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Kharghar to get Green Indoor Sports Complex near CIDCO Valley Shilp by 2023

by Staff Reporter August 20, 2021

written by Staff Reporter

The multipurpose sports complex will be built on a 500 sq. metre plot in sector 36 in Kharghar, at a stipulated cost of Rs. 3.5 crore.

Kharghar / Navi Mumbai: The City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) recently allotted a 500 square metre land to the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) in Kharghar for the purpose of constructing a multipurpose sports complex that will boast of many sports facilities including rifle shooting and archery.

For adventure sports’ lovers, there will be a 30 feet climbing wall among other things.

CIDCO claims that the sports complex will strive to provide world class indoor sports facilities to the middle class sports enthusiasts.

The YMCA proudly informed that that they provide the facilities and ample scope to promising athletes who aim to represent the country in competitive sports on an international level. For such purpose, reputed professional foreign coaches will be hired.

On a general level, they intend to promote health and fitness among the youth.

The complex will be built on a well accessed plot near the CIDCO’s Shilp Valley in sector 36 Kharghar, and will cost a stipulated Rs 3.5 crore, to be functional from 2023.

The sports complex will provide general sports enthusiasts with a variety of sports facilities like carom, chess, table tennis, martial arts, weight-lifting, bodybuilding, gymnastics, archery, rifle shooting, rink football, net turf cricket, rock climbing, rappelling and bouldering, yoga, dance and ballet for fitness among other sports.

Many new sports would be added as the complex becomes functional.

There will also be a modern fitness centre for health enthusiasts who wish to benefit from structured health regimes.

Short and long-term certificate diploma courses in sports and physical education will also be an integral part of the organisation.

The complex will also host national and international sports competitions with an aim to identify and train future Olympians.

There will be a nominal training fee as the complex will run on a no profit-no-loss basis.

Scholarships will also be awarded to deserving and needy students from the city.

The sports complex will boast of a green building design keeping in mind the environment.

August 20, 2021 0 comments

Navi Mumbai drenched: Lashed by heavy rains

by Staff Reporter July 18, 2021

written by Staff Reporter

The city has been lashed by heavy rains since the last two days, turning the atmosphere pleasant and providing residents with a reason to feel happy about.

Navi Mumbai: It has been raining continuously since the last two days in Navi Mumbai, turning the city into a wet bowl of sorts. However, residents are ecstatic as they are making the best use of the pleasant atmosphere that the monsoons have brought upon them.

The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) informed that the city received rain between an average of 32.08 mm and 32.50 mm, in the last 24 hours (Friday to Saturday morning), with the minimum amount of rain of 20.00 mm and maximum of 46.70 mm.

Watch: Navi Mumbai drenched: Lashed by heavy rains

All the water bodies in Navi Mumbai, like waterfalls, lakes, ponds and dams have been overflowing.

Except for some low lying areas in Navi Mumbai, there have not been any reports of water logging.

In Kharghar, the Pandavkada Waterfalls, Driving Range Waterfalls, Taloja Jail Pond and Owe Dam have been overflowing, much to the the delight of monsoon revellers who have been sneaking in without permission.

These places have transformed into Kharghar’s monsoon picnic spots, even as the Kharghar Police has been urging them not to do so.

So, whether allowed or not, residents of Navi Mumbai have been having a good time in the pleasant weather, with many going out for short strolls, hiking, picnics at ponds, lakes and waterfalls, even though the administration has been urging them not to take unnecessary risks.

The rains continued to fall on Saturday night, with heavy rains in areas like Kharghar and Panvel.

P.S. (Sunday did not see much rain till the time (11:35) this news write-up was published.)

July 18, 2021 0 comments

Featured Kharghar News Panvel

Adults and children using tyres to swim at Taloja Jail pond

by Staff Reporter July 3, 2021

written by Staff Reporter

In an obvious indication of their lack of swimming skills, many adults, and their young family members under 14, can be seen risking their lives in the pond along the Taloja Jail road.

