Some of the States affected by illicit poppy cultivation have complained to the Narcotics Control Bureau that satellite imageries received to identify acreage under cultivation were not providing accurate results.
The satellite imageries are provided by Advanced Data Processing Centre (ADRIN), an agency under the department of space. Sometimes areas producing paddy, wheat and vegetables were projected to be producing illicit poppy.
The Zonal Division of NCB, Jammu has pointed out that "There were areas not indicated by ADRIN, where poppy was found." likewise, representatives from Himachal Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Manipur highlighted the inaccuracy of the satellite imageries.
The Aviation Research Centre has also flagged concerns over inaccuracy of the images. Uttarakhand has, however, lauded ADRIN for providing images that were 100 per cent correct.
The inaccuracy of the satellite images were pointed out by the nodal officers of States at a meeting convened by the NCB for a discussion on action plan for identification and destruction of illicit poppy cultivation. Apart from others, the meeting was attended by officials from nine States affected by cultivation of illicit poppy.
The NCB raised its concerns over decline in destruction of poppy in Jammu and Kashmir. The State had destroyed 418 acres in 2010 but the trend has been declining over the years with destruction of just two acres in the first eight months of 2013.
The NCB has pointed out that destruction should have been better in view of improved law and order scenario in comparison to 2009-10. The NCB has appreciated the role of Maharashtra Government in eradicating the menace.
The eastern region of NCB in coordination with the States has also resulted in diminishing trend of illicit poppy cultivation in most of the district of West Bengal, where Birbhum district has been declared poppy-free. Bihar and Jharkhand have also made efforts to improve the illegal cultivation of banned crop.
The agency has also declared Karanataka and Odisha as poppy-free States while underscoring the declining trend in Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur. Notwithstanding Naxal problem, Jharkhand destroyed about 250 acres of the illegal crop last year. Bihar also destroyed 37 acres of illicit poppy till August last year, according to the minutes of the meeting.
The NCB has asked the Odisha Government to provide the key to success in destruction of illegal poppy.
The State has, however, been facing illegal cannabis cultivation and sought financial assistance from NCB to carry out destruction, an
official said.