (Part -I and Part II), which supplies water especially to West, South, South-West Central Nagpur. Earlier, the two MBRs which were interconnected and also connected to the Treatment Plants directly were isolated. The water is first supplied to these MBRs and then further supplied to the city.

OCW first isolated these MBR’s and shifted supply to one tank and the other tank was taken under rehabilitation. So that without affecting the water supply to the city the rehab work can be completed.

Further, like in a bid to provide clean and safe water at the tap of every consumer, OCW had started its annual ESR cleaning drive , in a similar manner , in a bid to save potable water going waste from old and leaking ESR’s (Elevated Service Reservoirs) the Orange City Water (OCW) which has been operating and maintaining water supply system of city, took initiative and on priority basis successfully not only plugged leakages on 11 major ESR’s of Nandanvan, Mini Mata Nagar , Laxmi Nagar (Old) Ram Nagar, Khamla, Subhan Nagar, Reshimbagh, Gayatri Nagar, Chinchbhuan, Sakkardara 1 & Sakkardara 2 (overhead tank), but also completed much awaited rehabilitation process of two major Master Balancing Reservoirs (MBR) like Seminary Hills part-I and Sitabuldi Fort (MBR).

It must be mentioned here, like OCW used latest ‘Pressure Grouting’ technique for rehabilitating Seminary Hills MBR. It is technique where series of holes were drilled through the concrete slab and wall of ESR, and a grout tube then inserted into each hole. Then a special chemical is pumped under pressure through each hole. The grout then displaced, compacted and solidified thus forming grout columns. Pressure grouting has now stabilised the existing concrete walls, slabs etc. these MBR.

New life to Seminary Hills MBR, rehabilitation work in progress

Nagpur Today : Nagpur News

Nagpur: On one side, SNDL is making all efforts to conduct massive disconnection drive on consumers who have not paid their regular bills or vigilance dues, and on the other hand certain miscreants are making all efforts to go against the system. SNDL recently encountered one such matter which has taken the entire team aback.

Case details:
A vigilance case was booked in name of Sneha TarunBhojwani – 410011755031 under THEFT dated 11/11/2016. Total Assessment of Rs. 5 Lacs was presented to the consumer who agreed to the theft happening at his place.

TarunBhojwani immediately paid Rs. 2 Lacs and gave a post-dated cheque of Rs.3 Lacs. On making part-payment, meter was reconnected at the premises on humanitarian grounds as the consumer pleaded about old family members. Later, the cheque got dishonored and so the team initiated disconnection at the premises after repeated approach to consumer and getting false assurances. During payment followup and disconnection drive consumer used to threaten our employees mentioning that he will file complaint against us if he or his old family members died due to no power.

The supply to Bhojwani’s premises was disconnected twice during last year but consumer was not paying up. Meter and service cable was also removed but consumer still refused payment. The SNDL teams were surprised as to how the consumer was surviving without electricity when supply was disconnected. A special team was deputed to keep watch on this consumer. It was only then that SNDL came to know that the consumer had got service cable replaced and reconnected without meter by using the services of a private electrician. A case was therefore booked under section 135 of Electricity Act (Direct supply) on date 12/02/2018. Case was booked in the name of Hiren Bhojwani (Assessment –Rs.21730/-& Compounding – Rs.38000/-) and FIR lodged on 14/02/2018 at Gaddigodam Police Station (FIR No – 3218/18).

Illegal reconnection details:
It was learnt by SNDL team probing the matter that the consumer took the services of one Aakash Pande who is a resident of Nandanvan and is an identified tout/agent who lures consumers into such illegal matters. He would ask for a ‘lesser amount’ in such cases and convince the consumer of ‘no action from SNDL’. Aakash would in-turn take the services of various electricians operating privately or under some contractor. In this particular matter, the person involved was identified as LaxminarayanWatsingewho works as a Lineman in NMC on roll of “SonuElectricals”. FIR has been lodged in Lakadganj Police station on date 14/02/2018 (FIR No 0074). It may be recalled that Aakash Pande was also identified in another matter in the year 2013 ( https://www.nagpurtoday.in/man-first-steals-electricity-then-tries-to-cheat-sndl-msedcl-by-preparing-bogus-papers/12291955 ).

