top of page

By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

Thackerays’ ‘Taandav’ for trees, tigers

AI generated image Mumbai: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President Raj Thackeray launched a sharp attack on the government for the systematic degradation of the state’s environment under the garb of development, even as the climate change poses a direct threat to the environment, economy, agriculture, public health and the future of both rural and urban centres. Questioning the state government’s claims of having planted millions of trees, he rued how the World Environment Day has been...

Thackerays’ ‘Taandav’ for trees, tigers

AI generated image Mumbai: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President Raj Thackeray launched a sharp attack on the government for the systematic degradation of the state’s environment under the garb of development, even as the climate change poses a direct threat to the environment, economy, agriculture, public health and the future of both rural and urban centres. Questioning the state government’s claims of having planted millions of trees, he rued how the World Environment Day has been reduced to an annual ritual of tree-planting drives and clicking selfies for social media, though 90 pc of the saplings don’t survive even a day. “Only the government knows where those trees really are,” said Raj sternly. He recalled a "Blueprint of Maharashtra’s Development" he had proposed in 2015, in which he advocated how development without environmental sensitivity is hollow. Justifying, he said that the consequences are visible where roads, bridges and infrastructure projects are hailed as achievements, but even a short spell of rainfall can paralyze entire cities. Referring to recent reports on farmers returning from the fields after 10 am due to the scorching heat, Raj said that the worsening climate crisis has become an everyday reality. Citing official statistics, Raj claimed that extreme heat has caused productivity losses of nearly USD 159 billion and slashing of 160 billion work-hours annually in recent years. He mentioned the World Bank estimates that India’s GDP could plummet by 2.5-4.5 pc while 57 pc of the country’s districts sheltering 76 pc of the population stare at serious climate-related crises. Taking a swipe, he said while the governments boast about growth figures and economical rankings, they are silent on the staggering costs of environmental destruction. He questioned the development model “whether flooded cities, washed-away crops and unbearable summers” genuinely indicate progress. Claiming that Maharashtra was increasingly becoming unliveable for upto 8 months in a year, he said excessive monsoon rains disrupt rural life and urban floods cripple cities, while extreme heat make normal life a torture in summers in both urban-rural areas. Targeting the Centre, Raj alleged that nearly 173,984 hectares of forest lands were diverted in the past 11 years for mining and infrastructure projects to benefit the PM’s single favourite Adani Group. He said that these lands amount to 1,730 sqkm, or equivalent to the area of 16 Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) that is spread over barely 104 sqkm. Dissolve state wildlife board: Aaditya Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray has accused the Maharashtra government for issuing a permit to carry out mining activity in the sensitive tiger corridor between the Tadoba-Andhari and Indravati sanctuaries housing the big striped cats. In a strongly-worded letter to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) Member-Secretary Sanjay Kumar, Thackeray sought his immediate personal intervention, sacking the Maharashtra State Board for Wild-Life (SBWL), revoking the permit, and probe against the Chief Wildlife Warden & Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) M. Srinivasa Reddy for the alleged lacunae. Aditya’s two-pager says the permit has been granted for “scientific exploration and excavation/systematic recovery of low-grade iron ore in existing mines in villages Hedri, Bande, Parsalgondi and Round Parsalgondi, in the Etapalli taluka of Gadchiroli district”. Last January, Aditya – MLA from Worli – had first raised the issue saying that the proposed mine would create only 120 jobs, including 32 permanent, and the estimated output is pegged at 1.1 million tons in a year. Referring to two letters of Reddy – on April 28 and May 21 – the SS (UBT) leader claimed that in communications to the state government, the PCCF had changed his stance on the issue. Aditya said that in the first letter, Reddy had effectively opposed the government plans for mining activity but in the second letter, he took a somersault, ostensibly due to government pressures or some commercial interests, “the U-turn is disgraceful and detrimental to India’s national interest” – and this abrupt shift in stance must be investigated thoroughly. In view of the contrary stance of the PCCF Reddy, entrusted with protecting the wildlife but failing to defend the NTCA and NBWL, point to serious malfunctioning of the SBWL, and hence it must be dissolved, besides reviewing all its decisions in the past three years, particularly those pertaining to hazardous activities in sensitive areas, demanded Aditya. 444 tigers roam in 11,000 sq.km As per the Status of Tiger Report (2002), and the Maharashtra Economic Survey 2025-2026, the state boasts of 444 tigers prowling in the wild along with other menacing creatures. The state’s total protected wildlife network of 88 Notified Areas of National Parks, Sanctuaries, and Conservation Reserves - including 6 dedicated to the striped big cats – is spread over 11,092 sq. kms as per current data.

