Faisal Farooque had links with Tablighi Jamaat HQ, says chargesheet on Delhi riots

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June 4, 2020

Delhi Riots, Delhi, Chargesheet, Riots, Delhi Police, Rajdhani School, Anand Vihar, Faisal Farooque, Shiv Vihar, — Image Courtesy: Reuters

The Crime Branch of Delhi Police in its fresh chargesheet in connection with the riots that broke out near Rajdhani school in Shiv Vihar area of North East Delhi has claimed that its owner Faisal Farooque visited “Deoband” and had links with “Hazrat Nizamuddin Markaz”.

“His (Faisal’s) call detail analysis and links with prominent members of Popular Front of India, Pinjratod group, Jamia Coordination Committee, Hazrat Nizamuddin Markaz and some other fundamental muslim clerics including Deoband also show the depth of the conspiracy,” the police said in its chargesheet filed before Metropolitan Magistrate Richa Parihar.

The police in its chargesheet have categorically mentioned that Farooque visited Deoband on February 23, just one day before the riots began in the Shiv Vihar and its neighboring areas too.

The case relates with riots that broke that broke out on February 24 outside Shiv Vihar’s Rajdhani School where another school named DRP Convent and an adjacent sweet shop was burnt and a man trapped inside the shop died. At least 18 people including Farooque were arrested by the police in this regard.

“The rioters had camped inside and fired bullets from the terrace of Rajdhani School. They also threw petrol bombs, acid, bricks, stones and other missiles using an improvised large iron catapult, specially installed for the purpose, from the terrace of Rajdhani School,” the police said.

The chargesheet states that Farooque had hatched a conspiracy to precipitate and aggravate riots, in and around Rajdhani School. On his instructions, the adjacent and rival DRP Convent School, 2 parking lots run by the other party and the building of Anil Sweets was systematically destroyed by the mob.

“On the day of riots, i.e. 24.2.2020, many children from Muslim families left the school early, along with their parents, during the half time recess itself. Six empty cartridge shells, glass bottles that were used for making Molotov cocktails, rope and iron catapult recovered from the terrace of Rajdhani School,” the police said.

It also stated that the rioters had used ropes to climb down from the terrace of Rajdhani School into the compound of DRP Convent School and then the mob had set the school on fire. “The mob had looted the computers and other expensive items from DRP Convent School,” it added.

While the Special Investigation Team of the Delhi Police has claimed that Farooque is the main conspirator behind the riots in the Shiv Vihar, the SIT in a separate chargesheet has pointed its barrel towards ex AAP councillor Tahir Hussain in connection with the riots in the Chand Bagh area and also behind the killing of young IB officer Ankit Sharma.

In a separate chargesheet, the Crime Branch SIT said, “The facts as emerged during the course of investigation points to the conspiracy of vast scale riots hatched by main accused Tahir Hussaina Releasing of pistol just before the incident and unaccounted/ used empty cartridges again points towards his role in conspiracy and active participation in these riots.a

Hussain removing his family in the night of Feb 24 due to safety reasons (as per his version) and himself staying back is also being seen a strong point to Delhi Police’s claim. “This act of Tahir Hussain shows that the preparations had already been going on for these riots. All necessary logistics and manpower were arranged prior to these riots and a number of people from U.P. West had been called for this purpose to execute these riots at a large scale,” the police said in its chargesheet in the Ankit Sharma case.

Political egos should be kept aside: Shiv Sena on varsity exams row

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Afternoon Voice

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June 4, 2020

Amid the confrontation between Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and the state government over the issue of final year university exams, the Shiv Sena on Thursday said political egos should be kept aside at a time when the country is facing the COVID-19 crisis. Taking aim at leaders of the opposition BJP in the state a day after a cyclone hit Maharashtra, an editorial in Sena mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ said Koshyari should be cautious of the “mad storm” hitting the Raj Bhavan gates frequently.

Koshyari on Tuesday criticised the Uddhav Thackeray – led state government’s decision to cancel the final year university examinations on account of coronavirus outbreak, and said the decision would jeopardise the future of students. He also asserted that the chancellor of universities — a position which governor holds ex-officio — has the final authority over all university matters, as per the Maharashtra Public Universities Act.

Decision on holding final year exams will be taken as per Universities Act !

It has been conveyed to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray that decision regarding holding of the examinations of final year students ‘shall be taken in consonance with the provisions of the Act’.

— Bhagat Singh Koshyari (@BSKoshyari) June 2, 2020

Noting that there has been a public display of differences between the government and the governor over the issue of final year university examinations, the Sena on Thursday said, “Political egos and one-upmanship should be kept aside in times of crisis.” “The COVID-19 pandemic has created an unprecedented situation in the state and the country. The ‘Sword of Damocles’ is hanging over the future of a generation. Should their lives be endangered or should a consensus decision be taken on clearing the confusion over exams?” the Sena asked. It said the government’s decision to cancel the final year exams and give marks as per the aggregate of last semester was “welcomed by all”.

