4,407 acres cannabis cultivation destroyed in Odisha: DGP

Bhubaneswar: Director General of Police (DGP) R.P. Sharma on Sunday said cannabis cultivation in 4,407 acres of land have been destroyed in eight districts of Odisha in 2017-18 against the target of 3050 acres.

He said coordinated multidisciplinary approach supplemented with the use of Satellite have helped in better results in inaccessible and interior areas of Maoist affected districts like Kandhamal, Boudh, Rayagada, Malkangin and Koraput.

Highest 2227 acres were destroyed in Kandhamal district followed by 841.63 acres in Gajapati and 789.1 acres in Boudh.

During 2015-16 and 2016-17, cannabis had been destroyed in 2457.73 acres and 3599.191 acres.

There is a sharp decline in illicit cultivation of cannabis in several districts including Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul and Nayagarh.

This happened due to the constant effort by the district police administration in the destruction of illicit cultivation of cannabis in previous years and awareness drive during the current year, said the DGP.

While 420 cases under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act have been registered during the year 2017, 700 persons have been arrested. 476 Quintal 2 kg 707 gm of ganja have been seized, said Sharma.

During the same period, 1 kg 861 gm 180rng Brown Sugar and 8925 bottles of Cough Syrup have also been seized, he added.

37 persons have been arrested in Brown Sugar cases and 24 accused persons have been arrested in Cough Syrup cases.

New guidelines for grant of rewards to be paid to the officers, informers and other persons in 2017 have handsomely increased the amount of reward to encourage them in curbing down the illicit tracking and cultivation of Ganja, said the DGP.