Kharghar / Navi Mumbai / Panvel: There has been a surge in the number of people visiting the Taloja Jail Pond located along the Taloja Jail Rd, Sector 35G, Kharghar, for a quick swim, especially families. Many adults have been found swimming in the pond, tugging along their children, with the help of tyres.

Most of the times, these swimmers happen to be either learners, or new swimmers testing their skills.

Shivkumar, a localite of Kharghar, shares, “Local families have been visiting the Owe Hills and Taloja Jail Pond almost every day and these places have transformed into picnic spots of sorts. However, the problem is that some people have been swimming in the pond, and by the looks of it, not all of them are expert swimmers.”

Also Read: Owe Hills and Taloja Jail Pond turn into picnic spots

The major concern, as it seems, is the fact that many children as young as 14 years, have been venturing into the Taloja Jail pond, with or without supervision.

“Some children, who can hardly swim, can be seen plunging and swimming in the pond, either with family members or alone. Some of those can be seen using tyres to stay afloat, and that explains the level of risk they have been taking,” adds Shivkumar.

Also Read: Children risking their lives at ponds and streams in Kharghar

Also Read: Youngsters visiting Pandavkada waterfalls despite ban and section 144 in effect

This is not an isolate incident and as a matter of fact many young children have been swimming in ponds and streams in isolated spots in Kharghar, endangering their lives every day.

The Kharghar police have been sending out patrols to all popular places, like Pandavkada Waterfalls and Driving Range Waterfalls, but monsoon revellers have been sneaking in unnoticed during odd hours, and even during the evenings.

The situation presses on the need for dedicated sentries posted at these picnic spots in Kharghar.

“The Kharghar police must be doing their best but they will have to take extra pain, and either increase the rounds or post people at major picnic spots in Kharghar. It is the irregularity of roundups that encourages people to take such risks,” Shivkumar concludes.

Also Read: Don’t visit Pandavkada falls: Kharghar police warns monsoon revellers

Shatrughan Mali, senior police inspector, Kharghar, has constantly been requesting local residents not to indulge in such activities, through all possible mediums. However, some people simply choose to ignore.

July 3, 2021 0 comments

Featured Kharghar News

Children risking their lives at ponds and streams in Kharghar

by Staff Reporter June 30, 2021

written by Staff Reporter

Young children, aged 14 and below, have been found frolicking in accident prone ponds and streams in Kharghar, especially the Taloja Jail Pond.

Kharghar / Navi Mumbai / Panvel: While the Kharghar police and forest range officers have been trying their best at driving people away from the Pandavkada Waterfalls, there are many spots left for monsoon revellers, especially children, from having some fun out of the rains.

As a result, many young boys and girls have been visiting ponds and streams in Kharghar, flirting with danger every day.

Take for instance, the Taloja Jail Pond, which has transformed into a picnic spot for locals and outsiders alike. The pond sees a number of young children coming in from within Kharghar and even far off places.

Also read: Owe Hills and Taloja Jail Pond turn into picnic spots

The matter of concern is that these young children ignore every possible threat to their lives and indulge in raw fun at the pond, jumping, diving and swimming as they will.

Many of these young ones hardly know swimming and hence are always under constant threat of drowning.

Just last week, a youngster lost his life at the Pandavkada Waterfalls, as he apparently jumped into the water along with one of his friends. The deceased was an adult and in a much better position to handle himself, and still the unfortunate mishap happened.

Also read: Youngsters visiting Pandavkada waterfalls despite ban and section 144 in effect

In comparison, these young ones have little or no swimming experience and any event when one of them slips in the water could lead to a worst case scenario.

Residents of neighbouring buildings inform that many children can be seen playing dangerously in the water, unattended and without any adult supervision.

It is owing to the remoteness and also lack of monitoring that children indulge in such dangerous fun activities at several small waterfalls and ponds in Kharghar.

In a similar fashion, hundreds of families and youngsters had gathered at the Driving Range at Kharghar on Sunday, and could be seen indulging in fun activities in the small waterfalls and streams.

