Narcotics Control Bureau destroys 191 acres of illegal poppy cultivation in Arunachal

Tirap district administration, Narcotics Control Bureau along with police, army and paramilitary forces destroyed 191 acres of illegal poppy (opium) plantations in Lazu circle of the district recently.

The poppy plantations in Lazu, Sanliam, Pongkong,Sinnu, Lonyan, Noglo, Lower Chinhan, Upper Chinhan (HoruChinhan) villages were destroyed by teams constituted by Tirap Deputy Commissioner (DC) Ravi Jha from February 14 to 18, an official report said on Wednesday.

Prior to carrying out the drive, the DC briefed the teams that destroying illicit poppy cultivation was very important to make the drugs growers chooses alternative crop cultivation.

Informing that poppy cultivation is prohibited underthe NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) Act,the DC urged the people of Lazu to go for alternative cashcrops like large cardamom, large ginger and large chilly forwhich Agriculture and Horticulture department have beenextending support through various schemes.

A few people have started cardamom cultivation in somepockets of Lazu circle which was witnessed during theoperation, the team members informed the deputy commissioner.