A helpline also established for reporting of poppy cultivation.
Pulwama 28 April 2020: District Magistrate Pulwama, Dr Raghav Langer convened a meeting of officers to discuss measures required for eradication /destruction of poppy cultivation menace in the District here today.
The meeting was attended by ADC Pulwama, Awantipora,Tral , Assistant Commissioner Revenue ,Assistant Commissioner Development , Tehsildars,Chief Agriculture Officer,Chief Horticulture Officer and senior officers from Civil and Police Departments.
The meeting was informed that last year 1762 kanals of land was under cultivation of poppy in the district and numerous drives were carried out at various places by Revenue ,Excise and Police officials to destroy the illicit poppy cultivation .Whereas scores of arrest warrants were issued and most of the offenders were immediately arrested under section 107/151 of CrPC.
Speaking on the occasion ,DM said there is a need for formulation of an effective mechanism for eradication and destruction of poppy cultivation in the district and stringent measures are required to deal with the problem.He said poppy cultivation gives rise to various societal crimes and substance abuse besides stressing on collective efforts to deal with it.
He directed the revenue officials for an immediate compilation of list and identification of spots where poppy is cultivated so that due action can be taken against the offenders under relevant laws .DM directed Chief Agriculture officer and Chief Horticulture Officer to provide alternative means like Hybrid seeds and High density trees to the farmers engaged in illegal poppy cultivation. Whereas both departments were directed to mobilize their filed functionaries to accumulate the information regarding the cultivation of poppy in Horticulture and Agriculture land and disseminate the information to Revenue officials.
DM said engaging in production , manufacturing, possession, sale, purchase, transportation, warehousing, concealment, use or consumption, import interstate, export interstate of such drugs/substances is illegal under law under section 18 of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act 1985
Moreover General People have been asked to contact on Landline No 01933-242442 and 241240, for reporting of Cultivation of poppy in their respective areas. .
