Himachal Government has launched a special campaign to put an end to illegal cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy in the State.
The number of cases registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in Himachal Pradesh has more than tripled in the last decade in Himachal, said an official spokesman.
He said, “The narcotics trade is assuming horrific shape in Kullu valley where a large numbers of tourists, mostly Israelis, pour in every year. This has inspired local farmers to clandestinely cultivate illegal poppy or cannabis crops to earn quick bucks.”
A comprehensive destruction campaign against the cultivation of opium poppy was launched from April 15 in all the districts of the state especially areas where such cultivation is reported.
The drive is being launched through the panchayats for the destruction of cannabis crop grown areas by the end of June 2018.
Giving details of the action plan being undertaken during the campaign, Director General of Police, Sita Ram Mardi said that all revenue officials, forest officials and elected representatives of Panchayati Raj bodies are duty bound under Section 47 of the NDPS Act to inform the police about the illegal cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy in their respective area of jurisdiction.
They will give the information in writing to the Station House Officer concerned and also, to the Superintendent of Police. The forest officials are also duty bound to report illegal cultivation to the police, he said.
Once illegal cultivation is detected, a joint campaign will be launched to destroy such cultivation by involving all stakeholders and enforcement agencies like police.
These agencies will submit progress report on opium poppy and cannabis destruction before August 15, Mardi said.
All Superintendents of Police will associate Mahila Mandals, Yuvak Mandals and other NGOs while conducting the destruction of opium poppy and cannabis crops.
The Agriculture and Horticulture Departments in coordination with the Rural Development Department will jointly submit a proposal to adopt alternative cash crops suitable for areas cultivating opium and cannabis illegally.
The sensitization school students is also part of the ongoing campaign. For this, training module for nodal training officers of Education Department to sensitize students on drug abuse will be prepared. During PTA and SMC meetings, parents of students will also be sensitized on this issue.
Counseling sessions will also be organized once in a week in educational institutions on drug abuse. Major objective of such counseling is to reach the supplier of drugs through students.
The State Government is also emphasizing that surprised checking be carried out randomly in and around the educational institutions to identify such students who indulge in drug abuse.
Apart from this, all shops located near educational institutions will be kept under strict surveillance and their inspection would be carried out time to time and suspicious activities around these institutions will be reported to the police.
Besides, Public Relations Department will run a massive awareness programme through different methodologies including street plays on the ill effects of drug abuse.