KALYAN: The ongoing tensions between the United States and Iran have begun to affect civic infrastructure works in Kalyan-Dombivli, with disruptions in petroleum supply chains impacting the availability and cost of bitumen, a key material used for road repairs. With the monsoon approaching, the city may once again face pothole-ridden roads, as repeated efforts by the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) to appoint contractors for repair work have failed. The civic body has floated tenders three times for pothole-filling work, but has received no response. Civic officials said global disruptions in petroleum supply, triggered by geopolitical tensions, have affected the availability of bitumen. Prices have more than doubled, and supply remains uncertain, making it difficult for contractors to take up the work. Contractors also said that the tenders are based on outdated rates, making the projects financially unviable. “Without timely availability of bitumen and revised rates, it is not possible to undertake pothole repairs,” said contractor Amit Chandnani. Road conditions have worsened further due to ongoing excavation work for various infrastructure projects across the city. There are also allegations that road digging by Mahanagar Gas at some locations was carried out without proper permission, leaving roads damaged and causing inconvenience to commuters. At a recent general body meeting, some corporators suggested using concrete instead of bitumen as a temporary measure to fill potholes. However, officials said this would require a fresh tender process, making it unlikely for the work to begin before June. City engineer Anita Pardeshi said the civic body is now including a price variation clause in tenders to account for rising bitumen costs. Last year, an early monsoon in late May worsened the pothole situation. While KDMC claims it is preparing in advance this year, the lack of contractor response remains a concern as the rainy season approaches.

KALYAN: Days after a civic staffer was allegedly assaulted during an anti-encroachment drive and the hawkers’ issue was raised in the general body meeting, the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation commissioner Abhinav Goel has intensified action against illegal vendors, launching a special ‘pedestrian-friendly city’ campaign across multiple wards. Acting on the directives of municipal commissioner Abhinav Goel, coordinated drives were carried out on April 21 across Wards D (5), F (6) and G (8), targeting unauthorised hawkers, handcarts and roadside stalls obstructing footpaths and roads. The crackdown comes in the wake of strong criticism from corporators during Monday’s general body meeting, where members across party lines accused the civic body of failing to act decisively against illegal hawkers. The issue gained urgency after a municipal staffer was allegedly assaulted by hawkers during a drive near Pendharkar College to Gharda Circle in Dombivli. In Ward D, action was carried out in areas including Khadegolavali and Katemanivali. Civic teams seized 32 handcarts, removed 17 stalls and dismantled nine iron structures using JCB machines under the supervision of assistant commissioner Umesh Yamgar. Simultaneously, in Dombivli East, encroachments were cleared along Station Road up to Icon Hospital on Manpada Road. Officials removed 14 stalls, seized 16 handcarts, dismantled 35 temporary sheds and cleared multiple counters. Around 60 banners were also taken down, while equipment from unauthorised shops—including weighing scales from chicken vendors—was confiscated. Three illegal shop units constructed in a passage of a local store were sealed. The action in Wards F and G was led by assistant commissioners Prasad Thakur and Bharat Pawar with support from local police and civic staff. Civic officials said the drive is part of a larger effort to make roads and footpaths encroachment-free, ensuring safer pedestrian movement and easing traffic congestion. Authorities have warned that similar drives will continue across the municipal limits. However, the selective nature of the crackdown has drawn criticism. Several corporators pointed out that key areas such as Kalyan station’s western side—from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Chowk to the assistant commissioner of police’s office—as well as parts of Kalyan East, Ambivli, Titwala and Thakurli remain untouched. NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) functionary Bhalchandra Patil questioned the legality of the action, pointing out that while the Street Vendors Act was enacted in 2014, it has not been fully implemented in the KDMC area. “The civic body conducted a survey in 2024, identifying around 9,000 hawkers, but no proper rehabilitation has been done. Taking action without implementing the law raises serious concerns,” he said, demanding that the drive be halted until due process is followed. Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) corporator Namita Patil also flagged the absence of action in several areas, particularly along Katemanivali Road and Titwala. Despite the criticism, many residents have welcomed the drive, saying that clearing encroachments has improved accessibility and reduced congestion in several busy pockets of Kalyan-Dombivli. Officials maintained that the ‘pedestrian-friendly city’ initiative will be expanded to other wards in the coming days, with a focus on sustained enforcement against illegal hawking.

