Mumbai News Desk

01 Apr 2026

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has launched a pilot to apply cool roof coating on selected municipal buildings in the G/South ward to reduce indoor heat as the city faces rising temperatures. The reflective Solar Reflective Paint contains additives like titanium dioxide that bounce sunlight off roofs, lowering heat absorption. The project targets buildings including schools and staff quarters, with initial results guiding potential citywide expansion. Similar technologies have been used in industrial structures and other Indian cities to effectively reduce rooftop temperatures.Read more

01 Apr 2026

The government has introduced a pilot to transfer compensation for highway land acquisition through Aadhaar linked biometric authentication, aiming to make payments direct, instant, and secure. This mechanism ensures landowners receive funds in their bank accounts after completing OTP and biometric verification, reducing chances of misdirection or delays. The pilot is underway in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Karnataka. In the current financial year, approximately INR 19,800 crore has been disbursed for acquiring 10,100 hectares of land. Earlier, payments were via cheques but later shifted to direct bank transfers.Read more

01 Apr 2026

The Karnataka government has announced plans to promulgate an ordinance to introduce the Karnataka Apartment Ownership and Management Act, 2025 (KAOMA), aimed at strengthening the legal framework governing apartment ownership and management. The move, discussed in the state assembly, is positioned to address long-pending demands from apartment residents and housing associations while supporting a shift towards vertical urban development in Bengaluru. The proposed law is expected to improve transparency, accountability, and governance across apartment complexes, benefiting a large base of residents. The ordinance will be issued after consultations with legislators and stakeholders, and forms part of a broader policy response to land constraints, increasing apartment density, and evolving urban housing patterns in the state.Read more

01 Apr 2026

The Mohali Municipal Corporation (MC) has decided to roll back a requirement mandating submission of house photographs for property tax payments following concerns raised by councillors and residents. The directive, which required front and rear images of properties, was reportedly discouraging tax compliance due to fears of regulatory scrutiny. The mayor indicated that the condition had contributed to a shortfall in tax collections, with the civic body missing its annual target by a notable margin. The rollback is expected to simplify compliance procedures, improve participation in the property tax system, and stabilise municipal revenues, which remain a key funding source for infrastructure and civic services in the expanding urban jurisdiction.Read more

01 Apr 2026

A report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has highlighted significant gaps in the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in Karnataka, noting that around 34 per cent of rural households approximately 24.5 lakh homes remain without functional tap water connections. The audit, covering the period from 2019 to 2024 across selected districts, has pointed to deficiencies in planning, execution, and monitoring of water supply projects. It has also flagged issues such as delays, incomplete works, poor water quality oversight, and underutilisation of funds. The findings raise concerns over infrastructure delivery in rural areas and underline challenges in achieving universal household water connectivity under the central scheme.Read more

31 Mar 2026

The Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) has conducted field inspections across parts of Sangareddy district in Telangana to examine complaints related to encroachments, irregular land transactions, and drainage issues. The review covered multiple residential layouts, including Anand Nagar and Beeramguda, where residents alleged illegal occupation of land earmarked for public use. Authorities also inspected a lake and drainage network following reports of flooding caused by blocked outlets. HYDRAA has stated that records will be verified and corrective action initiated where violations are established. The exercise reflects ongoing scrutiny of layout compliance, land-use changes, and infrastructure deficiencies in expanding peri-urban areas around Hyderabad.Read more

Mumbai News Desk

31 Mar 2026

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has approved selling treated wastewater from its Colaba Sewage Treatment Plant to private entities, creating a new revenue stream and conserving freshwater. About 3 million litres per day will be supplied at a concessional rate to projects including construction and landscaping. The plant has a total capacity of 37 MLD, with tertiary treatment for 10 MLD. While some civic members prefer using treated water for municipal purposes like cleaning and watering gardens, the move highlights a growing focus on resource efficiency and partial cost recovery for STP operations.Read more

31 Mar 2026

The Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA) has undertaken an enforcement drive in Ludhiana, demolishing 13 unauthorised buildings and removing infrastructure across three illegal housing colonies in Dhandra, Manakwal and Mehmoodpura. The action followed repeated violations by developers who continued construction despite statutory notices. Authorities have reiterated that such colonies lack regulatory approvals and will not be provided civic services, including water, sewerage and electricity. The drive forms part of a wider crackdown on unplanned urban development and aims to deter unauthorised plotting activity. GLADA has also cautioned buyers against investing in unapproved layouts and indicated that further enforcement and legal proceedings against errant developers are underway.Read more

Mumbai News Desk

31 Mar 2026

A sessions court in Mumbai overturned a magistrate's earlier dismissal and directed criminal proceedings against senior Maharashtra Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) officers, including retired officials, for failing to register an FIR in a major MHADA case worth INR 14,000 crore. The complaint, filed by activist Kamlakar Shenoy, alleged that officers deliberately delayed action and avoided legal duties, appearing to protect MHADA officials involved in the irregularities. The court emphasized that neglect of statutory duties by public servants can amount to a criminal offence and ordered proper recording of evidence and issuance of process against the accused.Read more

31 Mar 2026

A BJP MP has raised concerns in the Rajya Sabha over delays and gaps in the implementation of real estate and insolvency laws, especially in Uttar Pradesh. He highlighted that thousands of homebuyers are still waiting for possession despite investing their life savings. Builders, in many cases, have avoided accountability by declaring insolvency. Issues such as incomplete projects, pending government dues, and delays in case resolution under RERA were also flagged. The MP has urged the government to amend existing laws, ensure stricter enforcement, and create a time-bound system so that affected homebuyers can receive justice.Read more