NEW BMC CHIEF: WILL ENSURE CITY DOESN’T FLOOD

MUMBAI: On his first day in office, newly appointed BMC chief Praveen Pardeshi said his priority is to ensure monsoon does not disrupt the city this year. “Desilting stormwater drains needs to be completed. At chronic flooding spots, we are working to prevent waterlogging,” said Pardeshi, adding that he intends to include people’s suggestions in BMC’S action plan. ››P2

Western Railway to remove cables from old Fobs as sixth line work begins

MUMBAI: Western Railway will dismantle overhead cables on old Fobs as part of its work on the sixth railway line from Mumbai Central to Borivli. The load from such overhead cables had contributed to the collapse of Andheri’s Gokhale bridge in July 2018, an official report found. ››P3

Maratha quota out, more general category seats for PG medical aspirants

MUMBAI: With the Supreme Court upholding a Bombay HC decision to exclude reservation for Marathas in postgraduate medical admissions this year, the number of seats for general category students for medical courses has increased from 339 to 615; and in dental courses, from 33 to 100 seats. ››P4

Rajasthan government ‘desaffronises’ text books

JAIPUR: Rajasthan’s five-monthold Congress government has decided to rewrite a Class 10 history book to remove glowing references to Hindu Mahasabha founder VD Savarkar and re-emphasise the roles of Mahatma Gandhi and India’s first PM Jawaharlal Nehru. Specifically, the books are being written to include Savarkar’s mercy petitions to the British from jail — a move that’s not gone down well with the BJP. ››P10