Jan 15 till Jan 18: 190 Ha of poppy plantations destroyed
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 18 2023: Since January 15, the Forest Divisions of Churachandpur, Kangpokpi and Chandel along with security forces have destroyed nearly 190 hectares of poppy plantations in hilly areas of the State.

Today, a combined team of Kangpokpi Forest Division and the district police of Kangpokpi and Imphal East destroyed around 45 acres of illegal poppy plantation at Lhangsom village hill range under Saikul subdivision.

Subsequently, cases have been filed against cultivators under relevant sections of the ND&PS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) Act 1985 and Forest (Conservation) Act.

A statement issued to media today by Dr AK Joshi, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests said the Forest Department had initiated a special operation to destroy poppy plantations following a decision taken during a meeting chaired by the Forest Minister on January 15 .

The meeting to start the special operation was held as per the direction of the Chief Minister to strengthen the Government's War on Drugs, it said.

The first phase of the special operation covered areas under the jurisdictions of the Churachandpur Forest Division, Kangpokpi Forest Division and Chandel Forest Division.

Notably, launched on January 15, the special operation has destroyed around 190 hectares of poppy plantations in the interior areas of the hills.

The office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests said, on the first day of the special operation on January 15, around 50 hectares of poppy plantation at V Lhangnom, Thangjing hill range.

The operation was carried out by around 190 personnel of Churachandpur Forest Division, police, NAB (Narcotics and Affairs of Border) IRB.

An FIR was also registered under relevant sections of the ND&PS Act, it said.

Similarly, at Kangpokpi district, a special operation destroyed 4.23 hectares of poppy plantation at Harup Naga and 10.12 hectares of poppies at Mongjang, Saikul.

On the same day, personnel of Chandel Forest Division along with security personnel also destroyed 3 hectares of poppy plantation at Unclassed Forest areas of Laison village, Tuikhong block.

Further, on January 17, personnel of Churachandpur Forest Division and security forces destroyed 55 hectares of poppies at Mongken, Thangjing Hill Range, Churachandpur Khoupum Protected Forest area.

Kangpokpi Forest Division and police personnel of Kangpokpi and Imphal East district destroyed 3.5 hectares of poppies at T Khullen, Saikul Range and 17 hectares at Lhangsom village, Saikul.

Ukhrul Forest personnel, along with security forces too destroyed 20 hectares of poppy plantation at Champhung Hill Range, Unclassed Forest.

Stating that the Forest Department will continue and intensify the operations and all those found involved in cultivation of poppy will be booked under relevant Acts and rules, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest said, so far 5 FIRs have been filed against village chiefs, cultivators.

Illicit poppy cultivation in forest areas violates provisions of the ND&PS Act as well as Forest (Conservation) Act 1980, the Indian Forest Act 1972 and The Manipur Forest Rules 2021.While its cultivation is a serious threat to the forest and environment, poppy is a key source for many narcotics and psychotropic drugs and it leads to substance abuse and severe societal problems.

For cultivating poppies, vast tracts of forest areas have been cleared and it has emerged as a major cause for deforestation and degradation of forests in the State, said the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests appealing to the people to join the Government in its War on Drugs campaign to eradicate poppy cultivation and protect the forests as well.

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