Non -Compliance of the order shall initiate criminal proceedings: DM
PULWAMA, MAY 28: The District Magistrate (DM) Pulwama, Basser ul Haq Chowdary has issued an order imposing a ‘blanket ban on Cultivation/Sale/Purchase of Poppy/Cannabis.’
According to the order issued here it has been given out that some unscrupulous elements un-abatedly grow poppy over large tracts of land to derive opium, a highly intoxicating substance, out of it as a source of income/livelihood and grind poppy husk and Pods together to make a powdery drug which is then smuggled to neighbouring States and also peddled locally.
The order further states that the Poppy/Bhung cultivation has become a big challenge for District Administration as the menace has not only created drug mafia but also involved youngsters/ teenagers in the use/abuse of these addictive drugs and consequently an upward spike has been witnessed in the mental/physical disorders over past few years.
Furthermore, ‘production, possession, sale, purchase, transportation, warehousing, concealment, use, consumption, import inter-state, export inter-state of such drugs/substances is also illegal/ prohibited under provisions of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act (except for medical/scientific purpose and to the extent or in the manner provided by the provisions of this Act) and any contravention of this Act shall attract punishment of imprisonment and fine,’ it said
The order also reads that Tehsildars shall constitute joint teams comprising teams of Police, Excise, Revenue and other concerned departments who shall conduct inspections of vulnerable areas and mow down the poppy fields.
Meanwhile, the DM warned people to destroy poppy from their fields within stipulated time and noncompliance of the order shall initiate criminal proceedings against violators.