Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 10: Stressing on sustained drive against drug abuse, Chief Secretary Mohammad Iqbal Khanday today directed Police, Revenue, Health and Excise officials to act jointly to eradicate the menace of cultivation, sale and distribution of illegal drugs to safeguard the future of the State.
Chairing the State Apex Committee meeting on Prevention of Drug Trafficking and its Cultivation here today, the Chief Secretary emphasized the need to sensitize Village Heads, Numberdars, Sarpanchs and Patwaris to carry out their responsibilities under the NDPS Act of reporting and recording cultivation of Bhang and Poppy crops in their areas.
“It should be ensured that cultivation of such illegal crops is reported and the report immediately acted upon by destroying the crop. Moreover, necessary measures in terms of awareness and prescribing other crops as alternatives should also be carried out simultaneously to prevent cultivation of the illegal crop in the area in future”, he asserted and asked Agricultural Department to frame a proposal for cultivation of alternate crop preferably vegetables, flowers, strawberries etc to discourage cultivation of Poppy and Hemp.
On misuse of Pharmaceutical products, the Chief Secretary asked the Excise Department to monitor and trace the entire route of capsules, bottles and injections misused as drugs by addicts from the initial seller to the ultimate buyer. He asked the Drug Controller to ensure that shopkeepers and dealers selling intoxicative medicine illegitimately and without record be booked and sealed.
The Chief Secretary asked Social Welfare Department to conduct awareness programmes in schools and colleges particularly in areas where illegal crops are cultivated. Moreover, School Education, Higher Education and Information Department along with Doordarshan were asked to actively assist in this endeavour.
The Apex Committee also agreed to constitute District Level Committees headed by Deputy Commissioners along with representatives of Forest, Agriculture, Revenue, Police etc to ensure focused attention against the Narcotic cultivation and trade.
To supplement the two De-addiction Centers established for rehabilitation of Drug addicts, functioning at Police Lines Jammu and PCR Srinagar, Chief Secretary asked Social Welfare Department to prepare the plan for establishment of more such de-addiction centers in Jammu, Srinagar and other Districts.
Earlier, it was informed that 53.11 kanals of Poppy and 2367 kanals of Bung was destroyed in Anantnag, Shopian, Pulwama, Awantipora, Bandipora, Reasi and Jammu last year and the drive will continue.
The Apex Committee also reviewed the follow up action of the last meeting.
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