In a major crackdown on drug peddlers and addicts, 577 people have been arrested for allegedly possessing contraband in a span of one week in the city.

The 577 – either drug peddlers or addicts – were arrested in 353 cases registered under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at various police stations in the five regions – south, central, west, north and east areas – and by special Anti Narcotics Cell across the city between February 18 and 25, said Deputy Police Commissioner Mahesh Patil.

“According to our study, drug suppliers and abusers spotted on the streets usually carry out crimes such as chain snatching, robberies, burglaries, pick pocketing, robbery and motor vehicle theft and are found involved in crimes against women, among others. Several of the arrested accused in recent crimes reported in the city are drug addicts,” Patil said.

“Hence the drive was started all over the city and it will hopefully help us prevent and curb street crimes,” he said.

Anti-Narcotics Cell has arrested 120 drug abusers in 20 different cases from the city.

In a crackdown carried out by various police stations in the city, maximum 201 arrests took place in west region, followed by 103 arrests in central zone. Besides, 69 accused were arrested from south region, 59 from north region and 25 from east region.

The accused have been booked under section 27 of NDPS Act, as they were found possessing drugs such as charas and ganja in small quantity. This can get them up to six months’ imprisonment or fine or both to the accused.

The drive began on February 18; two days after Rakesh Maria took charge as Mumbai Police Commissioner.
Maria had said that the crackdown on drug peddlers and addicts was one of his top priorities.

Following the gangrape of a photojournalist at Mahalaxmi’s Shakti Mill on August 22 last year, the police had carried out a similar drive and arrested at least 400 drug addicts.

After the assault of an American national in a local train on August 18 last year, the GRP had also rounded up at least 150 addicts.

Power regulators, consumer organizations and industry experts have raised red flag over the viability of uniform tariff for low end consumers with monthly consumption up to 300 units in Mumbai. They have said it is against the competition envisaged in the Electricity Act 2003.

Besides, they also supported the observation made by the PricewaterhouseCoopers in its report submitted in July 2011 to Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) that the uniformity in tariff can be achieved if the enablers come into play or if the government supports the entire process via means of external support, if required.

They were reacting to the statement made on Tuesday by the chief minister Prithviraj Chavan and his deputy Ajit Pawar that distribution companies have been asked to prepare a road map to reduce tariff and ultimately bring in uniform level in tariff charged to consumers in Mumbai. There are four distribution utilities in Mumbai comprising Tata Power, Reliance Infrastructure, Brihanmumbai Electric Supply Transport and Maharahstra State Electricity Distribution Company.

VP Raja, former chairman, MERC told ”The entire intention of EA 2003 is to create competition in the power sector. Because of developments that have taken place in last few years at least in the Mumbai suburbs, the choice is now available for consumers to choose between Tata Power and Reliance Infrastructure as the service providers. Today by exercising the choice consumers can choose that company which gives them the cheapest power. Even though choice is not competition it is the first step for fostering competition. Under these circumstances, any step which bring in uniform tariff will be step against the principle of fostering competition.”

He however, said that Delhi story is not comparable to Mumbai. The distribution business is historically different. Shantanu Dixit, researcher, Prayas Energy Group shared Raja’s view saying that uniform tariff in Mumbai is against the basic tenants of competition in the power sector as the basic cost structure and consumer mix is different for different companies.

”Moreover, such a move will hamper competition for efficiency improvements on part of discoms. Further, any tariff cut should happen based on appropriate improvements in planning and operational efficiency and cost reduction rather than burdening the state exchequer,” he noted. According to Dr. Ashok Harne, energy expert, the uniform tariff is difficult to achieve in Mumbai due to high skew in the end users and in power purchase. There should be clarity on whom the uniform tariff will be applicable.

”There are different end users right from commercial consumers to residential consumers consuming less than 300 units. The electricity consumption does not go by the rules of economics. There are some end users whose consumption is not proportional to the rise in power tariff,” he added.

Ashok Pendse, consumer representative on MERC argued that it is difficult to achieve the price parity in low end residential consumers unless and until skewed consumer mix is changed in Mumbai.

”The money has to come from top end or the government then only it is feasible. Ultimately, the decision of tariff is with the MERC and not with the government. The government can give subsidy and then only it can talk about reduction or subsidized tariff without this action of subsidy legally government does not have a role,” he viewed.

In a minor relief to Prince Tuli, the estranged husband of former Miss World Yukta Mookhey, the Bombay High Court relaxed the condition imposed on him about recording his presence at a police station here in connection with the domestic violence case filed against him by his wife.

Justice Sadhana Jadhav ruled that he can mark presence at the suburban Bandra Police Station on the last Sunday of every month, instead of every Wednesday and Sunday.

Tuli’s lawyers Filji Fredrick and Avinash Gupta pleaded that Tuli was regularly attending the police station since July 2013 when he moved the sessions court for anticipatory bail. However, being a Nagpur resident, it was difficult for him to attend the police station twice a week as stipulated.

Tuli’s anticipatory bail application will be heard by the High Court on March 14.

Meanwhile, senior lawyer Rajiv Patil, the mediator appointed by the High Court to settle the dispute between the couple amicably, continues to hold talks with the two.

In a complaint to police in July last year, Yukta accused her husband and in-laws of subjecting her to domestic violence and harassment. She also accused Tuli of unnatural sex.

Tuli and his family approached the sessions court seeking anticipatory bail. The court rejected Tuli’s plea but granted bail to other family members.

He then moved the High Court which granted him interim protection from arrest, pending the hearing on his application.