Aerial survey finds extensive poppy plantations
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 13 2023:
Notwithstanding the Government's War on Drugs, an aerial survey has found large scale poppy plantations in Chakpikarong sub-division of Chandel district, Thangjing hill ranges and Saikul area of Kangpokpi district.
CAF&PD Minister Leishangthem Susindro accompanied by some officials today made a tour of the interior areas in a helicopter and searched for poppy plantations.
Briefing media persons at the State capital after the helicopter tour, Susindro said that he made an aerial survey of the interior areas of Chandel, Churachandpur and Kangpokpi in accordance with the advice of the Chief Minister.
He said that large scale poppy plantations were found in Chakpikarong subdivision near Myanmar border in Chandel district, Thangjing hill ranges in Churachandpur district and Saikul areas of Kangpokpi district.
Photographs and video recordings taken in the course of the aerial survey would be handed over to the Chief Minister.
Moreover, necessary steps would be initiated using drones and other equipment to destroy these poppy plantations, Susindro said.
Saying that he would carry out another such aerial survey next week, the CAF&PD Minister vowed that strong actions would be taken up as the poppy planters have been paying no heed to the repeated appeals of the Government.
He said that he would write to the Ministry of CAF&PD to invalidate ration cards of all the people living in and around the poppy plantations.
Susindro who is also in charge of PHED said that most of the rivers which drain Imphal East and Imphal West originate from Kangpokpi district.
But the two districts are now facing acute shortage of water due to rampant deforestation and clearing of hill ranges to make space for poppy plantation, he said.
The total volume of water presently available at Singda Dam would last for just 20 days and the water level of Loktak Lake has also receded considerably, he continued.
He informed that pumping stations would be opened in the next two/three days.
DGP P Doungel, Additional Chief Secretary MH Khan and other officials of the State Government accompanied Susindro during the aerial survey.