“But opposition leaders immediately met the governor to register their protest and objected to the decision. The governor immediately wrote to the government and said examinations will be held according to the Universities Act,” the Marathi daily pointed out. “We trust the governor’s intellect, but some mad storm frequently hits the Raj Bhavan gates. The governor is a fine gentleman and he should be cautious of such storms, otherwise the future of lakhs of students will be at stake,” it said.

The governor is of the view that he, as chancellor of all universities, should have been taken into confidence. But it has been widely reported that state higher and technical education minister Uday Samant had met the governor in this regard,” it pointed out. The Sena asked whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi had taken RBI governor and Union finance minister into confidence while announcing demonetisation, or the President while announcing the lockdown to contain spread of COVID-19.

“We believe the Modi government has the mandate to take decisions. It is constitutionally illegal for the governor to bless the opposition’s moves to oppose all decisions of the government,” it said. Such “tactics” of the opposition will not destabilise the three-party Maha Vikas Aghadi government (comprising the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress) in the state, it said.

“Union Home Minister Amit Shah has himself said the government will collapse only if the three-party alliance breaks. Hence, the opposition party must come out of the illusion that the government will become unstable if it continues to oppose everything what the government does,” the Shiv Sena said. The governor is the chancellor of universities and he is entitled to have his views.

“But in the wake of the coronavirus spread, how can examinations be held, endangering lives of 10 lakh students? The stand taken by the government is practical,” it said. On concerns raised BJP leader Ashish Shelar over the issue of exams, the Sena said the government, after discussing with vice chancellors and education experts, will take a decision on how to give aggregate marks to the ATKT (allowed to keep term) students.

ATKT is a process to allow students of pre-graduation and graduation to study in the next grade if they have failed in one to four subjects. On Shelar’s reported remark that whether students passing on aggregate marks will be called “corona graduates”, the Sena said there are “several big people in politics with bogus degrees”.

“Bogus degrees are dangerous than corona degrees,” it quipped. On the governor’s stand that examinations will be held as per the Universities Act, the Sena said laws are applicable not just for universities but other areas also.

“If laws had been followed, an illegal swearing-in wouldn’t have taken place by lifting the President’s rule when people were still asleep,” the Sena said. It was referring to the hush hush early morning ceremony held at Raj Bhavan after the state Assembly polls last year, when BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in as chief minister after the Shiv Sena parted ways with the BJP over the issue of sharing the chief ministerial post.

India Army to bring specific proposals to military talks with China on Saturday

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Afternoon Voice

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June 4, 2020

Indian and Chinese military will hold their first extensive talks on Saturday, and both sides are expected to deliberate on specific proposals to end the month-long bitter standoff in eastern Ladakh, official sources said.

The talks will be led by lieutenant generals from both the armies.

The general officer commanding of Leh-based 14 Corps, Lt Gen Harinder Singh, is set to represent India at the talks which is scheduled to be held at one of the border meeting points, the sources said.

The Indian side is expected to present specific proposals at the talks to deescalate tension in Pangong Tso, Galwan Valley and Demchok — the three areas in eastern Ladakh where the two sides have been on a bitter standoff for last one month, the sources said.

It is not immediately known what will be the proposals that the Indian military will take to the negotiating table but it is understood that it will insist on return to status quo in all the areas.

The two sides have already held at least 10 rounds of negotiations between local commanders as well as major general-rank officials of the two armies but the talks did not yield any positive result, they said.

It is learnt that two sides are also engaged in diplomatic talks to find a solution to the face-off which is turning out to be the most serious military standoff between the two armies after the Doklam episode of 2017.

‘We are expecting that the Chinese side will also bring to table specific workable suggestion to ease tension,’ said a senior military official on condition of anonymity.

After the standoff began early last month, the Indian military leadership decided that Indian troops will adopt a firm approach dealing with the aggressive posturing by the Chinese troops in all disputed areas of Pangong Tso, Galwan Valley, Demchok and Daulat Beg Oldie.

The Chinese Army is learnt to have deployed around 2,500 troops in Pangong Tso and Galwan Valley besides gradually enhancing temporary infrastructure and weaponry.

Official sources said satellite images have captured significant ramping up of defence infrastructure by China on its side of the de-facto border including construction activities at a military airbase around 180 km from the Pangong Tso area.

India has also been bolstering its presence by sending additional troops and artillery guns, they said.

The trigger for the face-off was China’s stiff opposition to India laying a key road in the Finger area around the Pangong Tso Lake besides construction of another road connecting the Darbuk-Shayok-Daulat Beg Oldie road in Galwan Valley.

Both the Indian and the Chinese Army have been gradually ramping up their strategic reserves along the LAC by rushing in artillery guns, infantry combat vehicles and heavy military equipment, the sources said.

The Indian Air Force has been keeping a strict aerial surveillance in the disputed region.

The sources said military reinforcements, including troops, vehicles and artillery guns, were sent to eastern Ladakh by the Indian Army.

The situation in eastern Ladakh deteriorated after around 250 Chinese and Indian soldiers were engaged in a violent face-off on the evening of May 5 which spilled over to the next day before the two sides agreed to ‘disengage’. However, the standoff continued.

The incident in Pangong Tso was followed by a similar incident in north Sikkim on May 9.

