Government ropes in PRIs, Patwaris in Valley to eradicate drug menace

Wajahat Shabir. Updated: 12/1/2022 11:14:26 AM

SRINAGAR: The authorities in Kashmir have directed Panch-Sarpanch and other government employees working in the village to provide information on illegal cultivation and purchasing of drugs by any individuals to officials.
The directions have been issued to employees such as Patwari, agriculture assistants, village-level workers, Block Development Council members, and municipal counsellors. The employees have been told to give the information of the person/s cultivating, manufacturing, or purchasing illegal poppy/bhang, any narcotic drug, etc, to the concerned SHO & Tehsildar under Section 47- of NDPS Act, 1985.
Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, commonly referred to as the NDPS Act, is an Act of the Parliament of India that prohibits a person the production/manufacturing/cultivation, possession, sale, purchasing, transport, storage, and/or consumption of any narcotic drug or psychotropic substance.
An official who is part of the development told TNN, “The Jammu and Kashmir government is serious about the drug menace which has devastated many families in the region. While several steps are being taken to bring youth out of this drugs”.
Taking a step further, the administration has decided to rope in Panch-Sarpanch and employees working at village levels, who have been asked to provide information on illegal cultivation, production, etc of poppy/bhang, any Narcotic Drug, etc., to Tehsildar and SHO, the official said.
Adding that, he said, “We have seen incidents in the past as well, where residents in villages have started cultivating illegal drugs and have been supplying the same across the region. So, to curb those illegal activities, Panch-Sarpanch and employees in the village can play a vital role”.
Under NDPS Act-1985, it is the duty of land holder to give immediate information to any officer of the Police and Tehsildar of all the opium poppy, cannabis plant or coca plant which may be illegally cultivated within his land and every such holder of land who knowingly neglects to give such information, shall be liable to punishment, the official further said.
Adding that he said, “As per Section -47 of the NDPS Act, 1985, it is the duty of every officer of the government and every panch, sarpanch, Patwari, agriculture/village level worker and other village officers of whatever description to give immediate information when it comes to his knowledge that any land has been illegally cultivated with the opium poppy, cannabis plant or coca plant”.
The official further said that it has also been made clear to the officer of the government, panch, sarpanch and other village officers that whosoever neglects such work and does not provide such information will be liable to punishment. In case, any officials fail to follow the directions, action will be taken against such person under section 47 of NDPS Act, 1985, he said.

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