Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan, today directed the officers to intensify division-wide anti-bhang and poppy cultivation drive to root out the menace from Kashmir valley.The Divisional Commissioner was speaking at a meeting convened to review measures undertaken against poppy and bhang cultivation. Additional Commissioner Kashmir Tasaduq Hussain Mir, DC Srinagar Dr. Farooq Ahmad Lone, IGP Crime Branch, Chief Conservator Forests, Director Social Welfare, Joint Director Education, Deputy Drug Controller Kashmir, Deputy Excise Commissioner Kashmir and other concerned attended the meeting, while as other Deputy Commissioner’s of valley districts participated in the meeting through video conferencing.The meeting was briefed that 2873 kanals of opium poppy crop has been destroyed in 62 villages of various districts of Kashmir Division, so far.
On the occasion, the Div Com directed officers of Excise, R&B, Irrigation, Forest and Revenue Departments to conduct random monitoring and mapping for eradication of wild bhang grown along roadsides and riverbanks. He directed the Deputy Commissioners to intensify drive against narcotics in their respective jurisdictions and initiate strict action against poppy and bhang cultivators and smugglers as per law.He directed them to constitute a committee vested with required authority from Excise, Revenue, Police, Agriculture, Irrigation, Social Welfare and Narcotics Control Bureau within 10 days, which will map timely survey and conduct destruction of bhang and poppy crop in its infancy stage.The Divisional Commissioners stressed on coordination among the concerned Departments for effective drive against illicit crop cultivation and asked the officers to play their role in safeguarding the valley from this menace.He called for creating mass awareness in all endemic areas of bhang and poppy cultivation so that people, especially younger generation can be made aware of ill effects of substance abuse.