Rajendra Joshi

Kolhapur: Even as the state government clears the first tranche of Rs 1,500 crore under an ambitious Rs 5,000-crore plan for the development of Kolhapur as a major pilgrimage centre, the ground reality for devotees tells a far less reassuring story. Each month, the temple’s donation boxes swell by an estimated Rs two crore, while crores more lie parked in bank deposits earning interest. Yet, for the thousands who arrive daily to seek the blessings of Goddess Ambabai, the journey to the...

AI generated image Kolhapur: The state Cabinet’s approval on Tuesday of a proposal to alter the structure of the Maharashtra Medical Council has triggered strong backlash from the state’s medical fraternity. Many termed it as an attempt to curtail institutional democracy. At the heart of the controversy is the government’s move to replace the existing electoral mechanism with a fully nominated body. Doctors argue that if elections to the Council are effectively scrapped in favour of...

Consumers who invested heavily in rooftop solar face new grid charges and curbs on banking Mumbai: A fresh set of directives by the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) has triggered widespread discontent among rooftop solar consumers, marking a decisive shift in the state’s renewable energy policy—from incentives and subsidies to cost recovery through grid-related charges. At the heart of the backlash is a structural change: solar consumers, who were encouraged for years to...