Poppy plantations destroyed in Ukhrul
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, November 09 2023:
A joint team of Ukhrul district police, 35 Assam Rifles, Forest Department and 6th Bn Manipur Rifles on Wednesday carried out destruction of poppy cultivation at Tora Champhung hill range of the district.
Sources informed that the joint team destroyed around 20 hectares of illicit poppy plantation at Tora Champhung hill range along with 25 hut and pipelines.
The poppy plants found in blooming stage were destroyed using sticks and scythes.
Giving a taste of their own medicine, the team also sprayed "Roundup Herbicides" on the sprouting poppy.
Roundup is the brand name for an herbicide containing the active ingredient glyphosate.
Glyphosate is a nonselective weed killer, meaning it can kill most plants on contact within days or weeks.
Poppy cultivators usually apply glyphosate by spraying the large areas before cultivating poppy in large scale.
The Assam Rifles and Ukhrul police along with departments concerned had carried out extensive survey before launching the destruction drive.
The drive is officially the first all-out war against the poppy plantations before its bumper harvest this season.
Tora Champhung hill range borders Myanmar on the East, official sources said, adding that the campaign against illegal poppy cultivation was launched under the directive of the Union Defence Ministry and it will be concluded by November.
The destruction of the poppy flowers was made in different methods before harvesting seasons.
Notably, the state government destroyed nearly 15,500 acres of poppy fields in different districts since 2017 .
(With inputs from Ukhrul Times & Agencies) .