As a result, the Kharghar police had to send out patrols to Kharghar Driving Range and Pandavkada Falls to disperse the huge crowd that had gathered on account of the holiday.

Shatrughan Mali, senior police inspector, Kharghar, has been constantly sending out general circulars and patrols to discourage people from visiting waterfalls and ponds for their own safety.

However, there has been a huge ignorance on the part of the many locals and outsiders who simply don’t want to comply, and consider fun above everything else.

June 30, 2021 0 comments

Featured Kharghar News

Owe Hills and Taloja Jail Pond turn into picnic spots

by Staff Reporter June 26, 2021

written by Staff Reporter

Families have been crowding the hills at Owe, and children as young as 14, can be seen frolicking dangerously in the Taloja Jail pond.

**People seen having a good time at the Owe Hills area and the Taloja Jail Pond at Kharghar. (Photos: Deepak Prajapati & LocalPress Staff)**

Kharghar / Navi Mumbai / Panvel: As the Kharghar police and forest department have been continuously requesting people not to visit the Pandavkada Waterfalls, for the many dangers posed, people have been seeking other options to have some good time with their families and friends, this monsoon.

As a result, the Owe Hills and Taloja Jail Pond have turned into picnic spots for all who can travel, even from outside Kharghar.

In the last couple of days, there has been a spurt in the number of frolickers, old and young alike, converging at the Owe hills, which is a popular trek for locals, and the pond near Taloja jail.

Many cars and motorbikes can be seen lined up right from the juncture of Owe Camp till the pond at Taloja Jail.

Also read: Don’t visit Pandavkada falls: Kharghar police warns monsoon revellers

Families, young couples and children can be seen have a good time in their own ways around the Taloja Jail Pond.

Surprisingly, many of the picnickers are not even locals, but those driving in from nearby places like Mumbra, Govandi, Panvel and other such places.

There is one mobile stall selling ice-cream and faludas, another selling vada pav, and one selling corns (bhuttas).

Surprisingly, no police official can be seen doing the rounds of these places most of the times.

Watch: Taloja Jail Pond, Kharghar, turns into a monsoon picnic spot!

Also read: Youngsters visiting Pandavkada waterfalls despite ban and section 144 in effect

However, for the good part, at least the people have been keeping safe distance between them and others, although most of them have been completely avoiding wearing masks.

The Owe Dam is yet another such spot, remotely located, and frequently visited by youngsters.

While the idea of having a good time in nature is not a bad one, there has to be some sense of responsibility while you are at it.

June 26, 2021 0 comments

CBD-Belapur Featured News

More than 1 lakh protestors to march against the naming of Navi Mumbai International Airport

by Staff Reporter June 23, 2021

written by Staff Reporter

On Thursday, BJP activists, PAPs and locals residents will joint in protest outside the CIDCO head office at Belapur, demanding that the Navi Mumbai International Airport be named after late leader of the PAPs, DB Patil.

Belapur / Panvel / Navi Mumbai: The local BJP activists and PAPs are readying themselves for a grand protest, under the banner of All-Party Action Committee (APAC). The protest or “CIDCO Gherao”, to be held outside the CIDCO head office at Belapur on Thursday, 24th June, 2021, is a peaceful attempt to pressurize the state government to withdraw their decision of naming the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIL) after late Shiv Sena leader Balasaheb Thackeray.

The protestors are demanding it to be named after the late PAPs leader DB Patil, who had relentlessly advocated for the cause of local PAPs for years.

For those who are unaware, the naming of the Navi Mumbai International Airport has already raised a lot of eyebrows, with locals questioning the decision of the state government of naming the airport after their late supremo Balasaheb Thackeray, and not after the local leader DB Patil.

To top it up, there have many suggestions like naming the Navi Mumbai International Airport after the aviation pioneer JRD Tata.

Recently, MNS Chief Raj Thackeray suggested that it would be best to name the Navi Mumbai International Airport after Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, as it was an extension of Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.

