On his birthday, Naik says his focus is on the people of satellite city and not his opponents

"As far as the October 13 assembly elections are concerned, my focus is on the people of Navi Mumbai. Who is joining hands with whom to ensure my defeat is the least of my worries. It's a democracy and everyone here has a right to shake hands with anyone before, during or after elections," said a confident Thane Guardian Minister and NCP's potential candidate for the Belapur assembly seat, Ganesh Naik on the eve of his 59th birthday.
Naik continued, "I believe in my voters from Navi Mumbai who hail from all castes, classes, religions and financial backgrounds. These people are aware of my work and what I stand for. So, I am not at all worried about the result."
On his plans for celebrating the birthday, he said that it would a simple affair this year. "I will be going to the Bavkhaleshwar temple to seek the Lord's blessings at 10 am and will be meeting my friends and party workers till 2 pm."
Born on September 15, 1950, Naik began his political career as a workers' leader in 1970. Barring the assembly polls of 1999, when he parted ways with Shiv Sena, Naik has been representing Navi Mumbai's Belapur seat, considered as the largest assembly constituency in the state before delimitation, for around 15 years. Besides, Naik has been widely credited for helping his son Sanjeev win the Thane Parliamentary seat, said to be traditional stronghold of Shiv Sena, on NCP's ticket.
Expansion of the Thane-Belapur road to bus services to Mumbai from the satellite city are among his visible achievements in recent times.
Speaking about him, Navi Mumbai Deputy Mayor and NCP leader Shashikant Birajdar said, "I have been working with him for the past 30 years. He is a leader who truly walks with people from all castes and creeds, even as many newcomers make a pretension of being secular leaders. Where others have not even contributed locally, Naik is the only leader from the city who stands tall at the state-level and has always delivered on all fronts. And we hope that he will continue the good work in the years to come."
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Thane Guardian minister Ganesh Naik comes to the rescue of PAPs and city builders as transfer of PAP plots lifted

Thane Guardian Minister Ganesh Naik came to the rescue of city builders and project affected persons. In a decision that has bailed out the construction industry from a deep crisis, Thane Guardian Minister Ganesh Naik approached the Chief Minister’s Office and ensured the CM decision of stay on transfer of PAP plots in Navi Mumbai is revoked. It maybe recalled that in one his ‘janta darbaars’, Thane Guardian Minister Ganesh Naik had assured the city builders of taking up the issue with the Chief Minister after which the decision was taken.

The state had announced the 12.5% scheme to benefit PAPs from whom the state has acquired land for the development of Navi Mumbai. The compensation for taking land for the original landlords came to be known as the 12.5 scheme of CIDCO. It maybe recalled that NMMC Opposition Leader Ramakant Mhatre, who known as a close confidante of the Chief Minister had said that the transfer of PAP plot was against the interest of the PAPs and the reason why he approached the Chief Minister to stay the transfer of plots to PAPs. Making serious allegations of corruption, Ramakant Mhatre added that CIDCO officials were doing a lot of corruption by exploiting the 12.5% PAP scheme.

However, the Builders Association of Navi Mumbai knew one person who could bail them out from their crisis and that’s why a delegation of builders approached Thane Guardian Minister Ganesh Naik during a janta darbaar. The builders informed the Minister about how the stay spelling doom for more than 90% of developmental work in the city being done of 12.5% PAP plots. Thane Guardian Minister Ganesh Naik assured the builders and PAPs that he’d meet the Chief Minister Ashok Chavan and ensured that the stay was lifted. A day after the assurance, the Thane Guardian Minister Ganesh Naik met the Chief Minister and the stay was lifted. By approaching the Chief Minister Ashok Chavan and getting the stay lifted, Thane Guardian Minister Ganesh has once again proved why he is called the guardian and custodian for villagers and migrants in Navi Mumbai city.
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Navi Mumbai Kerala samaj celebrates silver Jubilee

The Navi Mumbai Kerela samaj held an inaugural function for its silver jubilee celebrations at Nerul. Present to join the celebrations of the Keralites was Thane Guardian Minister Ganesh Naik.

It was a day of double joy for the Navi Mumbai Kerela Samaj as the community was not just celebrating their Onam festival but was also celebrating its successful completion of 25 years. The community held an event at Nerul and celebrated the day with traditional galore. Present to be a part of the celebrations and to inaugurate the silver jubilee celebrations of the community was Thane Guardian Minister Ganesh Naik. He praised the works of the community on the day. He also wished the Kerela community a very happy Onam.