Tensions between alliance partners Shiv Sena and BJP came to the fore in the Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation after a stormy general body meeting over the appointment of the Leader of Opposition. The controversy erupted when Mayor Ashwini Kamlesh Nikam, at the end of the general body meeting, declared the lone Congress corporator as the Leader of Opposition in the 78-member house. The move triggered sharp protests from BJP corporators, who opposed the decision and alleged procedural violations. Despite the uproar, the mayor proceeded with the decision and initiated the national anthem, effectively concluding the proceedings. BJP leaders accused Shiv Sena of violating “alliance dharma” and taking the decision without prior discussion in the coordination committee. BJP group leader Rajesh Vadhrya claimed that, as per legal provisions, a single-member party like Congress does not qualify for the post of Leader of Opposition, and that BJP was the rightful claimant. “The issue was brought up suddenly in the House without any prior consultation. This is a betrayal of alliance trust,” Vadhrya said, adding that the party would raise the matter with senior leadership and seek guidance on whether to continue the alliance in the civic body. He also said BJP is considering challenging the mayor’s decision in court after taking permission from state leaders. BJP leaders further alleged that this was the second instance in which the mayor had pushed through a decision in a similar manner by abruptly introducing the subject and concluding proceedings with the national anthem. Corporators also staged a protest against the municipal secretary, accusing officials of not conducting proceedings as per rules. Later, BJP members also demonstrated outside the office of Municipal Commissioner Manisha Awhale. Responding to the allegations, Shiv Sena leader Kamlesh Nikam, husband of the mayor, defended the move, stating that the appointment of the Leader of Opposition is the mayor’s right. “Since Congress is the only party in the opposition, the mayor exercised her power to appoint its corporator to the post,” he said. Nikam also questioned BJP’s claim, saying, “If BJP is part of the ruling alliance, how can it stake claim to the Leader of Opposition post?” The incident has exposed growing unease within the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance in Ulhasnagar, with the dispute likely to escalate further in the coming days.

KALYAN: Facing mounting concerns over water scarcity across Kalyan-Dombivli and its adjoining 27 villages, the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) Commissioner Abhinav Goel has announced plans to release a white paper addressing the issue. The announcement was made during the general body meeting held on Monday.Highlighting the severity of the problem, particularly during the summer months, Goel said the white paper would outline the current situation, challenges, and proposed measures to tackle water shortages in the region.As part of immediate action, the civic body will intensify its crackdown on illegal water connections. Special teams will be deployed at ward level to identify and disconnect unauthorised tap connections. The commissioner also urged citizens to cooperate with the administration in this drive. Strict action will be taken against service centres, including vehicle washing units, found operating with illegal water connections.The civic administration will also focus on detecting and plugging leakages in water pipelines. Areas receiving contaminated water due to damaged pipelines will be identified, and urgent repairs will be undertaken. In regions such as Bhopar and other villages, where water pressure remains low, efforts are underway to improve supply. A recent meeting with MIDC officials was held to address this concern.Currently, around 55 to 66 million litres per day (MLD) of water is supplied to the 27 villages. The administration is working to increase this quota to 105 MLD. Additionally, a detailed report on damaged pipelines will be prepared to expedite repair work.To fast-track urgent water-related projects, corporators have been asked to submit proposals worth Rs 10–15 lakh from their allocated funds. The administration has assured swift approvals to ensure timely execution of such works.The water crisis also dominated discussions in the general body meeting, with corporators from Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), BJP, Uddhav Sena, MNS and Congress strongly criticising the administration. They questioned the relevance of smart city projects when basic necessities such as water remain unmet.In a notable remark, Mayor Harshali Chaudhari admitted that even her ward is facing water shortages. “Citizens question us about water supply, and I myself am facing the same issue,” she said, directing officials to ensure that residents do not suffer due to water scarcity.The mayor instructed the administration to take immediate steps to resolve the crisis and provide relief to citizens at the earliest.

