I am a special correspondent with Hindustan Times and also the chief of bureau for Thane. I have worked in Thane for over a decade, covering social, civic, infrastructural, political and cultural issues.
Articles by Megha Pol
In Thane city, tree count up by 62.25% in last decade: TMC census report
Over the last decade, the number of trees in the city has increased by up to 62.25%; as per the recent tree census report published by the Thane Municipal Corporation, the tree count has risen from 4,45,262 in 2011 to 7,22,426 in 2022; however, the number of species has reduced from 301 to 271 in the same period
Published on Apr 07, 2022 07:15 PM IST
Megha Pol, Thane
More than 900 trees in Thane city identified as heritage trees
Thane Municipal Corporation tree authority has identified over 900 heritage trees across the city for the first time in its tree census report; of these heritage trees, 729 are of native species while 180 are exotic; experts claim that merely identifying them is not enough but they need to be protected
Published on Apr 07, 2022 07:15 PM IST
Megha Pol, Thane
Awhad questions terms, conditions of tender for Kalwa Hospital pharmacy in Thane
In a series of tweets, the State Cabinet Minister and Mumbra-Kalwa MLA, Jitendra Awhad, has raised questions over the terms and conditions of the tender floated for the operation of the pharmacy at Chhatrapati Shivaji Hospital, also known as Kalwa Hospital, in Thane
Published on Apr 01, 2022 08:36 PM IST
Megha Pol, Thane
3 Thane roads to turn into walk plazas in mornings from April 1
With a view to making safe walkways for morning walkers, Thane Traffic Police and the TMC are developing three morning walk plazas from April 1; one lane in each of the 3 roads – Mayor Bungalow to Payladevi Temple, Veer Birsamunda Road to Dr. Kashinath Ghanekar Road and Traffic Police Office in Teen Hath Naka to Dharamveer Anand Dighe Entrance – would be barricaded, beautified and dedicated only for morning walkers between 5.30am and 8am
Published on Mar 25, 2022 05:59 PM IST
Megha Pol, Thane
Underground parking facility below Gaondevi Maiden in Thane to be ready by early May: TMC
The first underground parking facility below the historic Gaondevi Maidan near Thane station will be open by early May, informed TMC officials; the facility will provide parking space for more than 250 vehicles, easing congestion near the Thane station premises caused due to lack of parking space
Published on Mar 24, 2022 09:20 PM IST
Megha Pol, Thane
Exporter arrested for fraudulently claiming GST ITC of ₹15.26Cr
The Anti-Evasion Wing of Central Goods and Service Tax (CGST), Thane commissionerate of Mumbai Zone, has arrested an exporter, who is also a director of a private company, for fraudulently claiming GST Input Tax Credit (ITC) of ₹15.26Cr; this ITC was claimed on the basis of bogus invoices of ₹85Cr issued by fake entities
Published on Mar 04, 2022 09:09 PM IST
Megha Pol, Thane
Thane Municipal Corporation to resume dog sterilisation progamme on March 1
After nearly three-and-a-half years, the dog sterilisation programme in Thane is set to start in the first week of March; Thane Municipal Corporation has claimed that a budget for ₹1.5Cr is being allotted for the same and it would be spending ₹1,640 for one sterilisation operation
Published on Feb 24, 2022 07:38 PM IST
Megha Pol, Thane
1,965 suggestions, objections raised on TMC draft ward delimitation
Ahead of Thane civic elections, out of 1,965 suggestions and objections raised, 1,607 suggestions/ objections were on the last day, Monday; most of these suggestions and objections are over the ward boundaries
Published on Feb 14, 2022 10:47 PM IST
Megha Pol, Thane
Shiv Sena, NCP blame each other for changing draft delimitation in Thane
