Due to two significant events that are anticipated to attract sizable crowds on September 22, the Navi Mumbai Traffic Department has sent out a notice regarding traffic diversions in Airoli. These include the Bhumipujan ceremony at Koli Bhavan and the funeral procession of Bhante Jyotiratna Mahathero. VIPs and dignitaries from all over Maharashtra will be present at the functions.

The Vipassana Center in Sector 6, Airoli, is where the Mahathero funeral procession will start. It will pass via Sector 5’s Khedekar Chowk before turning left at the Garam Masala Hotel to get toward Sector 9’s crematorium. Furthermore, there will be more traffic in the area as a result of the Bhumipujan event.

On September 22, from 3 PM to 8 PM, all traffic going towards Mumbai will be blocked from Rabale MIDC Police Station to Mulund Toll Plaza in order to maintain a smooth flow of traffic.

These are the alternative routes:

1. Vehicles going to Mumbai: From the Rabale MIDC Police Station, drivers can go directly to their destination by taking the Belapur-Thane Road, which passes through Kalwa.

2. Traffic from Thane-Kalwa heading towards Mumbai: Cars should turn right at Patni Circle and travel through Airoli Sectors 19 and 20 before continuing via Airoli. At the Ichapurti Ganesh Temple, turn right. At the MSEB office, turn right again. Head towards Mumbai by going past New Horizon School, turning left after DAV School, and then making one last left at Sector 10, by the water tank.

Note that ambulances, police cars, fire trucks, and other necessary service vehicles are not covered by this traffic control notice.

Navi Mumbai prison chief pulled up for non-compliance in 2011 serial blast case.

The Case

On Thursday, a special court in Mumbai requested the superintendent of the Taloja Central Prison in Navi Mumbai to explain why he should not face contempt charges for disobeying court orders.

The court asked him this after the special judge issued numerous directives but Nadeem Shaik, an accused who was leading his trial in person as a party in the Mumbai triple explosion case, had not been physically presented in court. On July 13, 2011, three explosions occurred in Mumbai’s Zaveri Bazar, Opera House, and Kabutar Khana, resulting in over 140 injuries and 21 fatalities.

Police claim that Yasin Bhatkal, a co-founder of the Indian Mujahideen, was crucial in obtaining explosives and creating the improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, that were used in the explosions. Nadeem Shaikh, Naqi Shaikh, Haroon Rasheed Naik, and Kanwarnain Pathreja were all taken into custody in January 2012. Eleven defendants were detained in relation to the case; one of them passed away while the trial was still ongoing. Some are in a Bengaluru prison, and others, like Yasin Bhatkal, are detained at the Tihar Jail.

There was also no video conference used to produce the accused who were stationed outside of Maharashtra. The witnesses’ evidence is presently being recorded by the court. In this case, 123 witnesses have been questioned by the prosecution thus far. “As Nadeem Shaikh is conducting this case as a party in person, the Superintendent of Central Prison, Taloja, has already been repeatedly asked and directed to bring Shaikh personally before this court. But special Judge BD Shelke stated, “The Superintendent of Central Prison, Taloja, is not following the orders given by this Court.”

Thus, the judge had ordered the jail administration to bring Shaikh in person before this court on all scheduled dates. In addition, the Prison Superintendent was instructed to submit his response explaining why he should not be found in contempt for disobeying the court’s orders on occasion. “If he doesn’t submit his response in a week, a contempt case will be brought against him. The judge said, “An authenticated copy of this order will be sent to Superintendent, Central Prison, Taloja.”

Kharghar hills dazzle with rare Karvi bloom.

The Blossom

Residents are celebrating the rare bloom of the Karvi flower, which has begun adorning Kharghar Hills. Known for its striking purple-bluish hue, the Karvi (Strobilanthes callosa) blooms once every eight years, with the last occurrence in 2016. This year, the hills are transformed by the flower’s breathtaking display, which is visible during September and October.

Found in places like Goregaon Film City and Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Kharghar remains a prime spot for viewing this phenomenon. The Karvi is a large shrub, growing up to 20 feet, and thrives in the Western Ghats’ moist climate. It supports various insects and disperses its seeds after blooming through masting.

Nature activist Jyoti Nadkarni emphasised the flower’s medicinal properties, which Adivasis often use for their anti-inflammatory benefits. She also highlighted the demand for the thick, dark Karvi Honey produced during this bloom.

While praising the Forest Department’s efforts in protecting the area, Nadkarni raised concerns over encroachments and habitat destruction. She urged the government to preserve these ecosystems for future generations, noting that other wildflower species like Ceropegia and sundews also need protection.

This rare bloom not only adds beauty but underlines the need for conservation in Kharghar’s rich biodiversity.