Ashirwad Takes Charge as Collector, Focuses on Administrative Review and Priorities Nagpur: IAS officer Kumar Ashirwad assumed his role as Nagpur district collector on Monday, succeeding Vipin Itankar. His first official actions included convening a meeting with department heads to evaluate ongoing schemes, administrative functions, and key initiatives. Ashirwad also conducted a tour of the district collectorate, visiting various departments to engage directly with officials and staff. This hands-on approach aimed to understand internal workflows and ensure seamless governance. A key focus of his initial tenure was preparing for the upcoming visit of President Droupadi Murmu, scheduled for April 15 and 16. The President is set to attend programs at the National Academy of Direct Taxes (NADT) and AIIMS in Nagpur. Ashirwad assessed security, logistical arrangements, and inter-departmental coordination, issuing clear directives to ensure the event’s success. Outlining his immediate priorities, Ashirwad emphasized the next three to four weeks would be dedicated to gaining a comprehensive understanding of Nagpur’s administrative structure. He plans to meet elected representatives, industrial stakeholders, and social organizations to align his initiatives with local needs. This strategy reflects his commitment to fostering collaboration between the administration and community leaders. Ashirwad, an IIT Kharagpur graduate in civil engineering, was born in 1988 in Jharkhand and joined the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) in 2016 as part of the Maharashtra cadre. His career has spanned multiple administrative roles, including assistant collector, collector, and CEO of Zilla Parishad. His leadership in Gadchiroli as ZP CEO was marked by innovative programs in education and child nutrition.#droupadi_murmu #nagpur_district #kumar_ashirwad #national_academy_of_direct_taxes #aiims_nagpur
MIDC Units Urged to Transition to Piped Natural Gas Amid Fuel Shortage Industrial units across Maharashtra’s MIDC (Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation) areas are being encouraged to switch from liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to piped natural gas (PNG) as the state accelerates the rollout of city gas distribution (CGD) networks. The move comes amid a persistent fuel shortage exacerbated by the ongoing conflict in West Asia, which has disrupted LPG supplies and affected industrial operations. An advisory issued by the MIDC Industries Association (MIA) has directed units in regions with existing PNG infrastructure to apply for connections, following directives from a high-level meeting chaired by the chief secretary. The transition to PNG is part of a broader effort to mitigate the impact of LPG shortages, which have caused production delays and increased operational costs for many industries. While no formal deadline has been set for the switch, MIA president P Mohan clarified that the June 30 timeline mentioned in discussions is not an official cut-off. “There is a broader push to shift to PNG, but no official circular mandates discontinuation of LPG from a specific date,” he stated. Industry stakeholders emphasized that the transition remains voluntary, with the focus on facilitating smoother adoption rather than enforcing strict timelines. The push for PNG adoption is driven by both logistical and economic factors. Authorities have streamlined processes to expedite pipeline installations, including granting permissions for laying pipelines along roads within 24 hours, provided restoration norms are met. This measure aims to address a key bottleneck in expanding CGD infrastructure.#nagpur_district #midc #maharashtra_industrial_development_corporation #midc_industries_association #mohan
40 Permit Rooms Skip Licence Renewal Nagpur: A growing number of permit room operators in Nagpur district have chosen not to renew their licenses, raising alarms about the sustainability of the liquor bar sector. According to the Nagpur District Restaurant Permit Room Association, 40 operators have failed to renew their licenses, citing a surge in financial burdens as the primary reason. The operators have pointed to a sharp increase in licence fees, along with higher taxes such as VAT, GST, and TCS, as well as rising operational costs, as factors that have made it increasingly difficult to maintain their businesses. The association’s president, Rajiv Jaiswal, described the sector as “a sick industry,” emphasizing that the combination of heavy taxation and the unchecked proliferation of illegal liquor trade has created an unsustainable environment for legitimate operators. Jaiswal highlighted that the lack of effective control over illicit liquor sales has led to significant losses for honest businesses, while the financial strain of compliance has become unbearable. He warned that without urgent intervention, the sector could face a crisis akin to the challenges faced by farmers in recent years. The financial pressures on permit room operators have been exacerbated by a steep rise in licence fees. Last year, the annual fee for a permit room was set at ₹9.30 lakh, but this year it has increased to ₹11.50 lakh. The association stated that this sharp rise has forced several operators to shut down their establishments, further destabilizing the industry. Jaiswal called for immediate government action, urging authorities to crack down on illegal liquor trade and to reduce the recently increased licence fees.#nagpur_district #illegal_liquor_trade #nagpur_district_restaurant_permit_room_association #rajiv_jaiswal #permit_room_operators