MLA Prashant Thakur, Panvel, has taken up the matter with CIDCO and also the CM Uddhav Thackeray, questioning the logic in not honouring the late leader of the PAPs and disrespecting the emotions of the locals. He has received full support from local PAPs and leaders.

The protest has been backed by many local leaders and PMC officials like Jagdish Gaikwad, deputy mayor of Panvel, who has been known for such protests, along with many other PAP leaders and local citizens.

The peaceful protest will see protestors coming in from far off places and will gain momentum from around 10:30 am.

The Navi Mumbai Traffic Police has already announced traffic diversions for 24th June, for different routes like Mumbai-Pune, Uran phata-CBD-Kharghar, Old Pune highway and Goa highway, Palm Beach road, Thane-Belapur road.

Read detailed news about tommorow’s traffic diversions here: Traffic diversion on June 24 to prevent law and order situation anticipating airport protest

The organisers have requested for a peaceful march requesting all protestors not to disrupt services of local transport, ambulances etc.

Surprisingly, the protest march has not been given the go-ahead by the commissioner’s office with the deputy commissioner even having imposed section 144.

The police is of the opinion that mass mobilisation should be avoided for now, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Any such event would only help accelerate infections further in the city.

The Navi Mumbai Police have even warned the APAC against holding the mass protests as the state government and local administration have not approved of it.

The protestors claim the “CICDO Gherao” to be a gentle reminder of the sentiments and unity of the PAPs and local residents and also a precedent to many such protests to follow, if the state government failed to honour them.

June 23, 2021 0 comments

Kharghar News

Kharghar’s Vishwajyot High School issues leaving certificates to 17 students for non-payment of fees

by Staff Reporter June 21, 2021

written by Staff Reporter

Parents accuse school of exorbitant hike in fees and hurting children’s morale through such behaviour.

Kharghar / Navi Mumbai: In a move that is being dubbed as highly unethical and uncalled for, the Vishwajyot High School has sent school leaving certificates to around 17 students through emails and post. The parents of all the students have condemned the schools act of indifference in a time of global calamity.

On Tuesday, angry parents took to the streets and staged a protest outside the school premises hoping to open a dialogue with the school authorities but to no avail.

Even as some local media representatives joined in to cover the protest expecting an open discussion with the administration or the Principal, the school turned a deaf ear.

Parents have unanimously sought enquiry into the exorbitant hike in school fees from last year.

“Vishwajyot has shockingly increased the school fees by more than 50 percent in the past two years,” said an angry parent.

There have also been instances of errors in calculations of school fee records.

“Even after paying the fees in full as per the last fee structure, the schools records show a due amount of more than Rs. 27,000,” said another surprised parent.

Vishwajyot High School however, informs that it was a general protocol followed against parents who were deliberately not paying school fees.

“Some of the parents have not paid the school fees even after being given ample amount of time and options. The fee too was hiked as per the rules and regulations and with consent of the Parent-Teacher Association,” said one of the school representatives.

The school says that the cancellation of admission was taken in accordance with a court order and after following due legal process. They further informed that the school had been lenient in not cancelling the admissions of students of class 10 who had not paid the school fees.

There had also been relaxed payment options for parents undergoing financial crisis.

Meanwhile, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has been following close complaints of exorbitant fees being charged by several school throughout city schools.

As many as five private schools in Navi Mumbai have been issues with show-cause notices for their decision to discontinue online classes of students for non-payment of fees.

All further action will be taken after thorough scrutiny of the replies sent by the schools and their overall approach to the matter.

June 21, 2021 0 comments

Featured Kharghar News

Youngsters visiting Pandavkada waterfalls despite ban and section 144 in effect

by Staff Reporter June 17, 2021

written by Staff Reporter

Young boys and girls have been sneaking in during the early hours of the day, when there is no supervision.

