Nagpur Updates

Uneven, poor quality cement roads presenting difficulties for citizens: Congress

A delegation of 15 residents from Prabhag, the Nagpur City Congress Committee and Congress Legal Cell met with Municipal Commissioner Abhijit Bangar, Additional Commissioner Ram Joshi and Assistant Commissioner Prakash Varade from the Dharampeth District, and submitted a memorandum highlighting enormous difficulties faced by people following poor quality and uneven construction of cement roads in town. The delegation said a network of cement roads is being established in the town. Inner cement roads under Prabhag 15 are being constructed in Dharampeth, Gadga and Gawlipura. Notwithstanding notifying the contractor and local corporator, the amount of cement roads has risen above the houses along the roads. This uneven construction has pushed a tight spot for citizens. People are exposed to numerous risks when conducting their daily tasks as contractors neglected basic safety considerations when carrying out work on the cement roads. Water gushed into resident’s houses during the recent rains. In fact, low building quality has raised resident’s woes. Instead of eliminating Reliance Jio Internet’s illegally built chambers, the contractor has raised the height of the chambers and brought them down to road level. One can imagine what would happen if someone were to lose balance on the rough road surface and the disparity in depth between tar road and the newly constructed concrete road is more troubling. The contractor should have ensured that this site is levelled equally during the construction period to ensure smooth vehicle passage. With officials less interested in monitoring the ongoing construction of concrete roads, contractors are busy designing more and more puzzles for road users, the delegation said.

The delegation was headed by Nagpur City Congress Committee Executive Member and Adv Akshay Samarth MPCC Legal Cell Secretary. Copies of the memorandum were also sent to the office of Major Sandeep Joshi, Deputy Mayor Manisha Kothekar, Health Officer, Opposition Leader in NMC.Reportedly, Municipal Commissioner Bangar told the delegation that the problem persists throughout the city, and not only in Prabhag 15. Nevertheless, taking serious note of the difficulties residents are facing, Bangar immediately phoned concerned officials and instructed them to undertake appropriate measures to reduce residents problems. Additional Commissioner Ram Joshi also listened to the residents’ grievances and promised that they would be looked into. Assistant Commissioner Varade has told himself that they will check the cement roads.Other delegation leaders include Devendra Rotele, Yugal Vidhavat, Yogesh Yersamwar, Adv Abhay Randive, Adv Ujwal Raut, Adv Shabana Divan, Adv Sunita Paul, Adv Archana Gajbhiye, Ramprasad Chaudhary, Rambhau Bante, Vivek Patkar, Naresh Naidu, Vishal Sayre, Nikhil Naidu, Chandan Pande, Dharampeth, Gadga, Gawlipura and Ramdaspeth.

Shirdi to be Closed Indefinitely From 19 January, ‘ Birthplace ‘ Remark of Maharashtra CM

The temple town of Shirdi in Maharashtra, known for the saint Sai Baba of the 19th century, will be’ closed indefinitely’ from 19 January as a mark of protest against the recent comment by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray describing Pathri in the district of Parbhani as the birthplace of the venerated saint and allocating Rs 100 crore for its development. The Sai Baba Samadhi administrative body took the decision to call for an indefinite shutdown. Speaking to the news agency, member of the Sai Baba Sansthan Trust, Bhausaheb Wakchaure, said, “We have announced the closure of Shirdi on 19 January against rumors. Tomorrow evening a meeting of villagers will be held to discuss the matter. Devotees won’t face any difficulties if they come to Shirdi. “Local residents are reported’ extremely upset’ at the portrayal of Pathri as the birthplace of Sai Baba by the chief minister. Locals claim that there is no record available on the birthplace of Sai Baba and suggest that during his stay in Shirdi, Sai Baba himself never shared any details on his birthplace or religion. While the town is conducting an indefinite shutdown, the temple itself and all its units were held outside the bandh’s purview. Similarly, Maharashtra State Regional Transport Corporation (MSRTC) buses will run on roads and hotels will operate as normal. However, public transportation is likely to be affected and could present obstacles to tourists visiting the temple city by air or rail.

