Adani group to run upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport

Despite increasing concerns over Adani’s companies, the Maharashtra cabinet approved a proposal on June 23 transferring the ownership of the Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) constructing the Navi Mumbai international airport to Adani Airport Holdings. The Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) had a change in ownership. GVK Airports Developers Ltd, which had a 50.5 per cent share, has been taken over by Adani Airport Holdings Ltd, it said. That same day, Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone share price fell by over 2% over reports of a Nordic investor turning away from the group due to its links to Myanmar’s military. While Adani had denied these reports, his company’s stocks have fallen more than 5% in the month of June alone.

Source: Business Today, Mumbai Mirror, Moneycontrol, Economic Times

Read more: Here’s how we can mitigate the ecological impact of Navi Mumbai airport

Patient dies in hospital after rat bite

Rajawadi Hospital, a civic-run hospital in Ghatkopar has come short of safety standards as a rat in the ICU bit a patient who subsequently passed away. According to Indian Express, this is not the first time BMC hospitals’ health and safety concerns have been put in the spotlight. In 2017, rats had bitten two patients at Shatabdi hospital in Kandivali. A staffer at the Ghatkopar hospital told Indian Express that the “hospital has been in a state of neglect for a long time. The superintendent has been asking for funds for repairs since the past five years.” Another Mumbaikar whose relative is admitted in the same ICU wing, said, “I have seen rodents come from the bathroom.’’

Source: NDTV, Indian Express

Read more: Seeking Covid-care in Kalyan: debt unto death

High Court wants lawyers to be allowed on local trains

Owing to the rapidly increasing volume of cases, Bombay High Court seeks permission from the government for lawyers to travel on local trains. The bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Kulkarni said that after a year cases will rise to a point where even 100 judges would be unable to dispose them. Buses have become overcrowded which negates the mandate of social distancing. Lawyers say it takes almost 3 hours to travel by road. Once the Maharashtra government has taken a decision on restrictions, the High Court’s administrative committee will take a decision on if they should continue with virtual hearings.

Source: Times of India, Bar and Bench

Read more: Battles to board the local train

Mangroves to be affected by corridor project

On June 10, Maharashtra’s Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) gave a green light to the Virar-Alibaug section of the 2008 multi modal corridor project. According to the meeting’s minutes, 17.34 hectares of mangroves and 2.34 hectares of mudflat will be affected by the construction. The MCZMA directed the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation to ensure compensatory afforestation takes place in lieu of the felling. Earlier this week, the MCZMA had made harsh remarks to Thane’s District Collector over continuous inaction on mangrove destruction in the village of Mouje Kopari. It also found, along with the Ministry of Environment and Forests Climate Change, an unapproved Ratnagiri resort had links to Shiv Sena leader Anil Parab.

Source: Indian Express, Times of India, Hindustan Times

Read more: Thanks to unregulated construction, Panje is slowly losing its biodiversity. Here’s how it affects you

Mumbai’s poorest fall further in poverty

The Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) surveyed 26,000 households in 26 bastis of M East ward under its Community-Led Action Learning and Partnership (CLAP) project. The study found that the average income of residents has decreased by almost 47%. Many who work in the informal sector earned on average ₹12,050, which is ₹1,400 less than Mumbai’s minimum wage. The findings also showed that average expenditure on healthcare of residents in the area increased by over 30%. A professor at TISS told Hindustan Times that “the pandemic has been a prolonged disaster for the communities in M East”. Areas surveyed included Mankhurd, Govandi, Shivaji Nagar, Cheetah Camp, Trombay and Deonar. The survey revealed that unemployment in M East increased from 7% to 12%.

Source: Hindustan Times

Read more: “If we get 100 rupees should we feed our children, pay rent, or deal with loans?” ask women in Mumbai’s slums, Mumbai Dabbawalas help the needy, even as they struggle to make ends meet

Mumbai to remain at Level 3 till June 27

BMC has declared that due to Mumbai’s population size and the influx of working people moving in and out of the city on a daily basis, the city will continue to be at Level 3 restrictions till June 27. The orders stated that Mumbai’s COVID19 positivity rate was 3.79% and oxygen bed occupancy was 23.56%. BMC Chief, Iqbal Chahal, told Times of India that the civic body “will monitor the situation closely till the last week of June and then make a decision on further easing of restrictions”. However, he also stated that restrictions will drop to Level 2 only when cases drop consistently to around 100-200 per day instead of the current 700 per day.

Source: Times of India

Read more: Post-COVID19, convenience stores cum pharmacies mushroom, Sanitation workers struggle to make a living during the lockdown