MSEDCL Plugs In 307 EV Charging Stations Across Nagpur District Nagpur: The district is witnessing a steady shift towards cleaner mobility with an increase in the number of electric vehicles (EVs). To support this transition, the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) has developed a widespread network of 307 public EV charging stations across the district. According to official data, there are as many as 49,565 electric vehicles currently on Nagpur district roads. With MSEDCL strengthening the charging infrastructure, vehicle owners will get access to fast-charging facilities not only at home but also during travel and emergencies. The state government has appointed MSEDCL as the nodal agency under its electric vehicle policy, tasking it with promoting EV adoption in key cities, including Nagpur, to curb pollution levels. As part of this mandate, the utility is prioritising electricity connections for charging stations and extending technical support to private players interested in entering the sector, in addition to setting up its own facilities. In the urban areas, Mahal leads with 84 stations, followed by Congress Nagar with 66, Civil Lines with 45, Butibori with 40, and Gandhibagh with 17 stations. In the rural belt, Mouda has 26 stations, Saoner 16, Katol 7, and Umred 6 stations. MSEDCL has also introduced the ‘PowerUp EV’ mobile application, which enables users to locate nearby charging stations, check availability, and book slots in advance, making the charging process seamless. Officials said the initiative has also opened up new opportunities for entrepreneurs, with a simplified application process now in place for setting up charging stations.#nagpur_district #mahal #masedcl #powerup_ev #congress_nagar
412 Government Schools to Be Upgraded as Ambedkar Adarsh Shalas in Phase 1 of 1,500-School Plan The Maharashtra state government has announced the first phase of a comprehensive initiative to transform 1,500 government schools into Ambedkar Adarsh Shalas, with 412 schools selected for immediate upgrades. The plan, spearheaded by school education state minister Dr Pankaj Bhoyar under the guidance of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and school education minister Dadaji Bhuse, aims to enhance educational infrastructure and accessibility for students from low-income and rural backgrounds. Nagpur district will see 11 schools included in the initial phase, while other Vidarbha districts will have varying numbers of allocations. Wardha leads with 17 schools, followed by Chandrapur and Yavatmal with 12 each, Buldhana with 14, Amravati with 11, Gondia with 8, Gadchiroli and Bhandara with 6 each, and Akola and Washim with 4 each. Nashik district has the highest allocation statewide at 38 schools, followed by Pune with 25. The selected schools will be drawn from Samuh Sadan Kendra, PM Shri, and Vidyaniketan institutions, ensuring a focus on underprivileged communities. The initiative includes significant investments in physical and educational infrastructure, with funds allocated for each school to support improvements. To ensure continuity of education, government and local body schools under the scheme will be permitted to operate classes up to Class 10. Zilla Parishad chief executive officers will prepare detailed development plans for each school, which will be reviewed and approved by the education commissioner. A key focus of the program is the creation of gender-inclusive facilities, particularly for girl students.#devendra_fadnavis #nagpur_district #maharashtra_state_government #dr_pankaj_bhoyar #dadaji_bhuse
Nagpur School Faces Vacant Teacher Posts and Surplus Adjustment Process A school in Ambhora Khurd, part of Kuhi taluka in Nagpur district, is currently dealing with two vacant teacher positions, with surplus adjustment proceedings underway, according to information shared with the Maharashtra Legislative Council. The school’s Classes 1-5 and Classes 6-8 sections each have one post remaining unfilled. A volunteer teacher has been temporarily assigned to the lower section vacancy, while the surplus adjustment mechanism is being utilized to address the other vacant post. The school education minister, Dadadji Bhuse, clarified the situation during a meeting with legislators. He stated that the 2025-26 sanction process for teacher positions has been finalized, and appointments for the vacant roles will be made through the surplus adjustment process. The volunteer teacher placed in the lower section