Total outstanding on this consumer:
Amount Payable by Consumer as on date:
Assessment – Rs.3,84,240/-, Compounding – Rs.78,000/-

Other cases on consumer:

• One case was booked earlier in same premises on dated 23/01/2015 under “Service Wire Tapping” section 135/138. Assessment of 2Lacs Paid but Rs.20,000 compounding not paid by consumer till date.
• One more case booked on same consumer in his shop which is located in Itwari. Case booked under “Tariff Misuse ” dated 23/03/2017 in name of “M/S KISANCHAND & CO – 410011187327”. Total Assessment of Rs.45,470/- is still unpaid as Cheque Payment got dishonored.
• 2nd case booked in his shop under “unbilled” of Rs. 17,030/- dated 16/09/2017 which is also not paid by consumer till date.

SNDL has issued a letter of appealto NMC and other concerned authorities for appropriate action on the employee/contractor. SNDL has also issued an appeal to all its consumers to avoid falling prey to such touts and agents who lure them into such illegal traps.SNDL has also picked a few clues from same persons and is in readiness to lodge FIR against all such consumers who have made illegal reconnections.

NMC contractor’s employee found reconnecting disconnected cases – SNDL lodges FIR

Nagpur Today : Nagpur News

Nagpur: Sitabuldi is one of the biggest market in Nagpur where people from all stratas come for shopping. These days the Sitabuldi main road has become congested because of the hawkers and vendors sitting on the road to sell products. The municipal administration is least bothered of vacating them which is creating a problem for parking and the people moving on the road. These vendors and hawkers are often seen having tiffs with the people as they think it is their right to to have their shops on road. They are often seen misbehaving with the women customers.

On Tuesday one such vendor is alleged to have misbehaved with the with a women and on top of that even the police did not take action against him. A couple from Jaitala, Ankit Sonkasle and his wife Puja had gone to Sitabuldi for purchasing things on Tuesday afternoon. On Sitabuldi main road in front of the UCO bank Puja was purchasing some things while bargaining she had an agrument with the vendor who is alleged to have used abusive language and so her husband Ankit immediately protested. Soon after heated exchange of words the vendor and Ankit came to fists and blows. The other shopkeepers too came to the help of the vendor and started beating Ankit . The accused had covered their faces with scarves.

Seeing the incident taking a serious turn Puja contacted the Sitabuldi police. The cops reached the spot but by that time the culprits ran away. Ankit and Puja reached the police station and the shopkeeper too reached there. He told the police that he was not there during the scuffle. According to Ankit the shopkeeper had taken the police aside and spoken to them. Immediately the plolice asked to settle the matter. When he refused, on a complaint from the shopkeeper police spoke of registering a case against the husband and wife. On not getting Justice the couple contacted the DCP of the area Rakesh Ola and narrated the entire episode to him. The entire episode was capture in the CCTV and so from the footage it was clear how the shopkeeper had misbehaved with the couple. Ankit and his wife hope the police official will take serious action against those guilty.

Shopkeeper misbehaves with couple, entire episode capture in CCTV

Nagpur Today : Nagpur News

Nagpur: After spending years in the Nagpur Municipal Corporation the employees and officials somehow want to be associated with the NMC either by getting an extension in service or contesting the election. These days it the Additional Commissioner of NMC who is retiring this month, is trying his level best to get extension in service through the ruling party for another two years. But till now only assurances are being given.

The employees and officials may have failed to do their duty but since they got so accustomed to the environment in NMC that they want to continue even after retirement. and make all efforts to stick on. They again join on contract. They are given additional responsibility or they become consultant while there are others who contest the elections to become public representative.

Many of the employees who are on contract are the retired employees and officials of NMC. The CEO of the Smart City was the NMC’s Additional Commissioner. Retired Executive Engineer Sonkusare is also expecting extension in service but the NMC’s additional Commissioner is not positive on his application where as the Additional Commssioner himself is going to retire this month. To get an extension he has been towing the line of the ruling party. The ruling party has been giving him the assurance that the retirement age is going to be 60 years and an Ordinance is going to be issued. As per the ordinance the retirement age will be 60 his two years will be increased. But in case a Ordinance is not issued the ruling party is likely to take some positive steps.