The troops of India and China were engaged in a 73-day stand-off in the Doklam tri-junction in 2017 which even triggered fears of a war between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

The India-China border dispute covers the 3,488-km-long LAC. China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of southern Tibet while India contests it.

Both sides have been asserting that pending the final resolution of the boundary issue, it is necessary to maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas.

Nisarga a deep depression in Arabian Sea, did not depressed Mumbaikar

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Vaidehi Taman

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June 3, 2020

Cyclone, Nisarga, Nisarga Cyclone, Mumbaikar, Mumbai, Rains, Vada Pav, Monsoon, Mumbai Rains, Storm, Cyclonic Storm — Image Courtesy: PTI

As the news reached to Mumbaikar by India Meteorological Department (IMD) about Nisarga as severe cyclonic storm confirming its landfall near the coastal town of Alibaug in Maharashtra on 3 June 2020. We all geared up, there were so many do and don’t messages. People were all ready with candles, switched off internet, charged mobile phones and above all maintain distance form windows they were watching the intensity of rain and winds that blowing. The cooperative societies, instructed people to move their cars for open parking, the things around huge trees were moved to safe zone. Cycles and bikes were chained. Cooking, cleaning, swabbing everything was done in early morning hours as it was told that the cyclone would reach Mumbai in noon. People in closed doors from few months were reaching each other through WhatsApp by rendering advice, solace and instructions. I mean we all were set to face the calamity the way it comes to us.

Around, 10 am as a media person, many news segments and videos and pictures started flowing through my inbox, to my surprise people were calm and composed. Even the government was very much ready for disaster management. There was faith in people that the CM is capable to handle the situations in Maharashtra. Many roads were blocked, such as sea link and some coastal lines. The shops and huts across sea line were equated well in advanced, boats were parked in reasonable distance. Fishermen were prevented to get in sea, beaches and ports were well guarded and the rescue team was deployed everywhere. For further safety Section 144 was Imposed in Mumbai; and lockdown relaxations was cancelled. People were asked to stay home and shops and markets were forced to keep closed.

There was pleasant rain after so much of heat bearing summer, this was Wednesday, a day of eating non vegetarian food or something lavish to the plate. People enjoyed their chai pakoda to mutton curry, but all that happened while waiting for the cyclone. Lives of Mumbaikar, do not shake much of any trauma because they have rare spirit to take everything and sustain and bounce back to life. People really have no time to bemoan or funk. The day somehow passed with actually nothing much as expected. The depression of sea has really missed depressing Mumbaikar. The storm is the second tropical cyclone of the 2020 North Indian Ocean cyclone season to hit the Indian subcontinent in a span of two weeks, after Cyclone Amphan, the first super cyclonic storm to occur in the Bay of Bengal in the 21st century, Nisarga is the first severe cyclonic storm since 1891 to impact Mumbai city, which is roughly 25 kms north of Alibaug. Thousands of people were evacuated in low lying areas of Maharajahs and Gujarat ahead of Cyclone.

There was already a rainfall prediction that on 1st June it would be heavy to very heavy rainfall likely over Lakshadweep, Kerala and coastal Karnataka. But Mumbai saw some drizzle here and there, the temperature of the city was on rise, day time it was all burning. On June 2nd by evening low to moderate rainfall was seen at most places with isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall. Mumbai was wet and cool. Today it was June 3rd, it was predicted about the extremely heavy rainfall and cyclone storm. Since morning the winds were blowing unusual and rain was usual as comparative to Mumbai monsoon, but not very depressed. Rather the rain got peace in people’s life. That cool breeze and that rain, was worth enjoying sitting inside four walls, something different to witness that the depressed news of COVID19, with this pouring people actually forgot their fear of Corona virus.

Mumbai witnessed rain showers whole day, and I couldn’t resist myself from enjoying the wonderful atmosphere. It was quite exciting to experience the rains and the fragrance of the soil. And I never miss a chance to enjoy this season, so the most of Mumbaikar. Natural calamities are unavoidable, but at some point, human needs solace. Too much attack on them becomes devastating, they were already feeling terrible, here the structure is mostly vertical and slums are over stuffed, the heat was taking their lives, somehow this wind has not bothered them much because it did not get much scope in their congested spaces. Meanwhile, Monsoon tantrums are not new to the city, so even that has not worried much. Now there is another prediction ahead and that is about 4th June’s very heavy rainfall in city, after witnessing floods in Mumbai during monsoon, even government is alert and people too know what they have to do to protect themselves. As I have already mentioned people in Mumbai are self-reliable and very much spirited to take up any challenge.

“Pudhe Chala – Chal Pudhe Rey” let the rains pour or storm strikes “Mumbai (Bombay) Nahi Rukne Wali”, attitude makes its people walk their path, this is a common scene in Mumbai during rains. Also, while traveling to work in rainy season, we are habitual of listening the notices of Mumbai local, the heart of Mumbai “Yaatri kripya dhyaan dijiye Churchgate jaane wali 8 bajkar 10-minute ki local aaj deri se chal rahi he… Yaatriyo se deri ke liye khed hai…” Such Deri (delays) and Raddhs (cancellations) are very common practices and that is almost way of life that Mumbaikar happily accepts. There are some special moments this Mumbai rain comes with, and that is Long-drive, Romance, Chai & Vada-Pav/ Kanda-Bhaji is staple of Mumbaikars. There are many political, pandemic and planned storms crossed Mumbai on several occasions, what remains concrete is the spirit of Mumbaikar.