vacancy is from the Zilla Parishad census, indicating a temporary measure to ensure continuity in education. MLCs Prasad Lad, Pravin Derekar, Uma Khapre, Chitra Wagh, Niranjan Davkhare, Dr Parinay Fuke, and Sadashiv Khot raised questions about the placement of 26 trainees under the CM Yuva Karyaprasikshan Yojana at the school and whether students in Classes 1-7 were facing educational challenges. The minister explained that the 26 trainees were allocated to Zilla Parishad schools across Kuhi taluka, not exclusively for Ambhora Khurd school. The surplus adjustment process involves redistributing teacher positions to address shortages in certain areas while managing excess capacity in others. This mechanism is part of broader efforts to balance staffing across schools and ensure equitable resource distribution.#nagpur_district #zilla_parishad #ambhora_khurd #kuhi_taluka #didadji_bhuse
Maharashtra releases Rs636 crore for MLA development fund; Vidarbha legislators to receive Rs150 crore The Maharashtra government has allocated Rs636 crore under the MLA Local Area Development Programme (MLALAD) for the 2025-26 fiscal year, distributing Rs2 crore to each of 318 legislators across the state. The funds were released for 266 MLAs and 52 MLCs, with MLAs receiving a combined Rs532 crore and MLCs getting Rs104 crore. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was among the 12 Nagpur district MLAs listed as recipients, along with three MLCs, who collectively received Rs30 crore. In Vidarbha, the total allocation across its 11 districts amounted to Rs150 crore. Nagpur division accounted for Rs76 crore, with Nagpur district receiving Rs30 crore, Chandrapur Rs14 crore, Wardha Rs10 crore, Gondia and Bhandara Rs8 crore each, and Gadchiroli Rs6 crore. Cabinet minister Sudhir Mungantiwar, a Chandrapur MLA, was among the six MLAs from that district who received funds. The Amravati division, comprising Amravati, Yavatmal, Akola, Washim, and Buldhana, received the remaining Rs74 crore. Amravati district was allocated Rs18 crore, Buldhana Rs16 crore, Yavatmal and Akola Rs14 crore each, and Washim Rs12 crore. The funds were placed under the charge of district collectors, who also serve as members of the district planning committees. A government resolution directed collectors to distribute the funds immediately, following a directive issued on July 12, 2016. The allocation aims to support local development initiatives by legislators, ensuring resources are utilized for infrastructure, public services, and community projects.#maharashtra_government #devendra_fadnavis #nagpur_district #vidarbha #sudhir_mungantiwar
Sports teacher recruitment yet to begin in Nagpur cluster centres Nagpur: The Maharashtra Legislative Council was informed on Tuesday that while one sports teacher post has been sanctioned for each cluster resource centre across the state, including 136 in Nagpur district, the process of recruitment has not yet started. This is due to the lack of finalized service entry rules. MLC Abhijit Wanjari raised the issue, questioning the delay in appointing sports teachers to the 136 centres in Nagpur. School education minister Dadadji Bhuse confirmed the sanctioning of the posts but stated that recruitment could not proceed until the service rules were finalized. A total of 4,860 posts for special teacher (sports) have been sanctioned statewide, with one post allocated per cluster resource centre. The service entry rules and conditions for this cadre are currently under finalization. For the parallel cadre of special teacher (differently abled student instruction), which also has one post per centre, 2,984 of the 4,860 posts have been filled on a contractual basis. These appointments were made in accordance with a Supreme Court directive and with cabinet approval. The remaining posts in this cadre are also being filled. No specific timeline was provided for the completion of service rules for the sports teacher cadre or for the initiation of recruitment for the 136 posts in Nagpur district. The process of recruitment and appointment will commence once the rules are finalized. The article highlights the administrative delays in implementing the sanctioned posts, emphasizing the need for clear guidelines to proceed with the recruitment. It also notes the parallel efforts in filling posts for differently abled students, which have seen partial completion.#nagpur_district #maharashtra_legislative_council #abhijit_wanjari #dadadji_bhuse #cluster_resource_centre
