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Maharashtra farmers’ protest: Over 20,000 farmers on 2-day march from Thane to Mumbai Thane: Over 20,000 farmers have started a two-day march from Thane to Mumbai’s iconic Azad Maidan, eight months after a similar protest saw a sea of red – formed by farmers in red caps – on a long march through Maharashtra.
In the run-up to the 2019 national election, states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Punjab have been facing massive farmer protests.
The farmers are also demanding an increase in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and a judicial system to ensure its implementation.
"Two bills to ensure these rights were drafted by the All India Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AISCC) and placed in parliament but both bills have been languishing.
The ruling party and opposition will now understand the gravity of this problem," Avik Saha, leader of Jai Kisan Andolan told NDTV.
Backing the protest, the CPM tweeted: "Damning report on Modi’s demonetisation disaster from the horse’s mouth!
Agriculture Ministry admits note bandi hit farmers badly, at time when farmers from across India head to Delhi to mark their anger in the form of a massive Kisan Long March to parliament."
He slammed the Congress for repeatedly "cheating farmers" by making "fake promises" on their loan waiver schemes.
Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Tuesday held talks with agitating sugarcane farmers and assured a higher minimum price.

A division bench of Chief Justice Manjulla Chellur and Justice N M Jamdar said, "Water scarcity is a major problem faced by cities.
Both the petitions highlighted the acute shortage of water in the areas and claimed that residents were sometimes not supplied water for a day.
If water is drawn from bore well then how many such bore well are there in the area.
The bench has asked both the corporations to submit an affidavit within two weeks giving details about how many construction projects are ongoing in the areas and their source of getting water The Bombay High court on Friday restrained the Thane and Pune Municipal corporation from issuing fresh commencement and occupation certificates to new constructions in Ghodbunder and Baner/Balewadi areas, respectively, until further orders.
A division bench of Chief Justice Manjulla Chellur and Justice N M Jamdar said, "Water scarcity is a major problem faced by cities.
In the future it will increase if corrective steps not taken now."
If water is drawn from bore well then how many such bore well are there in the area.
The court said, "Such a study will help in the future."
Both the petitions highlighted the acute shortage of water in the areas and claimed that residents were sometimes not supplied water for a day.
Source: http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-hc-stays-new-constructions-for-thane-pune-civic-bodies-2482362 Subscribe to Mumbai News

The bench has asked both the corporations to submit an affidavit within two weeks giving details about how many construction projects are ongoing in the areas and their source of getting water The Bombay High court on Friday restrained the Thane and Pune Municipal corporation from issuing fresh commencement and occupation certificates to new constructions in Ghodbunder and Baner/Balewadi areas, respectively, until further orders.
A division bench of Chief Justice Manjulla Chellur and Justice N M Jamdar said, "Water scarcity is a major problem faced by cities.
In the future it will increase if corrective steps not taken now."
If water is drawn from bore well then how many such bore well are there in the area.
The court said, "Such a study will help in the future."
The bench issued the directions while hearing two petitions filed by sitting corporator from Pune Amol Balwadkar and Thane resident Advocate VP Patil.
Both the petitions highlighted the acute shortage of water in the areas and claimed that residents were sometimes not supplied water for a day.
It was also argued that supply of water per as per central scheme, per person should be allowed 150 litres per day.
However, the supply is less.
To meet the requirement, citizens are forced to call for water tankers.

Pali-Thane villagers compelled to use muddy borewell water for drinking.
Pali, which comprises 300 houses, is located some 11 kms from Valpoi town in Sattari taluka.
It is facing acute shortage of drinking water due to which the villagers are now forced to drink water which is not fit for consumption.
Another villager, Paryekar said that “the water which they get once a day for an hour is from the borewell and it is not clean and for last few weeks we have been getting muddy water.” A woman said that “due to water shortage and also over hygiene concern, the womenfolk have to go over long distances to get clean water.” An elder resident of the village said that in Pali there is only one borewell and that it was built by water supply department 10 years ago.
“Till now, the department has not cleaned it.
Hence, you can imagine the amount of waste that has been accumulated in it.
He said as pressure decreases the water does not reach houses on hilly area.
“We are installing a new water pipeline in Pali village and the work is in progress.
This will benefit the villagers immensely and the water supplied will also be clean.” However, Paste told this reporter that PWD will be monitoring the situation and increase the trips of water tankers.
He said that a joint meeting with sarpanch and panch members has been convened on May 3 to address their grievances.

Drop in catch forced 80K fisherfolk to pull out sand in Thane.
“Locals who struggled to make ends meet were swayed away by the sand mafia to pull out sand illegally for quick money,” said Nandkumar Pawar, head, SEAP.
Several come from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand for employment opportunities.
Fishermen from Gaimukh, Mandve, Kemnidive, Kharbao, Kolshet, Kalher, Kasheli, Waghbil and others, all mostly in Thane and Palghar district, act as the mafia and allocate 12 labourers on each of their boats,” said Pawar.
It is collected and transported to the heads, who send it to industries for construction purposes,” he added.
The state government, in accordance with the national guidelines for sustainable sand mining has appointed district level committees to control illegal sand mining.
On Saturday, the Thane collector, MMB officials and Sumaira Abdulali from Awaaz Foundation inspected sites to for illegal sand mining at various locations in Thane district.
Raids will be carried out in the coming weeks under the supervision of the Thane collector, local police and MMB officers,” said a local MMB officer who accompanied the group.
There was no back up or protection,” she said adding, “The state has to use modern technology to implement policies that can track the extraction, transport and use of this sand.
“There are no boats to enter deep creeks or river areas, where the work is carried out.” State government officials said that the responsibility to reduce sand mining was solely upon the district collector.