Nagpur Municipal Corp Tenders again to 40 Electric Busses

Nagpur Municipal Corp has reissued its request for Proposal (RfP) for the selection of bus operators for the procurement of 40 electric busses and related charging infrastructure Nagpur Electric Busses The Nagpur Municipal Corp. (NMC) has reissued its Request for Proposal (RFP) for the selection of bus operators for the procurement of 40 electric busses and related charging infrastructure The scope of work for the bus operator. Develop Charging infrastructure including Transformer Creation, Supply and Erection and all Necessary Electrical Systems, Subsystems, Components, and Parts as necessary for charging Infrastructure, Provide Chargers and maintain full charging infrastructure including civil infrastructure for preventive and breakdown maintenance undertakings. The Authority shall pay for the electricity costs expended in charging the electric buses and the same shall be debited to the operator in his monthly bills. The Bidders have to apply their quotes per KM cost including charges for energy to power the buses.

The last bid date is January 21, 2020 and the techno-commercial bids will open on January 22, 2020. Both bidders are required to submit a Rs 29.88 lakh Earnest Money Deposit along with their bids.Under the FAME-II scheme, NMC may provide the selected bidder with demand incentives. Nevertheless, it will be the duty of the bidders to meet the criteria for providing incentives under the FAME-II system, and the maximum available incentive for demand will be Rs 45 lakh. The bidder will pay the entire initial cost of the electric bus, and then pass the subsidy to the bidder. In addition, the bidder shall promote the application and availability of subsidies under Phase -II of the FAME-India Scheme.The Authority plans to deploy electric buses for public transportation services within the towns and their surrounding suburban satellite towns as determined by the Authority before the date of commercial operation (COD). The operators will be given time to assess the routes they have planned.

Tiger who lost his paw in the poacher’s trap to today’s prosthetic

A tiger whose front left paw was amputated after being wrapped in a steel trap set by poachers in 2012 will get a prosthetic limb on Saturday, with the doctor treating the big cat saying the operation is a world first. A tiger whose front left paw had been amputated after being wrapped in a steel trap set by poachers in 2012 will get a prosthetic limb on Saturday, with the doctor treating the big one. The project has been collaborated over the past two years by a team of orthopedic surgeon Shushrut Babhulkar, veterinary doctor Shirish Upadhyay, medical staff from Maharashtra Animal and Fisheries Science University (MAFSU), in addition to experts from IIT-Bombay and abroad. At the newly opened Gorewada Rescue Center in Nagpur, eight-year-old Sahebrao, mutilated near a waterhole in Palasagaon forest range in Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve in Chandrapur district in 2012, when it was just two years old, is held.

“When I first saw it in 2018, Sahebrao was massive but was unable to walk and would continuously growl in pain. We took X-rays, measurements, etc. as part of the procedure for fitting the prosthetic arm. Two to three months ago, we operated on a nerve that caused the tiger pain,” Shushrut Babhulkar told PTI. Shushrut Babhulkar added that the dislocation of one of its joints was treated next as was the fracture which was not healing for a long time.” The final part of the mission will take place on Saturday. We will fit a specially designed prothetic limb after consultation with an international medical expert forum. Veterinary surgeon Shirish Upadhay will be in charge of the operation,” said Shushrut Babhulkar. Shushrut Babhulkar is unable to operate on the tiger, as he is not a vet. He told that Leeds professor Peter Janadice will also participate in the operation.” This is the first time that something like this happens anywhere in the world,” said Shushrut Babhulkar.

Pamphlets to Fallen Hair: Nagpur Woman Treats 90% of Her Waste In Just 5 Steps

Managing her household waste is not a choice for Shefali Dudhbade but a way of life. The 46-year-old from Nagpur, a professional architect by profession and an environmentalist by heart, is setting an example for ordinary citizens who feel that municipal corporations are solely responsible for dealing with garbage.

“My kitchen waste, which accounts for 60% of my household waste, takes 15 minutes to treat,” Shefali tells The Better India, dissipating the time-consuming myth. Now, imagine if 50% of the country’s households devote a few minutes to composting on-site, India would significantly reduce its annual wet waste. Shefali credits her upbringing for her decisions in favour of the environment.

Shefali Dudhbade

“My grandfather would often get a litter from outside and out of paper or plastic make something useful. He always said if we are so aware of keeping our homes clean then why do we leave our surroundings dirty? The simple thought has made me a minimalist girl, “Shefali shares.

She is also a founding member of the Swachh Association, working with the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) to raise awareness about city waste management. She has treated 90 per cent of the waste for the last ten years, while only a fraction goes to the landfill.

Isn’t that breathtaking?

