Wednesday, 21 June 2023 | PNS | DEHRADUN
Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that like the anti-copying law, a strict law will be brought in the State if it is needed to uproot the drugs mafia from Uttarakhand. He directed the police to act effectively against those involved in the illegal drugs business in order to break the supply chain of illicit intoxicants in the State. Dhami also gave the police department a target to break the record of 55,300 e-pledges by the youths of the State on the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on June 26. The day will be marked across the State on the lines of International Yoga Day, he said.
Chairing the State level narcotics coordination meeting on Tuesday, Dhami told the Health secretary that problems being faced in ensuring the swift execution of guidelines and working plan for establishment and operation of drug rehabilitation centres, treatment of addicts and arrangements of doctors should be communicated directly at the CM level. There are 43 private rehabilitation centres in the State at present.
He told officials that efforts to meet the target of a drugs-free Uttarakhand by 2025 should not be limited to meetings but also focus on action at the ground level. He directed that work should be undertaken seriously on the work plan to send police personnel to Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on deputation and for training.
The NCB deputy director general Gyaneshwar Singh informed that in 2022, 238 kilogrammes charas, 30 kilogrammes doda, 12 kilogrammes opium, 19.11 kilogrammes smack, 1.57 kilogrammes heroin, 1,232 kilogrammes ganja, 1,05,390 capsules, 17,506 injections and 32,110 tablets were seized in the State. Bhang crop on 141 acres was destroyed during this period. This year till May 2023, 586 cases were registered under NDPS Act and 742 accused were arrested, he added.
Social Welfare department officials informed that the Central government has selected Srinagar, Uttarkashi, Champawat and Almora for addiction treatment facilities under which assistance for treatment of drug addiction is provided in government hospitals and health centres.
