Mumbai, July 3 (IANS) Deputy Maharashtra Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Wednesday announced a Rs 5 lakh assistance each from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to the families of the deceased in the Lonavala waterfall tragedy.

To prevent such accidents in the future and to dissuade citizens from visiting unfamiliar and risky spots, Ajit Pawar also instructed all district collectors and district police chiefs in the state to take necessary measures, including placing warning boards.

Assembly member Chetan Tupe had raised the issue of providing assistance to the families of the victims and implementing safety measures at dangerous locations.

In his reply, Pawar stated that the accident near the Bushi Dam was unfortunate and funds will be made available through the District Planning Committee to implement measures to prevent such accidents.

With this fund, warning boards will be placed at potentially dangerous spots, fences will be erected, and nets will be installed for safety.

Information boards will be placed at tourist-frequented places, and safety measures will be implemented, said Pawar.

Five persons including a woman and four minor kids, were washed away in a waterfall and drowned downstream in a reservoir, at the famed hill station of Lonavala in Maharashtra.

–IANS

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Kakinada (Andhra Pradesh), July 3 (IANS) Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and actor Pawan Kalyan on Wednesday said he will stay away from film shoots for three months.

Addressing a public meeting in his Assembly constituency Pithapuram, he said that whenever possible, he would give one or two days for film shoots.

When his fans shouted “OG” (the name of his upcoming film), Pawan Kalyan asked them if they thought he would have time to act in movies.

“I have to make sure that you don’t abuse me for not even filling potholes on roads. That’s why I have to first do what I promised. Otherwise, you will ask me ‘Kiya Ji’ we elected you and you are doing ‘OG’,” the Tollywood star said amid loud cheers by the crowd.

The Jana Sena leader said he apologised to producers about not being able to do film shoots. “I told them I will serve people of Andhra Pradesh and whenever possible, I will do shoots for 2-3 days without disrupting the work,” he said.

Pawan Kalyan raised the curiosity of his fans with the remark that “OG” would be a good movie.

With Pawan Kalyan and Priyanka Mohan in lead roles, the film also stars Emraan Hashmi in his Telugu debut. The action thriller is written and directed by Sujeeth.

Pawan Kalyan is on his first visit to Pithapuram after his victory in the elections and after assuming office as the Deputy Chief Minister. On Monday, he announced that he would not accept his salary and any special allowances, including new furniture for his office, considering the precarious financial condition of the state.

At the public meeting on Wednesday, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the people of Pithapuram have given him the strength to have a say in national politics. He claimed that no political party in the country has achieved a 100 per cent strike rate. The Jana Sena won all 21 Assembly and two Lok Sabha seats it contested.

“Some people said they will not allow Pawan Kalyan even to cross the Assembly gate. People of Peethapuram took this seriously. TDP leader Varma said Pawan Kalyan will not just cross the Assembly gate but will break the gate to enter. His words have come true,” he said.

Pawan Kalyan said many people wanted him to take the Home portfolio but considering Mahatma Gandhi’s dream of gram swaraj, he took the Panchayat Raj Department.

“I don’t need bribes. I told officials to make sure that funds are not misused. I pay taxes on my income. Now, since this is your money, I am seeking details from officials about every rupee. I am controlling expenditure in my department,” he said.

Pawan Kalyan holds the portfolios of Panchayat Raj, Rural Development & Rural Water Supply, Environment, Forest, and Science & Technology.

–IANS

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Mumbai, July 3 (IANS) The proposed world-class Mumbai Central Public Park, first of its kind in the country’s commercial capital, will come up on 300 acres of land in the Worli area of south Mumbai, officials said here on Wednesday.

The BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said that it would comprise 120 acres land acquired from the Mahalaxmi Race Course and around 175 acres from the Mumbai Coastal Road Project (MCRP).

Proposed to be designed on the lines of the New York Central Park, it would be a lush green haven flanked by a concrete jungle of skyscrapers on two sides and the Arabian Sea.

On Tuesday evening, the state government accorded consent to renew the lease agreement on 91 acres of the 211-acres Mahalaxmi Race Course for 30 years, after its earlier lease of 99 years expired around 10 years ago.