Shefali lists five troubleshooting steps to help you cut the waste.

1. Waste Segregation

Divide waste into five categories: a) Non-recyclables: Used paper towels, hazardous chemical or food containers, plastic products, and dishware are just a few examples of waste that can not be recycled or reused. Shefali hands over this form of waste to the NMC (which amounts to only eight per cent of its total waste).

B) Recyclables: PET bottles, plastic carrying bags, magazines, clothing, table cloth, glass, plastic cups are some items which can be stopped from being sent to landfill if properly separated. Shefali gives these to the city’s plastic recycling centres or creatively turns them into useful products such as pen stands, containers, plant pots, etc.

C) Wet: both kitchen and garden waste is composted by Shefali.

D) Sanitary: keeping the sanitary pads aside is the most important aspect of segregation, as it can discourage ragpickers or waste collectors from exposing themselves to health risks.

E) E-waste: Holds cardboard where all electronic waste such as batteries, remote controls and wires are stored. She sends them out to the local electronic waste collection centre once a year.

2. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle & Refuse

Jaadu ka Pitara’ (magic box), is how the friends of Shefali relate to the bag that she carries every time she steps out of her home. It contains a bottle of water, fabric or paper bags, paper straws and a box so she can reject something containing plastic.

“It’s not possible to eliminate plastic so the next best thing is to reject it. Start by carrying a cloth bag, as it takes up very little space in your bag. Be mindful of your schedule, and the locations that you visit regularly. Gradually form a jaadu ka pitara of your own, “she says.

As for recycling or reuse, she makes paper bags from magazines, pamphlets and distributes them to medical and general supply stores free of charge. Creating a paper-bag takes as little as five minutes.

She also gives paper cuttings to vegetable and flower vendors, “Now with the plastic ban, newspaper covers come handy for them.”

3. Composting

In her backyard, Shefali dug a small composting pit. Both kitchen and garden waste is first dried for 2-3 days on a newspaper, before being applied to the pit.

It takes nearly 45 days to convert organic waste, such as bulbs, seeds, fruit peels, vegetables, eggshells, coffee or tea powder into fresh organic compost, which is used in her terrace garden.

4. Medical Waste

Shefali and her daughter ensure they properly wrap their monthly sanitary waste in a newspaper before giving it to the waste collector. The most important step, she says, is putting a red dot on this medical waste. “Ragpickers or waste collectors rummage on landfills by waste, so they can make money by selling dry garbage. Many even go through the waste pile to find leftover food inside a newspaper, normally. They often open the newspaper to find a used sanitary pad with their bare hands and nothing can be more inhuman than this. It is our responsibility to ensure that they are not exposed to such waste by simply placing a red dot on the paper with a marker, “Shefali informs.

5. Fallen Hair

Have you ever come across or heard of someone who gathers and washes their own fallen hair?

Sounds bizarre, right?

Well, while sweeping, Shefali collects fallen hair, and stores it in a container. She washes it once or twice a month with shampoo and hands it to companies that deal with waste hair recycling.

Managing Your Own Waste Is A Matter of Pride

Degradation of the environment is inevitable with the depletion of our natural resources, the fuming of landfills and forest burning.

We may not be able, as individuals, to stop or reverse the impending crisis. Nevertheless, what we can do is to avoid further destruction of the environment, by reflecting on our actions.

Next, you can handle your own waste or cut down on garbage generation with people like Shefali proving it’s not a challenging job.

Last choice for any project is to cut trees: Gadkari

Nagpur: Union surface transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari has assured people of giving full support to the protection of trees and the environment in the news that could help ruffled environmentalists. The two-time town MP, speaking exclusively to TOI, said cutting trees “was always the last choice for any project.” Gadkari spoke a day after the municipal authorities decided to drop plans to build a road through flourishing biodiversity in the city’s Bharat Nagar area owned by Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth (PDKV).

Calling himself an environment lover, Gadkari said, “As I think about growth, the primary focus is on ensuring progress and protection of the environment go hand in hand. I am very alert to such issues and I assure the citizens that I will give my full support. “Affirming that not a single tree would be cut in the urban mini-forest rechristened as’ Bharat Van,’ Gadkari said,” A lot of people came to meet me and we decided to find a middle way after various discussions. Our goal was to find a solution that would not harm the trees in Bharat Van. I am pleased today that not one single tree will need to be cut for this road project. “As reported earlier by TOI, on 3 April last year, hundreds of environmentally conscious people including Bharat Nagar residents, green activists, children, doctors, senior citizens and members of various civil society groups gathered to meet with Gadkari, raising their voices against the” environmental foeticide “which was expected to kill Bharat Van.

