Kandhamal district Collector Yamini Sadangi convened a sensitisation meeting on the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act here on Friday.
Many district officials, including the Kandhamal SP, the DFO, the ADM, the Sub-Collector and the Zilla Parisad president attended the meeting. Highlighting various sections of the law, speakers said the Section 46/47 of the NDPS Act discourages illegal cultivation of hemp plant and stress on the duty of land holders to give information of illegal cultivation.
Highlighting the role of PRIs, they said the PRIs should give information to police frequently. Collection of intelligence report should be done by all concerned departments and multi-disciplinary squad must be involved in destruction of hemp plants. Besides, patrolling should be tightened by all enforcement agencies.
The Collector said, “We will review this matter regularly. Awareness will be generated by the villagers or Sarpanch about cancellation of patta of private lands, where hemp plant is being cultivated”.
SP KB Singh said nobody would be excused in this matter and action would be taken against persons found to be guilty.