Kharghar / Navi Mumbai / Panvel: Even when the Kharghar police has warned monsoon revellers from visiting the Pandavkada Waterfalls, young boys and girls continue to visit the falls in the absence of supervision during early morning hours, between 7am to 9am.

The Pandavkadkada Waterfalls have been off limits since last year owing to the series of incidents that have followed over the years, resulting in the unfortunate deaths of many youngsters who had slipped and drowned in the rough streams of water flowing down the waterfalls. Some had even died in the pond near the Taloja jail.

The Kharghar police and the Forest Department have both have been firm on their decision not to allow picknickers to enter the Pandavkada Waterfalls area.

Also read: Don’t visit Pandavkada waterfalls: Kharghar police warns monsoon revellers

Since last year, a sentry, mostly a forest officer, remains posted at the entry point of the falls, right next to the Kharghar Gurudwara, prohibiting all without exceptions.

However, the problem is that there is more than just one entry point to the Pandavkada Waterfalls. A minimum of two other trails lead up to the falls, one from the Owe Camp hills area and another from the Driving Range area, though a lot more tedious.

The police do the rounds of both the entry points – Gurudwara and Owe, but there remains ample time to sneak in during the early hours, before 10 am and sometimes even during the afternoons.

On top of that, there are no sentries posted on the actual spot of the Kharghar Waterfalls, tempting youngsters to take a long and tricky path through the hillocks, exposing them to even more danger.

The same goes for most of the water bodies in Kharghar that remain unmanned owing to the impossible terrains and the impracticality of the entire exercise of posting sentries at all such sites.

Also read: Owe Hills and Taloja Jail Pond turn into picnic spots

For instance the pond at Taloja Jail, which is also a dangerous spot visitied by children as young as 14.

So while the local police is trying their best to keep people away from the Pandavkada falls, trusting them to act responsibly, there are many who simply have no regard for the authority or even their own safety.

June 17, 2021 0 comments

Featured Kharghar News

Don’t visit Pandavkada falls: Kharghar police warns monsoon revellers

by Staff Reporter June 16, 2021

written by Staff Reporter

People have been prohibited from visiting the popular Pandavkada waterfalls in Kharghar, from 7 June to 30 September.

Kharghar / Navi Mumbai / Panvel: With monsoons making their presence felt, filling up local water bodies and waterfalls big and small, the Kharghar police has sprung into action, banning visits to the Pandavkada waterfalls, and enforcing section 144, to keep revellers at bay.

The ban comes in succession with last year’s ban, with the only exception of the penalizing section being enforced to send a strong message to careless frolickers.

The Pandavkada falls has seen a fair share of deaths in the past, mostly of young boys and girls coming from far off places for a little monsoon adventure unaware of the terrain and the many potential threats that the falls pose to careless trekkers.

The Kharghar police has always been strictly against people visiting the waterfall during the monsoons owing to the unpredictable terrain and a lack of security measures.

Last year too, the local police had set up temporary posts at the entry point of the Pandavkada falls, next to the Kharghar Gurudwara, sending people away. In all, 67 people had been booked for violating the norms.

Also read: Kharghar police book revellers at Pandavkada waterfalls and other places

The Pandavkada waterfalls have already started flowing in full force with the amount of rain received in the last couple of days. As a result, revellers have been tempted to visit the area to have some fun in the water. Some of them have even found out ways to elude the police spotters posted in the area.

Shatrughan Mali, senior police inspector, Kharghar, shared, “The Pandavkada waterfalls is a pretty tricky area and hence we have shut it down for three months for the well-being of the people. Many young people have lost their lives in and around the waterfall in the past and we intend to cut down the chances of such incidents as much as possible.”

Mali further informed about the seriousness of the matter.

“We are not taking it lightly and have sent a general warning to people that section 144 has been enforced. Any person or group of people found visiting the Pandavkada waterfalls or other such areas will be strictly dealt with.”

For those who are unaware, Kharghar houses the popular Pandavkada waterfalls along with a couple of small waterfalls, streams and lakes, with one at the Golf Course Driving Range area, which is yet another hot-spot during the monsoons.