The NMC should think of the young educated unemployeds who can be given chance instead of giving extension to retired officials or employees, as some positive change will will come. The evaluation of the work of the retired employees who are in service should be done so that the NMC knows whether it has benefitted or not.

Additional Commissioner towing the lines of ruling party to get extension

Nagpur Today : Nagpur News

Nagpur: As part of the annual ESR cleaning schedule, OCW has planned to clean Nandanwan New ESR on Friday, 23rd February,2018 (Friday). Due to the cleaning of ESR the supply in the New Nandanwan Command area shall remain affected.

The residents of the following areas are requested to make necessary storage of water in advance as water through Tankers shall be be provided in the affected areas: Darshan Colony,Shreekrushna Nagar, Vidya Nagar, Sankalp
Nagar, Shesh Nagar,Shakatimata Nagar, Gopalkrushna Nagar, Muralindhan Nagar, Shivankar Nagar,New Diamond nagar, Siddheshwar Wadi and Indirani Town.

Nandanwan New ESR cleaning on Feb 23

Nagpur Today : Nagpur News

Nagpur: Reacting over NCP leader Sharad Pawar’s statement on demand for Statehood to Vidarbha Pro-Vidarbha leader Shrihari Aney raised an objection on it and said that his statement exhibits a selfish mentality. There are no differences between Hindi -Marathi speaking people. Vidarbha belongs to Chattisgarhi, Bengali, Telangi, Gondi, Marwadi and all. People speaking different languages stay in Vidarbha. He said that the people of Vidarbha were only concerned about the development.

In an interview to MNS Chief Raj Thackeray in Pune, NCP leader Sharad Pawar had said that the original Marathi people do not want Vidarbha only the four district are demanding the Vidarbha State. In these district there are many Hindi speaking people. From Nagpur to Akola this portion comes in Central India. The demand for separate Vidarbha is only from Nagpur, Chandrapur, Bhandara, Gondia. Those agitating for Separate Vidarbha are not Marathi people

Pawar further said the non-Marathi people feel that the leadership of Separate Vidarbha will come to them and so they are raising the demand. Aney said the fear of leadership going to Hindi or Marathi person exhibits the self mentality. Demand for Vidarbha is only for development. Not a single Marathi speaking Chief Minister could develop Vidarbha from 1960 to 2014.

Sharad Pawar’s statement on separate Vidarbha projects selfish political mentality, says Aney

Nagpur Today : Nagpur News

Nagpur: Once again City BJP President MLA Sudhakar Kohale is a hot topic of dicussion as Hudkeshwar police have registered a case of fraud against him for grabbing land in Jankinagar. Kohale was recently served a summon to appear on 2 April by JMFC court for giving wrong and misleading information in election affidavit during the Assembly elections in 2014.

RTI activist and social worker Moreshwar Ghadge addressing a press conference appealed to the election commission to suspend Kohale from MLA’s seat immediately till the final hearing of Public Interest LItigation (PIL) in land fraud cases and for misleading the election comission.

Adv Tarun Parmar, Prof Ashok Lanjewar, Adv Sandip Gajbhiye were present. Ghadge had complained to State Election Commission on 14/5/2017 but it had asked him to appeal in the court of JMFC

The complainant Moreshwar Dadaji Ghadge resident of Jankinagar , is a social worker and a RTI activist. Earlier also Ghadge had exposed the land grab in Jankinagar by MLA Kohale.

According to the complainant Moreshwar Ghadge, during the period 2012 to 2017 Sudhakar Kohale was a Municipal Councillor from Jankinagar Prabhag 62 . While contesting this election he had mentioned about the house in Jankinagar in the affidavit But this house is in the name of his wife and has been built in Mouza Chikhli Khurd, Khasra number 12/1 land number 156.