Clear all roads within 24 hours: HC to govt

Mumbai: Taking strong note of the massive disruptions to normal life in the city, the Bombay High Court directed the government to clear off Maratha activists - led by Shivba Sanghatana President Manoj Jarange-Patil - who have laid siege to all roads in south Mumbai by Tuesday afternoon.


Conducting a special hearing to a bunch of petitions filed by the Army Foundation and others today, a division bench comprising Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad, noted that the Maratha pro-quota protesters have not remained at Azad Maidan - the designated place for the agitation - but blocked several vital areas in south Mumbai.


The state Advocate-General Birendra Saraf, lawyers of the petitioners and the Marathas as well as intervenors were present in full strength before the HC, and after hearing all sides, the court listed a series of directions to both sides voicing concerns over dislocations caused in Mumbai.


These included a go-ahead to the administration to initiate legal action as the protests lack official approval and directing the concerned authorities to prevent more Marathas from entering the city.


Terming the situation as “grim, with entire Mumbai practically at a standstill”, the judges said that the agitation was not peaceful, Jarange-Patil and others had flouted all conditions imposed by the administration when they were granted permission for the peaceful protest at Azad Maidan.


The judges also directed the authorities to immediately clear off and clean up all the roads near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Fort, Marine Drive, Churchgate and other parts and to restrict the protestors within the Azad Maidan itself, while posting the matter for hearing on Tuesday at 3 pm.


Questioning the government on how educational institutions and supply of essentials like milk and vegetables could continue if the protests continued, the judges noted with concern how even the high court proceedings were directly hit by the agitation as the entry routes of judges were also blocked.


Justice Ghuge and Justice Ankhad emphatically told Jarange-Patil’s lawyers that “no more than 5000 protestors could remain in the city”, asked whether they would adhere to the court’s earlier orders (August 26) and also if they would issue a media statement asking all excess demonstrators to leave Mumbai, while asking the government to provide medical aid to Jarange-Patil and food plus other amenities to the protestors.


The court’s rap occurred on the fourth day of the massive Maratha agitation spearheaded by Jarange-Patil that kicked off in Mumbai from Aug. 28 at Azad Maidan, with the state government saying it had not given permission for it.


After viewing the videos and photos of the situation with massive Maratha crowds hanging around, the jammed roads and railway stations, dancing, bathing, cooking and defecating in open places, causing massive inconvenience to the people, the judges sought their cooperation and stressed on the need to restore normalcy, especially with the upcoming Anant Chaturdashi - the Ganesh visarjan ceremonies on September 6.


Out of hand

The judges told the lawyers of Maratha groups that the agitation had gone “out of hand”, with a warning that Mumbai cannot become a hostage due to choked roads, questioning the government’s move on granting the protest permissions.


Noting media reports with Jarange-Patil threatening a fast-unto-death after going off water since Monday, vowing not to leave Mumbai till his demands for 10 pc reservations are conceded from the OBC category, the court said that the organizers had lost control over their activists.


From the Jarange-Patil side, advocates Shriram Pingle, Ramesh Dubey-Patil, and Vaibhav Kadam were present besides others from the petitioners and intervenors.


"Follow the high court's orders. Don't trouble Mumbaikars. Don't roam on streets, park vehicles in designated areas. Those who don't want to listen to me can return to their villages. Our people don't misbehave with journalists and indulge in hooliganism. I don't want the aspersions to be cast on my caste. I am going through a lot of pain and suffering for you and your children. If you behave in such a manner, then what's the use (of the agitation)?"

Manoj Jarange

Comments

bottom of page