(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@www.afternoonvoice.com)

Cyclone Nisarga made Landfall on Maharashtra Coast – It gone without the mass damages

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Afternoon Voice

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June 3, 2020

Severe cyclonic storm Nisarga – the second to strike India in two weeks – made landfall on the Maharashtra coast on Wednesday amid heavy rain. This is the first such storm to impact coronavirus-hit Mumbai, which has so far logged over 41,000 COVID-19 patients, in over 100 years. No one was allowed to come out in public places like beaches, parks and promenades along the Mumbai coastline. Maharashtra, Gujarat, Daman and Diu, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli have been put on high alert till June 4 as some parts of these two states and the union territories fall on the path of the cyclone that developed over a low-pressure area over the Arabian Sea.

“The center of the severe cyclone “Nisarga” is very close to Maharashtra coast. Landfall process started and completed in three hours. The northeast sector of the eye of severe cyclonic storm “Nisarga” is entering into land,” the India Meteorological Department or IMD said in a tweet this afternoon. The storm will gradually enter into Mumbai and Thane district during next three hours, the weather office had said in an earlier post.

Fourty-three teams of National Disaster Response Force or NDRF were deployed in areas expected to be affected along Maharashtra and Gujarat coasts. One NDRF team consists of 45 personnel. “The evacuation is nearly complete. Those in shelters are being trained for life skills and social distancing is being ensured. All preparations are in order. Let’s hope we safely ride through the cyclone,” NDRF chief SN Pradhan said in a video message this afternoon.

The CR had on Wednesday rescheduled, diverted and regulated some trains, an official said. These included five special trains departing from Mumbai. Three special trains will be either diverted or regulated enroute, he added.

In Maharashtra, more than 19,000 people had been moved to safety. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had on Tuesday appealed to the people of the state to “stay indoors”. “The cyclone could be more severe than the ones the state has faced till now,” Mr Thackeray said. With over 70,000 COVID-19 cases, the state is the worst-hit in the country by the pandemic.

Mumbai’s civic body Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has put out a list of dos and don’ts for citizens, urging them to stay away from windows, check for gas leaks and keep mobile phones charged. “Dial 1916 and Press 4 for any cyclone-related questions. Ignore rumours, stay calm, don’t panic,” the BMC said.

Strong winds picked up in coastal areas this morning as the cyclone inched closer. Goa, Ratnagiri, Alibaug where the landfall was expected reported heavy rain.

The civil aviation regulator – Directorate General of Civil Aviation or DGCA – on Tuesday cautioned airlines about the dangers of operating during monsoon and stormy conditions. Air and rail traffic has been disrupted due to the storm.

A storm surge – as high as two metres (three to 6.5 feet) above the astronomical tide – will inundate the low-lying coastal areas of Mumbai, Thane and Raigad districts during the landfall, the weather department has said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday tweeted: “Took stock of the situation in the wake of cyclone conditions in parts of India’s western coast. Praying for everyone’s well-being. I urge people to take all possible precautions and safety measures (sic)”. In a tweet, his office later said that PM Modi spoke to Maharashtra Chief Minster Uddhav Thackeray, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, assuring all possible help from the centre.

Cyclone Nisarga will be the second to strike India’s coasts in less than two weeks; last month Cyclone Amphan, one of the worst storms to have formed over the Bay of Bengal in recent years, struck Bengal and parts of Odisha, killing nearly 100 people and affecting lakhs. Bengal Chief Minister estimated the damage done at Rs 1 lakh crore.

Cyclone Nisarga: Mumbai on edge as storm to make landfall at noon

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Afternoon Voice

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June 3, 2020

Cyclonic storm Nisarga, set to make landfall at Alibaug in Raigad district in the afternoon, hovered over the Arabian Sea around 165 km south-southwest of the coastal town and 215 km south-southwest of Mumbai at dawn, a senior IMD official said on Wednesday. India Meteorological Department (IMD) Mumbai’s deputy director general of meteorology K S Hosalikar said the cyclone will cross close to south of Alibaug as severe cyclonic storm 100-110 kmph gusting at 120 kmph.

Cyclonic Storm NISARGA over the Arabian Sea at 0530 hrs of today 03 Jun, abt 165 km ssw of Alibagh, 215 km ssw of Mumbai. To cross close to south of Alibagh (Raigad District, Maharashtra) during the afternoon of today the 03rd June as a SCS, 100-110, gust 120 kmph, afternoon, he tweeted.

In another tweet, he said Mumbai city received moderate rainfall of 20 mm to 40 mm, while there was light rainfall in other parts of the megapolis during the past 12 hours.

He reiterated heavy rainfall warnings for Mumbai and neighbouring districts like Thane, Raigad and Palghar.

Today on 3 Jun heavy rainfall warnings for Mumbai, Thane, Raigad and Palghar are already issued in view of cyclone. High winds, very rough sea,” he said on the micro-blogging site.