The lease agreement with the Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) was signed in the presence of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, Sanjog Kabre, Prashant Gaikwad, Vinayak Vispute, RWITC’s K.N. Dhunjibhoy, Dr. Ram Shroff, Dilip Thakkar, Niranjan Singh, and others.

“The development of MCPP will enhance Mumbai’s international stature and add to the city’s green cover from 3,917 acres to 4,212 acres, contributing significantly to enhance the environmental conservation efforts,” remarked Shinde.

The oval-shaped Mahalaxmi Race Court, with a racing track of 2.40 km is part of Mumbai’s history, heritage and ranks among the best in the country, currently enjoying a Grade II-B Heritage status.

Situated on land donated by the textile tycoon Sir Cusrow N. Wadia, it came up in 1883 but later the BMC had leased it to the RWITC on a 99-year-long lease that ended in May 2013, which is now renewed for another 30 years till May 2053.

After 2013, the BMC had actively pursued to repossess the huge tract of 211 acres for a larger public cause, and after a consensus to resolve the contentious issue, the RWITC got a chunk of 91 acres, and the rest has returned to the civic body.

The BMC is preparing to transform the 120 acres plus the 175 acres of the MCRP into an international level green oasis in south Mumbai, as it is specifically mandated for public use.

–IANS

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Srinagar, July 3 (IANS) With a maximum temperature of 35.6 degrees Celsius, J&K’s Srinagar city recorded the hottest day of the season on Wednesday, weather officials said.

Mukhtar Ahmad, director of the local Met Department, told IANS that the maximum temperature in Srinagar was 35.6 degrees Celsius, which is 6 degrees above normal.

“It is the highest maximum temperature of the season so far with the last highest maximum recorded being 37 degrees Celsius on July 9, 1999 in Srinagar. On July 1, 2005 and July 10, 2006, the maximum temperature recorded in Srinagar was 35 degrees Celsius. All time highest maximum temperature recorded in Srinagar is 38.3 degrees on July 10, 1946,” the Met Department Director said.

He also said that in the Kokernag tourist report in Anantnag district, the maximum temperature was 33.3 degrees Celsius, which is the highest ever recorded there.

“On July 8, 1993, Kokernag had recorded 33 degrees Celsius as the maximum temperature which was the highest there till today,” he said.

The Met Department has forecast wet weather from Thursday evening.

“On July 4, an intermittent spell of light to moderate rain/thundershower at many places with isolated heavy rain over Jammu Division is likely. On July 5 and 6, there is a possibility of intermittent moderate rainfall at most places of J&K with heavy rainfall at few places. On July 7, intermittent spell of light to moderate rain/thundershower at many places with isolated heavy Rain over Jammu Division. On July 8 to 10, hot and humid weather with the possibility of a spell of rain/thundershower at scattered places of Jammu Division towards late night/early morning and a spell of rain/thundershower at a few places of Kashmir Division,” it said in a statement.

The Met Department also issued an advisory warning that flash floods, landslides/mudslides & shooting stones at a few vulnerable places are likely to occur from July 4 to July 6, and water logging is expected in low-lying areas.

–IANS

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Guwahati, July 3 (IANS) At least 11 animals have been killed due to flooding in Assam’s Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR), an official said on Wednesday.

KNPTR director Sonali Ghosh said that many camps have been inundated as flood water has submerged a large portion of the UNESCO world heritage site.

According to Ghosh, out of 233 camps under three Wildlife Divisions — Eastern Assam Wildlife Division, Biswanath Wildlife Division and Nagaon Wildlife Division — 173 camps have been submerged in flood water.

Meanwhile, nine other camps have been vacated due to rising water levels.

There are five ranges in the KNPTR — Agratoli, Kaziranga, Bagori, Burapahar and Bokakhat.

The highest number of camps have been inundated under the Kaziranga range.

“At least 51 camps have been inundated in the Kaziranga range and 37 camps were submerged in Bagori range,” Ghosh said.

She further said that 65 animals have been rescued in KNPTR.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has taken stock of the flood situation in the park.

–IANS

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