Voicing its staunch opposition to the Jaitapur nuclear power plant, the Shiv Sena has sent a detailed report on the project to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighting the “adverse impact” it would have on the green belt in Maharashtra’s Konkan region.

The MPs of Sena, which is strongly against the 10,000 MW nuclear power project, had met Modi a few months back and conveyed to him their apprehensions over the plant.

Sena leader and Environment Minister in the BJP-led state government, Ramdas Kadam said he has sent a detailed report to Modi on how the project will affect the green cover in Konkan and the impact it will have on marine life in the nearby region.

“I have prepared a detailed report running into 418 pages that includes objections of the Konkan Bachao Samiti, report of Madhavrao Gadgil committee, report of public hearing by Dr. B J Waghmare Janhit Samiti and also report of public hearing of Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) to the Jaitapur project,” Kadam said.

“After the disaster in Japan’s nuclear power plant (a few years back), the European Union ordered ‘stress test’ on all of its 143 reactors, whereas Germany too had announced ending the use of nuclear energy and promotion of renewable energy,” he pointed out.

Questioning the use of nuclear power at a time when the “world is re-thinking on using nuclear power”, Kadam said India should instead focus on green and solar-powered energy.

According to a report submitted by the Goa-based National Institute of Oceanography, 24 species of marine seaweeds and 6 species of mangroves would be destroyed by the effluents discharged in the Arabian Sea from the nuclear plant, as per the minister.

A 30-year-old man allegedly raped his minor daughter at Bhayander, police said.

The accused (name withheld to protect the victim’s identity) allegedly raped his 10-year-old daughter at their Kashmira home on Monday night even as the girl tried to resist his move and pleaded with him, police sub-inspector Mansing Gaikwad said.

The accused then threatened the victim and his wife with dire consequences if they revealed the offence to anyone, he said.

However, the girl’s mother later filed a complaint against her husband, based on which the accused was arrested last night, he said.

The man had allegedly raped the girl on several occasions during the last two months, the police said quoting the complaint.

The accused has been booked under sections 376 (rape) and 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of the IPC and also sections 4 and 8 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, police added.

Mumbai Congress said the move to turn the Lower Parel area of the mega-polis into a ‘Smart City’ will only benefit real estate developers and industrialists.

Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai approved the Smart City Proposal (SCP) for the metropolis with four amendments suggested by the ruling Shiv Sena amid opposition by certain parties.

Mumbai Pradesh Congress Committee President Sanjay Nirupam told reporters, “The annual budget of Mumbai Municipal Corporation is Rs. 35,000 crore. It spends Rs. 2,000 crore for roads, Rs. 150 crore for desilting and Rs. 2,000 crore for health.”

“What purpose is being served with only Rs 100 crore for a smart city and how is this being achieved. Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray opposes the proposal and extends conditional support overnight after talks with Chief Minister (Devendra Fadnavis),” he said.

“The move to turn the Lower Parel area of Mumbai into Smart City will only benefit real estate developers and industrialist,” he said.

Nirupam said the constitution of Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) is not clear.

“Shiv Sena says 60 lakh jobs for sons of the soil should be given. This is not practically possible. Shiv Sena and BJP should explain how they propose to do this,” he asked.

The Army commemorated the Vijay Diwas with traditional solemnity and gaiety here, marking the Indian Armed forces victory over Pakistan in the 1971 Indo-Pak War.

On this day in 1971, about 93,000 Pakistani soldiers surrendered to the Indian forces. This historic victory led to creation of Bangladesh.

A solemn ceremony to remember the martyrs, who fought with valour and made the supreme sacrifice during the 1971 War, was organised at Colaba War Memorial under the aegis of Headquarters Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa Area.

Lieutenant General Bipin Rawat, General Officer Commanding Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa Area, along with other officers laid wreath and paid homage to the valiant martyrs.

The celebrations included ‘Special Sainik Sammelans’ and ‘Sainik Bhoj’.

Lieutenant General Bipin Rawat addressed the soldiers and highlighted the circumstances under which the war broke out.

He said that the victory in this war was special because of the heroism and professionalism shown by our brave officers and soldiers, which resulted in saving thousands of people oppressed in the then East Pakistan.

The Bombay High Court asked Maharashtra government to consider changing office timings to prevent overcrowding in suburban local trains.

Justice Naresh Patil suggested this while hearing a suo motu (on its own) PIL which was converted out of a letter written by A B Thakker urging reservation of a separate compartment for senior citizens in local trains.

The judges also asked the Railways to replace the steel rods at the entrance of bogies with rubber installations so that the hands of commuters do not slip and they do not fall off the trains.

Railway authorities had earlier told the court that it was not possible for them to introduce double decker trains on the suburban routes for commuters.

The bench was of the opinion that every station must have a list of nearby hospitals so that in cases of emergency, accident victims can be taken straight there in ambulances.

The court had earlier directed the Railways to consider providing a dedicated coach for senior citizens to ensure easy and safe access for them. The court had also asked the Railways to conduct a trial run on the concept.

The court had also asked Central Railway and Western Railways to ensure that 14 dedicated seats are made available to senior citizens in all suburban trains.

The Railways said it had put up indications on doors of coaches and inside coaches to show that certain seats had been reserved for senior citizens.

“If there is a dedicated compartment for senior citizens in trains operating at a particular timing, senior citizens would rather wait for that train rather than get onto a crowded train,” observed the HC.

Over 700 station masters of Central Railway (CR) and Western Railway (WR) in Mumbai Division staged a protest here demanding an immediate rollback of Railway Board’s proposal to appoint station managers from other departments of the national carrier.

The station masters gathered at the Azad Maidan under the banner of All India Station Masters Association (AISMA) and raised objection against the decision of the Board to appoint station in-charge at the A1 and A category railway stations of CR and WR from other cadre.

They said the move is not acceptable to them and they would oppose it firmly.

Railway stations under A1 category are those with an annual income of Rs 50 crore or above, while A category stations are those that earn annual revenue between Rs 6 crore and Rs 50 crore.

“This protest is to oppose a proposal moved in by the Railway Board to make the post of station manager as ex-cadre at all 870 stations of A and A1 category, overlooking the fact that if such a post is occupied by an officer who has never handled operations, it would jeopardise the safety in the train operations,” Dhananjay Chandratre, central working president of AISMA, said.

He said role of management at Railway Board, zones, and divisional level is different from that at station level.

Assistant Divisional Secretary of AISMA, GP Yadav, said, “We have submitted our concerns to both the GMs – of CR and WR. We have also said if our demands are not met, we would go to any stretch to get this proposal cancelled.”

“A station manager without requisite training and experience can never ensure smooth operation of the trains and doing so (appointing ex-cadre system) would jeopardise the entire train operations,” he added.

In its bid to improve conviction rate in cases related to crime against women, Maharashtra Director General of Police Pravin Dixit issued directives that chargesheet in molestation cases be filed in courts within 24 hours.

Dixit said directives have been given to ensure that as far as possible chargesheet in molestation cases be filed within 24 hours.

“This will hopefully lead to improving conviction rate in cases related to crime against women,” he said.

He said all Units in-charge are sensitizing the officials and staff regarding registration of molestation cases and filing of chargesheet.