To eliminate drug menace, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Wednesday said that Panchayats doing good work against drugs and police officers and staff who take swift action to stop drug peddling or supply will be honoured by the government. “If any officer concerned fails to curb drugs in his area, action will be taken against them. The government is committed to making Haryana a drug-free State. Negligence done at any level in drug-related matters will not be tolerated, Saini added.

Addressing a programme against drug abuse in Panchkula, Saini said that drug abuse has become a global issue. The involvement of terrorist groups and syndicates in drug trafficking has led to the threat of narco-terrorism, which is now becoming a national security and sovereignty concern for countries.

He shared that the government has formed a special task force to take action against drug traffickers. This task force is continuously working to root out drugs from the state.  The government has established an inter-state secretariat in Panchkula to tackle drug menace. Representatives from seven northern states – Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Uttarakhand, and Rajasthan coordinate and share information to prevent drug abuse.

Saini informed that 52 drug de-addiction and rehabilitation centers have been opened in the state. Drug de-addiction wards have also been set up in government medical colleges. Additionally, 13 district civil hospitals have drug de-addiction centers, he said.