The celebration committee chairman, Mathew Thomas spoke on the objectives of the celebrations. We also caught up with the President of the samaj, K A Kurup. Thane Guardian Minister Ganesh Naik also announcd a donation of Rs 11 lakhs for the commendable work being done by the Navi Mumbai Kerala Samaj.
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Guardian minister Ganesh Naik gift 2.5 FSI – revives hope among residents

For decades now, the redevelopment issue of CIDCO built JN type apartments in Navi Mumbai has been hanging in the balance. Every election brings new hopes and new promises for the apartment owners and villagers, but all assurances fizz out soon after the elections. This time however someone whose words hold credible value is making the announcement. Our weekend exclusive delves deeper into how Thane Guardian Minister Ganesh Naik’s gift of 2.5 FSI to CIDCO dilapidated buildings has revived the hopes of residents.

Shraddha Apartments Owners Association at Vashi is perhaps the epitome of the tragic tales of how dreams of owning a home turned into nightmares for JN Type apartments owners within years of construction. It was 10 years ago that the JN Type apartments of Shraddha compound were declared unfit for human inhabitance. Today, the CIDCO built apartments have become centers of neglect and apathy. Evidently, apartments’ owners are frustrated with the government.

Those who were shifted by CIDCO in the Juinagar apartments are victims of the bitter realities of an insensitive and apathetic system. For apartment owners of JN Type apartments in Shraddha compound, shifting to Juinagar was suppose to be a make shift arrangement before their real homes were reconstructed. After a decade of waiting, apartment owners have either accepted the rude shock or have become victims of it. What you just heard is more or less the same living conditions for apartment owners living in dilapidated CIDCO apartments. FSI to CIDCO built apartments reeling under dilapidated conditions is perhaps the most burning issue that haunts Navi Mumbai today. And its not like the issue has never been taken up – problem is it’s been taken up far too often; mostly during elections. May be that’s why the victims of CIDCO’s sub standard constructed apartments are loosing faith but the first ray of hope that they’d get relief from the deplorable living conditions came when Guardian Minister Ganesh Naik had pursued the issue of FSI to CIDCO apartments during the Chief Minister’s visit to Navi Mumbai in June 2009.

And with the Minister persistently following up the matter with the Chief Minister’s office, last week finally came with an announcement that revived the hopes of these residents. The public announcement was made by Thane Guardian Minister Ganesh Naik who informed that the state cabinet had given in-principle approval of 2.5 FSI to dilapidated CIDCO apartments. Post the Guardian Minister’s announcement, a section of people are terming it as just another point to score with the public prior to elections while others says that the prospect of 2.5 FSI to CIDCO buildings isn’t viable – one bone of contention being the infrastructural limitations of Vashi. But Standing Committee Chairman says that it wouldn’t be fair to the apartment owners of JN Type buildings if infrastructure was used as a reason to negate re-development work. He says that when 5 star hotels, educational institutes, central government buildings, constructions in Mumbai are getting 4 FSI and IT plots were turned into commercial complexes around Vashi Railway Station and granted 2.5 to 3 FSI, then why isolate CIDCO buildings case by bringing infrastructural hiccups.

He goes on to explain that the issues related to infrastructure can be tackled if zone development of JN Type apartments is taken up instead of reconstructing single buildings. Citing the example of Ulhasnagar that got 4 FSI, Sandeep Naik says that positive attitude and proper planning will make 2.5 FSI a success for CIDCO built apartments. And even if the infrastructural issues are taken care, there is another obstacle – the case against re-development work pending in High Court.
Guardian Minister Ganesh Naik has already set a precedent on this front with the re-development of C-Type Towers in Sector 1, Vashi. Everyone is aware that despite the obstacles and opposition that the C Type redevelopment project faced, Ganesh Naik pioneered the work and within two years of the demolition of the buildings, the towers were erected. The C Type also became the only reconstructed building to get the NMMC’s OC. At that time speaking to the media, Guardian Minister Ganesh Naik recalled how the apartment owners of C Type had approached him with the issue of the dilapidated conditions of their apartments and he had promised them relief.

