Manufacturers seek a reduction to 24 hours, citing production losses and water wastage caused by pipeline leakages.

The Demand

Industrialists in the Taloja Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) area have opposed the proposed 36-hour water supply shutdown and announced a protest march on October 29 to demand a shorter disruption.

The Taloja Manufacturers’ Association (TMA) and Taloja Industries Association (TIA) have called for the protest outside the MIDC water supply office at 1 pm. They have urged the authorities to reduce the shutdown period from 36 hours to 24 hours. Industrialists said the extended water cut, along with the time required to restore normal supply, could disrupt factory operations for nearly 48 hours. The disruption could affect production, employment and industrial safety, particularly in chemical units that depend on a regular water supply.

MIDC has reportedly planned the shutdown due to concerns over water availability from Barvi Dam and the need to manage limited resources. However, industry representatives argue that the authorities should first address water wastage caused by leaking pipelines and unauthorised connections. According to the TMA, nearly 8 million litres of water are wasted daily in Taloja due to these issues.

The associations have demanded urgent pipeline repairs, action against unauthorised connections and alternatives such as supplying water at reduced pressure instead of imposing a complete shutdown. TMA president Shekhar Shringare warned that the protest could be intensified if the authorities fail to address the industry’s concerns. A meeting with MIDC officials was scheduled for October 27 to discuss the demands and explore possible solutions.

Vashi Police book two accused for allegedly promising Rs 100–200 crore investment to expand business.

The Scam

A pharmaceutical chemicals company has allegedly been cheated of Rs 40.20 lakh by two people who promised to invest Rs 100 crore to Rs 200 crore to support its business expansion. Vashi Police have registered a case against Pooja Umak and a person identified as Chirag, who allegedly posed as financial consultants and collected money under the pretext of consultancy fees, project report modifications and other business formalities. Police are searching for the accused.

According to the complaint, Ashwani Kumar Singh (52), vice-chairman of Embellish Pharmatech Pvt Ltd and a resident of Roorkee, Uttarakhand, was approached by Umak on May 14, 2026, when he was in Vashi for work. She allegedly claimed to represent Fluidmaster India Pvt Ltd and expressed interest in investing Rs 100 crore to Rs 200 crore in his company.

Umak later visited the company’s premises in Haridwar for an inspection, with Singh arranging her air ticket. She allegedly demanded money on several occasions for consultancy services and project-related procedures.

During a subsequent visit to Delhi, Umak introduced Singh to Chirag, claiming he managed the company’s Indian operations while its chairman was based abroad. Trusting their assurances, Singh allegedly transferred a total of Rs 40.20 lakh to various bank accounts. However, the promised investment never materialised, and the accused allegedly avoided his requests for a meeting with the chairman.

After suspecting fraud, Singh approached the cybercrime helpline and later filed a complaint with Vashi Police. A case has been registered under Sections 318(4), 319(2) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 66D of the Information Technology Act. Further investigation is underway under Senior Police Inspector Shashikant Chandekar.

Garden Department inspection suggests discharge may be linked to old wounds and natural healing.

Tree Poisoning

The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has found no evidence of deliberate tree poisoning at Kille Gaothan in CBD Belapur following an inspection by its Garden Department. The inspection was carried out after the civic body received a complaint a few days ago alleging that trees in the area had been poisoned. Environmental experts were consulted, and discussions with tree specialists suggested that the discharge observed on the trees could be linked to old wounds and their natural healing process.

An NMMC official said the inspection did not reveal any signs of poisoning. The discharge, the official added, could be a natural response to earlier injuries sustained by the trees.

As a precautionary measure, the Garden Department has undertaken disinfection and pest-control measures using lime, hydrogen peroxide and Bordeaux mixture to help protect the trees. The civic body also clarified that the site falls under the jurisdiction of the Office of the Commissioner of Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST), which has been informed about the findings and the action taken.

Citizens who raised the complaint have also been updated on the steps taken by the civic administration.

The inspection findings have eased concerns over possible deliberate damage to the trees. However, the civic body has taken preventive measures to safeguard them and address potential pest-related issues. NMMC’s response highlights the importance of examining environmental complaints through expert assessment before drawing conclusions about possible damage to trees.