An elaborate plan has been drafted for clamping down on those involved in the illegal cultivation and trade of opium in Uttarakhand. Aspects of the planned
clamp down on opium were discussed at a meeting of the State level committee chaired by Chief Secretary Shatrughna Singh at the Secretariat on Friday.
During the meeting the officials concerned were directed to take stringent action against illegal cultivation and trade of opium. The district magistrates concerned were directed to identify such places in Dehradun, Uttarkashi and Tehri districts and monitor the activities in such areas.
Officials informed in the meeting that till now, some cases of illegal cultivation of the opium poppy had been found in some areas of Dehradun, Tehri and Uttarkashi districts.
A special awareness campaign will be conducted in these areas.
The Chief Secretary directed officials to form district level committees in the districts. The officials were also instructed to organise separate meetings at the Panchayat, police station and block levels to inform the participants about the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. The people should also be made aware of the provisions for penal actions under this Act.
In addition to this, the proposals that are passed in these meetings should also be publicised. The Government personnel down to the
Gram Panchayat and village levels should also be informed about their responsibilities in this regard.
In case the opium poppy is being cultivated illegally in any place, it is the responsibility of the police, Forest Department, Excise and Panchayat representative to inform the department concerned. In case they do not fulfill this responsibility, there is provision for penal action against them under the NDPS Act sections 44 and 47, the officials attending the meeting were informed.
It is pertinent to mention here that the opium poppy has been traditionally cultivated in some mountainous regions of the State.
Observers point out that regarding the few areas where the opium poppy was traditionally cultivated, the State Government should consider the possibility of facilitating regulated licensed cultivation of opium for medicinal and scientific purposes as done in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.