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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.

Jarange ends fast after govt's concrete plan

Pic: Bhushan Koyande
Pic: Bhushan Koyande

Mumbai: Maratha quota activist Manoj-Jarange Patil finally ended his fast on Tuesday after the state government assured him that major demands raised by him are agreed to. Fresh government resolution (GR) was issued pertaining to setting up the procedures to grant Kunbi caste certificates to eligible individuals as per the entries in the Hyderabad gazetteer and mutually agreed time-line was agreed to for implementation of other demands raised by him.


Jarange-Patil was also informed that while the state government has already given Rs 15 crore to the next of kin of individuals deceased in the Maratha quota stir and the remaining money will be released within a week, eligible individuals from such families will be give jobs in state owned corporations. On demands regarding withdrawal of cases against the Maratha quota activists, the government told them that cases to be withdrawn in the various courts of law by this month-end.


The government sought two-weeks for setting up the procedures to grant Kunbi caste certificates to eligible individuals as per the entries in the Satara gazetteer citing legal issues. On over 58 lakh Kunbi entries found until now, the state government suggested that such names will be displayed at the Gram Panchayats.


The state government, however, remained non-committal over the key demands like blanket issuance of Kunbi status to all Marathas and widening the scope of Kunbi status to “sage soyre” (blood relations). Jarange-Patil was told that the state government has received over 8 lakh objections and suggestion and hence the administration would need time to study and clear these suggestions and objections. Essentially the things that the state government agreed to reiterated its earlier stated position.


The sub-committee was concerned about the decision taken by the state government should withstand legal validity. Therefore, the options are limited, said Vikhe-Patil. Jarange-Patil who had expressed disappointment with the government for not conceding his demands, expressed satisfaction over the GR and explained the provisions to his followers.

Earlier in the day Mumbai Police issued a notice to Jarange and his core team, asking them to vacate Azad Maidan immediately. The police said that while permission was granted for 5,000 protesters, more than 40,000 arrived from across Maharashtra which created chaos in south Mumbai. After the crowd’s approval, Jarange-Patil asked the ministers to ensure he gets to see the GR, which the ministers assured, would be served to him in an hour. Then Jarange-Patil formally announced that the agitation is over.


43-year-old Jarange has been on an indefinite fast demanding the inclusion of Marathas in the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category. In February 2024 the state government led by then CM Eknath Shinde had given a 10 per cent quota to Marathas under SEBC during a special session held at Vidhan Bhavan in Mumbai. The reservation before the court has not been stayed till now.

Azad Maidan erupts in joy

Mumbai: Scenes of triumph and jubilation unfolded at the historic Azad Maidan on Tuesday as Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange declared victory for his agitation after the Maharashtra government's cabinet sub-committee headed by Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil on Maratha quota accepted most of his demands.


Thousands of protesters, who gathered in the city in support of Jarange's hunger strike last week, cheered for him and were moved to tears as he said, "Jitlo re raje ho apan" (we have won my friends).

They hung on to the activist's every word as he read the draft of the cabinet sub-committee and erupted in joyful cries.


"I warn Vikhe Patil if there is any attempt to deceive us on implementation of the Government Resolution (GR) on implementation of the Hyderabad gazette, in which a three-member committee will be set up at village level, and promises like providing jobs to the kin of Maratha activists who lost their lives in protests, withdrawal of cases against protesters, we will not keep quiet. I will come to Vikhe's home and sit there till I die."

Manoj-Jarange Patil

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