Bar Council Poll Marred by Voter List Errors, Turnout Hovers Near 50% Voting for the Maharashtra and Goa Bar Council elections concluded peacefully on Tuesday, but widespread discrepancies in voter lists cast a shadow over the polling process. Officials and participating lawyers reported that multiple voters discovered their names were either missing from the electoral rolls or incorrectly listed in distant districts such as Mumbai and Nanded. Former High Court Bar Association (HCBA) office-bearer Pankaj Tidke found his name registered in Mumbai despite being listed under Nagpur’s lawyers’ rolls. Despite these administrative lapses, the estimated turnout in Nagpur district hovered near 50%. At the high court polling center, approximately 700 out of 900 registered voters cast their ballots. On the district court premises, seven polling booths recorded around 3,200 votes from nearly 7,000 registered voters. In total, about 4,100 urban voters participated out of an estimated 8,000, while rural turnout figures were still pending. The election holds significant importance for the legal community across Maharashtra and Goa, as the elected members will shape regulatory and professional decisions in the sector. A total of 23 members—18 men and five women—will be elected through this process. Additionally, two women advocates will be inducted as nominated members to the executive council post-election. From Vidarbha, experienced candidates such as Parijat Pande, Asif Qureshi, and Anil Govardipe, who previously served on the Bar Council, are competing. They face a group of first-time candidates, including Sagar Lambat, Sanjay More, Sandeep Nandeshwar, Vaishali Khedekar, Priyanka Chokhare, and Uma Bhattad, reflecting a blend of seasoned professionals and newcomers.#nagpur_district #maharashtra_bar_council #goa_bar_council #pankaj_tidke #high_court_bar_association
Over 2,900 TB Patients Treated At GMCH, 60% With Alcohol Abuse More than 2,900 drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) patients were treated at Nagpur’s Government Medical College and Superspeciality Hospital (GMCH) since 2007, with 1,736 successfully cured or completed treatment. A significant 60% of these patients had a history of alcohol use, according to data shared ahead of World Tuberculosis Day. Dr. Sushant Meshram, head of the Pulmonary Medicine Department at GMCH, highlighted that alcohol abuse weakens immunity, making individuals more susceptible to TB. He noted that 377 patients (around 13%) died from the disease, while 265 defaulted on treatment. Currently, 262 patients remain under care, reflecting ongoing efforts to manage the condition. Nearly 70% of TB patients fall within the 15-44 age group, with men accounting for 62% of cases. Health experts emphasized that many patients were underweight, underscoring the role of malnutrition alongside alcohol use in worsening outcomes. The National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) has been praised for its focus on awareness, early diagnosis, and treatment adherence. Dr. Meshram stressed that addressing risk factors like alcohol use and malnutrition is critical to improving treatment outcomes and reducing transmission. While the success rate of treatment is encouraging, challenges such as mortality and treatment default persist. Dr. Meshram called for stronger patient counseling and support systems to tackle these issues. The report also noted a growing shift toward all-oral treatment regimens for DR-TB, which improve patient comfort and adherence by eliminating the need for injectable drugs. Extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) remains a serious concern.#nagpur_district #dr_sushant_meshram #national_tuberculosis_elimination_programme #world_tuberculosis_day
District clears ₹83cr plan to bolster rural water supply ahead of summer The Nagpur district administration has approved a ₹82.90 crore initiative to enhance drinking water infrastructure in rural areas ahead of the upcoming summer season. The plan, prepared by the Rural Water Supply Department of the Zilla Parishad, aims to address severe water stress by strengthening water storage and distribution systems. Initially, a ₹79 crore proposal was submitted, but officials requested an expanded plan due to rising demand for water. The revised project, totaling ₹83 crore, includes the construction of new overhead water storage tanks, repair and renovation of existing wells, maintenance of borewells, and upgrades to village-level water distribution networks. Officials highlighted that rural areas face recurring shortages during summer due to declining groundwater levels and rising temperatures. The Rural Water Supply Department estimated that 1,170 villages in the district could experience water scarcity during the summer months. To mitigate this, a detailed action plan was developed, encompassing 489 repair works under piped water schemes, drilling of 153 new borewells, and repair of 1,407 existing wells. Additional measures include the installation of 52 temporary tap connections, reboring of 196 public wells, and tanker-based water supply in 97 villages with acute shortages. The plan also involves acquiring water from 339 private wells and recharging 170 water sources to improve groundwater availability. A total of 2,903 works have been identified across the district as part of the summer preparedness strategy. Regular monitoring of water availability in vulnerable villages will be conducted to ensure timely interventions if shortages worsen.#nagpur_district #rural_water_supply_department #zilla_parishad #summer_season #water_scarcity