Along with this he had mentioned of Mouza Khurd Khasra number 15/2 land number 64, Mouza Pipla , Khasra number 174 land number 1 and 5 acres agricultural land on Khasara number 168, 170, in Kalmeshwar’s Adasa, Similarly 3 acres of agricultural land on Khasra 146 in Mouza Champa, Saoner. He had described 5 properties in the affidavit while submitting it.

While contesting the 2014 Assembly election, in the affidavit the Janiknagar house on Mouza Pipla land number 1 he had mentioned the land as 3000 sq ft while its is actually 3200. He had mentioned the Kalmeshwar and Saoner land too. While the agricultural land in Adasa , Kalmeshwar was in his mother’s name which he bought on 4 January 2010. He has registered sale deed in Sub Registar’s office (document number 13/2010). Kohale in his affidavit had mentioned the land as ancestral property which was misleading.

He had mentioned about khasra number 15/2 land number 64 during the NMC ‘s 2012 election’s. But the same was not mentioned in affidavit during the assembly election in 2014. While in 2015 the the map of a building’s construction was got sanctioned from Nagpur Improvement Trust. He even built a four storeyed house on it. He also im[plemented NMC’s Abhay Yojana in this building and paid a tax of Rs 16,708. From this it is clear that the land belongs to him.

The land at Mouza Chikli was bought in his and his wife’s name. While this land’s mutation has been done and is in the record of NMC. He also paid the property tax Rs 1642. He has not mentioned about this in the election affidavit and thus has misled the election commission and contested the election.

On a Public Interest Litigation filed by the complainant Moreshwar Ghadge in JMFC court number 6 the court examined the documents and found the affidavit to be misleading and so had served summoned to Kohale to be present in court on 2 April 2018.

Adv Tarun Parmar and Adv Sandip Gajbhiye has appealed on behalf of complainant Ghadge.

Kohale even changed the documents on 23/10/2017 and destroyed the old ones by using pressure.

Accused of Land grabbing City BJP President MLA Sudhakar Kohale asked to appear in Court

Nagpur Today : Nagpur News

Mumbai- Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has given order to immediately distribute compensation for the recent crop damage due to hailstrom in Nagpur district. The chief minister in presence of Guardiam Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankukle in Manatralay, through a vedio conference reviewed the crop damage in Nagpur district and gave instructions to District Collector Sachin Kurve.

Chief Minister reviewed the crop damage due to hailstrom in Nagpur district area. The crops that have been damaged are oranges, paddy, wheat, chickpea (Gram), vegetables, Bananas, Citrus Limetta (Sweet Lime) etc. The CM gave instructions to immediately give compensation. Similarly, the cotton crop has been damaged due to Bollworm in Vidarbha and so was reviewed in the meeting. The financial aid was announced for this too. The talukas affected due to the technical reason should also be given compensation, he informed. He also instructed that care should be taken that no one gets aid less than Rs 4000.

Guardian Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said that while giving compensation a thought should be given to damage done to two seasons fruit crops by hailstrom. The 33 per cent area which have been damaged by bollworm should be given overall compensation, he instructed.

Bawankule thanked the Chief Minister for immediately taking the decision of crop compensation.

Present for the meeting were Guardian Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Additional Chief Secretary, Aid and Rehabilitation Megha Gadgile, Agriculture Department’s Chief Secretary Vijay Kumar, Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries Department Secretary Kiran Kurundkar and through Video conference District Collector Sachin Kurve, Joint Director Agriculture and others.

Distribute compensation for crop damage immediately, instructs CM

Nagpur Today : Nagpur News

Nagpur: Doctors’ Drama Club, Nagpur, in association with All India Takankar Sanstha, Nagpur, will present the epic Marathi 2-act play, ‘ Natasamrat’ on Sunday, 25th February, 2018, at Vasantrao Deshpande Hall, Civil lines, Nagpur at 5 pm.

The play will have most of the renowned doctors portraying various characters. Besides, there will be three child artists too.

Written by the legendary playright, V. V Shirwadkar, the play was first performed on stage in 1973 and the protagonist was played by noted actor, Dr Shriram Lagoo. Set in the 1960’s, it describes the pathos of a retired great stage actor. With poignant unforgettable dialogues and impeccable acting by stalwarts, the play ran to packed houses for many years.

