Chief Secretary, B R Sharma Tuesday chaired the 9th meeting of the State Level Apex Committee (SLAC) for Prevention of Drug Trafficking & its Cultivation in the State.Financial Commissioner, Agriculture Production Department, Mr Promod Kumar Jain and other senior officers were present in the meeting.The Apex Committee reviewed the progress in respect of steps being taken to eradicate the menace of Poppy/Bhang cultivation from the entire State especially the endemic districts of South Kashmir viz Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian & Pulwama and districts of Bandipora and Kupwara.The Apex Committee instructed Divisional Commissioner Kashmir/Jammu to immediately launch a fresh survey as to the extent of land under Poppy/Bhang cultivation and accordingly update.The Committee held detailed deliberations regarding the need for inter-departmental coordination to effectively deal with drug trafficking & it's cultivation. " It has to be an inter-departmental effort involving all stake holders viz Revenue, Agriculture, Excise, Police, Social Welfare, Health & Education departments as well as District administration and Media to effectively tackle the menace and root it out completely from the State" Chief Secretary observed and said that strict action against those found involved in its cultivation is needed.
It was instructed that Deputy Commissioners should monitor the process of destruction of Poppy/Bhang crop in their respective jurisdictions and to direct subordinate Revenue officials viz Patwaris, etc to identify and furnish the revenue records of those areas where such crops are cultivated. Further it was also instructed that services of Nambardars/Chowkidars and Panchayat representatives should be utilised to ensure no illicit cultivation takes place.Emphasis was also laid on creating awareness about drug abuse among the people through print and electronic media and simultaneously at the local level as well as at the school level among the young children and college going students.Need for more drug de-addiction centres was also highlighted in the meeting with Chief Secretary directing the Divisional Administration, Kashmir to expedite the completion of work on the rehabilitation-cum-counseling centres in North, South and Central Kashmir.Use of satellite and drone imagery in the surveillance, use of Near Infra-red Spectrophotometer to observe physio-chemical characteristics of drugs and strengthening of the Drugs and Food Control Organization were also discussed in the meeting.Earlier a detailed presentation was made by IGP, State Crime Branch, Mr Muneer Ahmad Khan.