In an earlier tweet, the official said that at 2:30 am on Wednesday, the cyclonic storm hovered over Arabian Sea about 280 km west-northwest of Panjim (Goa), 250 km south-southwest of Mumbai and 200 km south-southwest of Alibaug.

He said it is very likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm during next few hours.

Bracing for the impact of what is being billed as the most severe cyclone to hit Mumbai, the Central Railway (CR) rescheduled special trains and many airlines also cancelled their Mumbai operations.

The CR has rescheduled, diverted and regulated some trains on Wednesday, an official said. These include five special trains departing from Mumbai. Three special trains will be either divetred or regulated enroute, he added.

With the cyclone set to make landfall on Wednesday, Maharashtra and Gujarat activated their disaster response mechanism, deploying NDRF teams and evacuating people from areas likely to be hit.

The two western states, already battling a raging pandemic, which has put their health infrastructure under severe strain, opened new fronts to tackle the fallout of the cyclone.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to their chief ministers on Tuesdsy and assured them all possible help from the Centre.

Ten teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed in parts of Maharashtra for rescue operations in view of the cyclonic storm, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said.

An alert has been issued for Mumbai city and suburbs, Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts.

Town planning authority MMRDA said nearly 150 patients at its COVID facility in Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) in Mumbai have been shifted to another location as a precaution in the wake of the cyclone.

The Navy has has kept five flood teams and three diving teams on stand-by in Mumbai, the official said.

These teams, trained and equipped for rescue operations, are stationed at various naval areas across Mumbai and can provide early response over a larger area, he said.

“We have evacuated more than 3,500 people from koliwadas (fishermen colonies) and temporary houses to safer structures like schools, community halls and government buildings,” superintendent of police Raigad, Anil Paraskar said.

Mumbai hasn’t “experienced a serious cyclone landfall since 1891”, according to Adam Sobel, professor of atmospheric science at Columbia University.

Mumbai experienced severe floods in 2005, and more recently in 2017 and 2019, but none of them were due to cyclones.

Mumbai comes to a standstill in every monsoon

By

Vaidehi Taman

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June 2, 2020

After a long lock down and survival crisis, somehow Mumbai is trying to come back to life and here comes another challenge and that is none other than its own monsoon season. Heavy rains came back to hangout in Mumbai and its neighboring districts. Heavy to very heavy rain in overall Mumbai and extremely heavy rainfall in certain areas is expected by India Meteorological Department (IMD). But this time we may not get to see those routine sights of people waiting, stuck on the roads searching for means to reach home. We may not be able to look around and see that voluminous crowd walking by, office goers, homemakers and everyone getting stalled. Mumbai is already on stand still mode due to corona virus and people have not left their homes for months now. Every year, Mumbai receives very heavy rain within a short time, which usually brings the city to a standstill. Urban flooding is common in the city from June to September, resulting in the crippling of all transport, traffic, railways and airlines.

After COVID-19, now fever, malaria, dengue, leptospirosis, diarrhea and cholera enters our lives, where especially people staying in slums suffer the most. For years now, Mumbai’s politicians of all hues have blatantly ignored the signs: the crumbling drainage system; the built-over natural drainage; the poisonous landfills with 8-10 meters high garbage exuding poison; the untreated sewage, shamelessly dumped into the Arabian Sea. Each government claims of doing something but at the end Mumbai suffers with heavy water logging. This year the coastal lines and bridges have added to cities infrastructure further compromising many tress and jungles and there is no guarantee that the city will comfortably sail through rain water. This year Mumbai is likely to witness monsoon between June 3 and 10. The Southwest monsoon is expected to arrive over Kerala coast between June 1 & June 5 and is likely to reach Mumbai thereafter. The situation in Maharashtra is yet another failure where drought-prone Marathwada and Vidarbha has to witness shortages respectively. Farmers have been particularly affected due to lock down and untimely rains in some areas. The current monsoon is challenging India’s conventional simplistic nomenclature when describing complex global circulations like the monsoon. Depending only on quantity of rainfall to describe monsoon performance without accounting for distribution and influential atmospheric conditions would again lead to misreading of monsoon.

The life of Mumbai due to schemes like Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority’s Bandra-Kurla Complex, which was built on mangroves or the Bandra-Worli Sea Link which narrowed the mouth of the Mithi river or the compromising of Gorai green zones for metro, Mumbai has really sacrificed its green wealth and no one paid heed to those warnings. Mumbai’s ‘official’ storm water drains consist of road drains, minor nullahs, major nullahs and outfall. All are interlinked and they finally empty into either the Arabian Sea directly or into the four creeks that open into the Arabian Sea. The City system is mostly underground while the suburbs have open drains and nullah’s. Outskirts are developing so rapidly that the municipality is not able to provide proper drainage. Also, low-lying areas and old ponds have been filled to make multi-story buildings and shopping malls. So, the natural drainage system of holding ponds and water channels has been completely eliminated and no longer exists in Mumbai and in extended Mumbai. Flooding is but natural here, no matter what you do. Mumbai’s drainage problem is completely an effect of widespread construction and reclamation-mania. The amount of water falling on the city has not decreased, but the space to flow has tremendously shrunk. Earlier, almost 50 percent water would seep into the ground, drastically reducing the total volume to be managed. But today since the whole city is cemented, whenever water falls unfortunately the ground cannot absorb it. Most nullah’s and drains are encroached upon and choked as they are not designed to tackle so much water volume.