‘Natasamrat’ has now been revived under the direction of well known theatre director, Ramesh Lakhmapure. The story line is still relevant to the world of today. Produced by Dr Devendra Mahore and convened by Dr Anuprita Adhav and Sushma Sushil Solanke, various doctors including Dr Prachi Mahajan, Dr Mahore, Dr Anuprita Bhadage, Dr Rajsi Bundale, Ms Avani Ranade, Dr Abhay Agashe, Dr Nilesh Mahatme, Dr Nilay Nimbalkar, Dr Hema Kashyap, Aparna Lakhamapure, Prakash Pawar, Dr Sameer Chowdhary, Yogendra Ranade, Prashant Sakhre, Abinay Lakhmapure, Kabeer Lakhmapure and Dr Sushil Solanke will be part of the play. They will seen showing their histrionics on the stage.

The proceeds of this show will be donated for providing educational scholarships to tribal girls.

For details, contact on 9922444286, 9823265236

Charity Show : Doctors’ Drama Club to play ‘Natasamrat’ at Deshpande Hall on Feb 25

Nagpur Today : Nagpur News

Nagpur: The city police investigating sensational murders of mother and one a half year old daughter of Nagpur Today Crime Reporter Ravikant Kamble – Usha Kamble and Rashi, have on Thursday arrested Guddiya, wife of prime accused Ganesh alias Golu Ramcharan Sahu and also took a minor boy into custody for their alleged involvement in the gruesome act. Meanwhile, as a part of their investigation the cops recreated the crime scene by taking the accused to the murder spot.

Ganesh alias Golu, 26 is already in police custory till February 23. Assistant Commissioner of Police, Ajni Division, Kishore Supare, who is investigating the case would produce Golu before the magistrate as his police custory remand ends on Friday. Supare would produce the 17-year old body before the juvenila court. Investigators on Thursday also seized from the murder spot which is the resident of the the accused in Pawansut Nagar. Some evidence was also collected from the culvert where the bodies were thrown by the accused.

Owner of Shiv Kirana Stores in Pawansut Nagar Ganesh had brutally murdered both Usha and her grand daughter Rashi by slitting their throats with a tin plate of oil on the first floor of his house at Pawansut Nagar on Saturday evening. Ganesh had allegedly packed the bodies of accused in gunny bags and threw then under a culvert near Durga Layout behind Vihirgaon village on Umred Road.

As per the statement of accused Ganesh, Usha had demanded Rs 7000 back from him. She allegedly abused him in front of customers in grocery shop. He then asked Usha to come his house above the shop on the pretext of giving her money. After a heated argument he then brutally killed Usha and Rashi.

An offence under sections 302, 364, 201, 34 of IPC along with sections 2, 3 and 5 of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act was registered against Ganesh and other accused.

Double Murder Case : Wife of accused, minor boy arrested; cops recreate crime scene

Nagpur Today : Nagpur News

Nagpur: Senior Congress leader Satish Chaturvedi who has been in the eye of storm for his alleged anti-party activities for quite some time now was finally expelled from the party on Friday. An information to this regard has been sent through written communication to Chaturvedi. The letter of expulsion has been issued by Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee on Thursday. Following the order Chaturvedi would also lose the primary membership of the party and henceforth would be debarred from any post in the Congress.

In the termination letter, the MPCC Secretary Adv Ganesh Patil has informed Chaturvedi that he was being expelled from the party for promoting the rebel candidates and indulging in anti-party activities during the Nagpur Municipal Corporation polls conducted in 2017. Chaturvedi has been charged with campaigning for candidates who rebelled from Congress during the NMC polls.

Having said that, the letter alleged that this act of Chaturvedi has tarnished the party’s image.

The letter further stated that on January 23 2018, Nagpur District Congress Committee President has also issued show cause notice to Chaturvedi who failed to file any reply in this regard.

It has been cleared that Chaturvedi has been henceforth barred from exercising any power as Congress member.

Satish Chaturvedi expelled from Congress for supporting rebel candidates during NMC polls