TOI was the first to comment on the planned road that was part of the nearby reconstruction project for Telangkhedi Lake. In Gadkari’s own words, his “dream project” has been the facelift for the lake by building a musical fountain and an elevated viewing gallery. This paper had also highlighted how the development plans endanger more than 500 age-old trees and a rich biodiversity ecosystem.

Environment activists in the city, welcoming the minister’s stance, stressed that the next focus should be on conserving the Telangkhedi lake. “We are thankful that the Minister has taken a decision which takes into account citizens ‘ concerns. The 220-year-old lake is on the verge of dying, while Bharat Van is now healthy. It is full of garbage, silt, and hyacinth of water which causes its dissolved oxygen levels to drop. Even if the musical fountains and other activities begin, the lake will die in a few years ‘ time, “Nagpur’s honorary wildlife warden, Jaydeep Das said.

Based on reports from TOI, Das had written a letter to Bombay high court’s Nagpur bench outlining the adverse impacts of the proposed route. HC dealt with his letter on 3 December 2018 as a suo motu public interest litigation.

Meanwhile, Nagpur Municipal Corporation and Public Works Department (PWD), MahaMetro, which is the project’s executing agency, has confirmed that dropping the road was a joint decision of itself. “The Metro had no central role in this project’s policy-planning. The roadbuilding plan was submitted as per PWD guidelines, which manages the entire project’s planning and financing, “the agency said. It added that PWD had informed MahaMetro of changes at any point.

‘Science Expo’ 2020 began at RSC, Nagpur

Every year at the Raman Science Center in Nagpur, ‘Science Expo,’ a unique event to bridge the gap between science and society, is organized with collaborative efforts from Science & Technology institutions. The event’s goal is to act as an interface between science and society. It greatly helps to create awareness in society about the works of Research & Development being done in various scientific institutions.

Raman Science Centre and other scientific institutions in Maharashtra are jointly organising ‘Science Expo’ to create awareness among the school/college students; bring students and general masses face to face with practising scientists; and also to motivate students about the benefits of choosing science as their career.

It is expected as in the previous year a large number of students from various schools and colleges will visit the expo. They will have the first-hand information on the latest scientific developments particularly in the fields in which the collaborating institutions are engaged. The’ Science Expo 2020′ showcases the scientific research and development in 15 participating institutions in particular; 1. Indian Anthropological Survey, Nagpur 2. Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration & Research, Nagpur 3. The Central Institute for Citrus Research, Nagpur 4. Central Institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur 5. Geological Survey of India (Central Region), Nagpur 6. Nagpur 7: Government Medical College & Hospital. Manganese Ore Limited (India) 8, Nagpur. Nagpur Limited Mineral Exploration Company 9. National Research Institute for Environmental Engineering, Nagpur 10. Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited, Mumbai 11. Nagpur 12 Indian Heating and Air Conditioning Engineers Association. Raman Science Centre & Planetarium, Nagpur 13. Nagpur 14: Provincial Remote Sensing Center (Central). Western Coalfields Limited (WCL) Nagpur Scientists and officials from these institutions will interact with the visitors comprising the school children, college students, family groups, and general masses as well. They will be explaining the scientific developments and works that are being carried out by these institutions along with the career prospects in the field of Science & Technology for the budding scientists.

During the five-day event, a series of Popular Science Lectures (PSL) are also held. The’ Science Expo ‘ event will give the general public an opportunity to get closer to the worlds of scientific research and understand the excitement, pain and ecstasy of scientific research. It is hoped this experience will encourage young minds to opt for a career in science.

The’ Science Expo 2020′ opened at 11.00 am on 16 January 2020. Dr. Ranjit Rath, CEO of Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited, Nagpur in the presence of Dr. Rakesh Kumar, Director of NEERI, Nagpur, Shri Shrikant Pathak, Former Director of Central Research and Training Laboratory, Kolkata and Shri Vijay Shanker Sharma, Project Coordinator, Raman Science Center, Nagpur. Also present on this occasion were Dr. Ratna Dhar, AnSI, Shri Suresh Kumar, Regional Director, AMD, Shri Shrinivasan, General Manager, RRSC and other scientists from all of the participating institutions. Tata Parsi, New Apostolic Students, Pt. Bachharaj Vyas, also attended the Anuman College of Engineering.

