Maharashtra govt announces fresh curbs in wake of rising Covid cases

In view of rising Covid-19 cases, the Maharashtra government on Thursday announced fresh curbs on attendance at weddings, social, political, religious events and funerals.

In view of rising COVID-19 cases, the Maharashtra government on Thursday announced fresh curbs on attendance at weddings, social, political, religious events and funerals. “In case of marriages or any other social, political or religious event, the maximum number of attendees shall be restricted to 50 persons. The maximum number of attendees is restricted to 20 in funerals,” the order read.

Further, the order states, “In any other part of the state which are tourist spots that attract a large crowd of people such as beaches, open grounds, etc, the competent authority may as deemed appropriate, impose section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973.” Meanwhile, Mumbai Police on Thursday has already imposed Section 144 in the city starting from December 30 till January 7.

As per the new COVID-19 restrictions, prohibition has been placed on New Year’s celebrations, parties in any closed or open space including restaurants, hotels, bars, pubs, resorts, and clubs from December 30 to January 7.”The order shall come into the force, in the areas under the control of Commissioner of Police, Greater Mumbai from 00:00 Hrs of 30 December 2021 and will remain in force till 24 Hrs of 7 January 2022, unless withdrawn earlier,” the order reads.

Bullet train project acquires 60% land, but may fail to meet 2023 deadline

Apart from land acquisition, another major cause for concern before the project is cost escalation owing to a fall in the rupee against the Japanese yen.

Despite facing public protests and resistance from the Maharashtra government, the country’s first bullet train project between Ahmedabad and Mumbai has been able to acquire almost 60 per cent of the land required for the project. However, meeting the December 2023 deadline is still a cause for concern for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pet project on the back of the Covid-19 outbreak.

“We are on fast track. We have acquired 60 per cent of the land required for the project. Interestingly, in Gujarat it goes up to around 77 per cent,” said Achal Khare, managing director of the National High-Speed Rail Corporation (NHSRCL), the company in charge of India’s bullet train road map.

The total land requirement for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor project was reduced to 1,380.08 hectares (ha), from 1,434.47 ha late last year, mainly due to actual reconciliation of the project scope. Of the total land required, 1,004.91 ha is private land. So far, around 820-830 ha has been acquired by NHSRCL.

Covid-19: Maharashtra to procure Remdesivir, Favipiravir in large numbers

The drugs are costly so the state has decided to buy them itself

The Maharashtra government has decided to procure anti-viral drugs Remdesivir and Favipiravir in large quantities for the treatment of Covid-19 patients, state health minister Rajesh Tope said on Thursday. “We have decided to buy Remdesivir and Favipiravir as well as other essential drugs to treat Covid-19 patients in large numbers. The drugs are costly so the state has decided to buy them itself,” he told reporters here.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus LIVE: India cases at 491,170; night curfew in Noida extended

“We are also asking district collectors to requisition private ambulances for transportation of Covid-19 patients. Every district has a fixed rate of transportation. Ambulance operators can be paid accordingly,” Tope said…Read More

Covid-19 lockdown: Boozers swarm liquor shops; police warn of action

Delhi govt will impose a “special corona fee” on alcohol sale, which will be 70 per cent of the MRP

Taking a serious note of long queues outside Pune liquor shops on Monday, police have warned of strict action against such shops if they become the cause of crowding. Pune Commissioner of Police K Venkatesham directed liquor shops to ensure that social distancing norms are complied with. “Wine shops have to take steps for ensuring social distance norms & it is their duty in the red zone. If any shop becomes the reason for crowding, action will be taken,” he tweeted.

