THE TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI/NAVI MUMBAI SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2017 9 TIMES NAVI MUMBAI Navi Mumbai: The nomina- tion for the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation’s (NMMC) Mayor and deputy Mayor was filed on Friday. The process was not be- reft of last minute surprises and brought into forefront the undercurrents of political parties. Putting an end to the spe- culation of difference bet- ween the Nationalist Cong- ress Party (NCP) and Cong- ress alliance was the filing of nomination for deputy May- or by Congress corporator Mandakini Mhatre, wife of former deputy Mayor Rama- kant Mhatre, along with NCP corporator J D Sutar for the Mayor. “If there was any doubt about the alliance, then it should now be addressed for once and for all as nomina- tion forms were filled toget- her by both the parties,” said NCP corporator Ra- vindra Ithape. Sutar was one of the ex- pected candidates for the post reserved for the OBC ca- tegory. NCP had remained tight-lipped about the candi- dature from the beginning. “Sutar’s selection appears to a caucus as he shares a good equation even with the oppo- sition which is a quality re- quired to conduct the gene- ral body meetings. This also explains the reason for the sudden change from Sena as well,” said a veteran journalist and resident Vishwarath Nayar. Even as Airoli corpora- tor and leader of opposition Vijay Chowghule was pro- jected as Sena’s contender for the Mayoral post on Fri- day, the form was finally fil- led by Sanpada corporator Somnath Vaskar. “Since I was not using my middle name as mentioned in the caste certificate it lead to some issue with the Kon- kan commisisoner. It was de- cided to field another candi- date,” said Chowghule. Sena nominated corpo- rator Dwarkanath Bhoir for the post of deputy Mayor. Party insiders said, the turn of events had to do with the discord going on between BJP and Sena at the state thereby affecting its alliance in Navi Mumbai. In absence of BJP’s support, it was next to impossible for Sena to ac- quire the figure of 57 votes. Accordingly, on Novem- ber 9, BJP is stated to not cast their vote. Simmering tension in- ternally with Congress too became obvious with the fi- ling of candidature for depu- ty Mayor by Vaijayanti Bha- gat thereby acting against party’s order. “It was always believed that she will be nominated, but at the last minute chang- es were made. Therefore to express our protest the no- mination was made,” said a supporter. Nomination for NMMC Mayor elections filed Sameera.Kapoor @timesgroup.com HIGHLIGHT: LAST MINUTE SURPRISES SPRING UP Navi Mumbai: The National Green Tribunal has for the third time rescheduled the hearing to November 14 in the petition filed by a city re- sident asking for end to quar- rying in the Parsik hill. The tribunal was suppo- sed to meet today for final he- aring on Friday, November 3, but now has it has been post- pone to November 14 as the next date. MPCB, regional of- ficer, Anil Mohekar, who was in Pune for the hearing told TOI, “The tribunal did not meet and now has been fixed for November 14.” Major parties to the case who have filed affidavits are Cidco, NMMC, Thane collec- tor, MPCB, Mines and Geolo- gy department. The two sta- ke holders in the city, Cidco, NMMC and the regional MPCB office have given cau- tious replies in the case with environment and rules and regulations as the major fo- cus. Quarry owners and cont- ractors in Mumbai want con- tinuance. The hills and the stone crushers have gone si- lent since April 1, 2017 becau- se of a stringent order issued by the Thane collector to the mines and geology depart- ment not to collect royalty of quarrying and the end pro- duct in view of the petition before the tribunal. President of Navi Mum- bai quarry owners associa- tion, Namdeo Thakur said, “Not paying the royalty ma- kes the business illegal which is why we decided to suspend all activities.” MoEF has given quarry permission for 20 years till 2026, but Cidco rules permit- ted granting of lease rights for 10 years that lapsed in September end 2016. While Cidco gave third ex- tension lease extension in the new fiscal, and asked qu- arry owners to obtain green certificate, Thane collector, who grants the mining rights decided to stop collection of royalty in view of the case be- fore NGT. The Public Relation Co- uncil of India (PRCI) had started a signature campaign called – ‘I am Parsik, I am dy- ing’ to save the Parsik Hills. The signature campaign has been supported by four NGOs — Shree Ekavira, Awaaz Fo- undation, Watchdog Founda- tion and Vanashakti. No Activity Seen In Parsik Since April 1, 2017 Parsik quarrying: NGT once again reschedules hearing date to Nov 14 Sanjay.Banerjee @timesgroup.com Petition filed in March 2017 Final hearing slated for August 28 Rescheduled to October 4 Further rescheduled to November 14 Cidco, NMMC & regional MPCB office have given cautious replies Quarry owners and contractors in Mumbai want continuance for quarrying at Parsik Hill Signature campaign initiated by the Public relation council of India was supported by 4 NGOs AN ENDLESS WAIT... Navi Mumbai: In a day-long demolition drive on Friday, nine illegal temples were brought down by Cidco in Kalamboli and Roadpali. The squad deployed by Shivraj Patil, chief control- ler of unauthorised const- ruction (CCUC), Cidco, con- ducted the drive with heavy police protection. The drive was in compliance with a Bombay high court order to raze all illegal shrines that have cropped up after Sep- tember 2009. There was some resistan- ce from locals. Around 100 cops were deployed to assist the Cidco team. “We have tar- geted sector 4 of Kalamboli which has most illegal temp- les,” a Cidco official said. Cidco has to submit a compliance report in the high court by November 17. The drive was resumed two months after the festivals as there were not enough poli- cemen to provide protection for the drives. Cidco razes 9 illegal shrines in Kalamboli, Roadpali B B Nayak BULLDOZED K C Singh AQI 0-50 GOOD Minimal impact 51-100 SATISFACTORY Minor breathing discomfort to sensitive people 101-200 MODERATE Breathing discomfort to the people with lungs, heart diseases 201-300 POOR Breathing discomfort to most people on prolonged exposure 301-400 VERY POOR Respiratory illness on prolonged exposure 401-500 SEVERE Affects healthy people THE AIR YOU BREATHE Source | CPCB - MoEF SATISFACTORY 0 500 Air Quality Index (AQI) range and what it means Nov 3 AQI 85