FROM OUR STAFF CORRESPONDENT
ITAGAR, Feb 27: The joint team of Central Bureau of rcotics (CBN), State rcotic Cell (SNC) of Excise Department, Police & District Administration, assisted by other government departments and NGOs, has recently destroyed 1515 hectares of poppy plantation fields in msai and Lohit districts of Aruchal Pradesh.
Of these, 1100 hectares accounted for msai alone, informed Oli Koyu, State Nodal Officer, SNC.
Informing that there had been stiff resistance and threat perception in many areas of msai and Lohit districts but the same was defused by the respective police and district administrations led by Deputy Commissioners, the officer said involvement of young generation in this illegal opium cultivation and addiction is definitely a matter of concern for the government authority as it stands as a threat to the tiol security with involvement of anti-social elements.
“Hence, timely intervention of authority is the need of the hour,” he said. He also suggested that in this regard, an altertive model of cultivation can be provided for those farmers who are dependent on opium cultivation for their livelihood.
Koyu said that the first phase of the opium destruction drive that covered the villages of Kherem, Emphum, Mimey, Alubari, Mabira, long, mgo, mliang, Tengapani, Empong, Momang, Lungka, Inju, Inca, Lungka, lnju and Insa could be a successful one due to the ‘team work’ from all authorities and stakeholders. It was led by CBN officers – Mahesh Kumar, Assistant Commissioner and VS Kurr, Supt of rcotics, and State rcotics Cell was headed by the State Nodal Officer, and in the district level it was headed by Deputy Commissioner and Supt of Police.
He said the CBOs and NGOs’ voluntary participation in destruction operation of poppy plants clearly indicates the ‘social revolution’ against the alarming drug situation which is very important for eradication of the drug mece from the society.
The nodal officer, meanwhile, informed that the second phase of opium destruction operation will be started soon in remaining districts of eastern Aruchal Pradesh in coordition with concerned authority of the districts.