Mumbai : The State government would soon enact a tough law to completely stop the sale of gutka, state Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Minister Girish Bapat informed the Legislative Assembly here on Monday during question hour.
At present, non-bailable cases are being filed against the guilty who defy the gutkha ban in the state. Opinion of the law and judiciary department is being sought regarding the tougher legal action, he said.
Independent legislator Bacchu Kadu displayed gutkha pouches in the house saying that despite the ban gutkha is easily available even in the Vidhan Bhavan premises. Speaker Haribhau Bagde disapproved Bacchu Kadu’s action of bringing gutkha pouches on the floor of the House. Former speaker Dilip Walse Patil (NCP) pointed out that even possessing gutkha is also a crime.
The seizure of gutkha worth lakhs of rupees during a recent raid in Thane district was raised by NCP group leader Jayant Patil. The minister said that the owner of the godown was arrested and granted bail after 20 days.
Admitting that illegal manufacture and sale of gutkha was still on in the state, Bapat said so far gutkha worth Rs 50 crore has been seized in raids.
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120 colleges have less than 10 students
There are 120 colleges in the state which have only 2 to 10 students, minister of state for education Ravindra Waikar told the Assembly while replying another question.
Ganpat Deshmukh (PWP) who raised the question said that despite having no students, some college owners have been fraudulently seeking government grants. Waikar said the government had sought a report about such colleges and a decision would soon be taken regarding them.
Intervening in the discussion, education minister Vinod Tawde said that many colleges are witnessing student dropout. A local inquiry committee does the survey on the available infrastructure and other facilities in colleges. A report on the colleges having less students is also being sought.
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