THANE The Thane police have booked a former senior official of the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) for allegedly raping a 31-year-old woman repeatedly over a three-year period between 2020 and 2023.The official has also been accused by the survivor of extortion and using black magic to intimidate her by taking her to astrologer Ashok Kharat’s premises in Nashik, said a police officer. Kharat has been arrested in several cases of sexual assault and fraud.According to the First Information Report (FIR) filed by the woman, her ordeal began in 2020 while she was employed as a contractual data entry operator with the TMC.The complainant alleged that the senior official exploited his influential position to lure her to a rented apartment in an upscale residential complex in Thane. “During one of their initial meetings, she has stated, the official spiked her drink with a sedative, rendering her unconscious before sexually assaulting her,” said a police officer.To ensure that the woman did not speak up, the accused allegedly filmed the act on his mobile phone and used the footage as leverage, threatening to upload it to social media platforms if she did not continue to comply with his demands, the police officer said.The woman’s statement details a pattern of abuse, with the official taking her to various locations between 2020 and 2023, the officer said.According to police, the woman has described how she was allegedly taken to Nashik on the pretext of a visit to “a renowned astrologer, Captain Ashok Kharat.” The complainant alleged that the ex-official forced her to participate in superstitious rituals involving lemons and “specific charms” at the astrologer’s office, claiming these practices were necessary for her future well-being.The police have registered the case under Indian Penal Code sections related to rape, criminal intimidation, and administration of drugs with the intent to commit a crime.While the FIR has been lodged, the former municipal official has not been taken into custody yet.Senior officials said the probe has been handed over to the Thane crime branch, which has launched an investigation to verify electronic evidence and trace the movements of the accused.

THANE: A man seen in a viral video in a disoriented state on a road in Thane was not under the influence of a so-called “zombie drug,” police stated on Tuesday, but had overdosed on Pregabalin, a medicine used to treat nerve pain. The video, which surfaced on April 15, showed the man standing in a dizzy condition in the Bhayander area of Maharashtra’s Thane city, according to news agency PTI. Taking cognisance of the clip, the crime detection branch was asked to trace the individual and verify claims circulating on social media that he was under the influence of the alleged “zombie drug”, the Mira Bhayander-Vasai Virar police said in a release.“During the investigation, it was found that the video was recorded at around 10 pm on April 13 and the person seen in the footage was identified as Sameer Rajendra Rawal (22), a labourer hailing from Achham district in Nepal and currently living on a footpath outside Borivali Railway Station in Mumbai,” the police said. The man was traced to a road in Bhayander on April 17. During questioning, he disclosed that he had arrived from Nepal last month in search of work and had been addicted to consuming Pregabalin tablets for the past two years, the release said.“He informed that he used to purchase a strip of 10 tablets for Rs 100 and consume them for intoxication,” it said. After reaching Bhayander, he bought the tablets from a medical shop in Navghar without a prescription. On April 13, he consumed five Pregabalin tablets at once. While walking in the area, he began to feel dizzy and was unable to move, leaving him standing in one place, police said.“It has been established that the incident occurred due to excessive consumption of Pregabalin, which is a Schedule-H drug used for nerve pain. No substance such as a ‘zombie drug’ was involved,” they said. A team, along with officials from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), inspected the medical shop from where the tablets were purchased. It was found that the shopkeeper had fled the area after the video went viral. A report has been submitted to the FDA, Thane, for necessary action against the medical shopkeeper for illegally supplying Schedule-H drugs without a valid prescription, police added.

THANE: AIMIM corporator Sahar Shaikh’s father, Yunus Shaikh, against whom the Thane tehsildar has sought a criminal case over a “fake” caste certificate, on Monday claimed their documents are genuine.The Thane tehsildar’s office had recently recommended filing a criminal case against Yunus Shaikh, father of Mumbra corporator Sahar Shaikh, for allegedly using a forged caste certificate and securing an OBC certificate for his daughter on that basis.The recommendation followed an inquiry conducted by tehsildar Umesh Patil into a complaint filed by Siddiqui Farha Shabab Ahmed, the NCP candidate who lost to Sahar Shaikh in the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) elections. Ahmed had challenged the validity of Sahar’s caste certificate after the civic polls held in January in Mumbra, Thane.Addressing a press conference, the father-daughter duo alleged that the report submitted by the tehsildar to senior authorities was “one-sided” and demanded action against him.“I am being accused that I made fake documents and contested elections. People have put allegations on me. As a human, I am shocked by the lies that are being spread. We held a press conference today, which was important. I will see those who put allegations on me in the court. Everyone will be answered legally, ” Sahar Shaikh told ANI.Sahar Shaikh pointed to the impact of “adverse publicity and trolling” on social media, warning that such campaigns could lead to untoward incidents and must be curbed.She also told the media that she was more comfortable speaking in Hindi, adding that switching to Marathi could lead to errors that might trigger controversy.“We are Indian Muslims and will remain so and love our country,” she added. The duo alleged they were being targeted by vested interests with the intent to defame them, adding that legal notices have been issued to the complainant, certain political groups, and sections of the media over the alleged defamatory claims.(With agency inputs)