The political rivalry between Shiv Sena and NCP witnessed in Thane since the last one month seems to be intensifying with both the parties alleging the other of changing the draft delimitation before it was made public on February 1
Published on Feb 11, 2022 09:48 PM IST
Megha Pol, Thane
Thane Municipal Corporation budget favouring Sena, claims opposition
The opposition parties have claimed that while the projects are allotted to areas in Thane city where Sena has the upper hand, there are no provisions in the budget for Kalwa-Mumbra and other areas where the Nationalist Congress Party has the upper hand
Published on Feb 10, 2022 10:19 PM IST
Megha Pol, Thane
No raise in taxes as TMC presents Rs3,299Cr budget
With the civic general polls slated this year, the Thane Municipal Corporation’s budget estimate of ₹3,299Cr have no increase in taxes, which will come as a respite to Thane residents; the budget estimate, which has increased by ₹545Cr from the previous year, does not have any major project and the main focus is on decreasing debts and increasing revenue
Updated on Feb 10, 2022 09:30 PM IST
Megha Pol, Thane
Thane Municipal Corporation sets up Rs149Cr budget for setting up transit camp
Claiming that the groundwork for the cluster development scheme has actually begun in 2021-22, Thane municipal commissioner, Vipin Sharma, informed that a budget of ₹149Cr is allocated for setting up of transit camp and carrying biometric survey of the beneficiaries in the year 2022-23
Published on Feb 10, 2022 08:02 PM IST
Megha Pol, Thane
Thane Municipal Corporation allocates budget of Rs100Cr for Covid for 2022-23
Since the start of the Covid pandemic, the Thane Municipal Corporation has spent over ₹300Cr to improve health infrastructure and take prophylactic measures to deal with the first, second and third waves; the corporation had spent ₹80Cr in 2020-21, which increased to ₹233Cr in 2021-22; TMC has allocated Rs100Cr budget for the coming financial year
Updated on Feb 10, 2022 07:43 PM IST
Megha Pol, Thane
Thane Municipal Transport tables budget estimate of ₹620Cr for 2022-23
The Thane Municipal Transport has tabled a budget estimate of ₹620Cr for the fiscal year 2022-23, focusing on the means to increase the revenue; this includes introducing midi buses on feeder routes joining the upcoming Metro Line 4, installing digital boards at Thane station and solar-enabled bus stops among others
Updated on Feb 08, 2022 10:10 PM IST
Megha Pol, Thane
Banners address Thane Guardian Minister Shinde as Future Chief Minister
Ahead of Thane Guardian Minister Eknath Shinde’s birthday, the Shiv Sena party workers in the city had put up banners near Mulund Toll Plaza, to wish him; the banners also addressed him as ‘Future Chief Minister,’ the photos of which went viral; Shinde immediately gave directives to the party workers to pull down the banners after it was brought to his notice
Updated on Feb 07, 2022 09:31 PM IST
Megha Pol, Thane
Couple arrested in Thane for evading GST of Rs12.23Cr
Anti-Evasion Wing of Central Goods and Service Tax, Thane commissionerate of Mumbai Zone has arrested a couple for GST evasion to the tune of ₹12.23Cr
Published on Feb 04, 2022 05:40 PM IST
Megha Pol, Thane
Thane District Collector cancels licence issued to hotel owned by Wankhede
Thane District Collector has cancelled the licence issued to Hotel Sadguru in Navi Mumbai owned by former NCB Zonal Director, Sameer Wankhede; in his order, Collector Rajesh Narvekar stated that the licence was obtained by wilful misrepresentation or fraud as the agreement of sale does not mention Wankhede’s age at the time while his mother’s age is mentioned
Published on Feb 02, 2022 09:25 PM IST
Megha Pol, Thane
Process of delimitation of wards for Thane Municipal Corporation elections begins
As per the draft demarcation, the city will have 14 more wards and 11 more seats in the upcoming Thane Municipal Corporation elections taking into consideration the increase in population.