Mumbai is growing vertically day by day and the population too is on rise. As most urban cities across the world are facing development disorder, Mumbai too is growing at such a rapid pace that basic infrastructure has failed to keep pace with it. Hence in Mumbai, more and more multi-storey buildings are coming up whereas the municipality is unable to provide their basic services. More and more of drinking water is being sourced for Mumbai from great distance, many kilometres away and more water supply means more generation of wastewater. Also, many localities that do not have adequate municipal water supply and depend on water tankers, so their wastewater does not count as official sewage. Again, to cut costs, many housing colonies prefer throwing their sewage into a nearby nullah rather than pay for an official drain connection. Even if BMC has arrangement of collecting garbage facilities, the garbage is not collected on regular intervals. As it takes days to collect garbage and inevitably the garbage gets spread on the roads during monsoon and eventually by flowing into the nearest drain it gets chocks up the city nallah’s. Due to so much organic decomposition, the city stinks heavily during monsoon, inviting skin diseases and many more illnesses. Most of the Mumbai’s untreated sewage gets routed in nullahs, rivulets and rivers such as Mithi and invariably all of it empties in unchecked volume into the sea. And it is wrong to only attack slums for polluting waterbodies. How much wastewater can a slum household generate which hardly receives any drinking water supply in the first place? Even, Mumbai’s waste management problems are unique. Due to space shortage, land-filling sites are not sustainable. Residential colonies are in very close proximity to dumping grounds and sadly due to the high commercial activity, volume of waste generated is also high. So unfortunately, infections, poor sanitation conditions, potholes, pothole deaths, bad stench, flooding and waterlogs are all going to stay here with you this monsoon along with COVID-19. What every Mumbaikar needs to do is boost his own immunity and get in self-guarding mode as inevitably he is on his own.

After COVID its Rain, that challenges Mumbai: Cyclone Nisarga to bring heavy rainfall

By

Afternoon Voice

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June 2, 2020

With the Tropical storm “Nisarga” heading towards the coasts in Maharashtra and Gujarat, the civic authorities have challenges ahead in dealing with heavy rains in Mumbai, so far, they all were engaged in controlling COVID-19 cases. Mumbai, Thane, Palghar are on red alert, heavy rain on June 3 and 4 June is predicted by IMD. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a pre-cyclone watch for north Maharashtra and south Gujarat coasts with a low-pressure area persisting over the southeast and adjoining east-central Arabian Sea and Lakshadweep islands.

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, in the meeting held on Monday through video conferencing, said Mumbai city, its suburbs, Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg are on alert for the cyclone.

The state’s disaster management, relief, and rehabilitation department are fully prepared to deal with the cyclone.

Fishermen have been called in from the sea and the coast guard has been notified, the slum dwellers in the Mumbai metropolitan area, especially in the low-lying areas, have also been instructed to evacuate.

“10 units of the NDRF have been deployed for rescue operations while six SDRF units have been kept on standby,” the CM said.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has kept its disaster management control room and all necessary departments on high alert. All 24 ward offices have been ordered to relocate people living in flood-prone areas to nearby schools.

Mrutunjay Mohapatra, director general of IMD told media that, “It is predictable to turn into a cyclonic storm by Tuesday. We are monitoring whether this will be as intense as Cyclone Amphan and are in touch with the concerned state governments,”.

A district-wise forecast, issued by the IMD, has put Palghar on “red alert” with the possibility of extremely heavy rain at isolated places for June 3 and 4. Mumbai and Thane, meanwhile, have been put on “orange alert” with the possibility of heavy to very heavy rainfall at few places.

The depression over east-central Arabian Sea intensified into a “deep depression” this afternoon. “It is very likely to intensify into a Cyclonic Storm during next six hours and further into a Severe Cyclonic Storm during subsequent 12 hours,” the IMD said in a statement on Tuesday afternoon.

“It is very likely to cross north Maharashtra and adjoining south Gujarat coast between Harihareshwar and Daman, close to Alibag (Raigad District, Maharashtra) during the afternoon of June 3 as a Severe Cyclonic Storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 100-110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph,” the statement added.

Union home minister Amit Shah spoke to Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray through video conference and took stock of the state’s preparedness to tackle any eventuality.

The IMD also predicted that the national capital and some areas of Uttar Pradesh are likely to receive rainfall today. It also stated that the thunderstorm would accompany downpour in these regions.

IMD has released helpline numbers to be contacted in case of any emergency through the cyclone – 02525-297474/02525-252020/8329439902.

