2.5 acres of poppy cultivation destroyed in Saikul
Source: Chronicle News Service
Kangpokpi, March 03 2023:
Kangpokpi Forest Division on Friday destroyed around 2.5 acres of illegal poppy found cultivated along the hill ranges of Tolthang, near M Ngamneh under Saikul sub-division.
A team led by Kangpokpi Forest Division Saikul Range forester Nitesh Khullem including 15 Forest Department personnel carried out the poppy destruction drive.
Briefing the media in connection with the drive, Kangpokpi Forest Division divisional forest officer (DFO) N Ganesh informed that the Division acted swiftly on a clip that was circulated on social media regarding an unidentified area under illegal poppy cultivation, by launching an investigation.
Once the site was identified, the destruction drive was planned and the deputy commissioner concerned was requested to depute a magistrate to oversee the destruction process.
Thereafter, the destruction was carried out as per law and under the supervision of the deputed magistrate.
FIR and PORs will be filed against the poppy cultivators, he added.
The DFO continued that as a part of government's 'War on Drugs' campaign, the Division has been carrying out destruction of illegal poppy cultivation from the month of November and so far the drive has covered 36 sites.
He also informed that a total of 350.75 hectares of area under illegal poppy cultivation including 62 hectares inside the reserved forest, 206.3 hectares inside protected forest, and 81.43 hectares under unclassed forest have been cleared till date.
As per Indian Forests Act, 1927 (read with Manipur Forests Rules, 2021), breaking up of land for any non-forestry purposes is illegal and as such, any person found to have committed such illegal activities is punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend up to six months, or with fine, or with both, in addition to fine for the damage done to the forest as the convicting court may direct to pay, N Ganesh elaborated.
He reiterated that illegal poppy cultivation is a serious threat not only to society but also to the environment with uncontrolled deforestation and the use of chemical fertilisers liberally in the upland slopes is impacting the environment as well as posing health hazards to those living in the surrounding villages.