36 acres of poppy cultivation destroyed in Tirap

Itagar, March 10: The Tirap district administration in association with district police, Assam Rifles of Lazu unit and Nocte Women Society (NWS), destroyed 36 acres of poppy cultivation in Lazu areas including Longliang, Raho, Sinnu, Noglo, Lower Chinhan, Upper Chinhan and Horu Chinhan villages.

While leading the opium (kani) destruction drive, DC PN Thungon interacted with the public of Lazu and said that the destruction drive would be carried out till March 12, for which he asked the civil society to cooperate with the team. The DC assured them of taking the matter up with the State Government for rehabilitation to replace the existing poppy cultivation in the district.

District Horticulture Officer (DHO) Henrik Basar, who accompanied the team, while interacting with the poppy cultivators urged them to adopt altertive cultivation with the help of the department like large ginger, large chilly and large cardamom.

The DC also appealed to all NGOs, religious leaders, chiefs, gaon burhas and panchayat leaders of Lazu area to come forward and join the opium destruction drive, the report added.