Asserting that it was serious about the issue of drug abuse and was taking various initiatives to check the menace of drugs, Himachal Pradesh Government on Friday said a cannabis and opium eradication campaign would be carried out from from August 22 to September 5.
A spokesperson of the State Government said that the campaign will be carried out at the directions of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh. He said that the cultivation of Cannabis and Opium both in private
and Government lands was posing a threat to social well being of the people of the State, which was leading to drug trafficking and many other social crimes.
The spokesperson said a meeting was held recently in this regard under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary who directed the officers to chalk out an action plan to implement the campaign.
The plan has been drafted and Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj has been made the Nodal Department at the State level for carrying out Cannabis/ Opium Eradication Campaign.
The Chief Secretary would review and monitor the Cannabis/ Opium eradication campaign at the State level and at District level the Nodal Officers would be the Deputy Commissioners whereas SDMs would be the Nodal Officers at Sub Divisional level. All Panchayati Raj Institution representatives would also be included in the campaign.
The Spokesperson said that eradication of Cannabis/Opium would be done in all lands including Gram Panchayats, forest, PWD, IPH, Agriculture, Horticulture lands and roadsides, etc.
He said that the sector officers would also submit the “Cannabis/ Opium free land” certificate to the Nodal Officer at Sub Divisional level.
He informed that the Director, Education would also issue directions to the colleges and schools to organise Cannabis/ Opium eradication campaign through NSS volunteers in Senior Secondary Schools and Colleges during the period.