He also asked liquor shop owners to adopt a token system with timings. “One can purchase in a neighbourhood shop only. Plying of the vehicle without a valid permit may entail seizure and fine. For companies which have factories outside the PMC limits and construction projects, the movement of the staff is allowed in dedicated vehicle ‘bus’ rather than individual vehicles,” he said.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus LIVE updates: India sees 3,900 new cases in a day; 195 deaths

Joint commissioner of police, Ravindra Shisave reminded people that lockdown is still in place and Pune is under red zone.On Monday, the Delhi government said it will impose a “special corona fee” on alcohol sale which will be 70 per cent of the MRP. In an official order issued late in night, the finance department has imposed the fee, applicable from Tuesday. “70 per cent of the maximum retail price on all categories of liquor sold through retail licencees for consumption off the premises,” the Finance Department order signed by the Deputy Secretary reads, describing the fee…

Maha Vikas Aghadi govt in Maharashtra could focus on farm debt waivers

The state govt can go for a waiver of Rs 50,000 crore spread over a couple of years, said Macquarie

The change of guard in Maharashtra could lead to large farm debt waivers and projects getting stalled, warned Macquarie. Farm distress and debt waivers were part of the election campaign by the Opposition parties in Maharashtra against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government. Now, an alliance of the Shiv Sena, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Congress, is set to form the government and expected to address the farm distress. And, they will have adequate fiscal space to do so, Macquarie estimated.

“Farm loan waiver can potentially be the first order of the business of the new government,” the brokerage said. Maharashtra’s GDP of Rs 26.603 trillion had a fiscal deficit of 2.1 per cent in fiscal year 2018-19 (FY19) and targets were set to keep it at the same level for FY20.

“The Maharashtra government can do a waiver of Rs 500 billion (Rs 50,000 crore) spread over a couple of years without breaching limit of 3 per cent set under FRBM Act,” the brokerage said, adding that most of the public sector banks would have exposure to Maharashtra’s agriculture sector. Even as there were no large micro finance institutions, smaller cooperative banks dominate the agriculture loan market.

Projects at high risk of getting stalled includes the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail along with the Mumbai Nagpur Expressway. L&T was the front runner in getting the high speed rail contract, but that may get negated now. The Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway is split into 16 packages, all of which have already been awarded…

Read More: Maharashtra Assembly Elections

Maharashtra govt formation: Prez rule imposed, but Cong-NCP-Sena talks on

The Opposition accused the Narendra Modi government of moving in haste in imposing central rule

Maharashtra, which witnessed constantly changing political equations amid hectic parleys by key parties in the past few days, was put under President’s Rule on Tuesday evening, and its Assembly in suspended animation, after Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari in a report to the Centre said the formation of a stable government was impossible in the current situation.

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Congress, however, said they were open to an alliance with the Shiv Sena, but needed “clarity” on issues and would like to come up with a common minimum programme. The two allies also said Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray had contacted them for the first time on Sunday.

Thackeray later in the evening addressed a press conference and reiterated how parties of different ideological persuasions needed more time to discuss issues. He said it was the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the single-largest party in the state with 105 seats, that had not lived up to its promise, forcing the Shiv Sena to contact the Congress and the NCP. He said now that the state was under central rule, the three parties had six months to give shape to the next government.

According to sources, Thackeray told his party legislators in a closed-door meeting that the BJP was still trying to reach out and a possible BJP-Sena government was a possibility. When asked about this, Thackeray evaded a direct reply. On ideological differences with the Congress-NCP, he said he was collecting information on how the BJP had alliances with the Peoples Democratic Party in Jammu and Kashmir, with the Janata Dal (United) and Ram Vilas Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party in Bihar, and with the N Chandrababu Naidu-led Telugu Desam Party in Andhra Pradesh, none of whom espoused the Hindutva ideology.

Cut no more trees in Aarey colony till Oct 21; release those arrested: SC

The court has asked the Union Environment ministry to be a party in the matter

On Monday, the Supreme Court directed the Maharashtra government to not cut any more trees in the Aarey colony till October 21. The trees were being cut to build a depot for Mumbai metro.Appearing for the Maharashtra government, Solicitor General, Tushar Mehta assured the apex court that no trees will be felled.

Further, the Supreme Court also ordered the release of all the activists who have been arrested during protests. The court has asked the Union Environment ministry to be a party in the matter. Now the matter will be taken up by the Forest Bench of the Supreme Court. Next hearing has been scheduled for October 21. 

Earlier, a sessions court in Mumbai on Sunday granted bail to 29 protesters arrested over the last two days on charges of obstructing and assaulting police personnel on duty during protests against felling of trees at Aarey colony. Additional sessions court judge H C Shende of the holiday court ordered their release on certain conditions including the production of the personal surety of Rs 7,000 and assurance that they would not take part in protests…