The’ Science Expo’ will remain open to the public from 11.00 am on every day. Between 16 to 20 January 2020, until 5.30 pm.

Popular Science Lectures can take place at 12 pm and regular at 3.30 pm. Free entry to the Science Expo site and to the lectures will be granted to visiting public & students.

22 Babus known as Fadnavis transferred favourites

Mumbai / Nagpur: 22 bureaucrats, including the Director-General for Information and Public Relations (DGIPR) Brijesh Singh and the additional commissioner of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, Pravin Darade, known for their proximity to former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, have been transferred by the Maha Vikas Aghadi Government in a major reshuffle. Singh will continue as the special IG, cybercrime, while Darade will now be the new commissioner for social welfare for Pune. The new DGIPR will be Sindhudurg district collector DD Pandharpatte.

The Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have been strident in demanding the transfers of Singh and Darade, whom the previous BJP-led government pampered. Now that Darade’s posting will be in Pune, he’ll need to vacate the formidable Malabar Hill bungalow. There was a huge controversy in 2014 when he was the new local commissioner after it was assigned to him. His wife Pallavi Darade is the commissioner of food and drugs, Maharashtra.

Sanjay Nirupam, former chief of the Mumbai Congress, alleged that Darade had helped Vidarbha Infotech, an information technology firm, bag the contract for towing vehicles that had breached parking rules in Mumbai. Darade was then the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority’s additional commissioner and Fadnavis governor. Fadnavis ‘ office had, however, clarified that there was no wrongdoing in awarding Vidarbha Infotech the towing contract.

Sachin Sawant, a spokesman for the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee, had blamed Brijesh Singh for suspected mismanagement in tendering for the television show ‘ Mi Mukhya Mantri Boltoy.’ The office of Fadnavis also denied those charges.

The commissar for goods and service tax, Rajiv Jalota, was transferred as the secretary for rural development. He will replace the incumbent Asim Gupta, who is to be the new secretary of energy. The next GST commissioner will be the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company MD Sanjeev Kumar, the additional IAS official chief secretary-rank. The Free Press Journal in its Sunday edition had broken the story of the MVA’s plans for the reshuffle.

P Velrasu, Maharashtra’s member-secretary Jeevan Pradhikaran, will be Darade’s new additional municipal commissioner instead. Mrs J Mukherjee, managing director of the Maharashtra State Textile Corporation, was named additional chief secretary of the Minority Development Department and will succeed the incumbent, SA Tagde, who will be the new chief secretary of the textile department. The current chief secretary of the textile department KH Govindraj will take over as the additional Metropolitan Development Authority commissioner in Mumbai Metropolitan region.

Managing Director B Venugopal Reddy of the Maharashtra State Small Scale Industries Development Corporation has been appointed as the main secretary, forests, as the post had been vacant since the appointment of Vikas Kharge as the chief secretary in the office of the chief minister.

Sales tax commissioner Shaila A was moved to the Maharashtra State Power Generation Company as its chairman and managing director. Satara district collector Shweta Singhal is now the additional divisional commissioner, Pune, while the commissioner for soil and water conservation, Deepak Singla, will be the new collector of the district of Gadchiroli, replacing Shekhar Singh who will be the new collector of Satara district.

Manju Laxmi, CEO of Sindhudurg Zilla Parishad, will be the new district collector of the same district, while Solapur district collector RB Bhosale has been elected joint MD of the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company. Pune Municipal Transport Corporation CMD Nayana Gunde is to become the tribal research and training institute’s new commissioner. Raigad District Collector VN Suryavanshi will replace her.

RS Jagtap, CEO of Bhandara Zilla Parishad, has been moved as the additional Nagpur Divisional Commissioner and will be succeeded by the new CEO of Nashik Zilla Parishad Bhuvaneshwari. Madan Nagargoje was appointed the information technology director.

Alumni changing the face of VNIT, 5 unveiled projects on Sunday

Nagpur: Come Sunday and city-based Visvesvaraya National Technology Institute (VNIT), thanks to its alumni association, will give a new look. The first institution will mark its diamond jubilee by unveiling Sir M Visvesvaraya’s 10-feet-high bronze statue, after whom the institute is named.

