Shimla: Alarmed over increasing incidences of contraband poppy and cannabis cultivation surfacing, chief secretary Asha Swarup presiding over a high powered committee which included top police officials asked for taking immediate steps to stop the illegal cultivations.
Presiding over the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance Act implementation meeting today, the chief secretary asked police, department of revenue, public works, agriculture and excise department to work out joint action plans for apprehending drug dealers and cultivators.
Alternate cash crops needed to be popularized in areas where poppy and cannabis growing is done, so that the people do not indulge in the drug trade, she said.
The chief secretary stressed for launching a campaign to uproot cannabis and poppy cultivations and asked for constituting teams of personnel from the departments of agriculture, revenue, police and public works for the purpose.
She also emphasized the need for holding seminars and workshops to educate the people about the ill effects of poppy and cannabis. Frequent inspections of shops where drugs were known to be sold needed to be undertaken, she said.
The meeting attended by DS Manhas, DGP Himachal, principal secretaries and many senior police officers decided up upon maintaining a vigil, identifying sensitive points in The meeting attended by DS Manhas, DGP Himachal, principal secretaries and many senior police officers decided up upon maintaining a vigil, identifying sensitive points in the state that were becoming intoxication hubs that were frequented by the youth and resorting to timely intervention to contain the menace.
As Editor, Ravinder Makhaik leads the team of media professionals at Hill Post.
In a career spanning over two decades through all formats of journalism in Electronic, Print and Online Media, he brings with him enough experience to steer this platform. He lives in Shimla.