Even the apartment owners who got their all news homes had shared with us how their apartments were in dilapidated conditions and after reconstruction they have homes with all new amenities. They gave the credit for this to Guardian Minister Ganesh Naik. Since Guardian Minister Ganesh Naik is a Minister in the state cabinet and is also the Environment Minister, he reads the environment of the residents living in dilapidated CIDCO buildings. While the 2.5 FSI is being viewed as an election gift but with the municipal elections to follow the assembly elections, Guardian Minister Ganesh Naik will have no option but to fulfill his commitment making it a win win situation for apartment owners and common buyers.
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Finally, state cabinet announces 2.5 FSI for JN1 and JN2 type apartments

A new cabinet decision has revived the hopes of apartment owners living in dilapidated JN 1 and JN 2 type apartments. A day after the Guardian Minister’s Janta Darbar assurance, the state cabinet led by Chief Minister approved 2.5 FSI for CIDCO apartments. A day after Thane Guardian Minister Ganesh Naik assured CIDCO apartment owners of taking up the subject of FSI to JN Type apartments; the state cabinet sanctioned 2.5 FSI for JN 1 and JN 2 Type apartments. The issue was raised by Thane Guardian Minister Ganesh Naik at the state cabinet meeting. The subject of FSI to CIDCO apartments has been pending with the state for over a decade. Every election, FSI promise to JN Type apartments has been a pre-poll assurance that was never fulfilled. However, the cabinet approval of 2.5 FSI has once again revived hopes for the dilapidated CIDCO apartment owners of getting relief sooner than later. After the cabinet meeting, Thane Guardian Minister Ganesh Naik met the media and shared the details of the approval with them. Thane Guardian Minister Ganesh Naik said that he appealed to the Chief Minister to increase the FSI to 2.5, which has been agreed by the Chief Minister .
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Janta Darbaar held to solve pending issues at CIDCO

Thane Guardian Minister Ganesh Naik presided over the Janta Darbaar held at Vishnudas Bhave auditorium, which saw discussions on various issues related to CIDCO. Many issues pertaining to the plots of PAPs was discussed in the darbaar.To solve various issues related to CIDCO, Thane Guardian minister Ganesh Naik called for a special meeting of CIDCO authorities at the Janata Darbar. More than two hundred pending issues of CIDCO were discussed during the meeting. Reassuring those present, Thane Guardian minister ganesh Naik stated that he would be taking up the issues with the Chief Minister. Some of the decisions taken on this day were plots for women associations, hawkers associations and educational institutions through NMMC by calling tender. Also the registered association of PAP's should be given first priority in the distribution of plots through CIDCO. He ordered the CIDCO authorities to provide all the facilities to the PAP's whose plots have been taken over by CIDCO for developmental purposes. Social associations working for social causes should be given plots for construction of gymnasiums, samaj mandirs, old age homes etc at affordable rates.
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Navi Mumbai police commissionerate gives away Vignaharta and Sukhkarta awards

With the aim of encouraging disciplined and environment friendly Ganeshutsav Festival, the Navi Mumbai Police continued its tradition of honoring Ganpati Mandals who set such examples. Guardian Minister Ganesh Naik graced the award ceremony this time, held at Vashi. The Navi Mumbai Police had organized a function to give away the Vignaharta and Sukhkharta awards at Vishnudas Bhave Auditorium. The function began with the lamp lighting ceremony at the hands of the Chief Guest, which included Guardian Minister Ganesh Naik, Police Commissioner Gulabrao Pol, MP Dr. Sanjeev Naik, CIDCO Chairman Nakul Patil, CIDCO MD G S Gil,, Mayor Anjani Bhoir and MLC Manda Mhatre. The Navi Mumbai police honor mandals on how environment friendly they are, peaceful conductance, security measures and pollution free attractive presentations. The Navi Mumbai Police Force is one of the authorities that play a very significant role in encouraging a disciplined and peaceful Ganesh Chaturthi each year. One integral step in this course is to give away the ‘Vignaharta’ and ‘Sukhakarta’ awards to the best organized and held Ganpati Mandals. MLC Manda Mhatre says that this initiative has helped build the bond between police and citizens.The highlight of the event was the felicitation of Panvel’s Senior Police Inspector Suresh Bhosale who was awarded at the hands of the President of India Pratibha Patil on Independence Day. The selection for the best Ganpati Mandals were done by two inspection groups deputed by the Navi Mumbai Police. Leaving the day of Ganpati Visarjan, the best Ganpati Mandals for the other days were given a Vignaharta Cup, Police Commissioner Cup and Gaurav Puraskar Cup. On the other hand including the Ganpati Visarjan day, the Sukhakarta Cup, Police Commissioner Cup and Gaurav Puraskar Cup are given to the Ganpati Mandals that showed discipline and well organizing ability. Also present on the occasion were all the four DCPs along with several corporators and special invitees.