Published on Jan 29, 2022 06:16 PM IST
Megha Pol, Thane
Hurdles for Wadala to Thane Metro Line 4 cleared; survey of car shed land begins
The Wadala to Thane Metro Line 4 project is set to progress as one of the hurdles for the project has been cleared; after the Thane District Collector finally agreed to the demands of the local farmers, the survey of the car shed land at Mogharpada, Ghodbunder, Thane, that was stuck for over three years finally started on Friday
Updated on Jan 28, 2022 08:14 PM IST
Megha Pol, Thane
Thane civic body assures to complete biometric survey in remaining cluster development areas in 8 days
Though the Thane Municipal Corporation has assured the speedy implementation of cluster development scheme, the general body revealed that the biometric survey is still not undertaken in most areas of the six Urban Renewal Plans approved by the State
Published on Jan 21, 2022 08:39 PM IST
Megha Pol, Thane
Railway authorities give Thane civic body nod for Station Area Traffic Improvement Scheme - 2 project
Station Area Traffic Improvement Scheme - 2 is being implemented to decongest the East side of the station; in a major relief for commuters, Thane Municipal Corporation has finally received permission from Railway authorities for the work of the elevated deck of SATIS 2 project
Published on Jan 21, 2022 04:22 PM IST
Megha Pol, Thane
Thane Municipal Corporation served legal notice for water crisis of Ghodbunder Road residents
Thane Municipal Corporation has been served a legal notice by two of the residents of Ghodbunder Road in view of the existing water woes in this area; residents claim that the corporation has failed to keep its promises to the Bombay High Court
Updated on Jan 20, 2022 08:11 PM IST
Megha Pol, Thane
Air at 6 junctions in Thane city polluted with AQI 201-240
Air you breathe in at six of the major junctions in Thane city is polluted, reveals the annual pollution report for the year 2020-21 published by the Thane Municipal Corporation; the six are Teen Hath Naka, Shilphata, Retibunder, Castle Mill, Balkum and Mumbra Fire Centre with Air Quality Index ranging from 201 to 240
Published on Jan 15, 2022 09:18 PM IST
Megha Pol, Thane
Kharegaon ROB in Kalwa inaugurated; motorists heave sigh of relief
Thousands of commuters and pedestrians who have been forced to cross the Kharegaon level-crossing can now heave a sigh of relief as the Kharegaon ROB in Kalwa was finally inaugurated on Saturday after missing several deadlines
Updated on Jan 15, 2022 08:51 PM IST
Megha Pol, Thane
Dog sterilisation programme in Thane at a standstill since Aug 2018
Dog sterilisation programme in Thane ended as TMC officials claimed the tenure of the NGO that did sterilisation till 2018 was not extended due to lack of funds and Covid; it will resume soon as work order to be issued and the tenders to be finalised in coming weeks
Updated on Jan 14, 2022 07:08 PM IST
Megha Pol, Thane
Bed occupancy rate rises in Thane by nearly 8% in one week as Covid cases increase
Bed occupancy rate in Thane city increases from 13.88% on January 6 to 21.47% on January 12 as Covid cases rise; out of the 20,703 active cases, only 968 are admitted while 19,735 people are in home isolation
Published on Jan 13, 2022 06:25 PM IST
Megha Pol, Thane
In wake of increasing Omicron, Covid cases, Thane Municipal Corporation appeals to housing societies
Thane Municipal Corporation appeals to housing societies to inform about members with recent international travel history to curb the spread of Covid, Omicron, says no response to the helpline numbers and email address set up for the same
Published on Jan 13, 2022 04:34 PM IST
Megha Pol, Thane
71% of current active Covid cases in Thane concentrated in 3 wards alone
The Thane Municipal Corporation has reported 2,442 new cases on Friday, a 12% increase from Thursday; as per the data submitted by the civic body, around 71% of the total active Covid cases are concentrated in three wards – Majiwada-Manpada, Vartak Nagar and Uthalsar
Updated on Jan 07, 2022 09:52 PM IST
Megha Pol, Thane
Thane sees highest single day spike of 2,180 Covid cases; TMC to seal buildings
The earlier one day spike was 2100 in mid-April 2021, the Thane Municipal Corporation has given directives to seal any building that has more than 10 Covid positive cases; these buildings will also be declared as containment zones
Updated on Jan 06, 2022 11:20 PM IST
Megha Pol, Thane
Dumping of garbage in Diva will stop by Jan 2022, claims Thane Municipal Corporation
In a major relief to the Thane residents, the Thane Municipal Corporation has now claimed that the dumping of garbage in Diva will stop by January 2022; Civic commissioner, Vipin Sharma, signed an agreement for the land in Bhandarli on Thursday in the presence of Thane Mayor, Naresh Mhaske, and the plot will be used for scientific treatment of waste
Published on Dec 02, 2021 09:51 PM IST
Megha Pol, Thane
