A meeting of the District Level NCORD Committee was held today to review enforcement measures against drug abuse and trafficking in the District. District Magistrate (DM), Krishan Lal chaired the meeting in the presence of Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Sandeep Mehta in the Conference Hall DC Office Complex.
The meeting focused on a comprehensive evaluation of enforcement strategies, preventive measures and implementation of awareness initiatives across the district to curb drug abuse and trafficking. The District Magistrate conducted an in-depth review of the prevailing drug abuse scenario, seeking detailed inputs regarding vulnerable areas, affected age groups and identified hotspots.
He directed the Executive Officers of Municipalities to identify and destroy wild cannabis within their respective jurisdictions. The BDOs were also instructed to submit weekly progress reports detailing the destruction of narcotic vegetation in their areas.
Asking for strict enforcement of No-Tobacco Zone protocols around 100 meter radius of schools, the DM directed the authorities to take strict action against shopkeepers and vendors selling tobacco-related products in close proximity to educational institutions.
“There shall be prompt action against any government officer or official found consuming or possessing tobacco products, cigarettes within school premises,” he said. The District Magistrate emphasized on formulating a specialized training module for local counselors to empower them as community leaders in the fight against drug abuse and substance dependence.
The SSP reaffirmed the police department’s zero-tolerance policy towards narcotics-related crimes and assured that strict legal action is being taken against drug peddlers and habitual offenders. To ensure transparency and effective monitoring, the SSP directed the concerned officers to submit detailed data on the destruction of wild cannabis and provide geo-tagged photographs as evidence of clearance operations.
He also emphasized the need to strengthen inter-departmental coordination to present a unified and effective front against drug trafficking networks. Principals of Government Degree Colleges (GDCs) and schools were asked to conduct regular workshops and awareness programmes on the hazards of drug addiction.
The BDOs were instructed to organize Panchayat-level awareness campaigns, integrating anti-drug messaging with existing government schemes to maximize outreach. All stakeholders and officers were directed to utilize digital platforms such as Facebook, YouTube and WhatsApp to disseminate educational videos and information related to drug abuse prevention and rehabilitation services.
The DM and SSP also reviewed several technology-driven and public health initiatives, including assessment of the CCTV surveillance network across the district.