Lockdown 5.0 – “Mission Begin Again”

By

Vaidehi Taman

-

June 1, 2020

In Maharashtra, which is the worst affected state in the country, the lockdown was extended till June 30 with easing of restrictions and phase-wise resumption of activities. Calling it “Mission Begin Again”, the government allowed all markets, market areas and shops, except malls, to function from June 5 on odd-even basis even as cases in the state crossed 65,000. This will exclude containment zones. The Centre plans to unlock all the economic activities in a phased manner, beginning with the opening of restaurants and malls on June 8. Though the lockdown 5.0 will last till June 30, it is only in containment zones. Also, the night curfew hours for areas outside these zones have been revised to 9 pm to 5 am from the earlier 7 pm to 7 am.

The unlock 1.0, however, will play out differently in most states as they have been given the freedom to prohibit certain activities if they deem fit. But they cannot water down the Centre guidelines. Lockdown 4.0, which was imposed to curb the spread of novel coronavirus in the country, ended on May 31, the central government on Saturday announced its plans for a phased reopening of the economy, dubbed as ‘Unlock 1’.

In Phase 1, places of worship, hotels, restaurants, and other hospitality services, and shopping mall will be allowed to reopen with advised precautions. It has been planned to reopen educational institutions in Phase 2, a decision on which will be taken in July.

Similarly, international air travel for passengers, metro rail services, cinema halls, swimming pools, entertainment parks, gymnasiums, theatres, bars, auditoriums, and assembly halls will be reopened in Phase 3.Apart from this, while night curfew will remain in place between 9 pm to 5 am, except for essential activities, states have been allowed to impose suitable restrictions, if deemed necessary.

Most countries that scrambled to put strict nationwide lockdowns to contain the spread of Covid-19 are resorting to gradual reopening in order to avoid sharp spikes in infections that could potentially undo the progress made during the lockdowns.

The US is the worst-affected country across the globe with 17.75 lakh confirmed Covid-19 cases and nearly 1,04,000 deaths. Most states had been put under some form of lockdown in late March. The growth of cases has varied across states and so has the response as well as the reopening strategy. A majority of states, which began permitting limited activities in early May, have moved for quicker reopening unlike states like New York – the epicentre of the outbreak within the US – which has opted for a more conservative and cautious approach for the exit.

Houses of worship, personal care outlets such as hair salons and retail stores have been allowed to reopen in most of the states. Other non-essential businesses have been allowed to reopen as well in certain states at full capacity, while at least 35 states have allowed restaurant dining and reopening of bars.

In New York, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has followed a 7-metric approach for a phased regional reopening in the state. These metrics include a 14-day decline in net hospitalisations and deaths, availability of beds and ICU beds, and a testing target. It’s only when all the seven parameters are met a county is cleared for reopening. As of Sunday, most regions within the state have entered Phase 2 of reopening, in which personal care outlets will be allowed to reopen along with non-essential construction and manufacturing, and curb side pickup in restaurants and retail stores. Advisories, however, have been issued with regards to the number of employees allowed to work and adherence to social distancing norms. New York City, the worst-affected zone within the state, is still under lockdown and is expected to enter Phase 1 of reopening on June 8.

In late April, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez laid out a lockdown exit strategy consisting of four phases from Phase 0 to 3 with each one lasting for two weeks. Phase 0, which allowed limited outside activities, was planned as a foundation for the transition. Under Phase 1, small businesses were permitted to reopen with precautions such as earmarking specific shopping hours for those over 65 years old. Assemblies of up to 10 people were allowed as well.

Hotels were also allowed to reopen but with specific restrictions on access to common areas and adherence to social distancing. In Phase 2, restaurants were planned to be reopened for interior dining. Similarly, cinemas and theatres were allowed to reopen with limited capacity.

The government also allowed assemblies of up to 50 people in closed spaces and up to 400 people in open spaces. In Phase 3, beginning in the second week of June, all businesses will be allowed to restart with limited restrictions. Spain has recorded 2.39 lakh confirmed cases of Covid-19 and over 27,000 deaths.

The federal government in Germany has left it on states to decide on reopening. The guidelines state that the lockdown will have to be imposed again if cases see a spike in a particular region.

People have been told to continue to practice social distancing. People have been allowed to meet each other, however, the limit on the number varies across states. Professional football was allowed to resume in mid-May. Shops and small businesses have been allowed to reopen as well with regulations on capacity and hygiene.

In the case of educational institutions, younger children, graduating classes, and students taking exams were allowed to return to schools. Germany has witnessed more than 1,83, 000 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and over 8,500 deaths. After a relative containment of the spread of the virus, Italy moved to ease lockdown restriction beginning in early May. According to measures laid out by Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, Italy allowed construction, parks, and manufacturing to reopen on May 4, while also allowing people to visit their relatives in limited numbers. It permitted people to move around within regions, individual athletes to resume training and resumption of takeaway services in restaurants from May 4 onwards.

Retail shops, libraries, and museums were allowed to reopen on May 18. Hair salons, bars, dine-in services in restaurants, and travel between regions will also be allowed starting from this week. Restaurants, however, will be required to reduce the number of diners, place tables at a distance, and put plastic sheets to separate diners.

