982 kanals freed from poppy cultivation; major drives in Kulgam: Excise Commissioner

Anantnag, May 17: Excise Commissioner of Kashmir Pankaj Kumar Sharma said that 982 kanals of land have been freed of poppy cultivation in the valley this year so far and that 18 cases have been registered against cultivators.
“In the previous year, we freed approximately 665 kanals of land from illegal poppy cultivation,” Sharma said while leading a poppy destruction drive in the Bijbehara area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
He was accompanied by the Deputy Excise Commissioner (Executive) of Kashmir, and revenue and police officials.
The Excise Commissioner told Rising Kashmir that the primary objective of the department was to generate revenue for the government, while also highlighting the responsibility of enforcing the NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) Act.
“Today, we visited this area, and the illegal cultivation of poppy that had been grown here was destroyed,” he said.
The Excise Commissioner said that last year, the Nasha Mukt Jammu and Kashmir Abhiyan were started in the same manner as the Nasha Mukht Bharat Abhiyan. “Poppy and cannabis had been extensively destroyed during that period. So far this year, 982 kanals of land have been freed of poppy growth,” he said.
Also, wherever we see drugs being cultivated by private parties, we ensure police action against them, he said, adding that so far, 18 FIRs have been registered against cultivators.
“About 450 kanals of poppy cultivation have been destroyed in Kulgam alone along with Revenue and Police. The excise department has implemented a multi-prompt strategy to deter such behavior,” Kumar said.
Excise Taxation Officer (ETO), South Range, Hamid Ganaie informed that around three kanals and 10 marlas of illicit cultivation were destroyed on the spot in Dupatyar Bijbehara. He said the department is holding awareness camps throughout the year.
“We visit schools, meet students and teachers, conduct debates, and hold competitions, but the core focus remains the adverse repercussions of drug use,” he said, adding that the department also involves members of PRI and urban local bodies in order to raise public awareness.
The official said that another alternative is to include schools and colleges because the majority of drug intake begins during this stage. “Our officers have also enlisted the help of religious preachers to inform the public during their Friday sermons. We have asked them to spread a specific message to ordinary people about their religious acts on drug use, as drugs are destroying Kashmir’s future generations,” he said.