Seizure of over 500kg of the party drug meow meow, or M-Cat, worth around Rs50 crore in the international market, over the past two days rocked the Upper House of the legislature on Wednesday.
Seizure of over 500kg of the party drug meow meow, or M-Cat, worth around Rs50 crore in the international market, over the past two days rocked the Upper House of the legislature on Wednesday.
In one case, the alleged peddler Dharamraj Kalokhe is a Mumbai police constable posted at Marine Drive police station. Kalokhe had hidden 12kg of the drug in his office cupboard and over 100kg in his village in Satara. In the other haul, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence detained three people who were closely linked to well-known travel agency Konduskar Travels.
The government informed the Upper House that the accused constable was suspended and the licence of the travel agency revoked.
Legislators, however, blamed the state for extreme callousness, saying a large drug racket is being operated right under its nose. "The Vidhan Bhavan is a stone's throw away from the Marine Drive police station. The drug is being sold across the state, making youngsters and students addicts, and government's own policeman is running the racket,"said Dhananjay Munde, leader of opposition in the Upper House.
Members also demanded suspension of all policemen posted at Marine Drive police station pending inquiry.
Minister of state for home Dr Ranjit Patil informed the House that Kalhoke has been suspended and an inquiry has been instituted, and added that no one will be spared. Patil also said agencies have been asked to keep a tab on entry points of the drug.
Noise pollution was the other big issue on Wednesday. Members raised concern over its rise and failure of government agencies to ensure that the norms, as stipulated by the Central Pollution Control Board, were followed. They also questioned the government for giving open space for entertainment and DJ shows without considering the inconvenience caused to citizens.
"The high level of pollution is not only affecting citizens' health but also affecting students' studies," said members, demanding that the government appoint a special officer to look into noise pollution. Environment minister Ramdas Kadam said the state will survey noise pollution in Maharashtra and place a report in one year.
Other issues debated...
Dabhol power plant may be revived, hints govt
Hinting revival of the stalled Dabhol power project, officially known as Ratnagiri Gas and Power Project Limited (RGPPL), the government told Upper House that the plant can be revived if it managed to procure gas from cheaper sources, and that Centre was looking into it. The plant is stalled since January 2014 due to tussle over power cost.
Non-payment of Bhiwandi civic teachers' salaries discussed
Matter of non-payment of salaries as per the sixth pay commission to teachers of Bhiwandi municipal corporation was debated aggressively in the Upper House as MLCs from the teachers' constituency Ramnath Mote and Kapil Patil put pressure on the government for paying the teachers their rightful if it really wants to follow the Right to Education Act. The government promised that it would direct the Bhiwandi corporation to pay the teachers.
400 illegal mobile towers and 85,000 illegal buildings in Kalyan-Dombivli
The council members pulled up the government for allowing proliferation of illegal mobile towers in Kalyan and Dombivli. They said more than 400 towers have come up without permission. The government promised a speedy inquiry into the matter and recovery of revenue from telecom providers. The members also raised concern over a large number of illegal buildings in the Kalyan-Dombivli area. While admitting to the issue, the government said action was being taken against 27 officers who were found guilty in permitting these structures to come up.
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