In the presence of VNIT chairman Vishram Jamdar, director Pramod Padole, alumni association chairman Shashikant Chaudhary and others, a new-look entrance with modern fountains, street lights and a LED light display would also be inaugurated on the day by Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari. The dignitaries would also inaugurate three more projects funded by the Alumni. These include a soccer field, two tennis courts in the park, and a modern night tea kiosk named’ Chandrama’ for students.

Interestingly, the different batches of VNIT have fully conceptualized, supported and executed all the projects.

“Our alumni association has raised Rs5 crore, which would be used for various academic programs as well as for infrastructural projects. So far, we have completed 11 projects for them to fund. We have also entered into an agreement with the Ministry of Union Transport to conduct road safety and audit classes for government officials including those from PWD and CPWD, “Padole told the media.

He added that the statue was created by Ram Sutaria, who was part of the Gujarat team which constructed the highest’ Statue of Unity’ in the world. “Fourteen of my doctoral students have contributed to the statue,” he said.

Explaining the other projects, Chaudhary said their organization has operated since 2012 and has 1,600 members of life so far. “The 1984 batch took on the task of giving the bronze statue, and Chandrama was set up in 1985 batch. The 1986 batch helped build the tennis courts, and the football stadium was funded by 1992 batch. In the diamond jubilee year, more alumni are coming forward to support their alma mater. We have statistics of 20,000 of the more than 22,000 students who have graduated from this prestigious institution, albeit partially, “he said, adding that it felt nice to give back to your alma mater.

Jamdar said VNIT will create a’ Center for Excellence in Innovation’ in cooperation with the Government of India’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) division. “We will be holding a meeting of directors of various NITs, and under this initiative, 16 of them have already agreed to attend. Kirloskar group’s Vikram Kirloskar has agreed to give a carbon policy ranking and accreditation lecture at our college on February 8th, “he said.

Padole added that Visvesvaraya’s grand nephew— Satish Mokshagundam and his wife Laxmi Satish — would attend Sunday’s meeting. “Our alumni chapters are also working in Dubai and the USA apart from all metro cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Pune and Bangalore,” he said.

New projects in VNIT* 10-feet-high bronze statue of Sir M Visvesvaraya* New look front with fountains, street lights & LED light show* Big football ground and two lawn tennis courts* Modernized night tea kiosk Chandrama for students*‘ Centre for Excellence in innovation’ with MSME Dept* City’s biggest international convention centre* Freshwater lake inside college premises

Pawar, Nagpurians want power stations moved to Nashik

Nagpur: While Nitin Raut, the new energy minister, has ruled out the scrapping of two new 660MW thermal units at the Koradi power plant, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar wants new ones at Nashik.

A source in Mahagenco said Nashik power plant only has three units. “Only one is currently being run as the electricity is more costly than other power stations. Plans have been made for a 660MW device but it is stuck because of the question posed by the defence ministry (MoD) over the chimney height, “he added.

Chhagan Bhujbal, minister of Nashik, wants new units there to get work for local people. He asked Mahagenco to start new ones there, but he did not get a lot of reaction. And he told his boss, Sharad Pawar.

The source said Pawar recently held a meeting with Mahagenco’s president-cum-managing director (CMD) and other senior officials in this regard.

The officials told him the height of the chimney problem. We also said that because the Nashik plant was far from coal mines, its power costs were higher than those located in Vidarbha. “We told him that the merit order dispatch (MOD) would not buy Nashik money,” the source said.

But Pawar was steadfast on new units. Therefore, the officials recommended that the old non-operational units be restored and made online. The NCP chief has asked officials to submit a report on all the options within days.

Although it is difficult for Mahagenco to receive environmental clearance for Koradi units, it is not ready to move them to Nashik, where local people are ready.

Local environmentalists mocked Mahagenco’s claims that it would not buy Nashik electricity. “Mahagenco will sign a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with its sole customer, MSEDCL, and if power is required then Nashik power will be consumed,” an environmentalist said.

The Mahagenco source also said Nashik power would be costly too at over Rs4 per unit with solar power costing about Rs3 per unit. But this argument also holds true for Koradi groups.

Raut wants new units in Koradi, creating 5,000 jobs for the locals. However, due to increased pollution, he is completely ignoring the damage to people’s health.