Italy was one of the first nations outside of China to report a massive outbreak of the novel coronavirus in March this year. It has recorded 2,33,000 confirmed cases and over 33,000 deaths. The UK is the worst-affected European country with 2,76,000 confirmed cases and over 38,000 total deaths. Accepting the fact that the fight against the virus is going to continue for a long time, Prime Minister Boris Johnson in early May announced a detailed reopening plan for the nation. People were allowed to go outdoors for sun-bathing, picnic, and meetings in small groups while maintaining social distance. If possible, employees were told to work from home. If they had to go to the office, they were advised to take private means of transport to avoid overcrowding in trains and buses.

As India moves to ease its lockdown norms, one key difference that it has with other countries is that while countries such as in Europe and several states in the US eased restrictions after the daily increase in cases either contracted or stabilised. However, in India’s case, the easing of the lockdown comes at a time when daily reported cases have risen consistently over the past couple of weeks.

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No Local trains but taxi, cab, auto rickshaws allowed to ferry

By

Afternoon Voice

-

June 1, 2020

In the first phase beginning June 3, as per the order issued by Chief Secretary Ajoy Mehta, the government has allowed individual physical activities like jogging, walking, running and cycling in public spaces, including at neighbourhood beaches, public and private playgrounds, gardens and promenades and other open spaces, between 5 am to 7 pm.

However, no group activity will be permitted. While encouraging cycling, the order stated that long distance travel within cities will not be permitted. he Maharashtra government on Sunday announced the launch of ‘Mission Begin Again’ from June 3, a three-phase removal of restrictions and introducing relaxations to the now 11-week lockdown, even as it extended the lockdown itself until June 30. The plan does not apply to containment zones.

Activities allowed in the first phase are individual outdoor physical exercise like walking, running and jogging, but strictly in the neighbourhood. The guidelines emphasize cycling as a preferred exercise, as it ensures the practice of social distancing. Moreover, government and private offices are to function with 15 per cent and 10 per cent of their existing staff strength, respectively.

Home delivery of newspaper has been allowed to resume from June 7, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said in a live streamed address to the state on Sunday evening. He also said that final-year university exams will not be held and students will be marked on the aggregate of previous semesters. Film shootings are also set to resume. For all three phases, night curfew remains in place from 9 pm to 5 am. Containment zones – there are 3,169 such zones in Maharashtra, including 684 in Mumbai, 177 in Thane and 65 in Pune – are not included in this planned graded opening.

The relaxations apply to every area outside these containment zones in the 19 red zones of the state, which essentially include the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and municipal corporation areas of Pune, Solapur, Aurangabad, Malegaon, Nasik, Dhule, Jalgaon, Akola, Amaravati and Nagpur. Also, the government has allowed plumbers, electricians and technicians as well as those working in auto garages and workshops to function with prior appointments. Further, it said that all government offices – expect those involved in emergency services – will function with 15 per cent staff or minimum of 15 employees.

In the second phase beginning June 5, all markets and shops – except malls and market complexes – are allowed to function on odd and even days between 9 am and 5 pm. While shops on one side of the road, lane and passage will open on odd days, those on the other side will open on even days. However, customers will not be allowed to try on clothes, and the exchange and return policy has been scrapped for now.

“People are advised to walk/use cycles for shopping and to use nearby/neighbourhood markets as far as possible… Use of motorized vehicles for shopping will be strictly discouraged,” said Mehta, adding that if social distancing norms are not followed, authorities will immediately close down such shops and markets.

Further, taxi, cab aggregators and auto rickshaws have been allowed to ferry only two persons besides the driver for essential activities.

In the third phase from June 8, all private offices can be operating with up to 10 per cent strength. Sources said the staggered opening is in anticipation of a surge in the number of Covid-19 cases in the coming days. “A surge has been reported in some cities where the relaxations were given two weeks ago. We expect it to happen in Mumbai and other municipal corporation areas, which is why relaxations have been allowed phase-wise with some restrictions. Also, we do not want the people to step out of their homes unnecessarily,” said an official.

Mass transporters such as BEST and the suburban train service are not part of this graded opening. Nor are schools and colleges, religious places and places of worship, barber shops, spas and saloons, shopping malls, hotels and restaurants as well as social, political, sports, religious and large congregations.

Officials said increasing the staff strength of private and government offices would depend on the resumption of the local train services – a decision that has to be taken by the Centre – as well the kind of spike in cases in the coming days.

Moreover, with increasing demand from various entertainment bodies to allow shooting, the government gave conditional permission to resume shooting of films, television serials, web series and others in non-containment zones. An official in the Chief Minister’s Office said: “Applications will be scrutinised and then the permission will be given. If applications are found satisfactory, it is possible that the permission to start production work will be given within a day.”

The 16-page Government Resolution (GR) said that steps should be taken to educate and sensitise all the partners and employees involved in the shooting process regarding preventive measures. Producers will have to carry out pre-production and post-production works by adhering to guidelines.

The GR also asked the producers to minimise crew strength by 33 per cent while all staffers are required to carry identification card while travelling for shoot. Whenever possible, casting should be done remotely via Facetime, Zoom, Skype and others such options. Minimal physical contact has to be ensured during the shoot.

All the necessary permissions to commence shoot for any TV show is to be procured by the respective broadcasting company from the collector of the district where the shooting is to take place. Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena has decided to turn its ‘Shakhas’ into clinics in Mumbai.