Ukhrul hosts consultation workshop on poppy plantation
Source: The Sangai Express / Mungchan Zimik
Ukhrul, May 05 2022:
The Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL), while in observance of TNL Green Day, conducted a one day consultation workshop on opium poppy plantation at TNL Hall, Ukhrul, today.
The programme was held in two sessions.
The first session began with a tree plantation at TNL office premises and it was followed by the consultation workshop.
DIG of Manipur police Worngam Ningshen (IPS), Manipur police who attended the programme as a resource person educated the public on the legal perspective of poppy plantation.
He said that the Centre and the State Government enacted NDPS Act -1985 and PID, NDPS Act-1988 to prevent drug trafficking.
Worngam also said that poppy is not an indigenous plant but imported from another country and the same is being planted in at least nine districts of Manipur.
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According to conservative survey reports, poppy is being planted in over 6742 acres of land in Manipur, of which Kangpokpi tops the chart among the districts as it alone has 2230 acres of land under poppy cultivation while Ukhrul is in second place with poppy plantation coverage exceeding 2,000 acres (2040 acres approx) of land in the district, he claimed.
Saying that drug menace doesn't confine only to legal issues but it also has an adverse impact on social, economical, moral, religious and even demographic aspects, he added that concerted effort through public participation is imperative to make the " War on drug" campaign successful.
In the meantime, DFO, Ukhrul Shangam Shaliwo expressed the grim situation of Ukhrul.
He said that most of 'our forest areas have been defaced due to wanton deforestation for economic reasons' .
TTA Director Wungramthan Shongzan also stressed on destruction of forest as well as illegal poppy plantation and its impact on the ecology and society.
TNL president David K' Shimray, in his welcome note, stated that the Tangkhul apex customary body has approached more than 200 Tangkhul villages to initiate tree plantation drives in their respective villages to regenerate forests.
DFO of Kamjong Division SW Suisa, Tangkhul CSO leaders, Church leaders, intellectuals and well wishers also attended the programme.