Other places include the small waterfalls at Owe camp hills and villages like Ghamole, Fanaswadi and Chafewadi.

Along with the local police, the Forest department has also banned people from visiting the Pandavkada Waterfalls for the lack of security measures or even adequate infrastructure.

Every year, hundreds of people throng the Pandavkada waterfalls and the hills around putting their lives at risk climbing up hillocks, taking narrow and slippery paths and making way through overflowing streams, to reach the falls.

To make matters worse many young revellers go to great lengths to stand out of the crowd and take great risks hiking the slippery hills and rough terrain for the sake of adventure and fun.

What people fail to realise or accept, is that the Pandavkada waterfalls area is not an official or even a safe tourist area, and that the terrain and flow of water is very unpredictable.

It is owing to such reason that many unfortunate people have died in the past, after slipping and getting caught in the fast currents of water, flowing down the waterfalls.

There have also been incidents of people getting hurt owing to loose boulders thrown off the top of the hills along the line of the waterfalls.

The Kharghar police hope that people will act responsibly and not take unnecessary risks for the sake of fun.

June 16, 2021 0 comments

Will Navi Mumbai International Airport delay further owing to the naming conflict?

Will the Navi Mumbai International Airport delay further owing to the naming conflict?

by Staff Reporter June 13, 2021

written by Staff Reporter

While Raigad residents want the Navi Mumbai International Airport to be named after late local leader DB Patil, the state government already seems to have decided to name it after their late supremo Balasaheb Thackeray.

Raigad/Navi Mumbai: it looks like delays are becoming synonymous with the Navi Mumbai Inernational Airport (NMIL) as once again work on the prestigious project of CIDCO seems to be getting into a controversy that could delay the project further.

This time around, the project is making news owing to the ‘naming’ conflict that seems to have been gaining momentum and is heading toward a long period of agitation and violent protests in the coming days.

The problem with NMIL is that local Raigad residents, especially those around the immediate vicinity of the airport, want it to be named after their late leader DB Patil, an obvious demand for residents of any region.

However, the Shiv Sena run state government has already decided to name it after their late leader and party supremo Balasaheb Thackeray, a decision that is being opposed by all local residents.

Recognizing the gravity of the situation, CM Uddhav Thackeray had also called for a meeting with the local representatives from the Raigad district but the meeting could not produce terms of mutual understanding as the locals did not budge from their demand to honour their leader DB Patil.

Following the meeting and the inconclusive result, locals have called for a mass protest against the state government’s decision to name the Navi Mumbai International Airport after the late Shiv Sena supremo.

Earlier, in the month of April, the City and Industrial Development Corporation Of Maharashtra Limited (CIDCO) had passed the resolution to name the Navi Mumbai International Airport after Balasaheb Thackeray.

The resolution is being sent to the state cabinet for approval and later to the Central government for the final approval.

Apparently, during the meeting with CM Uddhav Thackeray, suggestions like naming other infrastructure projects in the Raigad district after DB Patil, were also put forth, though they remained unproductive.

MLA Prashant Thakur, who had led the local delegation remained firm on their stand.

“We stand by our demand and will not budge even if it means protesting against CIDCO and forming human chains in different nodes of Raigad.” Thakur said.

The local delegation, under Thakur’s leadership, has also planned for a “CICDO Gherao” at the CIDCO head office at CBD-Belapur, on 24th June, 2021.

While all this continues, local residents now brood over a possible delay of work on the already delayed project of Navi Mumai International Airport.

Surprisingly, this issue has emerged at a time when GVK has released the first look of the Navi Mumbai International Airport.

“First the NMIL was delayed for years owing to the PAP’s and now for the naming conflict. It looks like we are in for a delay of another year or more,” said a local resident.

Whatever the case, the NMIL seems to have been gathering a lot of negative attention ever since it’s conceptualization. Could it be gathering more?

June 13, 2021 0 comments

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