The Gajapati district administration on the instructions of Collector Anupam Saha and SP Tapan Kumar Patnaik have launched a massive drive against illegal ganja plantations in the district.
On Tuesday, forest police and revenue officials led by Nuagada Tehsildar Prafulla Kumar Kujur and R Udaygiri police station IIIC Mamata Nayak conducted a joint raid in the forest near Tandarang village under Nuagada block and destroyed 1.65 lakh ganja trees planted in an area of 82.38 acres. The estimated market value of trees is Rs 16.40 crore. Police have lodged a case under the NDPS Act and begun investigating into the ganja plantation.