Shimla: In the past two-and-a-half years, Himachal Pradesh Police have destroyed nearly 70 lakh cannabis plants in remote and difficult terrains in the state, officials said on Sunday.
To tighten the noose against the growing use of narcotics and synthetic drugs, a serious concern in the state, 5,004 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS) Act were registered, the officials added.
The state government has said that in the past few years, state districts bordering pharmaceutical hubs have been witnessing a rise in drug-related cases. Sensing the urgency to curb this menace among youth, who were increasingly falling prey to heroin, MDMA, tramadol and other synthetic substances, the present state government has declared a war on drugs and placed the issue at the top of its governance agenda.
To address the crisis, the state government moved swiftly to strengthen the legal framework and institutional mechanisms. Two comprehensive legislations have been enacted during this year.
The Himachal Pradesh Organised Crime (Prevention and Control) Act has been implemented with stringent provisions such as the death penalty, life imprisonment, property confiscation and heavy fines to target organised crime syndicates in the state.
The Himachal Pradesh Drugs and Controlled Substances (Prevention, De-addiction and Rehabilitation) Act has also been brought in to ensure not only stricter punishment for drug offences but also to institutionalise a robust framework for rehabilitation, prevention, awareness and livelihood creation in the state.
The Act has a provision of establishment of a state fund dedicated to support de-addiction services and community outreach initiatives drawn from the successful Sikkim model, the state government said.