Bhubaneswar, Sept 10: The Odisha government has drawn up a comprehensive strategy to curb illegal cannabis cultivation across the State, with drones and satellite imagery set to be used to identify plantations in remote and hilly areas.
Advanced drones and satellite mapping services, including those of ISRO or other agencies, will be utilised to detect cannabis cultivation in difficult-to-access locations and facilitate its destruction.
The move comes after a high-level review meeting conducted by the Special Task Force (STF) under the Nasha Mukt Odisha campaign. The virtual meeting was chaired by STF IG Himanshu Lal, who launched a four-pronged strategy to combat illegal cannabis cultivation.
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The strategy focuses on strong enforcement, public awareness, alternative livelihoods and intensified patrolling.
Crackdown on Cannabis Mafia
The meeting decided to take stringent action against cannabis traffickers and cultivators, including investigation into their financial transactions and confiscation of illegally acquired assets.
Regular offenders will also face cases under the relevant provisions of the PIT-NDPS Act, besides other applicable laws.
Police have been directed to intensify surveillance and patrolling in identified hotspots using drones, satellite imagery and ground-level operations.
Alternative Livelihood for Tribal Communities
The government is also placing greater emphasis on providing alternative livelihood opportunities to tribal communities and villagers involved in cannabis cultivation.
Officials believe access to government livelihood schemes and sustainable income sources can encourage local residents to move away from illegal cultivation.
Awareness campaigns will also be conducted in cannabis cultivation hotspots to educate villagers about the legal and social consequences of the illegal trade.
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Six Districts Identified as Major Hotspots
The review meeting focused particularly on six districts identified as major cannabis cultivation hotspots:
Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, Kandhamal and Boudh.
Superintendents of Police from these districts, along with the Brahmapur Range IG and Koraput DIG, participated in the meeting.
STF DIG Dr K V Singh and Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Zonal Officer Kunal Kumar also took part in the discussions.
The integrated strategy combines technology-driven surveillance with enforcement, community awareness and alternative livelihood measures, with the objective of significantly reducing illegal cannabis cultivation across Odisha.
