The ban on gutkha and pan masala across Maharashtra came into effect from on Friday with the state government issuing a notification in this regard. The notification, which bans the sale and consumption of gutkha and paan masala, will be valid for a year. It will be later extended for another 12 months. The state cabinet had decided on the ban last week.

Figures show that gutkha was one of the major reasons for oral diseases. The monthly sale of gutkha in Maharashtra is estimated to be around Rs 300 crore and the government annually earns more than Rs 100 crore in taxes on it.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) plans to acquire all privately-owned wells in the city to tide over the 10 per cent water cut that was recently extended till July-end. There are approximately 784 private wells in the city and the BMC will solicit the Collector’s assistance in acquiring them.

The civic body told its Standing Committee on Wednesday that a plan has already been put forward to repair and clean the 789 public wells that belong to BMC. According to Additional Municipal Commissioner Mohan Adtani, the plan includes cleaning wells that are unused since 2009. “Ward officers have been instructed to collect information on the state of wells in their jurisdiction along with records of their water levels.”

In a crackdown on errant electroplating units, the Bombay High Court has directed officials of the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and electric supply companies to visit the respective u

The Bombay High Court has asked Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) not to permit manufacturing units within 750 metres of a river from September 1 if existing facilities are not maintained for discharge of effluents.

Under the rules, facilities such as pipelines or Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) are required to be maintained to achieve the stipulated discharge standards. The directive was given by Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice Nitin Jamdar who also asked the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) to constitute within a month a committee for five MIDC estates in the state to monitor functioning of CETPs and for industrial units within MIDC areas.

People carrying out illegal sand mining in Maharashtra will be booked under the stringent provisions of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), said Mr Prakash Solanke, Minister of

Mumbai The Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on Monday passed the Maharashtra Housing (Regulation and Development) Bill, 2012, which seeks to set up what will be the country’s first realty industry regulator. While the Bill is expected to be passed in the Legislative Council during the ongoing session, the law will come into force only following the President’s assent.

While the President’s assent could take up to six months, the government of Maharashtra will, in the meantime, draft rules and work towards finalising candidates to be appointed as members of the body.

Vinod Khobragade, the village official ( talathi ) of Baranj village in Chandrapur district of Maharashtra who imposed a fine of Rs. 32 crore on the Karnataka Emta Coal Mines Limited (KECML) for alleged illegal mining, was suspended on Monday.

He had also accused the top district officials, including the District Collector, of involvement in the scam. “I have been suspended from service without even a show cause notice. They have suspended me for providing information to the media about the illegal mining scam in Chandrapur,” Mr. Khobragade told The Hindu over phone.

Complaints that Mahyco is exploiting farmers, promoting black marketing and ignoring rules have led the Maharashtra government to call into question the agri biotechnology company’s licence to prod

A talathi (village official) of a village in Chandrapur district has accused top district administrative officers, including the District Collector, of alleged involvement in an illegal mining scam worth Rs. 587 crore.

Vinod Khobragade, the talathi of Baranj village has complained to the State Revenue Minister, accusing the District Collector Vijay Waghmare and three other officers of being involved in the scam illegal mining.

Agriculture seed major Mahyco, which has been accused of black marketing its seeds and distributing it without informing the State Government, could well stand to lose its license to sell seeds in